Assos

Assos
Assos is one of the most beautiful and picturesque places in Kefalonia. It is located on the northwest coast of the island, on the peninsula of the same name, about 36 km and a 50-minute drive from the capital Argostoli.

The port of Assosa has the shape of a horseshoe from the air, and the entire bay is filled with the beautiful turquoise color of the sea, creating an unforgettable landscape. Upon arrival and descent towards Assos, you will see that the road is full of curves, but from the main road there is a beautiful view of the place and the entire bay. At the top of the hill dominates the large Venetian fortress from the 16th century with an even more magnificent view of Assos and the entire bay with many small lagoons and caves.

In the town itself there is a small port, and a handful of small, beautifully decorated houses in various colors in narrow streets, overgrown with liander and beautiful cyclamen-colored bougainvillea. It could be said that Assos still resists mass tourism. We recommend it to everyone who likes quiet places, with excellent taverns, and where there are no night clubs and noise. The main square in Assos is named Paris, as a sign of gratitude to France, which helped the Greeks rebuild the place after the earthquake.

The town beach in Assos is pebbly, with clear turquoise and shallow water. Deckchairs with umbrellas can be rented on it, and at the pass itself, about 20 meters from it, there is another small cove with a beach where there is natural shade. Since it is a bay, the water in the sea is extremely warm and without waves. If you want to break the monotony in this relaxed environment, a 15-minute drive from Assos will take you to the most beautiful beach in Kefalonia – the famous Myrtos Beach. In July 2015, our team started that road, which has been interrupted since the last earthquake, so the surrounding road over the mountain (which takes half an hour) is in use. Hopefully it’s temporary, so hopefully this 15 minute drive information will be live in 2016. Also note that around the whole peninsula there are lots of little coves with beautiful beaches and caves that you need a boat for.

Claim Assos
This Venetian fortress is one of the largest in Greece, offering a fantastic view of the city itself and its surroundings. After the devastating earthquake in 1953, it was largely destroyed, so you can see only the remains of the former churches (St. Mark’s Church), chapels, bell towers and gates. Of the original 4 gates, only two have been preserved today. The fortress was built in 1593 to protect the population from pirate attacks, by Janis Moncenig. Big battles were fought here, so the fortress had a significant strategic role in the defense of the place and the harbor where the Venetian galleys were anchored.

During the Second World War, a prison for German prisoners of war was located here, where the prison cells can still be seen. After the Second World War, there is a prison here again, but now for political prisoners, who served their sentence by cultivating the land along the coast.

A nice trail leads from the town center to the fortress. For all those who have an adventurous spirit, and all those who do not find it strenuous, we sincerely advise to climb up to the fortress. It is best in the morning or early evening, because of the high heat. It takes you about 40 minutes to reach the top (1.8 km). Halfway up there is the Church of the Virgin Mary, where you can rest and take some good photos of the harbor. Because of the magnificent view from above, this effort is worth it in any case. With every step, the view is more beautiful. We set off in the hottest part of the day, and believe me, we didn’t really feel it much, looking at the beauty of Assos and its surroundings. Inside the fortress there is a monastery (we found it closed), and the fortress is illuminated at night.