The 2001 census reported a population of two inhabitants. Administratively it is part of the municipality of Meganisi in Lefkada Prefecture.

It is mainly known as the private island of the late Greek shipping billionaire Aristotle Onassis. It was the site of his wedding to former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy on October 20, 1968. Upon his death it passed to his daughter Christina, and then in turn to her daughter Athina Roussel. Onassis, his son Alexander, and his daughter Christina are all buried on the island.

Little is known about Athina’s relationship to her island, and she is believed to have spent very little time there. There have been rumors published that she may sell it, and stories in financial publications have placed its value at over $200 million US. On 9 August 2009, a British newspaper claimed – without any confirmation – that the island had been put up for sale by Onassis at the reported price of 100 million Euro.

Bill Gates has reportedly shown interest in the purchase of the island.

1. Ride on the mountain: Apolpena – Melissa Gorge – Tsoukalades (Aghios Georgios) – Apolpena.

2. Ride on the sea: Apolpena – Fryni – Aghios Ioannis – Fryni – Apolpena

The underwater paradise world of Lefkada, offers unforgettable experiences to the lovers of diving.

Seated in Nikiana and Nydri, organised Diving centres are operating in Lefkada, arranging diving excursions.

The diving centres offer all the diving opportunities with an escort of qualified divers and specialities: First dive, discover scuba, diving of any kind, first aid lessons. Together with these excursions, organise activities of: seaside cleaning, underwater cleaning, exploration of flora and fauna etc …

For the comfort and the security of the students, those people who bring their own equipment will also be provided with a secure place to store it.

If you wish to explore and enjoy, for the first time the magic of underwater world without being obliged to attend the full training program, you could attend lessons of diving in a pool, theory and sea diving.

During these courses, students gain important expertise and very useful information about the underwater flora and fauna of Mediterranean Sea and Lefkada.

According to the historian K. Machera, it existed long before 1681. The first church was a little single placed room with a saddled wooden roof completed by small low roofed cells.

In 1700, during Venetian domination, the monastery had been flourishing with 19 cells, many fields and animals. The monastery’s location in a rich verdant valley, gave it a lot of economic strength.

Today the only evidence of its existence are the remaining cells, guestroom, storehouses, oil press and stables.  

The catholicon of the church has important wall paintings covering all of the church’s walls, which were created from the end of the 16th century until the beginning of the 17th century. It is worthwhile to stop and admire the “Panagia Platitera”, at the edge of sanctum, and, on the top, the “Ascension of Christ”. The icon of “Akras Tapinosis” (Total Humiliation) to the edge of offertory, the “Vision Of Agios Petros” and the “Sacrifice of Avraam” also offer magnificent representations. One of the most well preserved representations with soft and warm colors is the “the miracle of Archangel Michael”, to whom the monastery is dedicated.

Agios Petros (Greek: Άγιος Πέτρος) is a town in the municipality of Apollonii of the Lefkada Prefecture in the southern part of the Lefkada Island in Greece.

This village is 6 km northwest of Vassiliki and is linked with a roads to Vassiliki and Lefkada, as well as the GR-42, which leads to the mainland with a drawbridge.

Agios Petros, is a traditional mountainous village with a magical view to the south of Vassiliki.

It is built amphitheatrically on the verdant slopes of a mountain and offers an astonishing view. Kalamitsio has 13 old windmills and many beautiful churches which are scattered around the area, among which the most famous is the chapel of Panagia stous Kipous (Virgin in the Gardens)..
Accommodations built according to the traditional mountainous style, taverns and traditional cafes can be found in picturesque Kalamitsio.

The small village of Kalamitsio is located 23 kilometres south-west of the island’s capital on a green slope and enjoys a magnificent panoramic view.

Tsoulakades is a pleasant enough village with some pretty houses which are symptomatic of the design on the island: notice the orange curved tiles on the roofs of the houses which are almost uniform in their design.

There are a few hotels here, although it is mostly poplated by locals’ dwellings.
A road slopes down from here to Kaminia beach which is pleasant enough and fairly unpopulated.

Gyra is one of Lefkada’s most important natural beauties. This narrow strip of white sand embraces the lagoon on the north of the island and makes the landscape quite special. Gyra begins from the point almost behind the Kastro, creating Ammoglossa (sand tongue) and reaching as far as the other side, beyond the town.

Inside the lagoon is the ‘ivari,’ where fish are bred in special, traditional wicker baskets and which grow within natural conditions. Lefkada also has a large lake that welcomes large masses of fowl and fauna every year. You will be able to admire herons, Kalimanes, swans, wild geese and ducks.
You may also be interested in checking out the Folklore museum which has many fine hand woven materials and examples of traditional clothing, among other interesting exhibits. There is an archeological museum that has ceramics and other Greek exhibits from excavations in Nudri and also sculptures, vessels and a collection of icons. The demotic library includes a collection of icons of Byzantine art from the Ionian college of the 17th, 18th and 19th century.

