Skala, Cephalonia

Skala (Greek: Σκάλα) is a village located in the municipal unit of Eleios-Pronnoi, some 39 km south from the island's main town of Argostoli and 14 km SW of Poros, in the south of Cephalonia, one of the Ionian Islands of Greece.

Skala

Σκάλα
Skala
Coordinates: 38°4′N 20°47′E
CountryGreece
Administrative regionIonian Islands
Regional unitCephalonia
MunicipalityCephalonia
Municipal unitEleios-Pronnoi
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Rural
760
Community
 • Population923 (2011)
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)

During the summer, Skala becomes a popular holiday destination.

Villages

The community of Skala consists of the following villages:

  • Skala, pop. 760
  • Aleimmatas, pop. 20
  • Ratzakli, pop. 118
  • Fanies, pop. 25

History

The current village was built in 1956 and replaces the old village which was levelled during the 1953 Ionian earthquake, killing 36 and injuring hundreds of villagers. The original village was located on the hill behind the present one, as many of the island's were, in order to avoid invasion from raiders and pirates during the previous centuries. The name 'Skala' originates from the Greek word for stairs. It was given this name because when it was in its original place, the houses seemed to ascend almost as though they were a set of stairs.

On the edge of the present village is the remains of a 3rd-century Roman villa with some remarkably well preserved mosaics. Visitors can visit the site free of charge to see the mosaic flooring in three rooms, which were excavated in 1957.

Three kilometres along the beach road towards Poros is the site of a 7th-century Temple dedicated to the god Apollo. Here you can see the foundation stones and parts of three Doric columns.

During the months of April through to October, Skala becomes a popular tourist resort. With award-winning beaches, a plentiful amount of hotels and many restaurants, the town’s population quadruples during the summer months.

Agriculture

Skala was a farming community up until the onset of tourism 20 years ago. Most families had and still have fields or small holdings on which they grow summer and winter vegetables, together with their wine producing vineyards, and olive trees providing Greece's elixir of life, olive oil. Orange, lemon, walnut, almond and fig trees have been planted throughout the area.

Herds of goats, sheep and cows freely roam the hillsides around Skala. Multi coloured beehives can be seen dotted around the fields and hillsides, producing Cephalonia's thyme flavoured honey.

Transport

Buses link Skala with the island's main town Argostoli, twice in the morning during the summer months - this reduces to a single service during the winter. Only one bus returns to Skala in the afternoon once the shops in Argostoli close at 2pm. There is also a bus connecting Skala to Poros.

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References
  1. "Απογραφή Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2011. ΜΟΝΙΜΟΣ Πληθυσμός" (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority.
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