Beautifully colored houses nest on the steep slope of the hill, in a green landscape of pines and cypresses
To its northwest Of Kefalonianear the famous beach of Myrtos, there is a picturesque beautiful village called Assos and is built on a narrow isthmus that connects the steep peninsula of Assos with Kefalonia.
It was built at the end of the 16th century in the years of Venetian rule right in front of the steep peninsula, in the effort of the inhabitants to protect themselves from pirate raids.
From 1593 it was administrative capital of northern Kefalonia. Its traditional Ionian architecture with its colorful houses has been preserved for the most part, while at the same time there is its modern but discreet appearance that pleasantly surprises all visitors.
Beautifully colored houses nest on the steep slope of the hill, in a green landscape of pines and cypresses, overlooking the beautiful beach with crystal clear waters and the castle of the peninsulawhich together with that of Agios Georgios are considered one of the most important in Kefalonia.
Its fortress was of great strategic importance, while great battles took place in order to defend the island. For a few decades the castle of Assos was used by the Greek state as a prison.
The famous British general Charles James Napier (1782 – 1853) describes it as “even stronger than Gibraltar”. It has a square shape and in its 4 corners there are an equal number of bastions with special names.
Nowadays there are only ruins of the walls and other parts of the castle of Assos, as well as its temple St. Mark.
