History of Old Skala

Old Skala is the location of the original village of the current Skala, which was destroyed in the 1953 earthquake. In olden days, villages tended to be built on higher ground which allowed for better visibility from raiders and pirates. It is said that the name "Skala", or steps in Greek, refers to how the houses used to look; as if they were each a ascending step up the hill. The 1953 earthquake was in reality a series of earthquakes that struck the Ionian islands, with the most disastrous occurring on 12 August 1953 which destroyed most of the buildings on Kefalonia and raised the island (watermarks left on coastal rocks still bears testimony to this). Widespread damage was also inflicted on the neighbouring islands of Ithaca and Zakynthos.

After the earthquake which devastated the village, the authorities needed to build housing quickly so that people could rebuild their lives as soon as possible. The decision was made to rebuild the village along the coast, which is where the new village of Skala is located. Many village elderly still remember their days in Old Skala with fondness and nostalgia.

Interesting and historic artefacts and remnants are scattered all around Old Skala. Old houses, grape stomping vats, olive presses, the village washing house, church ruins and household objects can be found during a leisurely stroll, all dotted around the century old olive trees. There are two churches, rebuilt on its original sites.

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