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About Lefkada Island
Lefkada, also known as Lefkas or Levkas, is part of the group of Eptanisa or “seven-islands” in the Ionian Sea, Western Greece. Except for Lefkada, the Eptanisa are made up of Zakynthos, Kefalonia, Kerkyra, Paxi, Kythera and Ithaki. Lefkada is the fourth largest Greek island, after Zakynthos, Kefalonia and Corfu. Its capital city is also called Lefkada. The island is separated from the mainland only by a narrow canal, Drepanos, 50 metres wide. There is a long boardwalk and a floating bridge connecting Lefkada with land, which makes it one of only two Greek islands that are accessible by car. Every year, especially during summer months, thousands of tourists from Greece and abroad visit Lefkada to enjoy its mild climate, beautiful beaches, spectacular mountains, clean sea, amazing waterfalls, and to explore the island’s rich culture and charming traditional villages.
Lefkada is named after the white rocks (Greek leukos=white) on the Lefkata cape, southern part of the island. According to mythology, the poetess Sappho threw herself to the sea at Cape Lefkada because of her love for Phaon. The German archeologist Wilhelm Dorpfeld suggested that Lefkada in fact was Homer’s Ithaca and that the palace of Odysseus was located west of Nidri on the south coast of the island. Lefkas played an important role in many wars throughout history, like Persians Wars or Peloponnesian War.
Lefkada enjoys a characteristic Mediterranean climate with mainly wet, hot summers and cool winters. Summer temperatures begin in May and continue through until October. The hottest months are July and August with average temperatures of 25°C.
A huge earthquake destroyed the major part of Lefkada first time in 1948 and after that in 1953, so a very few examples of the traditional architecture are still standing on the island. However, the Island’s architecture was influenced by numerous western civilizations, especially the Venetian, but also lots of traditional houses can be found across Lefkas. Especially interesting are the wooden houses covered with coloured metal sheets. Byzantine architecture can be seen through many churches on the island.