| You will immediately be captivated by
Lefkada's wild at the same time gentle beauty, her emerald waters,
white shores, picturesque villages clambering oddly on the hillsides
and the precipitous rocks will extend you an exhilarating welcome.
It is joined to the mainland by a long pontoon bridge and hardly feels
like an island - which historically, in fact, it was not. The fact
that it is connected by a canal access to the island is very easy,
therefore, very popular. The character of the island is more mountainous
than insular. The charm of Lefkada rests not only on her natural beauty,
but on the impressive Venetian Castle of Saint Maura's,
built around 1300 when the entire island was under the rule of the
Venetians, as well. The most popular tourist spot is Nydhri.
From there, you will also enjoy the lovely island of Greek tycoon
Aristotle Onassis, Scorpios, and Meganissi, the charming isle
with its green-colored sea and the magical surrounding hills.
Start your tour visiting the castle of Saint Makra - located
next to the simulated canal - built to protect the town from possible
attacts. Visit various churches: St Demetrios, St Menas, St John's
(where St Paul taught) and in the forecourt of Christ the Pantokrator
the burial site of Valaoritis - the poet and politician of the 19th
century-is located. Enjoy the park - Bosketo - with the busts
of famous native scions.
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Lefkada, besides Aristotle Valaoritis,
had other distinguished leterati - the best known of all: Angelos
Sikelianos (dramatist and poet) also the short-story writer
Lefcacio Hearn (son of American missionaries - who named
their son after the place he was born).
Museums and other sites: The Archeological (tel.: 23678);
Folklore Museum; Municipal Library (tel.: 22502). An incredible
surprise awaits you when you visit the Alabaster Cave, approximately
one mile, from the centre of town. The name comes from the ornamentation
which resembles alabaster in varied shapes and shades, a very impressive
spectacle indeed. The whiteness of the island's rock strata (Lefkas-meaning
white, thus its name), is often overwhelming. The offensive odours
and mosquitoes from the marshes and surrounding inlets can create
a midsummer problem for the island. For this quandary, however,
Lefkada is compensated by the greenery of cypresses, olive groves
and vineyards, especially on the western slopes. Four miles from
the capital taking the route: Lefkada-Nydri-Vasiliki you reach Lyghia,
the second largest fishing center of Western Greece. Here you will
admire the valley of love, an area called Paradise, where the earth
presents a rare curvature. Continuing along the coastal route you
get to Nikiana, an idyllic village with tourist infrastructure.
Do not miss the sunset at Meganissi, it is breathtaking.
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The road takes you to Nydri (10 ½ miles) the busiest tourist area.
Built along the sea amid a verdant lowland and shaded by Lefkada's
hills.
Important sites: besides Prigeponissa (Mathouri, belonging
to Valaoritis' descendants; Onassis' Scorpios and Livanos' Scorpithi)
there are also the gorge of Demossari and the falls of Ronies. Ruins
of a prehistoric city were also found here. The German archeologist
Wilhelm Dorpfeld, who excavated tombs of the Bronze Age, claimed
that Nydri - and not Ithaca - was Odysseus homeland. Needless to
say that claim encountered great controversy. Meganissi - the largest
of Lefkada's satellite islands and the only one with a village population
- could be reached by boat from Nydri, where you can swim at its
shores of: Ai-Yiannis, Spelia, Ampelakia, Atherinos and Limanaki.
Other seashores of Lefkada: Clear blue-green waters and fine
white-pebbled beaches await you everywhere in Lefkada's shores:
St Nikolaos (Mylos); Pefkoulia; Ghyra; Vasiliki; Syvota; Thessimi/Desimi;
Mikros Palos; Prigeponissa and the most famous of beaches: Porto
Katsiki.
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General Information for Lefkada