The capital of the island, ideal for shopping and sitting back and watching the world go by.
Argostoli has been the capital of Kefalonia since 1757. The earthquake of 1953 destroyed almost all of the buildings although a few Venetian examples remain. Argostoli was rebuilt and is now quite a modern cosmopolitan town. However, building has continued in the tradition of the old town in that it is generally tasteful and well maintained.
Shopping
The main shopping area is on the pedestrianised Lithostroto and adjacent streets. Shops are open 09.00 – 14.00, Monday to Saturdays, closed Sundays and public holidays. They are open from 17.30 –21.30 on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday evenings only. Supermarkets are open throughout the day (Monday to Saturday) as is the excellent fruit and vegetable market on the water front. For fresh meat and fish, visit the butchers and fishmongers as supermarkets have mainly frozen produce.
Eating & Drinking
Along the town’s waterfront is where most of the traditional tavernas and Kafeneions are located, whilst the Vallianou Square and adjacent streets provide a wider selection of restaurants. After dinner, join the locals in watching the world go by from one of the “zakaroplastia” where you can enjoy coffee and some of the wonderful cakes and ice cream on offer. For something livelier and ‘people watching, try one of the square’s café-bars, particularly on a Friday or Saturday night when it is time to par take in the Volta. Dress in your finest threads and, heads held high parade very, very slowly around the town checking everyone else out as they will be doing you!
The Drapano Bridge
This narrow causeway was built in 1813 by the Swiss-born Col.Charles de Bossett, Governor of the island between 1810 and 1814. The initial construction took two weeks to complete and was made of wooden arcades with a total length of 900 metres. Later, stone foundations were laid whilst the openings were bridged with oak beams. In 1842 the Governor Bar Everton rebuilt the bridge replacing the wooden arcades with stones giving the bridge its present day appearance, although the retaining wall is now missing in places. The obelisk at the centre of the bridge commemorates de Bossett & the construction date of the bridge.
Katavothres
At Katavothres (which means, “swallow holes”) the sea water drains into the rocks. In the 1950’s an enterprising Austrian geologist, keen to find where the water was going to, poured some 600 litres of dye into the holes and kept watch around the island for its reappearance. Two weeks later, the die emerged in the Melissani Lake and later drained back to sea on the coast at Karavo
