The village of Assos and its Castle are located in the northwest of the island and make up a landscape of incomparable beauty.
The village is built amphitheatrically, facing the small, enclosed bay with its calm blue-green waters, the lush peninsula with the Castle at its top, and the open expanse of the Ionian Sea towards Myrtos Beach.
The houses are built and painted according to Kefalonia’s traditional architecture, taking visitors back on a journey through time.
A handful of old mansions, half-demolished by the great earthquake of 1953, round off the enchanting scenery.
A brief history of Assos and the Castle
The Assos Peninsula was chosen in 1585, during the Venetian occupation of the Ionian Islands, as the best location to build an impregnable fortress in order to protect the island from potential conquerors. The length of its walls is 2000 meters. The Venetians planned for Kefalonia’s new capital to be established there and so they urged the islanders to settle in the Castle. This project never materialised, even though at times the number of the Castle’s inhabitants was quite large. In the 1920s, the place was turned into a rural prison. Following the earthquake of 1953, the fortress was abandoned by its residents and the rural prison was shut down. The last resident left in 1963. Nowadays, the Castle is the venue for various cultural and artistic events that take place every summer.
Assos village gallery
Things to do in Assos
- Enjoy a swim in Assos’s sheltered bay which can be accessed by three pebble beaches.
- Walk up to the gate of the Castle at the top of the peninsula and take in the spectacular view of the village, then wander through the tree-covered grounds of the Castle.
- Savour a hearty breakfast or a traditional meal and a glass of Kefalonian wine at one of several local tavernas.
- Shop at Assos’s gift shops for souvenirs for family and friends back home.
- Stock up on supplies at the village’s super markets.
- Rent a boat with an outboard motor and explore nearby beaches which are only accessible by sea.
- Make a cash withdrawal or other bank transaction at the ΑΤΜ.
Getting to Assos
- From the airport, head towards Argostoli, drive around Koutavos Lagoon and follow the signs to Myrtos Beach, Assos and Fiskardo.
At the village of Divarata take the road to Assos.
In about 15km you’ll see the sign for Assos, at which point you’ll turn left off the main road and follow the winding mountain road down to the sea. - From the port of Poros, head towards Sami.
Before entering the town of Sami, turn left towards Agia Efimia.
At Agia Efimia turn left towards Myrtos Beach and Assos.
At the village of Divarata take the road to Assos.
In about 15km you’ll see the sign for Assos, at which point you’ll turn left off the main road and follow the winding mountain road down to the sea. - From the port of Sami, take the road out of town and turn right towards Agia Efimia.
At Agia Efimia turn left towards Myrtos Beach and Assos.
At the village of Divarata take the road to Assos.
In about 15km you’ll see the sign for Assos, at which point you’ll turn left off the main road and follow the winding mountain road down to the sea.
Nearby destinations
- Myrtos Beach
- Fiskardo
- Agia Efimia
- Alaties Beach
- Agia Ierousalim Beach
Useful phone numbers
- Taxi: (+30) 6936 229308
- General Physician: (+30) 2674 041213
- Pharmacy Fiskardo (+30) 2674 041220
- Police Sami: (+30) 2674 022100
- Health Center Sami: (+30) 2674 022222 & (+30) 2674 023720
- Coast Guard Sami: (+30) 2674 022031