13. Asos, Kefalonia, Greece
Asos is a beatifull village on the Greek island of Kefalonia. The picturesque is located on the edge of the Erisos peninsula, on which Assos Castle sits enthroned.
The local community of Asos has approximately 100 inhabitants and is dear to travellers who have a penchant for everything peaceful and “secret”. Lined with bright asymmetrical houses, matched with verdant foliage against the cerulean Ionian Sea, Asos is perfect for an intimate nature retreat.
Cephalonia was notoriously attracted pirate raids and Turkish threat. This led the Venetian army to build Assos Castle in the 15th century. The viewpoint is the finest stronghold, which overlooks the island of Agia Kyriaki across the bay. Today the castle is open daily with no entry fee but you have to go up there on a stone path.
After the island of Lefkada was recaptured by the Venetians in 1684, the castle lost its national strategic importance, but was still used by the Venetians and the following powers as an administrative building, which is why the castle is now in a relatively complete structural condition. The two meter thick walls are remarkable.
