Lefkada

Lefkada (Greek Λευκάδα ( f sg ), older even Lefkas ( Λευκάς ), ancient Greek Λευκάς Leukas " the White ", Italian: Santa Maura ) is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea, which is connected by bridge to the mainland. Together with the islands of the Tilevoides it forms the Regional District of Lefkada. Directly adjacent are also the islands of Kefalonia and Ithaca.

The island has an area of 293 km ² and a maximum length of 35 km and a width of up to 15 km and about 23,000 inhabitants. The highest elevation is the Stavrotas 1,158 m.

History

Lefkada is situated north- west of the Peloponnese peninsula ( Morea ) and north of the island of Kefalonia in the Ionian Sea and is one of Greece. The island was inhabited in prehistoric times; proof of this is by around 110,000 year old stone tools of the Neanderthals.

In the Middle Ages Lefkada was first a naval base and belonged to the Byzantine Empire. The Italian name of Santa Maura is derived from the medieval castle of the same name of the same island capital of Lefkada, which was built here by the Italian ruling family Tocco.

The Turks held the island, occupied a long time only one of the Ionian Islands and indeed was from 1479 to 1502 and from 1504 to 1684 and again briefly from 1715 to 1716. Island by a counter-offensive by Field Marshal Johann Matthias von der Schulenburg, the short had previously canceled the Turkish siege of Corfu, 1716 recaptured for the Republic of Venice, which had since 1684 and finally to 1797 in possession. Subsequently, the island belonged to the Republic of the Ionian Islands. 1864 Lefkada was united with the Kingdom of Greece.

The first modern description of the island gave Archduke Louis Salvator.

Famous People

• The ancient Greek poet Sappho is said to have thrown a late legend, from lovesickness by one of the white cliffs of Leucas into the sea.
• Agnes Baltsa, a mezzo-soprano and chamber singer, was born here.
• Wilhelm Dörpfeld, archeological architectural historian, died here.
• Lafcadio Hearn, author of Irish- Greek descent, who coined the Western image of Japan in the early 20th century, was born here.

Tourism

On Lefkada there is no mass tourism on the pattern of Crete or the Balearic Islands. On the east coast are the towns of Lefkada, located right by the bridge to the mainland, and Nidri (also Nidri ), about halfway up, the most active tourist centers. On the west coast between the beaches of Porto Katsiki and Kathisma are a popular tourist destination, especially among the indigenous population. Despite the tourist many places have retained their original character, especially the villages in the mountains.

Sports

The island of Lefkada, especially for windsurfing is known as in the bay around Vassiliki one of Europe's best surfing is found. Lefkada, as well as the other Ionian islands, are also a destination for many holidaymakers and yacht starting point for sailing trips in südionischen sea. In the town of Lefkada, a large developed marina is located.

Sister City

• France Leucate, France