Exploring Kefalonia: Drogarati Caves

Another much-loved attraction on the island of Kefalonia are the Drogarati Caves. Handily located a short drive from Melisanni lake you can cross both off your 'to do' list in the same trip. The cave is around 60 feet below ground and entrance to the cave is accessed by numerous steep steps.

Once you have descended to the cave, make sure you have your camera handy. The 44 metre walk around the cave is spectacular and the stalactites and stalagmites (do you know the difference between the two? ) provide great subjects to photograph. The cave is easy to explore and a carpeted area (wet in places!) guides you obstacles of steps and slopes on your cavernous encounter.

The largest cavern 'Sala of Apotheosis' is 900m2 and is illuminated. The acoustics in this particular cave are some of the best, and occasional concerts are performed here. Maria Callas came to the caves for a visit and was so thrilled by the potential sound quality she did a performance with a few hundred people attending. Since then, many famous artists have performed in this fascinating hall. Some of the plucky tourists brave enough to sing will astound you with the sounds and echo’s. I was lucky to visit at the same time as a trained opera singer and the sound created was marvellous as we stood in awe to listen. 

There is speculation that the cave is 150 million years old, and the natural stalactites and stalagmites have been forming spectacularly over the period (around 1cm every 100 years) from rainwater filtering into the cave. However, the caves were only discovered some 300 years ago when a strong earthquake uncovered the entrance to the caves. Cave experts (Speleologists) have confirmed that the cave is bigger than we can see, but the area is not approachable. That means that the cave is probably connected with other caves in the area. caves have a history of their own and was said to have been used by the Germans during their occupation of the island as storage for their ammunition.

 Please take care when visiting the attraction, and resist the urge to touch the rock formations. Some have been broken due to human intervention (some through earthquakes) and it would be nice to preserve the caves for future generations.