Great Things to Do Near Petra Tranquila
Spend the day in Fiscardo
In the north of the island, Fiscardo has something for everyone:Roman ruins, an extremely pretty harbour front, great tavernas and restaurants, excellent boutiques and a couple of delightful small bays nearby for an afternoon dip.
Wine lovers rejoice!
With 8 different wineries to choose from - Kefalonia is a wine conossieurs delight. Spend an afternoon stocking up for the holiday and then decide which ones to take home! Compare them with the other famous wineries such as Gentilini and Robola Co-operative!
Try Kefalonia Meat Pie
The Greeks love their pies, and the Kefalonians have taken it one step further in producing this nourishing dish. Everyone has their own 'secret' recipe, so we are unable to tell you exactly what's in it, but it is filo pastry stuffed with minced pork meat and rice - along with an undisclosed mixture of spices and sauce. Delicious!
Take a trip...
to the aquamarine waters of Melissani Lake. We should entitle this 'not to be missed'. Melissani Lake is simply stunning: the colours and eerie atmosphere is something you will never forget.
Spend the afternoon at Myrtos beach
We suggest afternoon, because this is when the sun is shining fully on the beach, and you'll enjoy the amazing experience of bathing at one of the most glorious beaches. Myrtos has regularly been voted amongst the top 5 beaches in Europe over the past few years, and we are sure that you will endorse this bold claim.
The King of the Castle!
St Georges Castle is the historic capital of Kefalonia. A great place to wander and explore. There are many alleyways, along with a wonderful old church and monastery with ancient icons on display. Afterwards, why not stop for a coffee or lunch there.
Antisamos - What a Beach!
A great beach used as a backdrop for much of the Captain Corelli movie. A sweeping white pebbly bay, great for snorkelling. Chilled out beach bars on hand to offer bar service to your sun lounger!
Argostoli back streets - explore a little
For retail therapy, the pedestrian Lithostrato offers a wonderful selection of shops offering everything from local produce to stylish leather shoes. Plenty of local cafes for refreshment and the Orthodox church of St. Spiridon and Catholic church always have their doors open. (Make it Tuesday, Thursday or Fridays in the evenings when all the shops are open!)
Nearby neighbour- island hop to Zakynthos
Another island, not so far away from Kefalonia, but it could be at the other end of the world, such is the contrast between these beautiful islands. Take the daily ferry over from the port of Pessada for the 90 minute crossing to Skinari, in the north of Zakynthos, and from there you could take another boat trip to the amazing ship-wreck beach, or go for a sightseeing tour before catching the evening ferry back.
If the weather is too hot...
...then seek refuge in the Caves of Drogarati. These wonderful caves can be found a couple of kilometres south of Sami, and the stalagmites and stalactites here are truly amazing. The cave is actually quite big, and makes for some wonderful photographs - take a jacket though, as it can be quite cool down there
Visit Ithaca for a day, home to Odysseus and Penelope of mythology
We would recommend that you do some swatting up before you go, as the Iliad is littered with references to Ithaca, it was where Odysseus was trying to return to for 10 years! Much more easily, you could visit the cave of Nymphs, or why not simply relax, have a nice lunch in one of the waterfront cafes in Vathi and then drop into one of the many delightful coves for a swim or a nap.
The hills are alive ....
Yes, you can drive all the way to the top of Mount Aenos- save your energy for taking photographs and taking in the panoramic views. You may even spot the elusive and extremely endangered wild ponies.
Visit the Mazarkarta tombs
Between the villages of Lakythra and Metaxata visit the eerie Mazarakata tombs and wander among the ancient graves where wildflowers bloom in colourful abundance. Excavated mainly by Kefalonian archaeologist Panayotis Kavvadias in 1908, the burial chambers had been filled with decorative clay pots, tiles, glassware and gold plates, which are now housed in the Archaeological Museum of Argostoli. Today all that remains are the tombs themselves, where you can clamber and explore as you choose. It's a remarkably tranquil area, and the ideal place to spend a few hours with a sketchpad imagining the ancient civilisation that created it.
Turtle rescue fund
The Kefalonia locals are extremely proud of the fact that the 'caretta caretta' turtles continue to use these unspoilt beaches in the south of the island to nest their eggs. As one would hope and expect, these beaches are protected and supervised to ensure that the eggs are not disturbed by the invasion of sun umbrellas and beach barbecues that can often be found on such stunningly beautiful beaches. Mounda Beach itself is the nearest beach to the villa, unspoilt, beautiful and fascinating.
Olives, ouzo and octopus - try them all?!
Treat yourself to a typical Meze – a series of tiny dishes that accompany the aniseed based liquor, you can try an Ouzerie, that is similar to a Spanish Tapas bar – a great way to spend a lazy afternoon.
