Τhe Dark Sky Park of Mount Aenos.

Within the ‘Aenos National Park’ in Kefalonia, the Dark Sky Park is your ticket to exploring the wonders of our galaxy through a state of the art telescope. The park is currently being considered for membership by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA). It would be the first such facility in Greece connecting visitors with the infinitude of the universe. All you have to do is take the road to Aenos. The entrance to the park is at about 1,000 metres above sea level. That is where the Dark Sky team will greet you and provide guided tours of the observatory’s facilities. Camping overnight is arranged by appointment. During the day, visitors are free to wander the park’s 30,000 acres filled with Kefalonian Fir trees (Abies cephalonica). If you are fortunate enough, you might cross paths with the half-wild horses (Equus caballus) that roam the southeast region of the park. A recommended hiking path is from the abandoned village of Digaleto to Megas Soros, the region’s highest peak at 1,628 metres above sea level. Legends from antiquity speak of the mountain as a place of sacrifice to Zeus.

TEXT : MARIA MOURELATOU | PHOTOS : ANTONIS FARMAKOPOULOS