We all love Kefalonia for its beautiful beaches, stunning landscapes and friendly people. But beyond that, Kefalonia has some characteristics that make it even more special. Here’s a list of 10 facts you probably didn’t know about Kefalonia. With this knowledge, you can prove to everyone that you are a true Kefalonia expert on our next adventure:
-
Village names end in -ata and surnames in -atos
You may have realized some similarity in the names of most villages in Kefalonia. Well, this is the majority ending in “-ata”, such as Havdata, Monopolata, Peratata or Lourdata. But also, surnames have something in common. That is that most of them end in “-atos”, for example Evangelatos, Haritatos or Galiatsatos. So if you next meet a Greek and his name has the suffix “-atos”, you can ask him directly if he is from Kefalonia! Chances are high!!!
2. The local dialect uses Italian words
Since Kefalonia was occupied by the Venetians for a long time, Italian words found their place in the local language. Unfortunately, this charming dialect is slowly dying out. But you can still meet a local (Kefalonite) who uses Italian expressions while speaking in Greek.
3. Lord Byron
The British poet George Gordon Byron, better known as Lord Byron, had a deep connection with Cephalonia. After arriving on the island in 1824, he immediately fell in love with its inspiring surroundings. Here he wrote some of his most famous poems: ‘If I am a poet, I owe it to the air of Greece’.
4. Huge sea turtles
The port of Argostoli Kefalonia is home to a very special endangered species of sea turtle. They can be spotted in the early morning hours by the fishing boats along the coast of the capital. Their sightings are always a great joy for children and adults. But did you know that a local group of volunteers know most of the turtles so well that they have given them names. They even recognize them as soon as they see them. So if you’re going to visit the turtles, next time look for the friendly volunteers at Wildlife Sense to let you know.
5. Argostoli has the longest stone footbridge crossing sea water in the world.
Next to the harbour you will find another special landmark in Argostoli: the famous De Bossett Bridge. Built in 1813 and named after the engineer Charles de Bossett, the bridge has a total length of almost 690 metres. This makes it the longest stone bridge crossing sea water in the world. Cars have recently been allowed on the bridge. This often caused some confusion as the bridge was not wide enough for two lanes. Nowadays you can walk across the bridge and enjoy the view of the town of Argostoli.
6. If you meet a Greek somewhere in the world, he is probably from Kefalonia
There is a saying in Greece that if you meet another Greek somewhere in the world, he is probably from Kefalonia. Well, there is certainly some truth behind that. It comes from the fact that Kefalonia has many sailors and captains who have traveled the world. But that’s not the only reason. Many Cephalonians left the island after the great earthquake of 1953 and settled around the world, mostly in the US and Australia.
7. Kefalonians are known to be somewhat “crazy ”
A reaction you may experience when you meet other Greeks talking about Kefalonians is that they consider themselves a bit “crazy”. The reason is that Kefalonians are very proud people. They love their island unconditionally and show their love with a lot of passion and humour.
8.The carnival in Kefalonia is one of the largest in Greece
If you believe that Rio de Janeiro is a place to celebrate carnivals, then you are wrong. You should definitely consider visiting Kefalonia during the carnival season in the spring. The celebrations on the streets of Argostoli, Sami and especially in Liksuri are on another level. Locals dressed in colorful costumes, continuous music that makes Kefalonia one of the biggest hot spots for carnivals in Greece.
9. The locals of Lixouri call their city “Little Paris ”
Speaking of Lixouri: Did you know that the second largest city of Kefalonia has the nickname “Piccolo Parisi” – Little Paris. This is because Lixouri is divided by a river, as Paris is divided by the Seine. 
10. Wild Fun Adventures Club – trust us!
For more than 10 years we have been creating adventurous experiences on the island of Kefalonia. A short but sweet one, you can findin our blog.
“КЕФът е безценен!”
Народна мъдрост