Agios Georgios Castle Kefalonia

Agios Georgios Castle, we find it in the southern part of the Kefalonia island on the slopes of the Peratata village just five kilometers away from the capital Argostoli.

Perched on a hill three hundred and twenty meters above sea level, it is considered the oldest fortress on the island. Its location was perfect for spotting the arrival of pirates rather than invaders, thus allowing the population to escape.

It occupies an area of 16,000 square meters and is a very popular place for lovers of history and architecture. Its construction dates back to the 13th century and is in the classic Byzantine style. With its polygonal shape, it has three bastions facing Argostoli, Peratata and the east, thus allowing it to control all directions and not least offer an enchanting view.

Until 1757 AD, it was the ancient capital of Kefalonia which was then transferred to Argostoli as the castle began to lose prestige and power. Until then it was the nerve center of the island and the fortress housed a hospital, barracks, a prison where the subversives of Kefalonia were locked up, private homes, tunnels, a secret tunnel that led to the Koutavos lagoon hidden in one of the ramparts, warehouses in short, for food, tanks and a bridge, everything necessary to resist for a long time in the extreme case of attacks by usurpers. Inside the walls there is also a beautiful tower called “Fortezza Vecchia”, the throne of a Venetian Lord and a small Catholic church where the nobles of Kefalonia were buried. Below the walls there is the village with the monastery of Agios Andreas, today a convent of nuns which houses 17th century frescoes together with precious icons and the remains of the foot of the Apostle.

It owes its name to the mighty Agios Georgios Church built in his honor which has undergone various dominations ranging from the Byzantines, to the Franks and then to the Turks and finally to the Venetians for 600 years. In 1500 with the help of the Spaniards and the inhabitants, the Ottomans were driven out and the heavy damage suffered by the battle was restored with a restoration that after four years under the direction of the engineer Tsimaras brought the fortress back to its splendor.

Unfortunately in 1636 a violent earthquake destroyed a part of the area that also housed up to fifteen thousand people and it was therefore decided to move the capital to another area Argostoli precisely.

Due to the continuous telluric movements that in the past have hit the Kefalonia Island, there are few archaeological sites to visit but fortunately the Agios Georgios Castle has been partly spared, thus giving the opportunity to understand even a little of the history of this beautiful island.

The fortress is open during tourist periods every day except Mondays from 8.30 to 15.00 more or less.

Always keep the town of Argostoli as a reference and with a private vehicle which can be a car rather than a moped, head southwest inland. A nice bike ride can be an excellent alternative from Argostoli.

Certainly a destination to be marked in the things to see in Kefalonia, a piece of history and a delicious opportunity to see the interior of the island.