Cephalonia is the largest of the Ionian Islands. The Vallianos family is among the oldest known families on the island, with a continuous presence since the 16th century. Originating as a modest family from the village of Kerameies, its members travelled extensively during the early 19th century in search of new opportunities, eventually achieving significant prosperity. Their sustained philanthropic activity in Greece, and particularly in Cephalonia, established them among the island’s most prominent benefactors. The “Vallianos Family Mansion,” located in the central square of Kerameies, was built in the first decade of the 20th century under the direction of Michalis Vallianos, who resided there until 1939. During the early years of the Second World War, the house was occupied by Italian troops. Following the devastating earthquakes of 1953, it was abandoned, although not entirely destroyed. In the subsequent years, the heirs gradually donated their shares to the Municipality, with the intention of housing a Public Library.
The listed building, widely known locally as the “Vallianos Mansion,” is a representative example of a pre-earthquake rural mansion in Cephalonia, reflecting the architectural character of the island before 1953. The restoration proposal focuses, firstly, on the conservation and rehabilitation of the monument in order to highlight its architectural and historical values and, secondly, on its adaptive reuse as a Public Library, serving the needs of the local community and promoting lifelong learning. The reactivation of the mansion as an open-access library, housing a collection of over 5,000 printed volumes, constitutes the vision of an active group of local citizens committed to the preservation and revitalization of their cultural heritage.