The road from there leads to the plateau of Omala, which is directly connected with the production of the well-known Cephalonian wines and especially that of Robola. The plateau is a sight for sore eyes as it extends over the hills with rich vineyards decorating the scenery. Before the crossroad for Sami-Argostoli-St. Gerassimos, take a minute to admire the dazzling view of Argostoli, which during the evening hours is breathtaking! Going towards St. Gerassimos, we pass through Frangata and Valsamata. Frangata is one of the well known villages in Cephalonia due to the Wine Festival that takes place there in August and attracts everyone on the island!
Passing through the "Valley of the 40 Wells", we reach the renowned Convent of St. Gerassimos who is the patron saint of the island. This is the place where the monk Gerassimos Notaras from Trikala Korinthias led a hermit's life and died. The old church of the Convent was built during the 16th century. The cave where the monk lived is preserved and is actually under the church. There is access to the cave, by a small chamber and a medium sized hole, from which one has to pass crawling to the main chamber. Here, two peculiar things happen. First, the mud, found in all caves, never stains the crawling visitors clothing, even if they are dressed in white. Second, while the hole is of medium size, everyone fits, irrespective of size. The faithful interpret these two phenomena as miracles of the Saint.
Besides the old and smaller church, there is a bigger church that was built after the 1953 earthquake. There, we can find the mummified remains of the Saint preserved and worshipped by the faithful pilgrims on 16th August, when a big litany takes place. The formal celebration of the Saint is on 20th October.
Going back, the road to the right leads to Mount Ainos (or according to the Venetians Monte Nero). It is the highest mountain in Cephalonia, full of the unique Cephalonian fir tree and inhabited by the Wild Horses. The view from the top is breathtaking.
On the way to Sami, don't miss the Drogarati Cave. After walking a descending corridor of 44 meters, we reach a hall of 30 x 40 meters that is decorated with stalactites and stalagmites. The cave also features a hall of wonderful acoustics, named Hall of the Apotheosis, where musical events take place.
Continuing on our way we find ourselves in Sami. This is the second largest port of the island with daily transport to Ithaca, Patras and Italy. This picturesque small town, which during the Sea Battle of Nafpaktos in 1571 was known as "Valle d' Allessandria", is full of life in the summer, with its sea road filled with bars, cafes, restaurants and pretty tourist shops. In the summer of 2000, Sami was the main shooting location of the film "Captain Corelli's Mandolin", transforming it from a small town into a Hollywood studio. Those of you who visited our island during that time, surely experienced unforgettable moments witnessing shootings of love and war scenes, such as bombardments etc. It seems as if the entire population participated in the film, some in the scenery department, others in costumes and others as extras, bestowing upon the film a true hue of Cephalonia.
The ancient town of Sami has been discovered at the northern part of the region, consisting of two preserved citadels, one of which has the name of "Kiatis", as well as ruins of the walls in St. Fanentes, from the Hellenistic period. In the same region we can see ruins from an ancient theatre, bathtub with unique mosaic ground, as well as three graves, dating from 3 c. B.C.
The town of Sami has two beaches. One is found on the road towards the Port Authority which attracts families and tourists, and the other, a favourite among youngsters, is at the opposite side of Sami. In the latter we can find a camping resort with many facilities and a spectacular view overlooking the sea.
If you have a car, you can visit Antissamos, which is just outside Sami. The beach is one of most splendid in Cephalonia and is worth visiting just to see the natural landscape. Above the beach road, we can see the Convent of Virgin Mary of Agrilia.
The Church of St. Spiridonas, a fine sample of baroque Byzantine architecture can be seen at nearby Poulata village. There are several small caves in the same area: Agalaki with its underground lake, the cave of St. Theodori, the cave of St. Eleoussa, the cave of Zervati and the cave of Hiridoni.
Going up the road, we reach Karavomilos. You may sit and enjoy the view at the lake side cafe. Up to a few years ago,the citizens of Karavomilos organised dances every week, attracting everybody on the island. Unfortunately this custom seems to have stopped. Additionally, in Karavomilos we can see the exquisite lake of Melissani, which is protected by a cave. According to archaeological discoveries, during antiquity the cave was the sanctuary of god Panas. The waters from Argostoli's Katavothres end up in Melissani Lake.
On the road to St. Efimia, the visitor has the chance to marvel at many small picturesque coves. Eventually, we end up in the beautiful sea-side village of St. Efimia, which is the capital of Pilaros. Its organized beaches, tourist facilities, and excellent restaurants allow the visitor to relax and relish traditional dishes like the well-known meat pie. The harbor of St. Efimia gives yacht owners the opportunity to moor, bestowing a cosmopolitan air to the town. If you happen to be there in August, do not forget to attend August 6th the feast of Sotiras (Saviour), and, on August 15th the feast of Anatolikos Convent. In the outskirts of St. Efimia we come upon the villages of Makriotika, Potamianata, Divarata, Drakopoulata and Ferentinata. In the village of Antipata a statue is erected in honor of Marinos Antypas, a local who died in the farmer uprising in Kileler - Thessaly.