Kefalonia - The Ionian Islands & Mainland - Ionian Island Holidays Ionian & Aegean Island Holidays 2012

Myrtos Beach Foki Bay Fiskardo Melissani Cave Kefalonia is an island for all seasons. The surrounding sea has long been a mecca for yachtsmen, but nowadays the land-based visitor also has the opportunity to explore Kefalonia by water. It's said that you can't have your cake and eat it. Possibly not, but surely the next best thing must be to stay in a comfortable waterside villa or apartment with the use of a motor boat to reach any one of a dozen or more little coves only accessible by sea; return in the evening to a friendly taverna serving an island speciality such as Kefalonian meat pie! The island's romantic associations go back long before a certain Italian soldier plucked his mandolin, won the heart of a local girl and invited Hollywood over for a visit. Poros in the south and Agios Spiridion in the Lixouri peninsula both have strong claims to be the site of Odysseus' palace. Here the ever faithful Penelope waited ten years for the return of her husband. Much later Lord Byron, perhaps the most romantic poet of a very romantic age, stayed on the island at Metaxata near Argostoli. Here he is commemorated by a statue in the small plateia where his house once stood. It was from Kefalonia that he set sail on his last voyage to the mainland in support of the struggle for Greek independence. The Kefalonian people took him into their hearts and even today `O Vyronos' as he was called, is spoken of with great affection. A week in a restored cottage surrounded by orange trees, wild rosemary on terrace walls with the moon rising above Ithaka might not be romantic enough, but a fortnight certainly would! Kefalonia is the home of Ionian Island Holidays, so although we may have to plead guilty to a slight bias, we would love to share our home island with you. HIGHLIGHTS � Explore secluded coves around Fiskardo in your own motor boat � 3 island cruise: Skorpios, Lefkada & Meganisi � Visit Melissani's underground lake � See the stalactites and stalagmites of Drogarati Cave � Tour the Robola winery � Enjoy Kefalonia's 11 Blue Flag beaches including Myrtos Beach near Assos � Horse riding in the Sami area � Visit the peak of Mount Ainos (1627m) the highest mountain in the Ionian � Visit St. Gerassimos monastery � Snorkeling tour with the Marine Adventure � Natural history, dolphin spotting and mythical Ithaka tour from Fiskardo � Visit the ancient Venetian remains at St. George's Castle and Assos � Visit the Archaeological and Folk Art museum in Argostoli � Celebrate St. Gerassimos feast days: 16th August & 20th October � Visit FNEC's nautical and environmental museum in Fiskardo. Our flights (Saturday departures) Direct flights from London Gatwick and Manchester. Flight and transfer details on page 158. Tel. 020 8459 0777 05 KEFALONIA

The Ionian Islands & Mainland contd… Kefalonia