Public cemetery, Argostoli, Public cemetery in Argostoli, Greece
The Public Cemetery of Argostoli is a protected cemetery near the north end of the Drapanos Bridge on the island of Kefalonia, surrounded by tall pine and fir trees. It holds marble and stone monuments from different periods, as well as the graves of more than 200 British servicemen and their families.
The earliest known burial in this cemetery dates to 1681, when a man named Master Blackwell was laid to rest. The next recorded burial did not take place until 1710, when John Genaros, from a merchant family originally from Brol in England, was buried near the south wall, where his gravestone can still be seen.
The cemetery in Argostoli has been recognized by the Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe since 2016 for its artistic value. Many of its grave monuments were carved by known Greek sculptors and local stonecutters, so walking among them feels like moving through an open-air sculpture gallery.
The cemetery sits close to the Drapanos Bridge along the road toward Lixouri, making it easy to reach from the center of Argostoli. Wear comfortable shoes, as the paths between the grave markers can be uneven, and plan your visit for daylight hours.
During World War II, the cemetery was hit in an Italian bombing raid in 1943, and the 1953 earthquake caused further damage to the site. Despite both events, many of the original grave markers and monuments have survived or been carefully restored.
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