Kefalonia Lixouri

Lixouri is the capital of the Palli Peninsula and theof the Miniates, the Holy Trinity, St Charalambos,
second largest town on the island. Its name, in thethe Pantocrator, Our Lady of the Perlingades and
older form Lixourion, first appears in a protestSt Gerassimos.
brought before the Venetian Senate in 1534. TheA number of great public benefactors were
ancient city of Palli, which took its name fromresponsible for reconstructing public buildings,
Paleas or Peleas, one of the four sons of theschools and other foundations after the
mythical Cephalus, was near the present site toearthquakes. Among these were Panayis Vallianos
the north, on the spot known today as(who gave Lixouri the Technical School which
Paliokastro.bears his name), Dr Stamos Petritsis, who rebuilt
Two destructive earthquakes, on January 23,the school named after him and the 'Damodos'
1867 and on August 12, 1953, accounted forMunicipal Library, the brothers Thanos and
most of the buildings in Lixouri. Now there are noEvangelos Bassias, who rebuilt numerous
old and traditional buildings, but the town ischurches, and Panayis and Antonia Manzavinatos,
developing along the lines of modern townwho rebuilt the hospital which bears their name
planning. It lies in a fertile plain, which producestoday.
mainly currants, olive oil and peas. To the south ofOn the sea-front stands a statue of the satirical
the town are long sandy beaches (Lepeda, Megaspoet and intellectual Andreas Laskaratos, who
Lakos, Xi) and to the north, around Kipouraii,was born in Lixouri. Among other statues of
Petani and Atheras, wilder nature rules.famous Lixouriots are those of Elias Miniatis and
Lixouri is an attractive town, with wide, cleanStamos Petritsis, and there are also busts of the
streets, charming little squares, and an abundanceRadicals Georgios Typaldos-lakovatos, Stamatelos
of gardens with flowers and trees. A dry riverPylarinos and loannis Typaldos Kapeletos
bed runs through the centre of the town. SmallDotoratos. Vincent Damodos, Julius Typaldos and
bridges connect the two parts of the town.Mikelis Avlichos are among other natives of the
Churches with impressive bell-towers and richtown known throughout Greece. The town has
interior decoration were destroyed by thealso produced two saints: the Blessed Anthimos
earthquakes, but rood-screens and icons savedKourouklis and the priest Panayis Bassias (whose
from the ruins may be admired in the modernbones are kept in the Church of St Spyridon).
churches of St Nicholas of Strangers, St Nicholas