Lefkada

Lefkada also called Lefkos (in Greek it means white for its rocks) or Lefkada is found in the archipelago of the Ionian Islands between Corfu island and Kefalonia island off the coast of Akranania. It is part of Epatnisa, the seven Greek islands of the Ionian Sea.

One of the few islands connected by an embankment and with a bridge to the mainland of Greece fifty kilometers long, it is nicknamed "the emerald of the Ionian Islands" for the beauty of its waters and its overwhelming nature.

Lefkada among its sisters is the most mountainous with peaks reaching almost 1200 meters like Mount Elati also called Stravrota and surrounded by hills. The plains cover a third of the island, on the east coast there are calm waters and wonderful views while on the west it is much wilder with breathtaking bays and where you can admire the most beautiful sunsets. Around Lefkada some small islands such as Kythros, Thilia, Skorpidi and Sparti all uninhabited and then Madouri and Skorpios privately owned, the latter owned by the Onassis family until a few years.

Another name for the island of Lelfkada is "Ionian Caribbean" for its enchanting white sand beaches bathed by an extremely clean sea and bright iridescent colors that fade from turquoise to emerald to sparkling blue, giving it a tropical flavor thanks also to the lush vegetation that surrounds it made of pines, strawberry trees, oaks, olive trees, plane trees and cypresses as well as a rich flora which with its seasonal colors makes the island a small paradise on earth.

According to Greek mythology, Lefkada was the true homeland of Ulysses for which he had to face harsh trials and unexpected events before being able to return, as well as being remembered for episodes of love and death. Right on the head of Lekada was the temple of Apollo and Homer indicated it as the entrance to the underworld. Another legend tells that it was precisely here that the poet Sappho took her own life due to an unfortunate love affair, committing suicide from the cliff of Porto Katsiki.

History of Lefkada

According to archaeological excavations, Lefkada was inhabited since the Neolithic period in the 4th millennium BC. In the 7th century it was colonized by the Corinthians who created new cities while in 650 BC the canal that separated it from the mainland began to be built. He participated in several battles, in particular that of Salamis and in 480 BC that of Plataea. It also supported the battle of the Peloponnese by giving aid to Corinth, an ally of Sparta, and allied itself in 343 BC with Athens to counter Philip II of Macedonia, but as history teaches us it was a defeat and it became the property of Macedonia. Then there was the Roman and Byzantine periods where, given its position, it suffered numerous pirate attacks. It also had a parenthesis until 1331 under the dominion of the Italians with the Sicilian Orsini family who contributed to building the fortress of Aghia Mavra when the Turks arrived in 1479 and controlled it until 1684. The Venetians however were present until 1797 when the French with Napoleon Most of them conquered and improved Lefkada, especially in agriculture. In 1810 it passed under the control of the English who built the first aqueduct and the road network until 1864 when the treaty of the union of the Ionian islands was signed and it gained its independence.

Why choose a holiday in Lefkada? There are many reasons, first of all for nature, its morphology is perfect for those who love walking among mountain villages frozen in time or among dense forests and admiring flora and fauna that offers different emotions every season, for the beaches uncontaminated, wild and with one of the most beautiful seas in Greece and also to spend quiet days of idleness without giving up tradition and comfort while recharging your energy to the maximum.

Not to be missed during your holiday in Greece is its capital Lefkada, a lively and cosmopolitan city as well as the main cultural, tourist and architectural centre. Low houses with a natural color full of shops, cafes, restaurants, typical taverns and a beautiful seafront where you can admire a wonderful sunset. And again the central square dedicated to Agios Spyridon with its 17th century church, the Moni Faneromenis Monastery where the view of the lagoon that connects the island to the mainland is an almost magical point.

On the east coast Lygia and Nikiana, two villages that are among the most popular destinations for staying. Nydri squeezed between the Vlichos peninsula and the islands of Skorpios and Moudari where you can go for its lively nightlife where day and night blend together, or go further south to the village of Vassiliki loved by surfers and a place to board your vehicle and take a trip to the island of Kefalonia or the island of Ithaca.

To the west there are the most beautiful beaches where you will find the villages of Dragano and Athani where the clock seems to have stopped but ideal if you want to stay isolated and out of the confusion going from one coast to the other and enjoy the benefits of the sea. Finally, for a hearty meal of fresh fish, move to Agios Nikitas, an ancient fishing village where you can delight your taste buds.

Let's also say that the hinterland also has its charm. Lakes, springs, gorges, caves and monasteries hidden among the greenery up to panoramic points where you can take unsurpassed photos in memory of your holiday. Know that above all here you will find the best taverns where you can eat high quality products that you will hardly forget.

One thing to remember when you are in Lefkada, parking is a real pain in the neck, few and poorly organised, especially near the beaches, so leave early, arm yourself with patience, remember that you are on holiday and that there are so many things to do and see. so many that a solution is always found!