Lefkada

The island of Lefkada, located between the island of Corfu and the island of Kefalonia, is the fourth largest island in the Ionian Sea, with approximately 23,000 inhabitants. It has a Mediterranean climate with long daylight hours and hot summers. Its mountainous and verdant territory is surrounded by 24 islets including the islands of: Meganisi, Kalamos, Kastos, Madouri and the island of Skorpios, the private island of Aristotelis Onassis. With its architectural and landscape beauties it attracts millions of tourists every year while continuing to remain an uncontaminated area. Here you can in fact find beautiful sandy or pebble beaches and crystal clear waters.

The island takes its name from Lefkatas, a promontory located in its southernmost part, characterized by sloping and imposing white rocks. Here, according to mythology, the poet Sappho threw herself from the cliff to end her life and her unfortunate love affair with the beautiful Faone. Archaeological finds testify that the island of Lefkada has been inhabited since the Neolithic era. It became a very prosperous territory as a Corinthian colony and became part of the Dominion of Epirus after 1204, when Constantinople was conquered by the Franks. Later it saw the presence of Turks, Venetians, French and English, until, in 1864, it was united with Greece, together with the rest of the Ionian Islands.

The architecture of the island was influenced by the many conquerors who came there (Sicilians, Venetians, French, English). Unfortunately many of those magnificent buildings were destroyed by the earthquakes of 1953. In fact, the island has been the protagonist of numerous earthquakes for centuries, of which those of 1867 and 1948 were the strongest and severely damaged the capital.
Lefkada is the only Greek island connected to the mainland by a swing bridge that moves as ships pass. The area has many places that become particularly lively during the summer.
The island of Lefkada can be reached by ferry or by car. Through a narrow canal and the bridge that connects the island to the mainland, it is possible to reach the island directly by car. Within the island, public buses regularly connect the entire western coast of Lefkada to Nidri. On the other hand, the connections to the east coast and the internal countries of the island are less frequent, which often consist of one bus a day. Tickets are purchased directly from the driver and are quite cheap. The central bus station of the island is located in the town of Lefkada, near the marina. Here tourists can find any information on prices, routes, timetables. Taxis are available in almost all places on the island.

Useful numbers:
Bus Station (KTEL): +30 26450 22364
Radio Taxi Service: +30 26450 24600

The island does not have its own airport. The nearest airport is Preveza/Lefkas-Aktio Airport, on the mainland near Preveza. Internal flights from Athens arrive at the airport, the journey lasting about 45 minutes. Aktio airport is about 25 km from the capital of the island which can be reached by bus, taxi and rental car.
Several hotels, as well as various apartments that are rented out, have their own shuttle service and/or private cars to and from the airport.

For more information:
Aktio Airport
Tel.: + 30 26820 – 26113
E-mail: kaaktl1@otenet.gr
Olympic Airways: +30 26450 22881

There are also ferries connecting Lefkada to the Ionian Islands of Kefalonia and Ithaca.

The ferries are operated by:
Nautilus agency
Tel.: +30 26740 41440

On the island there are splendid and suggestive places to visit.

Nidri
The small town of Nidri, with its approximately 800 inhabitants, is one of the most popular towns on the island. It is located 17 km southwest of the capital, attracts hundreds of tourists during the summer, and has beautiful beaches and crystal clear waters from which it is possible to enjoy a fantastic view of the Heloni, Scorpio, Sparti, Scorpidi and Madouri islands.
It has a small and very characteristic port, full of small fishing boats, luxurious yachts and sailing boats. During the summer the small town organizes numerous cultural events. In the city and all around there are hotels, taverns, restaurants, cafes, bars, clubs.
Nidri also has a small museum and has, outside the village, the remains of a prehistoric settlement, an aqueduct and some circular tombs.

Vassiliki
It is a very characteristic port, with about 400 inhabitants, surrounded by verdant vegetation, located 38 km south of the city of Lefkada. Its long pebble beach and other small beaches all around attract many people every year, especially windsurfers, since the whole area is ideal for this type of sport.
The small port of Vassiliki offers regular connections to the islands of Ithaca and Kefalonia. Small fishing boats make daily trips to the most famous beaches and those that are only accessible by boat.

Agios Nikitas
It is located 12km west of Lefkada town and has a population of around 100. It has become one of the best known places during the summer time. The area in which it is located is full of olive trees. Near the village there is a splendid golden beach with turquoise waters.

Kalamitsi
The small town, built at a high altitude as protection from frequent pirate attacks, is located 23 km southeast of the city of Lefkada. It is one of the oldest villages on the island and has 13 windmills and many churches throughout the area. The most famous is the chapel of the Madonna dei Giardini.

Sivota
It is a picturesque fishing village and is located 32km south of Lefkada Town. Built in a magnificent natural cove, among green hills from which it is possible to admire the Ionian Sea, this beautiful port offers a safe haven for boats and yachts, and has small beaches, ideal for swimming. It's a pretty quiet place during the day and gets busier in the evening. Sivota is very close to the splendid beaches of the southern part of the island which are distinguished by their particular color and uncontaminated territory. Along the small port of Sivota there are numerous famous taverns and restaurants where you can taste delicious fish dishes.

