Kateleios

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Kateleios
Κατελειός
Statistics
Prefecture: Kefalonia
Province: Sami
Municipality: Elaios-Pronnoi
Municipal district: Markopoulo
Location:
Latitude:
Longitude:
38.08 (38°4'45") N
21.75 (21°45") E
Population: (2001)
-Municipal district
-Village
Percent of the municipality
467
92
7.57%
Altitude:
 -lowest and centre:
Ionian Sea
northeastern part
Postal code: 280 86
Area/distance code: 11-(00)30-26710
Car designation: KE

Kateleios a.k.a Katelios (Greek: Κατελειός), is a picturesque village in the municipality of Elios-Pronnoi, some 35 km SE of Argostoli, 15 km S of Poros and 7 km SW of Skala, in the southeast of Kefalonia, one of the Ionian Islands of Greece.

Located at the western end of Mounda Bay, and separated from the main bay by a small outcrop of rocks, Katelios is situated in a large, flat plain between the villages of Hionata, Mavrata, Markopoulo and Ratzakli. Ano Katelios, the old village, is where most of the small resident population live while Kato Katelios has slowly developed as a very relaxed summer resort, famous on Kefalonia for its seafood and offering a superb view across the Ionian Sea to Zakynthos (Zante).

Contents

[edit] Nearest places

[edit] Geography and Information

  • Location:
    • Longitude: 20.75 (20°45') E
    • Latitude: 38.08 (38°4'45") N
  • Postal code: 28086
  • Elevation: Ionian Sea
  • Dialing code: ++30 26710 (0030 26710)

[edit] Population

Year Population Change Percent of
Municipal district		 Percent of
municipality
1981 - - - -
1991 84 - - -
2001 42 -42/-50% 15.44% 1.09%

[edit] History, Agriculture, Tourism

Stone Age remains have been found nearby in the Sakkos cave, Skala and in the Mounda Bay area. At nearby Mavrata there's a (very hard to find) tomb from the Mycenaean period while Roman remains visible just behind the main Agia Barbara beach indicate settlement in Katelios over 2000 years ago. Although Mounda Bay is very shallow there is also some evidence that Katelios was a port and trading centre during the Venetian period, witnessed by the remains of an old pier or mole in the bay.

During the Second World War the British submarine HMS Perseus sank between Katelios and nearby Zakynthos after striking a mine. The only survivor, John Capes, was rescued by fishermen from nearby Mavrata and sheltered there from the occupying forces.

More recently, Katelios has been, and largely still is, an active agricultural area with fertile soil irrigated by streams, one flowing year-round, from the mountains above. These streams powered water-mills from the Roman period until quite recently and there is a very pleasant walk, taking in the remains, down from Pastra to Katelios.

Like virtually all of Kefalonia (except the Fiskardo area), Katelios was all but destroyed during the earthquake of 1953 and has been rebuilt since. Remains of the old church bell-tower exist in Ano Katelios.

Until quite recently Kato Katelios was a small collection of fishermen’s houses and huts, some of which are still inhabited. Over the last ten-fifteen years Katelios has slowly been discovered by tourists and Kato Katelios has slowly grown to meet the demand, with tourist accommodation gradually lining the road between Kato and Ano Katelios. Most of the tourist accommodation is block-booked during the summer by British tour companies but there is a variety of independent accommodation available (although vacancies can be very hard to find on Kefalonia during peak season).

Katelios is the home base for the Katelios Group. Based in the old schoolhouse near Kato Katelios, and with an information kiosk in Kato Katelios, the Katelios Group is a local NGO (Non-Governmental Organisation) that promotes the concept of slow, sustainable development in a carefully controlled manner. In particular, it seeks to research and protect the population of Loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) and their natural habitats on the island (principally at Mounda Bay).

[edit] Local services

[accommodation] [www.captainsvillas.gr]

  • Handful of tavernas and bars
  • Three general stores (aka ‘mini-markets’)
  • Bakery shop
  • Tourist shops and car & motorcycle/scooter hire

[edit] Local attractions

  • Mounda Bay (a.k.a. ‘Turtle beach’)
  • Koroni Beach (only accessible by foot, 4x4 or boat)
  • The Church of the Virgin in Markopoloulo, famous for its ‘Snake Festival’ on 14/15th August
  • Roman remains at Skala
  • Metaxas Winery, Mavrata

[edit] Transportation

  • Fairly reliable but infrequent bus service to Argostoli. Ditto to Skala and Poros.
  • Taxis tend to work out of Skala during summer. Car and motorcycle/scooter hire available in Katelios.

[edit] External links

[edit] See also

The municipality of Eleios-Pronnoi
Municipal districts with settlements in brackets
Agia Eirini | Agios Georgios | Agios Nikolaos | Argini | Chionata (Kolaitis | Thiramonas) | Markopoulo (Kateleios | Kato Kateleios) | Mavrata | Pastra (Kremmydi) | Poros (Asprogerakas | Kampitsata | Riza | Tzanata) | Skala (Alimata | Fanies | Ratzakli) | Valerianos (Atsoupades | Plateies) | Xenopoulo (Andriolata | Kapandriti)
Greece | Ionian Islands | Kefalonia | Sami? | Eleios-Pronnoi
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