 The
island of Lefkada has a rich history through the centuries. Lefkada
took its name from the most southern cape of the island "Lefkas
Akra".According to the myth at this place the poet Sapfo gave an end at
her life in the name of her love.
One
very intresting element is that the very famous and distinguished
German archaeologist Wilhelm Dörpfeld strongly believes the theory that
the resort of Nidri, placed at the southwest coast of Lefkada was the
real Homeric Ithaca, home of Odysseus. There exist several proves that
Lefkada is the real model for Homeric Ithaca. The most notable of these
elements is that Homer describes Ithaca as an island reachable on foot,
which is the case for Lefkada, that is connected to the mainland by a
narrow causeway.
Lefkada during the period of
the persians war has an important ally role.The island participated to
the battles at the side of the other independant Greek cities.
According to the history Lefkadians sent three ships to battle at the
famous and widely known Battle of Salamina, in 460 B.C as well as 800
soldiers to fight in the battle of Plataaie.
Apart
from the myth and the whole theories Lefkada was settled by the
Corinthians around 640 BC the island , they colonized the land and the
island was separated from the mainland. They also built a stronghold on
the northern tip of the island overlooking the newly formed channel, to
further protect the island.
Throughout its early
history, the island belonged to Macedonians, Romans , Byzantium, Franks
(when the fortress of Santa Maura was built in the 13th century), Turks
in 1479, Venetians in 1684, the French in 1797, and the English in 1815
and just in 1864, the island of Lefkada became a part of the Greek
Republic.
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