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Kefalonia Guide & Resource Centre - Greece Guides
About Kefalonia
The island of Kefalonia, also known as Cephallenia, Cephallonia, Kefallinia, or Kefallonia (Greek: Κεφαλλονιά), is the largest of the Ionian Islands in western Greece, with an area of 350 sq. miles. It is also the larger of the two islands forming the Kefalonia and Ithaka Prefecture, and contains eight of the prefecture's nine municipalities or communities.
The island is named after the mythological figure Cephalus (Ciphalis), although some hold its name literally means "island with a head", referring to the island's shape; the name "Ciphalis" is derived from the Greek word for "head"
The capital of the Kefalonia prefecture is Argostoli. The island's population is nearly 45,000; it previously was home to the fastest growing population in Greece, with a growth rate of 35% to 40% during the 1990s. It was officially 36,404 at the census of 2001. The size of the island is ca. 800 km² (300 mi²), and the present population density is 55 people per km² (140/mi²), with Argostoli home to one-third of the island's habitants. Lixouri is the second major settlement, and the two towns together account for almost two-thirds of the prefecture's population.
Kefalonia's profile was greatly raised in the late 1990s thanks to the novel Captain Corelli's Mandolin, by English author Louis de Bernières. The novel is believed to be based on events that occurred in the picturesque village of Farsa, just outside of Argostoli. The love story comprising the theme of the book is set after the Acqui Division massacre,[1] during the Second World War, and the film adaptation was released in 2001.
During filming there was lively debate between the production team, local authorities as well as groups of citizens, as to the complex historical details of the island's antifascist resistance. As a result political references were omitted from the film, and the romantic core of the book was preserved, without entering complex debates around the island's history.
A large number of tourists visit Kefalonia during the peak season but, as one of the largest islands in Greece, it is well-equipped to handle visitors. Most tourists stay in or around Lassi, a serene resort a few kilometres from Argostoli, and their numbers have increased since the best-seller, Captain Corelli's Mandolin, was made a film (2001) shot on the island itself.
The island is covered by dense vegetation and offers a great range of natural beauty, including beaches -- many of them inaccessible from land -- and spectacular caves. Mirtos, the most famous of these beaches, is a major tourist attraction, and has been ranked fifth worldwide for its beauty. Fishing is very common throughout the waters within and around the island, and the harbours of Argostoli and Lixouri are the main fishing centres. Overfishing can be a problem in Kefalonia, and in the Ionian area generally.
KEFALONIA MAP
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Kefalonia Guide and Resource Centre
KEFALONIA FACT SHEET
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GEOGRAPHY
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Coordinates:
38°15′ N 20° 30′E
Area:
906.5 km² (350 sq.mi.)
Capital:
Argostoli
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CODES
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Airport Code:
EFL
Postal Code:
280 xx
Area Code:
267x0
License Code:
KE
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TRANSPORTATION
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Kefalonia Airport
Kefalonia has one airport, Kefalonia Island International Airport, with a runway around 2.4 km. in length, located about 10 km south of Argostoli. Almost every scheduled flight is an Olympic route, flying mainly to and from Athens, although there is an Ionian Island Hopper service 3 times a week calling at Kefalonia, Zante and Lefkas. In summer the airport handles a number of charter flights from all over Europe.
Kefalonia Harbour & Ports
There are five harbours and ports in the prefecture: four main harbours on the island, Same or Sami, and a major port with links to Patras and Ithaca. Poros, in the south, has ferry routes to Kyllini; Argostoli, in the west, is the largest port, for local boats and ferries to Zante and regularly to Lixouri; Vasiliki, in the north, has links to Lefkas and Ithaca. There is room for about 100 small boats in Argostoli, where the port stretches 1 kilometre around the bay, while Lixouri is situated 4 km across the bay from Argostoli, on the Lixouri peninsula. There is a road connection to the rest of the island, but driving from Lixouri to Argostoli involves a 30 km detour.
Kefalonia Motorways
Greek National Road 50, commonly Argostoli-Sami Road
Argostoli-Poros Road
Argostoli-Fiskardo Road
Road linking Poros and Sami
Road linking Sami and Lixouri
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IMPORTANT TELEPHONE NUMBERS
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Information - 11888
Emergency - 199
Police - 100
24hr Pharmacy - 107
Hospital - 106
Roadside assistance for car problems - 10400
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KEFALONIA LINKS
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