A lot of travellers, who arrive to Greece are mad about lighthouses, and we have good news: Kefalonia Island has also some of the iconic Greek lighthouses! The lighthouses of Kefalonia, or as the locals say, Faros (Pharos) have guided the sailors of the Ionian Sea for centuries, and were the primary navigational buildings between other islands such as Ithaca or Zakynthos.
According to local archeologists the foundations of the oldest lighthouses of Kefalonia date back to the ancient times, but during the centuries these buildings were destroyed several times by eartquakes of military forces. The most significant local lighthouses, which can be visited today, were built or rebuilt since Venetian times.
Saint Theodoroi Lighthouse (Agios Theodoros, Fanari)
A small, but beautiful lighthouse of Kefalonia is located near Argostoli, just a few kilometers away from Lassi. It is known as Saint Theodore Lighthouse or Fanari (Agios Theodoros, or Φάρος Αγίων Θεοδώρων in Greek) which is one of the iconic lighthouses of Kefalonia Island. The St. Theodore Lighthouse was built on a small peninsula in 1828 during the British rule of the Ionian Islands to a strategic position, into the entrance of the bay before Argostoli.

The original building of Agios Theodoros with its Doric-style columns was a typical British construction from the 19th century, exemplifying the island’s strategic importance in the Ionian Sea. Saint Theodore Lighhouse was designed by Joseph Gandy, a British architect, who planned a circular shape with a colonnade of more than 20 Doric-style columns. The open design and minimalistic style make it a blend of neoclassical and ancient Greek architectural influences.

Agios Theodoros lighthouse is not as high as other lighthouses in Greece (such the lighthouse of Chania in Crete), because the entrance of the bay is not much wide. Unfortunately the original building of St. Theodore Lighthouse was totally destroyed in the 1953 earthquake, but is was rebuilt based on the original, preserving the beauty of the first lighthouse.

Today with its whitewashed walls the St. Theodore Lighthouse (Fanari) is one of the most significant attractions in the area of Lassi and Argostoli, offering a tiny, but also a very picturesque sight. It can be accessed easy both from Lassi and Argostoli on the coastal road by car, or by hiking from Lassi. It is very popular spot for both tourists and locals, especially the sunsets are magical here! So if you are looking for great sunset photos, just take a trip to St. Theodore Lighthouse, or Fanari!

It’s worth to know that this scenic lighthouse is situated just a few hundres meters away from the Sinkholes of Argostoli (Katavothres), which is an interesting natural phenomenon of Kefalonia. If you are discovering this area, you can easily connect a visit of these local attractions, and can take memorable photos for your holiday.
And if you are in playful mood, just count the colums, how much is it really!
Venetian Lighthouse of Fiskardo
Kefalonia oldest Venetian lighthouse can be find in the north part of the island, near the village of Fiskardo. This lighthouse (Φάρος Φισκάρδου) was built by the Venetians for the ships which sail in the northwest, especially between Kefalonia and Ithaca. The walls of the old building were renewed and whitewashed a few times in recent decades, but the shape of the Venetian lighthouse was remained in original. Despite the fact that it is not in ruined condition, a new lighthouse was constructed in Fiskardo a few decades ago, near to the old one.

The Venetian Lighthouse of Fiskardo is a literally a cylindrical stone tower (some say it reminds to a giant chimney), which is quite typical of traditional Venetian lighthouse designs, but it isn’t tall, just a few meteres high. Its robust and straightforward design reflects its practical purpose and also the Venetian architectural influence, which dominated most of the Ionian Islands in the middle ages.

The old lighthouse is not operating now, but the new one directly next to the Venetian Lighthouse of Fiskardo is helping for yachts and fishing boats which arrive to the port. The new lighthouse is significantly higher with its height of 14 meters. As you can see on the photos, the lighthouses of Fiskardo are standing on the northenmost side of the village, which can be accessed by hiking from the port. The buildings are surrounded by pine and olive trees, literally the lighthouses are in a forest.

Due to the shallow and rocky seabed, these lighthouses saves thousands of lifes during centuries. There is an another historical sight in the forest, the old ruins of an early Christian Basilica, which was built in 6th AD.
Gerogompos Lighthouse
One of the most typical Greek lighthouse in Kefalonia Island is located in Paliki Peninsula, near the small Lagkadakia beach. This lighthouse is known as Gerogompos Lighthouse (Φάρος Γερόγομπος), helping to navigate on the southwestern waters of Kefalonia. Gerogompos Lighthouse is quite tall and it is not an old one, because it was built just in recent decades, made from concrete. It’s shape is a classical Greek lighthouse, which means it is a circle tower built over a small house.

The whitewashed walls of Gerogompos Lighthouse reminds many travellers to the iconic Lighthouse of Lefkada, which stands on the cliffs of Cape Doukato – they were really made according to a similar plan. The area of this lighthouse is barren, just some bushes grow here – the contrast is high compared to the Venetian Lighthouse of Fiskardo.

Vardiani lighthouse
In front of Xi beach, about 2 kilometers away there is a small island, known as Vardiani. This tiny island has its own lighthouse, mentioned often as Faros (Φάρος) or Vardiani Lighthouse. This small grey lighthouse can be reached on a footpath, but just after your boat docked in the north port of Vardiani island – the surroundings of the lighthouse are very rocky from direction of the sea.

Due to the shallow waters near the sandy Xi beach and sharp rocks of the seabed around Vardiani, this lighthouse is a great and essential navigation point for boats, which sail in this area.
Sami old lighthouse
The old lighthouse of Sami is located about 5 kilometers away from the town, at the end of the peninsula wich faces to Ithaca Island. This Kefalonian lighthouse (maps mention it often as Παλιός Φάρος Σάμης) is ruined condition, and literally it looks just an old ruined stonehouse. Some decades ago this lighthouse was replaced by a newer, which is a simple metal lighthouse. These buildings can be reached by a narrow and poor hiking trail only, which starts between Sami village and Antisamos beach.
Final Thoughts about Kefalonia’s Lighthouses
The lighthouses of Kefalonia belong the best local attractions of the island, because these buildings touch almost every traveller’s heart. But don’t forget, these Greek lighthouses are not just touristic sights, but very important buildings for marine navigation, and many of them has historical, architectural, and cultural importance also.

Each lighthouse tells a small piece from the history of Kefalonia, from Venetian and British rule to natural disasters like the 1953 earthquake. The most popular lighthouse are Saint Theodoroi (Agios Theodoros) between Argostoli and Lassi, the lighthouses of Fiscardo and Gerogompos – especially the first one is a favourite due for its really easy access, for its picturesque location and unforgettable sunsets. The other lighthouses in Kefalonia may be also interesting for some traveller’s, but the other have difficulter access.
If you are a lighthouse fan and planning to visit the most beautiful lighthouses in Kefalonia, we suggest a trip to St. Theodoroi in Argostoli, a short hiking to the lighthouse of Fiskardo, and to the barren hills of Gerogompos.