The library also houses old, rare books and manuscripts. The Photograhy Museum, meanwhile, has many interesting photographs and souvenirs of romantic Lefkada.

Lefkada’s sights

Lefkada’s sights include:
•    Its churches (basilicas) with their unusual architecture influenced by the Venetians and their Ionian Island (post – Cretan school) wall paintings and delightful wooden carved iconostases, some of which are covered in gold leaf.
•    The Archaeological Museum of Lefkada, whose collection includes finds from Early and Mid-Bronze Age graves at Nydhri, the necropolis of the ancient city of Leucas and from various other areas on the island.
•    The lagoon includes one of the most remarkable wetlands in the Ionian region which is protected under the Ramsar Convention as an internationally important wetland, with an age-old fish farm. It is also home to a large number of charming bird species such as gulls, herons, swans, wild ducks, wild geese, etc.
•    The Gramophone Museum is a small private museum with gramophones, records, rare everyday objects, and decorative items. It was put together by a local dedicated collector.
•    The Municipal Library is housed in a neo-classical building. It has a large number of books and houses a rich collection of post-Byzantine icons primarily in the Ionian School by artists such as the Ionian Island hagiographers Doxaras, Patsaras, Roussos, etc.
•    The Santa Maura castle which protected the island capital from the first decade of the 14th century to 1684 as a defense against both pirates and other enemies.
•    The four windmills at Gyra (the only ones left of the orginal twelve which once stood here). Most bear Russian names such as Orloff, Metzikoff, Moscovas and up until the beginning of the 20th century ground large quantities of wheat, much of which came from Russia.
•    The Haramoglios Special Lefkadiaki Library houses a collection of books and other documents either written by residents of the island or referring to issues directly related to Lefkada. This collection has been listed in the Guinness Book of Records.
•    The Church of Panaghia ton Vlachernon lies amid an ash green forest of olive trees. On the last Sunday of the Orthodox Carnival, 1821, the chieftains and dignitaries of the Greek Mainland gathered there on the initiative of Ioannis Zambelios (eminent member of the ‘Filiki Etaireia’ in Lefkada). It was there that they confirmed they would participate in the national struggle for liberation and would immediately declare revolution in their areas by taking an oath on a copy of the Holy Gospel, which has survived to this day.
•    Kouzubey is home to two traditional coffee shops which have survived in the shade of the centuries old olive trees, towering plane trees, and poplars. These coffee shops serve up traditional Greek fruit preserves, delicious fried potatoes, a vanilla flavoured dessert and soumada. Amid the quiet reigning over the olive grove, time comes to a standstill at these coffee shops; the pace slows down as ad hoc backgammon tournaments are organized on the small metal tables to the sound of interminable conversations.
•    Faneromeni Monastery: on the lovely hill which crowns Lefkada town, lies the Monastery of Panaghia Faneromeni, the island’s patron. It is built on the site of the ancient temple of Artemis. The miraculous icon of the virgin which is housed by the monastery was made by the Athonite monk Benjamin Kontrakis in 1876 on Mount Athos.

From here one can admire a wonderful view extending over white cliffs of the steep west coast.

People say that here the Greek poet Sappho committed suicide because of unrequited love. Today’s lighthouse stands on the place once said to be occupied by Apollo´s temple.

The central square is dominated by a huge plane tree, and the main street is lined with lace and embroidery shops. Come here for a cool evening in the middle of the summer and enjoy your dinner under the plane trees.

Kathisma, with its long beach with fine white sand and turquoise waters surrounded by impressive cliffs, is one of the most beautiful beaches on Lefkada.
Sun beds, umbrellas and water sports facilities can be found there, as well as various accommodation options, restaurants and bars.

The sands at Kathisma are some of the most popular on Lefkas: wide and deep for more than a kilometre with pebbles and sand on the shore and sand underfoot out to the sea.

Although this beach is not blessed with much shade, it nevertheless has interesting rock promontories and caves to explore and a couple of large rocks in the sea at the southern end where nudists tend to congregate.

Kathisma beach often makes it into the top ten most beautiful Mediterranean beaches and it is easy to understand why. However, as the sand can create deep shelves, be aware that children need to be watched closely.

On the main section of the beach there are tavernas and bars with swimming pools in the bars. As it is west facing, many people linger around to enjoy the sunsets.

There are plenty of beach umbrellas and beds and the beach has a young and lively feel, with volleyball and tennis courts. In the summer and there is paragliding from the cliffs.

