Guardian of Light

The icon of Argostoli is the melancholic lighthouse of Agios Theodoros. Standing proudly beside its namesake church, the lighthouse has been through a lot. Known locally as Fanari (lantern), it is justifiably one of the most photographed lighthouses in Greece.

Since 1829, its light has been guiding sea traffic on approach to Kefalonia. Outstanding among other structures built during the British occupation, it is unique in its architecture, the 8-metre tower encircled by soaring Doric columns. The singular design is coincidental, as a windmill once stood in place of the lighthouse. To minimise costs, the English utilised the original structure by adding a central staircase and encircling the whole with 20 Doric columns for support; the island has frequent and powerful earthquakes. Unfortunately, this was not enough. In August 1953, a devastating earthquake flattened the lighthouse and a wealth of other architecture on the island. In 1964, the lighthouse was fully restored and has since undergone renovations due to exposure to the elements. Such is the fate of lighthouses everywhere: the ever-watchful guardians of seafaring voyagers.

TEXT : GEORGIA DRAKAKI | PHOTO : YIANNIS GIANNELOS