If you want to discover an important piece of history of the island of Kefalonia you cannot miss the ancient Castle of Agios Georgios (San Giorgio) built by the Byzantine emperors in the XII century AD. It is an imposing well-preserved medieval castle, built in a strategic position, to protect the ancient capital of the island from invaders but not only ..
It was the residence of nobles and officials of the island and has been the capital of Kefalonia for centuries. During the Venetian period, the Castle of Agios Georgios housed a small well-organized city, which included two churches, cisterns, tanks of boiling water and oil, a hospital, an underground prison, a warehouse for grain and legumes, ovens and everything needed for withstand a long siege.
History of the castle
The castle, built during the Byzantine domination, fell first into the hands of the Franks, then of the Turks and finally of the Venetians, who ruled the island for over 600 years.
In 1500, after a long battle which saw the local Venetians and Spaniards ally, the castle was freed by the Turks. The serious damage suffered by the building was repaired thanks to the restoration directed by the engineer Tsimaras, which lasted 4 years. The walls that we can still see today date back to the restoration carried out in that period by the Venetians. The castle then suffered serious damage due to the earthquakes of 1636 and 1637. The ancient town, which counted up to 15,000 inhabitants, remained the capital of Kefalonia until 1757 AD, the year in which it was moved to Argostoli.
Description of the castle
Considered the oldest fortress on the island, it measures a total of 16,000 square meters. The three bastions of the Castle, decorated with coats of arms, face respectively Argostoli, Peratata, and the east. One of them hides a secret tunnel that leads to the Argostoli lagoon.
The Castle of Agios Georgios also includes tunnels, observatories, sites for cannons and the remains of a bridge still visible. Inside the Castle, in addition to the ancient tower, called "Old Fortress", you can admire part of the walls, arches in the subsoil, a throne belonging to the Venetian Lord and a Catholic church, where the nobles were buried.
Under the walls of the castle is the Kastro (the village) with the remains of some ancient houses and churches, such as the magnificent monastery of Agios Andreas, with 17th-century frescoes, various icons and a relic of the saint. In the inner part and in the village to the east of the entrance there are other churches and ancient buildings. You will also see the metropolitan church of Evangelistria, which preserves post-Byzantine icons originally belonging to the castle churches now destroyed.
In the courtyard of the fortress near a square the ruins of the Catholic church of Agios Nikolaos are still visible.
How to get to the castle
The castle is located on the top of a 320m high hill, near the village of Peratata and 5 km from Argostoli, the main town of Kefalonia. The castle of San Giorgio owes its name to the large church of the same name which is located in the region.
You can easily reach the beautiful Castle of Agios Georgios by car or scooter, from the capital Argostoli. If you are sporty you can also organize a bike excursion and reach the fortress with a nice ride. The mix of sport and culture is always a winner!
When you arrive at the castle you will find that in addition to the remains of this ancient fortress you can admire a splendid panoramic view that ranges from the surrounding green plains to the crystal clear waters of the Ionian Sea and all the effort will be rewarded.
Don't miss this beautiful experience full of history and mystery!
The castle is open during the summer, at the following times:
8.30 - 15.00
Closed on Mondays