Svoronata is a serene village in the southwest of Kefalonia, 9 kilometres from Argostoli and very close to the village of Lassi. Even though it is known for its close proximity to the airport, it is a peaceful and picturesque place, ideal for quiet holidays. It has been named after Coronel Svoronos who fought in Macedonia, Greece, in 1912. It is one of the few villages in Kefalonia where you can admire the traditional architecture in the way it used to be before the devastating earthquake of 1953.
It is quite a flat region, perfect for long walks in the winding and narrow streets. Have a walk early in the evening to enjoy the colourful gardens with the lovely scents from all sorts of flowers. There has been tourist development in Svoronata, but the place has retained the glory of the past and its traditional identity. Therefore, you will come across elements of the old art of the local blacksmiths. The village is the best location if you want to explore the rest of the island, as it is quite central.
However, there is no shopping area in Svoronata and the nightlife is very limited. You don’t have to worry about that, though, as Argostoli is twenty minutes away by car or bus. The public bus runs daily from the capital and can take you to the neighbouring villages as well. In Svoronata, there are a few mini markets to accommodate your basic needs and traditional taverns on the waterfront serving Greek dishes and delicious seafood. For dancing and clubbing, we suggest you head to Lassi or Argostoli where there are a lot of nightclubs and bars.
Despite the limited facilities and nightlife, the village of Svoronata offers a lot of options for accommodation, including many new resorts and villas. There are hotels with pools and beach bars for more luxurious holidays by the beach, self-catering apartments and studios for the more budget-conscious just a few metres away from the beach.
The closest beaches are those of Ammes, Ai-Helis and Avithos. Most of them are sandy beaches with quite shallow waters, ideal for families. Except for Avithos, which has begun to lose its sand and some parts of it are covered with big pebbles, the rest of the beaches have soft, golden sand. There are basic facilities, such as small snack bars, a few sun loungers and umbrellas in Ammes and Avithos, whereas Ai-Helis is a smaller beach in a secluded cove ideal for water sports and beach volley. Next to Ai-Helis are the so called “fields of gold” because of the post-war gold some locals found there and got rich.
If you would like to explore the area of Svoronata, it is worth visiting Lord Byron’s rock in Lakithra. It is a place where Lord Byron used to go to seek inspiration for his poems because of the peaceful scenery and the spectacular view of the Ionian Sea and Zakynthos.
In the neighbouring village of Ntomata, there is a small chapel with an impressive entrance and golden temple. Patriarch Gregory the fifth is buried there. In the church of Svoronata, which is the biggest on the island, you can admire beautiful frescoes on the walls.
Svoronata combines tourist development with tradition, the hustle and bustle of the airport with peaceful holidays and lovely beaches with busy cities nearby. What else can you ask for the perfect holidays in Greece?
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