Lefkas - Ionian Islands

Lefkas (ancient Leukas; Italian Santa Maura) is a hilly island marked by karstic action, lying off the Playia Peninsula in Acarnania, from which it is separated by a shallow lagoon varying in width between 600 m and 5 km. It is now linked with the mainland by a causeway and a ferry. Most of the island is occupied by a range of hills rising to a height of 1158 m in Mount Stavrotas and running south-west to end at Cape Dhoukatou. It was from this Leucadian Rock of gleaming white limestone that Sappho was supposed to have thrown herself for love of the handsome Phaon.

Lefkas never had any permanent natural connection with the mainland. The shingle spit at the northern tip was pierced in ancient times by the Corinthians to provide a channel for shipping, much like the spit to the south of Lefkas town, which came into being in the Middle Ages as a result of the establishment of salt-pans. Off the south-east coast of Lefkas is the beautiful unspoilt island of Meganisi, with sandy beaches and famous sea-caves and therefore a exquisite sailing and yacht charter area.

The precipitous cliff of Lefkada (The White Cape) juts dramatically into the sea, pointing towards distant Cephalonia. On the site of the lighthouse once stood a temple to Apollo. At which the notorious Lefkadian Leap - 236 feet straight down to the tumultuous sea below - proved the innocence of the survivor, or the guilt of less sturdy divers, The Leap also attracted its fair share of disconsolate lovers, The great lesbian poetess Sappho supposedly flung herself into the sea here in despair for her love for Pheion. The practical Romans perfected the leap by using wings to break the fall. The capital reflects the island's history, of Venetian influence in its dignified churches and houses. The 13th century fortress of Santa Maura tops sandy beaches where windmills and trees seem to rise straight from the open sea.

Places to moor

Lefkas Town - The harbor offers good shelter as well as facilities. Care must be taken when entering and leaving the harbor not to cut across the corner of the canal east of the town when arriving or leaving from South. The depths are only ½ a meter.

Nidri - It can get a bit crowed as it is a yacht charter center where several flotillas start from. It is a quaint town which offers good shelter. You can provision your yacht with fuel, water, food and any repairs. There are several tavernas to choose from.

Tranquil Bay - This bay is located opposite of Nidri town, The bay provides good shelter and an impressive beauty with its olive and cypress trees surrounding the bay. It offer tranquility as name states.

Ormos Vlikho - There is a small quay and the bay itself offers good shelter. The prevailing winds here are northerly . Some provisions are available in town and there are several tavernas.

History of Lefkas

The earliest evidence of human settlement on the island dates from the Neolithic period. In the 7th c. BCE the town of Leukas was founded by settlers from Corinth, who closed off the south end of the lagoon, opposite the St George Fort, by a 600 m long mole, remains of which are still visible under water (the sunken breakwater). They also cut a channel through the spit of shingle at the north end of the lagoon, opposite the Santa Maura Fort. In the Middle Ages the island belonged to the barons of Kefallinia and Zakynthos. In 1479 it was taken by the Turks - the only Ionian Island to fall into their hands - but was recovered for Venice by Morosini in 1684. As a result to the vicissitudes of its history and of a series of earthquakes (the most recent in 1953) Lefkas has preserved very few old buildings.