Greek Map

General Elements



Prefecture of Lefkadas

Area:

356 square kilometres

Population (2001):

 22.506

Population Distribution:

Agrarian:14.958

Rural: 7.548

Capital:

Lefkada

Mountains:

Elate

Rivers:

only torrents

                                          Municipalities : 8

 

 

Lefkada is situated north of the islands of Cephalonia and Ithaca, opposite the coast of Aetoloacarnania`s prefecture (province of Vonitsa). Lefkada and Aetoloacarnania`s prefecture are separated by a narrow strip of sea, which has width of 25m at its most narrow part.

Till the 7th century Lefkada was a peninsula of the west coast of Greece with which it was united. However the Corinthians cut the isthmus and separated Lefkada from the opposite land. Despite this fact, Lefkada didn`t completely lost its links with Epirotic Greece. The communication between them is transacted through two bridges, a mobile one which is 25m over the canal and a bigger one over the salt lake. South-east of Lefkada there are saved the ruins of the ancient city, remains of its theater and its walls, of which it appears that it was one of the bigger Greek cities.  

Around islands:

Kalamos, south-west of Lefkada. It has an extent of 26square kilometres and 543 inhabitants.
Kastos, south-west of Kalamos. It has an extent of 7square kilometres and 120 inhabitants. The two island are situated near the Acarnanian coasts and belong to the prefecture of Lefkada. They are offered for peaceful vacations and fishing. There are excellent sandy beaches.
Meganissi. From the area of Nydri till the cape of Lefkata, the Sea is full of islets. The biggest one, Meganissi, is situated 12n. m. south-east of Lefkada`s port (1h and 20min-30min from Nydri). It has three groups of houses: Spartochori, Katomeri and Vathy, with 1092 inhabitants on the whole. The historians believe that the area of Meganissi is continually inhabited from the "Homeric years" up to the present day. Meganissi is daily connected by ferry-boats with the areas of Nydri, Cephalonia and Ithaca.

Worth seeing places:

  • "The Demon`s cave", near Spartochori.
  • "Papanickolis`s sea cave", shelter of Papaniocholis, the famous Greek submarine.  

HISTORY

The first reports of the area are made in the Homeric years. According to the opinion of the German archaelogist Derpfeld, who stayed on the island excavating for a long time, Lefkada is Ithaca, the motherland of Ulysses, the famous hero of Homer the epic poet maker. In BC 640 it was colonized by the Corinthians.
Lefkada had been a Corinthian colony and it took part in the Persian Wars (BC 490-BC 479) with three ships and army. In the Peloponnesian War (BC 431-BC 404) it was at first against Athens. However in BC 394 it became mumber of the alliance against the Spartans. Later it became Sparta`s ally while in the years of the Macedonian accession it was against king Philip and defended the independence of the Greek cities.
In the Hellenistic Times the island was successivey conquered by Cassandrus, Agathocles, "Demetrius the Besieger" and Pyrrus. From BC 230 till BC 267 it was the capital of "the Public of the Acarnanians" and it fought against Rome as an ally of the Macedonians. However it was conquered by the Romans in BC 197.
In the years of the Byzantine Empire, Lefkada belonged to "Cephalonia`s theme". After the temporary abolishment of the Byzantine state by the crusaders, Lefkada became part of Epirus`s despotato. In 1294, despot "Nichiphorus the first" gave the island as dowry to its son-in low John Orsini. In 1331, the island was conquered by Valterus Vryenios who granted it to Georges Gratianos (1355). However the Lefkadians revolted, captured Georges and delivered him to the despot (ruler) of Epirus. Georges succeeded his libaration and returned back to Lefkada which he conquered and rulled till his death in 1362.
Then the island was rulled by the Tokes (family of the elite of Florence). The last one of the Tokes, Leonard the third, helped the Venetians against the Turks. However Venice capitulated with the Turks who seized the island and sent Leonard away. In 1500 new disputes between the Turks and the Venetians led to the seize of the island by the Venetians. However one year later, they granted it to the Turks.
Venetians became again the governors of Lefkada from 1684 till 1797, when the island came to the Frenchmen authority. One year later it was seized by the united Russian-Turkish navy and became part of the "Eftanesian State" while it was under the rule of the sultan. After the condition of Tilsit (Russia, 1807) it was ruled again by the Frenchmen till 1810, when it was taken by the Englishmen. The Englishmen`s domination lasted till 1864. Since then Lefkada and the rest islands of Eftanesus incorporated in the free Greek state.

LEFKADA

Lefkada, the capital, is only one kilometre away from the coasts of Aetoloacarnania. It is a modern city, which was rebuilt after the destructive earthquakes of 1953. It is the port of the island. It has 6,721 inhabitants.

Worth seeing places:

  • The archaeological collection. It contains articles of Neperfeld`s collection and things found by the excavations made in various areas of the island -ceramics, sculptures, pots, statuettes et. al. , dated in the second millenium till the Roman Times.
  • The Folkloric Museum of the Group of "Orpheus". It exposes collection of local costumes, rustic implements, tools of the art of weaving and textile articles. A hall of the museum has been turned into a traditional Lefkadian house.
  • The Public Library, with collection of pictures made in the years that followed the Byzantine years and pictures of the Eftanesian School, of the 17th, 18th and 19th century. There is also collection of old books and manuscripts.
  • "Charamoglios" Specific Lefkadian Library, in Marka square, with rare books and maps of Lefkadian content only.
  • The Museum of Phonographs, which contains souvenirs of romantic Lefkada as well.
  • The ruins of the ancient city of Lefkada, 2km south-east. Parts of the theater and the fortification wall are saved. By the wall`s perimeter it is estimated that ancient Lefkada was one of the biggest cities of Greece.
  • The Venetian castle, near Canali, built by John Orsini (1300). Its present form is a result of repairs and changes made by the Turks and the Venetians.
  • The monastery of Panagia the "Phaneromeni". Its catholic part was built in 1634. Till 1760 the monastery was someone`s own. In 1886 a fire burnt it. It was rebuilt in a distance of 3km south-west.
  • The churches of Agios Spyridonas, Agios Demetrios, Christ the "Pantocrator" (1684), Agios Menas with wall paintings made by Nicholas Doxaras and Panagia (Virgin Mary) of "Eisodia". All built in the years of the Venetians domination.
  • The church of Saint John which here is called "Antzousis", where Apostle Paul hade done a liturgy.
  • The cave of Saint John, at the west side of the city.
 

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