Description of the attraction
7 km southeast of the capital of the island of Kefalonia, Argostoli, above the small village of Peratata is the castle of St. George, or rather, the ruins of a once majestic building. This ancient fortification is one of the most famous historical landmarks of the island.
The Fortress of St. George is located on a hill, approximately 320 m high. Most likely, the territory in the vicinity of the castle has been inhabited since ancient times, since Mycenaean tombs were found nearby. The first written sources testifying to the strengthening of this hill belong to the Byzantine period (12th century). The location of the castle was of great strategic importance, and its walls were well protected from pirate raids.
The castle as we see it today was built by the Venetians in the early 16th century and until 1757 was the capital and administrative center of the island (known as Castro). The structure has a polygonal shape and covers an area of 16,000 sq. m. It was a well fortified city with residential and public buildings, food warehouses, hospitals, a prison, etc. Near a small square on the territory of the castles, today you can see the ruins of the Catholic Church of St. Nicholas. After another earthquake, the inhabitants of the fortress gradually moved to a well-protected natural bay, where they founded a new capital (modern Argostolion).
The abandoned castle was badly damaged in 1953, when a strong earthquake hit the island, but, nevertheless, the massive fortress walls survived. Subsequently, a partial reconstruction of the castle was carried out, and today it is open to the public.
From the top of the Fortress of St. George, stunning panoramic views open up.
