MELISSANI CAVE – GREECE

One of the most significant places to visit in Greece.

Melissani cave is on the east coast of the island of Kefalonia in Greece. It is located about 2 km from the town of Sami. It is sometimes called  ”Cave of the Nymph”. The lake was named after one of the Nymphs, the Nymphs Melissanthi.

Myth holds it that melissanthi drowned herself in the lake when Panas rejected her love.

Forests and mountain slopes surrounds the caves. The cave is 100 meters long and about 500m from the sea and the water level is a meter higher than sea level. It was first discovered in 1951 and was opened for the public in 1963. The lake water is a mixture of sea water and sweet water which is ”brackish”.

Surprisingly, there is a lake inside the cave that has trees and forests surrounding it. The cave itself have a B shape with two halls separated with land or an island in the center. The first hall has a big oval opening to the surface where the sunlight shines in making the water so clear that boats appear to be gliding through the air. The second is a huge cavern with an arched roof and numerous stalactites and stalagmites.

An underground tunnel leads to the melissani cave. Tours are by boats that take you on a trip through both halls. The best time to visit the cave is in the middle of a bright sunny day to enjoy the effect of the light streaming through the hole. A balcony is on top the cave for tourist to get a spectacular view of the inside from the top.

Melissani cave is a must for all visitors to the Greek Island. A memorable sight that leaves one in awe.