Kefalonia, Greece

[Rachel Agourakis]

I first visited Kefalonia in 2000 for my honeymoon. One of the largest of the Ionian islands and probably one of the most unspoilt it is situated off the west coast of Greece. The island seems to have escaped mass tourism but has gained popularity in recent years following it's use as the location for "Captain Corelli's Mandolin" which was filmed there.

The island is developed mainly around the coastal edges and although I have stayed in the south, which is more touristic with sandy beaches, my favourite part of the island is to the north and east.

Aghia Efamia is a pretty fishing village with pebbly beaches and beautiful crystal blue sea. We stayed in a hotel overlooking Paradise Beach and it truly was paradise! It is a beautiful setting and very romantic. A must visit restaurant is the taverna Paradise Beach Taverna overlooking Paradise Beach - where we ate nearly every night sometimes sharing the reastaurant with the cast and crew of "Captain Corelli's Mandolin" it being a favourite of theirs too! The chocolate pudding is definitely worth a try.

Take a day trip by boat to Ithaca...

A few kms away is the famous Myrtos Bay with it's stunning white sand and aquamarine sea and also worth a visit is the subterranean lake at Melisani, which is close by. Visit also the fishing village of Fiscardo on the northern tip of the island with it's Venetian architecture, one of the only remaining towns that was unaffected by earthquakes which destroyed so much, there are plenty of interesting shops and is very popluar with the tourists.

Kefalonia - where you can expect traditional Greek hospitality and where visitors are welcomed back as friends - it is definitely in my top three holiday spots!