At the northernmost tip of Kefalonia, on Cape Dafnoudi near the village of Antypata Erissou and the picturesque port of Fiskardo, lies Batteria Fort – a World War II stronghold with a turbulent past. The word Batteria in Italian means “artillery battery,” and this site was indeed a base of heavy coastal guns.
The fort was originally constructed by the Italian army during the war, serving as a strategic point of control. From this location, the Italians could oversee and protect the approaches to Ithaca, Aetolia-Acarnania, and Lefkada, while keeping watch over the Ionian Sea.
In 1943, following Italy’s surrender and the violent removal of Italian forces, the Germans expanded the base. They built underground bunkers, storage facilities, and barracks, strengthening the site’s defenses. When Germany collapsed at the end of the war and the troops withdrew from Kefalonia, part of the fort was blown up by retreating forces. Tragically, years later, two young locals lost their lives when leftover munitions exploded at the site.
Today, the remains of the artillery foundations, underground passages, and fortifications are still visible. The heavy guns remained in place until 1955, when they were sold off for scrap metal by the state, along with the cannons from the fortress of Assos.
Batteria Fort stands as a silent witness to the island’s wartime history – a place where visitors can still sense the echoes of the past while enjoying breathtaking views across the Ionian Sea to Cape Dukato of Lefkada.
