Dramatic Kefalonia, sometimes spelt Cefalonia) is one of the most beautiful of the Greek Islands. One of the Ionian islands, alongside its neighbour Lefkas, and not far from Corfu and Zakynthos, Kefalonia has a charm of its own, with beautiful beaches framed by breathtaking mountains and charming fishing villages. Fiskardo in the north is an especially beautiful spot and a firm favourite for families. With a chequered history and architecture which sometimes gives away its past connections with Italy and the Venetians, Kefalonia became known in recent times as the location of the book and film "captain Corelli's Mandolin", a story based on events during the occupation in the Second World war.