Acropolis of Ancient Sami

Location: Sami

The Ancient Acropolis of Sami in Kefalonia: Ancient Sami was a fortified settlement, a quite powerful one, whose ruins are found in Lapitha Mountain, over the port town of today’s Sami. It was autonomous and independent and had its own currency, inhabited since the Paleolithic Times. A few references to Ancient Sami can be observed in Homer’s poems (the Iliad and the Odyssey), as it seems to have participated in the Trojan War. However, Sami was besieged by the Romans, an event that led to losing its freedom.

Ancient Sami managed to flourish again during the Roman Era by developing its trade relations and through an increase in its population. During the Hellenistic Era, a citadel was built, ruins of which have been discovered in excavations, along with several fortification pieces revealing walls with twenty-two entrances. Research has also brought a theater and various tombs to light, dating back to the 3rd century B.C. The wealth of the citizens is apparent from various elements, such as the marble used in construction and the mosaics that adorned the buildings.

As it is located on an elevated spot, the view from the archaeological site of Ancient Sami is incredible!