Visit unique beauty caves
Drogarati cave (3km away from Sami - Kefallonia) was discovered 300 years ago, due to the strong earthquake. According to the speleologists, this unique work of art has an age of more than 150 million years. It is 60 meters bellow ground, with a steady temperature of 18o Celsius and 90% humidity. Despite partial damage by earthquakes, the polychrome stalactites hanging from the roof like curtains still remain in the large underground chamber. The reflection of sunlight on them creates an unrealistic atmosphere. Is considered one of the best caves in Greece, the only one with such a large room (dimensions 65 x 45 and height 20 meters) where the main hall has excellent acoustics and is periodically used for concerts (up to 500 people) adding a specially designed platform. The red coloured formations are from the iron content in the rock and the white from chalk and limestone. A right hand corridor leads first to the Royal Balcony with its translucent stalagmites. From there you can see the Chamber of Exaltation with its marvellous acoustics from above.
Limnospilaio of Melissani is a unique geological phenomenon discovered in 1951, located 2 km northwest of Sami. This is one of the most significant sights on Kefallonia Island. According to mythology, caves have always been associated with the divine due to their enclosed beauty. Shaped like the letter B, the cave is 40 metres wide and 36 metres high and 3.5 metres long.
The natural entrance of the cave is vertical and was created by the collapse of a section of roof. Today an artificial entrance with stairs allows the visit to the cave. The lake below the surface is approximately 160m long, at a depth range of 10 to 40 m. Stalactites (20,000 years old) adorn most of the cave. The sun's rays create superb colour combinations in the transparent waters. Small boats offer a magnificent tour around the cave and its little island, just in the middle.
Melissani has its own myth; it was named after the nymph Melissani who committed suicide in the lake because Pan (the god) would not reciprocate her love. The dolphins are also involved in this myth, having been used by the nymph to carry messages to her beloved. You will see the shapes of dolphins in the stalactites within the cave, following this part of the story. Also ancient artifacts have been found in the limnospilaio dating back to the 3rd and 4th century BC (Hellenistic period).
