Description of the attraction
The city of Lefkada (Lefkada) is the largest settlement and the capital of the Greek island of the same name, as well as its economic and cultural center. You will get to Lefkada almost immediately, as soon as you cross the bridge connecting the island with the western coast of mainland Greece. In fact, the city is the "gateway" of the island.
As a result of the powerful earthquakes of 1948 and 1953, many of Lefkada's structures, including historical and cultural monuments, were destroyed. A significant part of the city was rebuilt. In order to avoid the catastrophic consequences of possible future earthquakes as much as possible, new houses were built on the basis of wooden frames close to each other. Quaint labyrinths of narrow cobbled streets and colorful facades of houses create a very original flavor. In the eastern part of the city there is a huge modern marina.
Especially popular among tourists are Ioannou Mela Street with quaint arcades and St. Spyridon Square, where you can still see magnificent old mansions and many beautiful churches. Among the temples of Lefkada, the most interesting are the Church of St. Spyridon of the 17th century (on the square of the same name), the Church of St. Nicholas (18th century), the Church of St. Dimitri (17th century), the churches of Pantokrator and the Most Holy Theotokos (both of the 18th century) as well as the Faneromeni monastery. In many churches, magnificent and rather rare icons of the Ionian school of painting have survived to this day.
An important historical landmark of the capital is the ruins of the fortress of Saint Maura, which was built in 1300 by the Franks to protect against pirate attacks. Also in Lefkada, you should definitely visit the interesting Archaeological Museum, the Picture Gallery of Post Byzantine Painting, the Ethnographic Museum and the unique Museum of Gramophone.
Most of the excellent restaurants, taverns and cafes with excellent Greek cuisine can be found in the waterfront area. The main hotels of the city are also concentrated here. The best beaches in the capital are Agios Ioannis and Gira, located in the stunningly beautiful Lefkada lagoon.