The Fortress of Santa Maura
It is a medieval castle built by the Franks, who occupied the island in 1294, to protect the entire region from enemies. It is located just before the bridge that connects the island to the mainland

Faneromeni Monastery
Built in 1634, it is the most important monastery and religious center of Leucada. It is about 2 km from Frynio. It is said that the Apostle Paul came to this monastery to teach Christianity. An Ecclesiastical Museum is located in the monastery.

Nydri Waterfall
It is a wonderful waterfall that originates from the mountains of Lefkada and reaches a gorge with white rocks. Many tourists swim in its fresh and crystalline waters.

The capital of the island of Lefkada

Lefkada
It is a small city built around a natural port, it is located in the north-eastern part and is the administrative, economic and cultural center of the island. It has about 8,000 inhabitants who live purely on agriculture and tourism. The disastrous earthquakes of 1948 and 1953 caused very serious damage to the entire island and to the capital and only very few monuments and a few churches survived. An example of this is the Fortress of Santa Maura, built in the 14th century by the Franks with the aim of protecting the island from pirate attacks. After the earthquakes, the city of Lefkada was rebuilt with a unique and original method: with the aim of resisting future earthquakes, the inhabitants of the city built their new houses with wooden skeletons and colored metal sheets aimed at forming a interesting and attractive architecture. The houses have been built close to each other and the narrow alleys that surround them create a unique charm and scenario.
The town has a central square called Agios Spyridon after the 17th century church located on the square. Other interesting and beautiful churches are the 18th century church of Agios Nikolaos, the 17th century church of Agios Dimitrios, the 18th century church of Pantokrator and the church of the Presentation of the Virgin and the monastery of Panagia Faneromeni. Many of these churches house works from the Ionia School of Painting. Another interesting reality of the capital is Via Ioannou Mela, full of arches. Interesting museums are located around the city, such as the Archaeological Museum located in Via Faneromeni, home to some archaeological finds of the island,
the Gramophone Museum and the Folk Museum.

Church of Santa Maria
The church, very old, is located inside the Fortress, it is made of stones according to the traditional style of the island.

Church of Panagia Hodeghetria
It is located in the village of Apolpaina, 2 km from the capital and is one of the oldest Byzantine churches on the island. It dates back to the 15th century and was the main church in the area. The church had a monumental representation of the Ascension which can now be seen at the Byzantine Museum in Athens.

The Church of St. Ioannis Antzoussis
It is located 3 km west of the city of Lefkada and is one of the oldest churches on the island. It was built by the Franks on a rock where there was an old church.

Museums

Gramophone Museum
It exhibits a collection of gramophones and jewels, coins, embroideries, photographs, musical instruments.

Archaeological Museum
It exhibits various archaeological finds dating back to the Bronze Age and found by the German archaeologists Dorpfeld in the territory of Nidri, Kariotes, Evgiros.
The museum is open from 08.30 to 15.00.
Ticket price: €2 (full price) €1 (reduced).
For more information: tel.: +30 26450 21635

Folklore Museum
It is a small museum founded by the Orfeo cultural association and exhibits a rich collection of photographs, maps, dolls, traditional costumes, tools and utensils of life in Lefkada up to a few decades ago. A room of the museum has been transformed into a traditional room of the typical houses of the island.

Naval Museum
It is located near the church of St. Spyridon.

Beaches
Deserted bays, long golden beaches and splendid coasts all around the island of Leucada. All beaches are clean with emerald, turquoise and deep blue waters. Some of them are surrounded by forests and others by impressive cliffs.

Porto Katsiki
The beach is located 40 km southwest of Lefkada town and is one of the most beautiful beaches on the island. Long and sandy, the beach has impressive cliffs and is reached by taking 80 steps down the cliff. It attracts hundreds of tourists during the summer time.

Kathisma
It is one of the most beautiful beaches of Lefkada. It is located 14 km east of the capital, near the town of Agios Nikitas. The beach is long and has fine sand and the sea water is a surprising turquoise colour. The whole place is surrounded by towering cliffs.

Pefkoulia
It is a very large beach located north of the town of Agios Nikitas, 10 km from the town of Lefkada. With its turquoise waters it is considered one of the best beaches on the island. Easily accessible and well known, the beach gets super crowded in the summer.

Nikiana
It is located 9km north of Lefkada town. It is a small beach which has slowly developed into a major tourist spot, with a wide range of accommodation, taverns, cafes and bars. The beach is very close to the main road which runs alongside the coast. There are trees and flowers.

Agios Ioannis
It is the closest beach to the city of Lefkada and one of the best beaches on the island. Endless, with golden sand and turquoise sea, it is very reminiscent of the Caribbean coasts, while the remains of ancient windmills give the place a unique atmosphere. Due to the constant presence of wind, it has become the second favorite beach for surfers, after that of Vassiliki.

Having fun in Lefkada
Entertainment in the island of Lefkada is one of the best in the Ionian Islands. The island offers a wide choice of bars, clubs, live music, places that attract many people to drink, dance, party until late. Most of the bars and clubs are concentrated in the capital and around Nidri and Vassiliki