LEFKADA ISLAND
Lefkada is well-known for its impressive coastline with the white sand beaches and the turquoise waters, resembling the tropical paradise of the Caribbean. The lovely beaches and the crystal clear waters are not the only reason for the island’s beauty. Lefkada is a truly verdant island, full of trees and green hills. Even though it has been named after the white mountains which dominate the landscape, the island has rich fauna and flora.
The lagoon between Lefkada and the mainland is a protected wetland and perfect shelter for many migratory birds and other rare species. If you visit the island in spring, have a walk in the fields and smell the scents from the various flowers and herbs painting the green landscape in a mix of colours. On the island, there are rare lilies, blue ivies and other wild flowers sharing the fields with wild gum trees, olive trees, lemon and orange trees, aspens and a lot more beautiful plants offering their natural shade to the hikers.
If you love nature, apart from the lagoons and the fields, there are other places worth visiting for their natural beauty. Among them we would recommend the waterfalls of Dimossari gorge near Nidri and the huts of the village Voltoi. The plateau of Eglouvi is definitely a must, where you will not only be stunned by the scenery but you will also learn how the rare lentils of Eglouvi are grown.
Apart from the natural sights, Lefkada has rich cultural heritage with which you could become more acquainted by visiting the Archaeological museum in the Town of Lefkada or the Ecclesiastical museum in the Faneromeni Convent. The convent itself is a landmark of the island along with the church of Agios Ioannis which was built in 1477! Another not-to-be-missed site is the Fortress of Agia Mavra, very close to the Town. It is nowadays used for hosting cultural events during the summer.
However, the best of all the events that are organised on Lefkada in the summer is the International Folklore Festival. The island has a strong literary tradition since it has been the birthplace of many well-respected Greek poets, such as Sikelianos and Valaoritis. The locals have continued their love for literature and art by organising the Literature and Arts Festival. The event peaks with the folklore festival and the town becomes a lively parade with folklore dancers from all over the world sending a message for peace.
If you stay in Lefkada Town in August, you will be able to join the hustle and bustle of the festival and the cheerful dancers who dance the dance of peace at the end of the parade. There are various options for accommodation, including rooms to let, studios and apartments for families, luxurious hotels and villas as well as camp sites for the more budget conscious travellers.
For those of you who prefer quieter holidays, there are lovely guest houses in most of the villages and resorts around the island. If you head to popular resorts like Nidri and Vassiliki, your nights might end up a bit noisy because of all the young people and the surfers who favour these resorts, although Lefkada isn’t as famous for its vivid nightlife as other Greek islands, like Mykonos, Paros, Skiathos and Rodos. For relaxation and stress release there are lovely picturesque villages scattered around the island, like for instance Nikiana or Agios Nikitas.
No matter where you choose to stay, you will definitely enjoy delicious dishes in the restaurants around the island. Most of the Greek “tavernas” serving seafood and fish are usually located at the waterfront either in Lefkada Town or the small harbours of the villages. Apart from the international dishes and the Greek delicacies, on Lefkada you can taste a typical dish of the islands in the Ionian Sea called “mpourdeto”.
Don’t leave the island though without buying some of the rare lentils of Eglouvi which have been awarded with many prizes and are renowned for their quality. Other local products include honey made from thyme from Athani, “mantolato” and “pasteli” – sweets traditionally made by the barbers of the Ionian islands – salami, liqueur from mint or roses and wine.
If holidays for you mean more than just resting and enjoying good quality food, then you are on the right island! The mountainous terrain of Lefkada is ideal for all sorts of outdoor activities. You can go hiking in the well-defined network of walking trails in the mountains of Elati or the plateau of Eglouvi. Mountain biking is by all means very popular, but recently horse riding has become the latest trend with horse riding training centres found in the plain of Vassiliki and in Lefkada Town.
But above all, Lefkada is the top destination for the water sports lovers. You can go paragliding with an experienced instructor and land on the amazing beach of Kathisma. Sailing, windsurfing and kite-surfing on Lefkada attract hundreds of sports people from all over the world. The good weather conditions and the sheltered bays make the island a top-notch choice for sailing and yachting, while the northwest winds blowing in the early afternoon make Lefkada a windsurfer and kite-surfer’s paradise!
On the other hand, if you decide to go underwater, the nature will reward you with underwater walls, canyons, gorges and caves protected by the Natura 2000 network. The Mediterranean reefs with the unique biodiversity offer a lifetime scuba diving experience, especially on the eastern and southern side of the island.
