SIGHTS OF LEFKADA
Top sights in Lefkada
The island showcases an interesting combination of historical and archaeological sites, along with places of unparalleled natural beauty. Holidays in Lefkada can immerse travelers into an endless exploration of culture, history, and nature like no other.For those who are still planning, here are some of Lefkada’s top sights that should be included in the holiday’s checklist.
The Castle of Agia Mavra
The Island of Lefkada was conquered and occupied by the French during 1294 and was offered as a gift to John the Count of Orsini. During the next few years, the Count started to gradually construct a Castle that would also serve as a fortification. The Castle stands gracefully until today at an area close to Chora and forms an excellent example of medieval architecture. An interesting highlight is that the Castle of Agia Mavra hosts several cultural events within its premises during the summer season. The charming medieval charm and the excellent architectural design of the castle form the ideal background for concerts, theatres and art collections.
Temple of Apollo
At the Lefkata cape (or Niras or Kavo tis Kyras or Kavo Doukatos) are located the ruins of the temple of Apollo. At the sanctuary of Lefkata Apollo, patron of sailors, pan-Hellenic holidays were held annually at the beginning of Spring. Poets of the 6th century BC century associate the god with love passion and the suicide of lovers. It is said that lovers desperate from love passion jumped from the famous Kavo tis Kyras. It is said that in this way Aphrodite was freed from her love for Adonis, the poetess Sappho from her own passion as well as Cephalus from his love for Pterela. Strabo (1st BC-1st AD) connects the sanctuary of Apollo with the annual ritual cleansing of the city during which a convict (the bastard) was thrown into the sea in order to banish evil from the island.
Archaeological Museum
The Archaeological Museum of Lefkada houses the archaeological treasures of the island, from the Middle Paleolithic period to the Late Roman times, depicting the history of Lefkada.A significant number of the Prehistoric in their majority finds to the excavations that were conducted at the beginning of the 20th century in the island by the German architect Wilhelm Dörpfeld.
Bridge of sighs or Bridge of lovers
The bridge of lovers, or the bridge of sighs as they call it, was built at the beginning of the last decade, the lights around the beautiful little port, makes you want to walk throught it and feel the romance at the atmosphere.
Angelos Sikelianos Museum
It's hardly a coincidence that the word "muse" is in "museum!" Angelos Sikelianos Museum aims to inspire and educate visitors, so add it to your to-do list.In the two-storeyed house that Angelos Sikelianos was born and lived in Lefkada, it became possible to develop the vision and the act of the poet in a jewelry museum for an intellectual of worldview, a national pioneer, a real thinker, a politically present literateur , a great lyric poet and at the same time a perishable ailing man, vulnerable to love, to economic annoyance, naked and stoic in the face of death.
Garden of Poets
Close to the bridge of sighs, we can see the brosketo, the small park with the busts of the important literary figures that were born in the island such as Aristotelis Valaoritis, Agelos Sikelianos, Lefkadios Hearn, Dimitris Golemis and Kleareti Dipla-Malamou. In the last years, it has been named the Poets’ Garden.As a way of honoring the island’s literary history, the municipality created this park in town that features the busts of literary natives including Valaoritis, Sikelianos, Kleareti and Hearn.
Monastery of Faneromeni
The Monastery of Panagia Faneromeni in Lefkada is the most important religious center on the island. Located on a hill above the Town, this monastery gives gorgeous view to the capital village, the northern side of the island and the opposite coasts of the mainland. It is situated in the region of Frini and it is the saint protector of the island.
Dimosari Waterfalls
Lefkada has abundant storage of underground water which is one of the principal reasons why a major part of the island is lush with greenery. The high mountains that abound in Lefkada are the sources for many waterfalls that cascade through the mountainous terrain and end up in the sea. One such gorgeous cascading waterfall is the Dimossari Waterfall on the outskirts of Nidri in Lefkada. It ends up in a gorge replete with white rocks.
Lefkada Lighthouse
The Lighthouse of Lefkas is ideally located in Cape Ducato, which is the southernmost part of Lefkada. In antiquity, a sanctuary of Apollo was standing there. The cape is also called Kavos tis Kiras (Lady's Cape)as Sappho, an ancient lyric poetess from Lesbos, jumped from there and killed herself after Phaon's rejection.
Folklore Museum of Karia
This beautiful museum housed in a traditional Lefkadan home honors the creativity and vitality of Maria Standraka and her unique Karsaniko embroidery style. She created this stitch after a terrible accident that paralyzed her hand, and in this museum you’ll be able to admire embroidery created by her. You’ll also be introduced to household items and the Lefkadan layout.