Why has there been so much hype about Cephallonia lately

Asks alicevida

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Q. So did the film crew film the island as it is today or did they use special effects to enhance it, as they did with Koh Phi Phi in Thailand when the film version of The Beach was made

A. Some special effects were used. In The Guardian/Rough Guide special edition guide to Cephallonia the film's producer Kevin Loader states that he thought he would have to film on Corfu to capture the dramatic landscape and blue Ionian waters evoked in the book because there was nothing left standing in Argostoli, particularly the Venetian buildings, that could be realistically filmed. After searching the whole of Greece to come up with an alternative venue, with a waterfront described in the book, he returned to Cephallonia and recreated Argostoli in the principal ferry port of Sami, by hiding the concrete buildings behind a Venetian fa�ade.

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Q. Are Argostoli and Sami good places to visit today

A. Much of Argostoli was ruined by an earthquake in 1953, but some pre-earthquake architecture remains today and its waterfront area doubles up as a working port by day and a promenade at night. It attracts a lot of tourists because it has some good restaurants and bars and is only a 20-minute walk from the popular resort of Lassi. It is the capital of the island with its Kefallinia airport serving Cephallonia.

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Sami's town centre is not the most attractive place on the island but it does have a great long sandy beach, and the fact that it is not completely overcrowded by tourists can make it a very attractive place to visit. Daily ferries arrive here from Ithaca and Astakos on the mainland.

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Q. In what part of Greece is Cephallonia, and is it a good holiday destination

A. Cephallonia is one of the Ionian Islands that lie off the west coast of Greece. The other Ionian Islands are Corfu, Ithaca, Lefkas, Paxos, Zakinthos, Kythira and Andikythira.

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The largest of the Ionian Islands, it is a good holiday destination because it has resisted much of the mass tourism that has invaded neighbouring Corfu and Zakinthos since the late 1970s, but it is likely to have a lot more visitors if the film is very successful (it was released in the UK on 4 May, so its popularity is yet to be gauged). However, since the mid-1980s its seaside resorts have been upgraded so it is well equipped for foreign visitors.

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Q. Where are the best beaches on the island

A. The southern beaches are sandy and therefore attract most tourists, and those in the north are pebbly.

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Myrtos in the north is the most famous beach on Cephallonia and its white beach is often photographed and used to promote the Ionian Islands as a holiday destination. It only has one restaurant on the beach and nowhere to stay, so it is definitely a day trip destination - but be prepared to fight the crowds in mid-summer as the beach will be packed.

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Skala boasts some of the best beaches on the southeast side of the island, surrounded by uncharacteristic pine trees.

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Poros, along the coastal road from Skala, comprises two bays the most northerly one attracting most of the tourist traffic. It is a favourite with package holiday makers, and its fa�ade has seen better days.

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Lassi is a very busy package resort, but from here you can access some nice beaches in Platys Yialos, Makrys and Yialos that are good for day trips.

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Q. When is the best time to visit

A. June to September is the hottest time to year and the busiest, with July and August the peak time, so best avoided. After October many restaurants and hotels can be closed, so make sure there are some facilities open if you plan to visit off peak.

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Q. Can you fly direct to Cephallonia from the UK

A. Yes, flights to Cephallonia (and Corfu and Zakinthos) leave from Gatwick and regional British airports - nearly all are charter flights. At the moment it is not possible to take a direct scheduled flight to the island, you will have to change at Athens.

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By Karen Anderson