Platies Travel Guides
Our favourite places around Platies
A visit of the Monastery of Zoodohou Pigis approx. 20 min drive uphill from Platies via Kolaitis and Arginia. This is not only a spectacular viewing point, but you are quite likely to encounter mountain goats and the semi-wild horses of Mount Aenos here. The area around the monastery is their natural habitat, as the island’s only freshwater spring here provides just enough water to sustain people, sheep, goats and these hardy horses.
The horses, which live on the southeastern slopes above the village of Arginia, are said to owe their existence to an ancient custom among local farmers, allowing their horses to roam wild in the mountains. Abandoned after World War II, the horses lived in small groups until around a decade ago. Despite the challenging climate and difficult territory of Mount Aenos, which offers little shelter, they survived for many decades. Their adaptation and natural breeding in the wild have led to a purebred through the process of natural selection. Today only one herd remains, and this breed of horses may become extinct over time. (Read more)
Mount Aenos Dark Sky Park
“The International Dark Sky Park of Mount Aenos National Park is an area that possesses an exceptional or distinguished quality of starry nights and a nocturnal environment that is specifically protected for its scientific, natural, educational, cultural heritage, and/or public enjoyment. It is the first National Park of Greece to be designated as the International Dark Sky Park.” Mt. Aenos National Park has its own observatory and astronomical research centre. The Research Foundation of Kefallinia (RFK) “EUDOXOS” is the administrational centre of an Astronomical Observatories Complex on the 1070 m plateau of the Aenos Mountain.
“Star nights in Aenos provide participants with an incredible experience of the starry sky. With the telescopes of the park, visitors can observe nebulae, clusters, planets and other night sky objects. With the use of a green laser, visitors learn to navigate the night sky and name stars and constellations. The locations that are used for astronomy nights and astronomical observing in general are the parking at the entrance (free access) and in the protected zone the picnic area and [the] ‘Thea’ [area].”
More information on ‘Star Night’ dates are made available on the Aenos Dark Sky Park Website, updates will be published a couple of days before the event via their Facebook Page. There you will find details on how to best reach Mount Aenos National Park by car from your location and on how to access a Star Night event during your holiday in Kefalonia.