Greece is home to lots of incredible natural gems from the towering rocky stacks of Meteora to the almost-too-perfect-to-be-real beaches of Balos and everything in between. Those who have found a
vacation rental in Greece will quickly discover that the variety and quality of both ancient man-made tourist attractions and architectural gems for which Greece is famous is very much matched by an equal abundance of diverse and extraordinary natural phenomena and beauties. No matter where you are headed, there will, no doubt, be astounding landscapes and natural features to uncover and devour with your eyes and if you have found a
vacation rental in Kefalonia, in particular, and you are exploring her landscape, then the most obvious pick among her rich selection of natural gems is the
Cave of Melissani.
This truly unique and picturesque cave seems like something plucked from the pages of a fantasy novel: too ethereal and stunning in the soft morning rays or warm golden glow of the evening to be real. But, real it is! Located just outside
Sami, the Cave of Melissani is home to an underwater lake so clear that visitors often report it felt like they were on a boat floating through the air and which is visible from above through a large opening in the top of the chamber. This opening is hugged by the lush trees of the forest and this paints a vividly colourful and picturesque image when it is viewed from both above and from inside the cave itself. B-shaped, the cave is 3.5km long, 40m wide, and 36m high and made up of two chambers that are separated by an island at the centre. In Greek mythology, the cave was said to be the home of
nymphs – something that seems entirely plausible when one visits this hauntingly beautiful space – and it is actually named after a nymph called Melissani who killed herself and fell in the lake after Pan failed to return her love in one tale.