Last but not least, Lefkada is surrounded by many small islets, while having some of the biggest islands of the Ionian Sea nearby. From here you can visit the famous Onasis family island of Scorpios or Meganisi, Ithaca and Kefalonia. Daily cruises depart from Nidri or Vassiliki. Alternatively, you can enjoy the spectacular view of the neighbouring islands from the hills of Lefkada!
Some may find Lefkada quite unspoilt and original. Others may say that its beaches are like a tropical paradise. Why don’t you visit Lefkada to find out for yourself!
What to see in Lefkada
Like many places in Greece, Lefkada combines the beauty of nature with rich history and cultural heritage. Even though the island suffered great earthquakes which destroyed important archaeological sites, there are still plenty to see in order to travel back to the times of ancient Greece, the Byzantine and the rest of the civilizations that ruled Lefkada.
If you are a culture lover, visit the fortress of Agia Mavra in the northeast of the city and the ruins of the ancient city of Nirikos. The fortress was built by the Count of Orsini who got Lefkada as a gift from the Franks. It is an excellent example of fortress architecture, it has been renovated and is well-preserved. A lot of cultural events take place in the fortress during the summer. Its close proximity to the Town gives you a great opportunity to join one of these events while you are on holidays. Nirikos was one of the capitals of Lefkada and was built amphitheatrically on the cliffs of the northeastern side of the island. There are ruins of a castle which protected the city from raids. It is said that the city was abandoned in around 1300.
In Lefkada Town you could visit the museums of the island. The most interesting ones are the Archaeological Museum and the Ecclesiastical Museum which is housed in the convent of Faneromeni, the religious centre of the island. If you don’t like museums, but you prefer outdoor sights, do visit the remains of the cyclopean walls. Legend has it that Lefkada is the real Ithaca Homer described in his poems. The island has rich literary tradition since some of the most important Greek poets, like Valaoritis and Sikelianos, were from this area. The municipality has created a park called the Garden of Poets in the centre of Lefkada Town in honour of its talented artists.
For those of you who are into alternative types of holidays like ecotourism, in Lefkada you will have the chance to admire marvels of nature and unique landmarks. Nature has been very generous to Lefkada and even though it is an island, it isn’t dry at all. Instead, there is enough water to convert the island into a green paradise with marvelous waterfalls in the gorge of Dimossari. The area of Dimossari was named after the windmills that used to be there and belonged to the state, “demos” in Greek. The waterfalls form lovely small ponds surrounded by rocks and plane trees. The water is crystal clear and extremely refreshing. Have a swim under the waterfalls and feel as if you were in a tropical jungle.
Talking about tropical places, the gulf of Sivota resembles the Caribbean so much that the Greek Ministry of Tourism have used it for their advertising campaign! The gulf is ideal for sailing since there is only a small exit to the Ionian Sea and the water is almost always calm. That is why many sailing boats from all over the world come to the gulf of Sivota to moor.
For something out of the ordinary, visit the village of Voltoi. It is located on the slope of the mountain and it has nothing to do with anything else on the island. Here, there are no houses but stone huts built amphitheatrically. They consist merely of a room for the farmers, a storage room for the crop and a room for the animals.
Last but not least, Lefkata Cape or Cavo Dukato is surrounded by stories and myths to add mystery to your holidays. It is the largest and southernmost cape on the island and it has been known since Homer's era. It is said that human sacrifices were taking place here or that desperate lovers came to the cape to commit suicide after they had been rejected. Legend has it that the famous poetess of the ancient times, Sappho was the first who jumped off the cliff. There used to be a temple of the ancient god Apollo. In its place, a lighthouse has been built from the ruins of the temple.
The beaches of Lefkada
Have you ever come across postcards from Greece that at first sight looked like they were from an exotic little paradise in the Caribbean? If yes, then you probably received a postcard from the island of Lefkada in Greece. It is the home of some of the best and most renowned beaches of the Mediterranean, with turquoise waters that truly resemble the beaches in the Caribbean. The white sand is similar to the sand the wind transfers to Fuerteventura beaches in the Canary islands from the Sahara desert. But don’t get disappointed. Unlike the Caribbean, those beaches are easily accessible as there are flights from various European airports in affordable prices. You can even travel to the island and its gorgeous beaches by car, crossing the floating bridge which connects it with the mainland. The lovely beaches of Lefkada with the stunning turquoise waters are waiting for you to explore them!
Perhaps the two most photographed beaches on the island are those of Porto Katsiki and Egremnoi. Both of them are surrounded by large dominating cliffs and they have the most stunning waters of all beaches on the island. The first one is among the six most beautiful beaches of the Mediterranean, whereas the exotic setting of the second creates a feeling of a deserted tropical island in the Pacific Ocean.