Assos

Assos is a small village on the northwest coast, wedged onto a thin strip of land between the sea and a Venetian castle on the headland above. It's one of the most picturesque spots on the island — coloured houses arranged around a tiny harbour, with the castle ruins above and the sea visible on three sides.

The walk up to the Venetian castle takes about 30 minutes from the village and passes through a landscape of olive trees, scrub, and abandoned ruins. The castle itself is substantial — perimeter walls still largely intact, enclosing an area large enough to have housed a small community. The views from the walls are among the best on the island.

In the village below, a handful of tavernas and cafés make it a pleasant place for lunch. The harbour has a small beach suitable for swimming.

things to do sight neighbourhood
A story
Assos sits on a narrow isthmus connecting the mainland of Kefalonia to a small headland, with water on both sides. The Venetians built a castle on the headland in the 16th century, and the village below survived the 1953 earthquake with relatively little damage. The castle walls enclose a small abandoned settlement — roofless houses with cypress trees growing through them — that feels entirely removed from the tourist Kefalonia just a few kilometres away.