De Bosset Bridge
The British occupation (1809–64) of Kefalonia transformed Argostoli, reshaping its layout and building infrastructure. One of the most lasting legacies is the bridge built in 1813 by Charles Philip De Bosset, a Swiss engineer in the employ of the British Army. Constructed to connect Argostoli to the village of Drapano, it spans what was once the Kouvatos Lagoon, a swampy area of land rife with mosquitoes, separating the Fanari Peninsula from the mainland. Its original wooden structure was reconstructed in stone in 1842 and has been reinforced over the years due to earthquake damage, yet it remains in service today. Partway across, look out for the "Kolona" obelisk rising out of the water, erected in 1813 by the Kefalonian Parliament. Its inscription, "To the glory of the British Empire," was symbolically erased when the Greeks took back control of the island in 1865—it has repeatedly changed over the years, reflecting local sentiments. The walk makes for a bracing, and now record-breaking, stroll—since this was named the world's longest (690 meters [2,264 feet]) stone sea bridge in 2018.
