In ancient times, before it was named Kefalonia, only around 100 to 300 people lived there. When Kefalonia was founded in ancient times, the population had trebled to around 500 to 1000 people. The population steadily grew until it reached 10000 in the mid 20th century. The total topped 20,000 during the 1970s.



The island is covered by dense vegetation and offers plentiful 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 scenic view.

Kefalonias tallest mountain is Mount Ainos, elevation of 1628m almost the same elevation as Denver, Colorado in North America. To the west northwest are the Paliki Mountains, where Lixouri is located. Other mountains include Gerania and Agia Dynati.

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 them. 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, became a movie in the year 2001 shot entirely on the island itself.

Argostoli the capital of Kefalonia situated on a peninsular is a busy working port with ferries, private yachts and freight ships coming and going all year round.

Argostoli, the largest town on the island is very popular with locals and tourists with the main shopping strip coming alive as night falls. Many local gifts can be found here along with buzzing coffee bars and ice cream parlours often open into the early hours of the morning.

If you need to buy something this is where you will find it amongst the cosmopolitan pedestrian shopping streets, supermarkets, speciality shops and all manner of other businesses. This is where all the main business is done throughout the year especially when the winter comes and the island almost goes into hibernation! Argostoli still lives on.

As with many waterfront towns there is a hive of activity all along it with tavernas restaurants, shops and an excellent fresh fruit and veg. market open everyday. A series of earthquakes in 1953 flattened Argostoli since when the town has been re- built, following the original street layout, creating a very charming capital. Whether exploring, shopping or having a cold beer by the harbours edge Argostoli is alive and vibrant.