The findings of the excavations show that Lefkas had been inhabited in the Paleolithic period, a fact that strongly signifies that it was connected with the mainland, possibly through a stream of land. In the ensuing centuries, during the Neolithic as well as the Mycenaean period, the inhabitation continued and it became part of the Ulysses Kingdom. In particular, many researchers identify Lefkas with Homeric Ithaca. In the 7th century B.C., the Corinthians founded colonies in Lefkas and Amvrakia (Arta) in an attempt to control the insubordinate island of Corfu. The opening of the channel that turned Lefkas into an island owes its existence to the Corinthians. Lefkas was the only one of the Ionian Islands that took part in the wars against the Persians, by participating in the naval battle of Salamina and the battle of Plataion. During the Peloponnesian War, Lefkas took sides with the Spartans. In the following years, it was under the control of to the Macedonians until 167 A.D. when the Romans conquered it. When Octavius founded Nicopolis, commemorating his victory against Antonius and Cleopatra, he forced Lefkadians to move into the newly created city.

The Christianization of the island was effected through the teachings of St Paul’s students at the beginning of the 1st century A.D. In the next years, after the division of the Roman Empire, (The years that followed the division of the Roman Empire) Lefkas belonged to Byzantium, which could not, however, protect its faraway lands; the island suffered numerous barbaric invasions and was subsequently deserted.

During the Frankish rule in Lefkada, many French rulers came into power and, in the 14th century, they transferred the capital of the island to the Fort of Agia Mavra, which is located at the “entrance” of the channel (see picture), between the island and the opposite mainland. In 1479, Lefkas was occupied by the Turks, who stayed on the island for about 200 years. Lefkas was actually the only one of the Ionian Islands where the Turks extended their occupation for so long. In 1684, the island came under the Venetian rule and, as a result, developed a closer cultural affinity to the rest of the Ionian Islands where the Venetians had already ruled. Since 1797, when the French democrats took over, Lefkas had the same fate with the rest of the Ionian Islands. In 1798, Lefkas came under the Russian-Turkish rule, while in 1810, the English came into power; it was actually the English who, in 1864, handed Lefkada over to Greece, along with the rest of the Ionian Islands.

During the First World War, Lefkas was caught in the fire between the supporters of the (presumably Greek) King and those of Venizelos. In the Second World War, the left party clashed with the Germans on the island and took part in the ensuing Greek Civil War as well. In 1948 and 1973, earthquakes were another blow for the inhabitants of the island; since then, many decided to immigrate.



The Castle of Agia Mavra

The emblem of the Venetian period, the Venice Lion, at the walls of the Agia Mavra Castle

The Castle of Agia Mavra actually constitutes the trademark of Lefkada, as for centuries it defined the island’s “entrance” from the mainland of Aetoloakarnania. The Castle was founded in the 13th century, when it was granted as dowry to Ioannis Orsini for his marriage to the daughter of the despot of Epirus, Nikiforos Aggelou the First. It was later, however, during the domination of the Ionian Islands by Tokkos Family that the Castle took its present-day form and acquired its surrounding moat, which could be crossed only by bridges from both of its sides. The name Agia Mavra (Santa Maura) was also given to the Castle during this period; this name is used to this day, and it has also been attributed to the little church found inside the Castle’s grounds.

Later on, the church of Agia Mavra became part of the monastery built by Helen Palaiologina, following the fall of Constantinople to the Turks. Palaiologina arrived in the western part of Greece after her escape from Constantinople; onboard her boat, she was drifted away by a storm which was driven ashore Lefkas, where she became a nun and stayed until her death.

The gate of the Castle from the side of Lefkada. Certain Turkish and French architectural elements are easily discernable.	The moat that surrounded the Castle protecting it from invasions.

Areas within the Castle of Agia Mavra, where the cultural “Celebrations of Art and Literature” take place, organized by the Municipality of Lefkada

The Castle of Agia Mavra during the Venetian occupation, in a 17th century woodcut engraving. In the copper engraving, the bridges, the only access to the island of Lefkada, are evident.	Aerial picture of today (picture is reproduced from a leaflet issued by the Hoteliers of Lefkada)

The church-tower of Agia Mavra and the interior of the small church..

In 1479, the Castle was conquered by the Turks, who kept it under their rule for 205 years. In 1684, the Venetians, with Francesco Morosini (1618-1694) as the Venetian Navy Commander-in-chief, occupied the island and transferred the capital from the Castle to its current place. The Venetians remained on the island for 113 years. From 1797 on, when the French occupied it, the Castle of Lefkada passed gradually to the hands of the Russian-Turks and then, to the English, who, in 1864, handed over the Castle along with the entire island to Greece. In the following years, the Castle was used as a camp, a place of detention for the captives, while it has also accommodated refugees from the Asia Minor catastrophe; today it hosts various Literary and cultural events organized by the Municipality of Lefkada.

The church-tower of Agia Mavra...	...and the interior of the small church.

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