	Fossilfinds at Sami and Skala show the island inhabited as long ago as 50,000 BC but the first modern inhabitants were probably the Teleboes who werethemselves ousted by colonists from Attica under the command of Cephalus,from whom the island probably gets its name. In the Peloponesian wars,Kefalonia switched from Athens to Sparta and then suffered a long seriesof invasions by Romans, a motley assortment of Venetians, Italians, French,Russians and Turks. In 1799 the Autonomous Republic of United Ionian Islandswas founded but soon fell to the occupying French, then the British whoruled until eventual union with Greece in 1864. During World War II theisland was occupied by Italian and German forces and many islanders starvedunder the repressive regimes. When Italy surrendered around 9,000 Italiantroops stationed on the island were slaughtered by the Germans. For fivedays in 1953 the island was shaken by the worst earthquakes in its historyand tremors toppled buildings in virtually all towns and villages. Asyou wander around the island of Kefalonia, you will be indescribably impressed by the thrilling beauties you will encounter: endless lace-shaped shores, rich in sandy beaches and leeward little harbors, mountains covered withboth wild and cultivated vegetation, subterranean lakes, precipices andphantasmagoric caves, castles, monasteries and picturesque villages comeinto view, offering a unique scenery to the visitor.

Fossilfinds at Sami and Skala show the island inhabited as long ago as 50,000 BC but the first modern inhabitants were probably the Teleboes who werethemselves ousted by colonists from Attica under the command of Cephalus,from whom the island probably gets its name. In the Peloponesian wars,Kefalonia switched from Athens to Sparta and then suffered a long seriesof invasions by Romans, a motley assortment of Venetians, Italians, French,Russians and Turks. In 1799 the Autonomous Republic of United Ionian Islandswas founded but soon fell to the occupying French, then the British whoruled until eventual union with Greece in 1864. During World War II theisland was occupied by Italian and German forces and many islanders starvedunder the repressive regimes. When Italy surrendered around 9,000 Italiantroops stationed on the island were slaughtered by the Germans. For fivedays in 1953 the island was shaken by the worst earthquakes in its historyand tremors toppled buildings in virtually all towns and villages.

Asyou wander around the island of Kefalonia, you will be indescribably impressed by the thrilling beauties you will encounter: endless lace-shaped shores, rich in sandy beaches and leeward little harbors, mountains covered withboth wild and cultivated vegetation, subterranean lakes, precipices andphantasmagoric caves, castles, monasteries and picturesque villages comeinto view, offering a unique scenery to the visitor.