The area of Eleios-Pronni, mythological connected with Eleios and Pronnos or Pronnissos, spreads in the S.E. part of Kefallonia. Eleios-Pronni is plenty of spectacular places, evergreen “corners”, endless beaches and majestic resorts. The ruins of “Palaiokastro” and of the scattered strongholds in Arginia, Pyrgi and Pyrovouni remain to remind us about the glory of the ancient Thucydidian City-State of Pronnos. During the Frankish period Elios-Pronni was divided in some fiefs and was donated to the nobles. And in 1849 the historical blood-stained uprising of the residents in Scala signaled the end of the British Occupation.
Nature in Eleios-Pronni is generous, thus in the area there are considerable unique nesses. There are caves with wild doves, territories with age-long trees and all the kinds of the Mediterranean vegetation, creeks and springs gushing fresh clear water. You can meet nesting female marine’s turtles on the beach and in the sea you can see Monachus-Monachus seal. In the bottom of the sea near Mavrata there is the shipwreck of the English sub “Perseus” sunk on December 6th, 1941. In Eleios there are extraordinary vineyards and an important winery. Visit it and drink the wines. In Valeriano, a village near Marvrata, the great explorer Juan de Fuca was born.
During the summer many cultural events take place. The most important religious manifestation is in Markopoulo and in Arginia on August 15th, the day of the Holy Mother with the snakes.
Poros, Scala and Kateleios are fully organized. But, wherever you will stay don’t forget that Eleios-Pronni guarantees your conquest.
GETTING AROUND ELEIOS-PRONNI – PLACES OF INTEREST
SCALA: Fascinating resort full of pines with a fantastic long beach.
POROS: Picturesque and attractive village of unique beauty with a long sandy and pebbly beach. The port of Poros is daily connected with Kyllini.
THE CLOUGH OF POROS: Geomorphologic formation of unique, wild and imposing beauty. During the summer the river Vochinas cut across the clough dries though the planes on the banks are green. In the middle of the clough and in a protruding rock there is the “Path of the Evil” or the “Path of Hercules”, mythologically connected with the famous Greek hero.
DRACAINA’S CAVE: Place of excavations in Poros. The finds –pots, utensils, figurines and ornaments- are more than 5.500 years old. It lies at an altitude of 60 m. in an invisible place above Vochinas River.
PALAIOKASTRO: Fortified site over Saint Georgios and Kournelou small settlements. There are ruins of walls and cisterns.
MAVRATA: Vaulted tomb excavated by the archaeologist Marinatos.
BROUTZI TZANNATA: Royal tomb of 6,8 m. diameter dated between 1400-1050 b.C. The gold and glass finds, the copper pots and the engraved stones signal the presence of a strong Mycenaean centre. It came into light in 1991.
SAINT GEORGE IN KAPROS: In this site between Poros and Scala you can visit the ancient temple of Apollo of the 6th c. b.C. On the rocks facing the sea there are traces of an ancient quarry.
ROMAN VILLA: In Scala you can see the well-preserved roman mosaics of the 3rd c. a.C.
ATROS: The monastery of our Lady at Atros, the oldest monastery in Kefallonia is being mentioned from the 13th c. It is at an altitude of 535 m. to the northwest of Poros. Although the earthen road leading to the monastery is long, the view is breathtaking.
OUR LADY WITH THE SNAKES: Many worshippers come in Markopoulo, in Panagia Laggouvarda, on August, 15th to see the small snakes with the sigh of a red cross on their head. It is said that in 1953, in the year of the earthquake, the snakes did not appear.
OUR LADY IN ARGINIA: The same phenomenon as the above happens in the church in Arginia. The harmless snakes appear on August the 6th and disappear after the 15th.
OUR LADY IN ZOODOHOS PIGI: The old monastery was on the S.E. slope of Aenos Mountain. Now, there is a church in the same place. If you are patient you can see from a distance, near the spring, the short-bodied wild horse of Aenos.
BEACHES
MOUNTA: Clystal clear deep-blue sea with warm water.
SCALA: Fantastic, organized beach with a Blue Flag award. This beach is very long and is covered with tiny pebbles.
CAMINIA – RATZAKLI: a sandy beach before Scala. In the sea the turtle Caretta-Caretta, dolphins and the seal Monachus-Monachus swim.
POROS: Pebble beach, clear and clean.
ARAGIA: Organized beach, with a Blue Flag award.
AGIA VARVARA KATELEIOS: Nice, picturesque beach where you can sit in a tavern and enjoy fresh fish.
LIMENIA: A long sandy shore with fantastic small bays where the scattered huge rocks in the sea create good conditions for fishing. Between Poros and Scala the seal Monachus-Monachus is reproduced.
WALKING TOURS
The Municipality can provide you with maps and information.
PASTRA-KATELEIOS: Follow the path all along the river and the net of the water-mils of the area. You can see the two Byzantine churches. You can walk on the small wooden bridges. You can rest in some places formed for this purpose.
POROS: From Poros direct to Asprogerakas. You will walk next to some immense stones which do not obey to the law of gravity. You will smell sage and myrtle mixed with the saltiness of the sea. Try sitting under the shade of the cypresses and the planes. Don’t forget to have a look at the ancient fortifications and to drink fresh water from the springs. See the Vochinas River and admire the great Royal vaulted tomb in Tzannata.
Evridiki Livada