Kefalos
is a beautiful, picturesque village on the southwestern tip of the island,
about 42 km away from Kos town and 16 km away from the International Airport
"Hippocrates".
In ancient times it was called Astypalaia and until 366
BC, it was the capital of the island. The discovery of the cave of "Aspri
Petra" in the region shows that the first signs of life on the island date
back to the Neolithic Age.
There exist two versions of how Kefalos got its name. The
first version says that it was named Kefalos because it was the largest village
in ancient times, while the second and most well believed says that it owes its
name due to the shape of the area that looks like the head of a vulture.
Kefalos is separated into two parts: the traditional
village situated on the hilltop and waterfront called Kamari that is the
village's harbor. Opposite Kamari and very near, is the small island Kastri
with the church of St. Nicholas on top, one of the most photographed and iconic
landmarks of the island.
In Kefalos, preserving the tradition is a mainstay. A
prime example is its particular dialect, well spoken to this day. In the
traditional village the visitor encounters the typical island architecture with
narrow streets and houses next to each other. The traditional house of Kefalos
invites the visitor to discover the history, tradition and lifestyle of the
residents.
In Kamari, the seaside resort, the visitor meets the more modern
side of Kefalos. Restaurants for every culinary taste, traditional and trendy
cafes, nightclubs and numerous shops offer countless possibilities.
Kefalos is famous for its many beautiful beaches, among
the best in Greece and Europe, often awarded with Blue Flags.
Apart from its idyllic beaches, Kefalos is of significant
archaeological interest and historical, value. The Castle of Kefalos, dating
back to the Byzantine era and Early Christian churches (5th & 6th century)
at St. Stephen, are only some of the area’s findings
About 3 km south of the village, at "Palatia",
the visitor can see the ruins of the ancient capital, admire the ruins of the
temple of Demeter (5th century BC), A Hellenistic theater, a younger Doric
temple and the Lady Palatiani, with a spectacular view.
On the north side, about 5 km from the village, are the
bay and port of Limnionas - a welcoming haven for small fishing and tourist boats, and a quiet beach ideal for relaxing.
In the summer there are many cultural events, with most distinct
among those the Ouzo and Sardine Festival, but also the Agia Paraskevi (July
26) and St. John (August 29) Festivals.
Smaller sights in the region:
Palatia: In Palatia in Kefalos they found the statue of the Muse Clio, in the Sanctuary of Demetra of the ancient City Isthmioton. In the same area we can see a theater and two temples that date back since the Hellenistic period.
Small basilica of Kefalos: In this basilica there was found a tomb inside a sarcophagus build from large clay blocks, which allegedly guarded the bones of a saint or a martyr, since, according to historians, the layout of the area of the basilica is made in that way that testifies that the basilica was built as a worship building.
Basilica in Kamari Kefalas: The floor of this basilica was decorated with mosaics of various, mostly geometric designs. In addition, the basilica was decorated with many sacred symbols such as formations of fishes and dolphins along with a double anchor and a double axe, that we rarely find in the early Christian period.
Kasteli Kefalos: Just like the fortresses of Kos, this fort located in Kefalos, was reinforced by the Knights Hospitallier somewhere near the 14th century AD. In this strategically placed spot, the locals watched the traffic passing between Nisyros and Kefalos.
