Céphalonie

Céphalonie (Greek: Κεφαλλονιά or Κεφαλονιά, Kéfallonia) is a Greek island of the Ionian Mer. It is largest and most mountainous of the islands Ioniennes. The principal cities are Sami (port towards Patras) and Argostoli (the capital).
Patron saint of the island is called Saint Hiérasimos.

History

The first traces of human occupation go back to the paleolithic one. If there is for the moment discovered no vestige going back to the Bronze Age, the time mycénienne is it very rich (sites of Mazarakata with Metaxata and Lakkithra). The island knew one period of true apogee then, with commercial relations until in the Cyclades. These relations ended about at the time when the volcano of Santorin would have exploded. They were restored later two centuries.
One dipose of very little information concerning the period going of the arrival of the Doriens (IX {{E}} front J. - C.) to the VII {{E}} century before our era. Céphalonie practically seems to reappear with the VI {{E}} front century J. - C., with the arrival of the Corinthiens and the Eubéens. The island became a commercial stage then on the road of the Italy.

Céphalonie is combined with Corinthe against Corfou, at the time of the Peloponnesian War.
the island is under the Athenian domination.
the island is under the Roman domination starting from 187 before our era.
the island is under the Byzantine domination starting from 385.
the island passes under the domination Norman when Robert Guiscard seizes some towards the end the 11th century. He died of a fever in 1085 at the village of Panormos, renamed then in his honor Fiskardo.
the island is under the Venetian domination until 1483 where it is destroyed by the Turks. Venice takes again the island only in 1500, until 1797 and the defeat of Venice vis-a-vis the French troops of Bonaparte.
the island is briefly under the Russo-Turkish domination before a French return until 1809. Kapodistrias, first Head of the independent Greek State was illustrated in the management of a crisis with Céphalonie during this period.
the island passes to the British then, until the retrocession with the Greece in 1864.
During the Guerre of Greek independence Lord Byron remained there and there wrote the major part of sound Don Juan .
In September 1943, following the fall of Mussolini, the Italian garrisons and allemandes posts some on the island will be fought. Victorious German, will massacre a good part of the prisoners.
the island was almost completely destroyed by a violent one Séisme in 1953. Only Fiscardo, a village of the North, which is also a port, survived and has thus still many buildings of the 17th century. Fiscardo comes from the name of the Norman lord Robert Guiscard.

Places

the castle of Haghios Georgios :

This castle, of which there remain only ruins today, was set up in XIIIè century. It is located at 320 meters of altitude.

pits of Katavothrès :

These pits are also called the " mills of the mer" , because they aspire in a strange manner sea waters.

the cave of Drogarati :

This cave is to 4 km of Sami, city being located on the east coast and main port of entry of Céphalonie. It is known for its odd stalagmites. It has very good acoustics. For this reason one gives concerts to it.

the museum and the library Korghialeneios :

It is a museum of art and traditions popular. One finds there costumes traditional, tools, ustensils of the daily life, objects artisanal… There is also a series of photographs taken before and after the earthquake of 1953.

the plain of Livathou is filled of olive-trees centenaries.

To read

the Mandoline of the Captain Correlli , Louis de Bernières, coll Folio, ED. Gallimard. All the action proceeds in Céphalonie, of the years 1930 at our days.

Codes

Céphalonie has as codes:

KE, at the head of the Greek registrations,

See too

Ionian Islands

External bonds

Plane of Cephalonie

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