Karavomylos: Spring, Lake and Caves

In Karavomylos, unusual water features meet caves and cultural history. The abundant underwater karst spring is in the village and carries brackish water. The almost circular lake of Karavomylos and nearby Melissani Cave also make water a theme here from different perspectives. This gives you a specific question to consider when planning your holiday: would you mainly like to explore the village’s landscape, or include the nearby caves as well?

Spring and lake in the village

The spring of Karavomylos is an abundant underwater brackish karst spring. It is located in Karavomylos itself. The lake of the same name is almost circular, has a diameter of 50 metres and is about one metre deep. It is therefore considerably wider than it is deep. Brackish water emerges from its bed and flows into the neighbouring bay of Sami. The spring and lake show two different aspects of water in the village: the underwater karst spring on the one hand, and the shallow, almost round lake on the other.

These measurements give the lake a different character from the open lake in Melissani Cave, where the stated depths range from 10 to 35 metres. If you are travelling with children, you can make this difference a shared topic of observation: the shallow lake in the village contrasts with a much deeper cave landscape nearby. This is one way to connect the places in your mind without treating them as the same.

Melissani and Zervati: caves as a focus in their own right

The nearby Melissani Cave contains an open lake measuring 60 by 40 metres. For the visitor route, a 70-metre-long artificial descending tunnel leads to a small landing stage; visitors explore the accessible section of the cave by boat. The lake, tunnel, landing stage and boats each describe different parts of the route. Comparing it with the lake in Karavomylos, which is about one metre deep, makes the difference in water depth especially clear.

Another cave is located not at Melissani, but in the southern part of Karavomylos: Zervati Cave. When choosing your accommodation, you can therefore decide between focusing on the water features in the village and exploring caves in and near Karavomylos more broadly.

A name rooted in the history of milling

Karavomylos and its spring take their name from a watermill that operated there and used an iron ship’s wheel. The village name thus preserves a specific connection between water and milling technology. The iron ship’s wheel is also part of the history behind the place name. For a trip that takes in local history as well as nature, this story behind the name offers another point of interest.

The museum of the Ionian Intercultural Center is on the main road in Karavomylos. Cultural exhibitions featuring painting, drawing, collectibles, crafts and photography began in the summer of 2010 in the Center’s building in the grove by Lake Karavomylos. These subjects range from visual art to collectibles and crafts, complementing the natural attractions with a cultural perspective on the village.

Choose the right base for your holiday

When looking for a holiday apartment in Karavomylos, consider which aspect of the destination you want to shape your holiday: the spring and shallow lake in the village, the cave landscape of Melissani and Zervati, or the cultural history of the mill and the exhibitions. If you are interested in several of these, Karavomylos makes a suitable base for a trip that brings nature, caves and culture together.

Discover more destinations: Mantzavinata, Pesada, Poulata, Zola, Plateies, Skala, Valsamata, Lixoúrion.

Back to the main travel guide: Kephalonia.