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SKALA Agriculture and a little fishing remained the lifeblood of the village until the 1980’s and 90’s when Skala ‘new’ village, running up the hill from the beach, became quietly popular with visitors looking for a beach holiday with a more authentic village atmosphere than purpose-built Lassi. As Kefalonia’s popularity as a tourist destination increased, Skala was willing and able to meet demand and, over the last few years, Skala has slowly expanded onto the plain along the beach and up along the cliffs to Poros. |
| The remains
of Old Skala can still be found dotted around the hillside
above the ‘new’ village and, for fifty years, lay as a
memorial to the tragic events of 1953. Recent demand for
villa holidays has resulted in the construction, in
sympathetic style, of many luxurious holiday villas in Old
Skala and the track up to the village has been surfaced
for easier access. Although the comfortable modern tourist complexes mostly offer pool and restaurant facilities, Skala beach and village remain the focal point, where Italian and Chinese food can be found in addition to the many Greek tavernas. Fans of British beer and football won’t be disappointed, either. |
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Stone
Age
remains were discovered in the Sakkos cave, near the end
of the beach and culture vultures can easily view the
remains, near the small fishing harbour in the area of
Agios Georgios outside Skala, of three Doric columns
beside the foundation stones of a small temple dedicated
to the god Apollo by ancient sailors. Also, just on the edge of the village, can be found remains of a Roman villa, dating to the 2nd century AD and excavated in 1957, with three well preserved mosaic floors. The villa is thought to have been destroyed by fire around two hundred years after construction and an Early Christian church was erected on the remains. This, too, was consumed by fire and later replaced by the church of Agios Athanasios. All of which indicates that the Brits were not the first to discover this delightful area. Today Skala offers something for everyone, including tour and car hire offices, estate agencies, three doctors and two cash point machines, as well as the usual grocery and gift shops, a sub-post office, etc. |
'Skala' is the Greek word for steps, or stairs, and a flight of steps leads from the main square, at the bottom of the main street, down through the pine trees to the long beach. |
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Skala North |
Maps Skala Central |
Skala South |
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