Lefkada, on the northeast coast of Greece is the fourth largest island in the Ionian group. Still widely referred to as Lefkas, the island's older name derives from Leucas (“white”) from the white cliffs of the southwesterly point, Cape Lefkatas.
The interior of the island is surprisingly mountainous, reaching 1167m at Mt Stavrotas, and 1125m and 1157m at nearby Mt Elati and Mt Mnimati (some sources suggest Elati is the highest, at 1182m). To the north of the summits is a large sunken plateau, Livadia, with spring flowers and summer agriculture.
The island is now connected to the mainland by two long causeways and, between them, a mobile bridge. Near the bridge is the formidable Santa Maura (Agia Mavra) castle built during the 13th Century, one of four fortresses which guard the navigable channel - the others are Grivas (NE mainland), Agios Georgios (SE mainland) and the tiny, Russian-built Alexandros (SW). For many centuries the entire island was known as Santa Maura.
From the 7th Century BC, the island was ruled by the Korinthians, who had a connecting bridge at the site of the ancient town of Leucas, some 3km south of present-day Lefkás Town.
Following the island's conquest by the Macedonians, it was ruled successively by:
Alexander the Great
the Romans 197BC-
the Akarnanians
the Roman/Byzantine empire -1204
the Ipirots 1204-1293
the Venetians 1293-1331
the Franks 1331-1362
the Venetians 1362-1479
the Turks 1479-1500
the Spanish 1500-01
the Turks 1501-1684
the Venetians 1684-1797
the Russians 1797-1800
the French 1807-1810
the British 1810-1864
before being finally united with Greece in 1864
The main town, also Lefkada, is at the northeastern tip of the island, where the access road from the mainland comes in. The main street is now more or less pedestrianized and very pleasant. To the northwest of town is a large lagoon partly surrounded by a sandspit with beaches on the outside.
Nydri. This large and, in season, very lively resort spreads along several kilometres of the east coast road, from Periyiali to Vlyho, behind some narrow strips of beach. The quayside is busy with flotillas of small yachts, which find shelter in Vlyho Bay. Out to sea are a number of well-wooded, privately-owned islands. The hinterland of Nydri is a flat plain, mainly planted with olive trees, behind which the Mt Elati range rises steeply to over 1000m.
From the quayside, daily ferries run to the small island of Meganisi (see the www.meganisi.gr website for timetables). The shape of this island is hard to describe, but a reversed comma is perhaps the simplest, about 6.5km wide, but with a long, narrow 6.5km tail. There are three main settlements: Spartohori, Katomeri and Vathy. Due to the lack of traffic, the island's main roads can provide opportunities for relaxing walking with pleasant views. The main vehicle to watch out for is the island's minibus which provides a regular service between the three villages, plus the port at Spartohori.
The Friends of the Ionian is a registered not-for-profit membership organization working for sustainable tourism in the Ionian island region. See their website for detailed information on many aspects of the islands' environment and heritage.
For extensive general information on Lefkada and many other Greek islands, see Greek Island Postcards.
Lance Chilton and Marengo 2008
Marengo, 17 Bernard Crescent, HUNSTANTON PE36 6ER, England e-mail us: here