There is a regular bus service from Lefkas Town and plenty of parking behind the beach. Parking is in great demand at weekends when visitors arrive in droves. Fortunately, the beach is big enough for it rarely to feel too crowded.

In the year 2000 a popular magazine poll voted Kathisma one of the top 10 Greek beaches by visitors.

The small fishing harbour of Micros Yialos and its beautiful beaches are located in the area.

There is an annual celebration of the lentil with folk dances, lots of free wine and cooked lentils. The celebration takes place on top of the mountain by the small church of Profet Ilia

Live the dream of Icarus while experiencing a feeling of absolute freedom through paragliding. The fabric wing held taut above you will send you soaring like an eagle among the birds. The skies of Lefkada are yours to explore.

There you will write one of the most captivating chapters of your personal adventures. But will you be able to find the words to describe the intense emotion that will overcome you as you contemplate the world below?

Discovery paragliding flight

You’ll enjoy this unique experience in complete safety, under the watchful eye of certified instructors. To familiarise yourself with this unusual activity, sport club offers tandem paragliding discovery flights and paragliding lessons and instruction, from beginner to advanced levels.

After an unforgettable flight, we recommend landing on Kathisma, one of the island’s most beautiful beaches.

Information

For more information, and to conact one of the clubs email: skiadaresis@hol.gr  or  call: 6999902424

Since the creation of a sealed road during the mid 1990s, this remote beach has become one of the premier tourist destinations on the island, and in Europe as a whole.

The beach is accessed from the car park via 347 steep steps that hug a rugged cliff face.

The waters of Egremni are strikingly clear and the sunsets are frequently dramatic. The beach is composed of fine to medium-sized, white-coloured pebbles (typical on of the Ionian islands) that are very comfortable to lie on.

Driving to Egremni takes you through a very narrow and steep road. Instead of using the beach’s car park, you can park on the right side of the road before the car park for free. However, be aware this does mean a two hundred meter uphill climb when you are leaving the beach.

Once you park, to reach the beach you have to climb down a few hundred steps and cross a *very* shaky wooden structure at the end.

There are also opportunities to taste many traditional foods, go swimming on the beach of Vasiliki, or take the small boats for the beaches of Porto-Katsiki, Alektori and Agiofili.

The picturesque village is well-served with restaurants, small shops, and hotels, and the port supports ferries to nearby Ithaca and Cephalonia, making the town a minor centre for tourism.

Vasiliki Bay is reputed to offer excellent sailing conditions reliably from May through September and several companies take advantage of this by offering sailing and windsurfing excursions. The strong cross-shore wind is said to result from the interaction of the prevailing wind and the sea breeze. Sometime in the afternoon, heating of the hills to the east of the Bay accelerates the gentle sea breeze while turning it across the shore creating a strong, steady breeze. The Vasiliki Bay cross-shore breeze ranges between a strong breeze and a gale.

It combines the island’s largest fertile plain, Englimenos, with the mountain ranges of Platystoma, Vakeris, Neochori, Alatros and Fternos, with the beaches and tourist resorts that are visited by thousands of holiday-makers.

The large, leeward bay of Vlychos, which extends far into the dry land, constitutes an excellent natural harbour, hospitable to all the boats that sail in the waters of the Ionian Sea.

The whole of the Vlychos peninsular is a luscious green that hugs the coast and reaches round as far as the opposite side from Nydri.  And opposite, on the edge of the horizon, the coast of Akarnania on the Greek mainland, frames this unique and exquisite picture, a picture which differs during every hour of the day.

A few years ago, Nydri and its surrounding area was nothing more than a small fishing community. Most of the inhabitants lived in small, semi-mountain villages located higher up, at Rachi, Vavkeri and Platystoma, and were involved in agriculture, live-stock rearing and fishing, as were all the villagers of the island.

The rapid development of tourism gave the area a great push and won over the majority of the locals. Today, the place is very different from how it was in the past. In addition, the development of tourism also changed the demographic distribution. The residents moved from the interior mountain massifs to the coasts, where they became involved in tourism, while also continuing their winter agricultural occupations in the villages.

The whole of the coastal zone from the village of Periyiali as far as Vlychos has merged into one compact area. There are dozens of luxury hotels and rented rooms, restaurants, shops and tourist offices which offer up-to-date tourism facilities serving the most demanding visitor. The beautiful and immaculately clean sandy beach, which stretches out for kilometres ahead, provides bathers with the opportunity to try out all kinds of water sports. Even though the area is quite developed touristically, it has not lost its natural beauty.

Thick vegetation with olive trees, pines and cypresses provide a framework for the carefully constructed tourist infrastructure. The orderliness and cleanliness help to maintain exceptionally civilized surroundings. The region’s beauties are not just limited to its sandy beaches and to its cosmopolitan character. It also has many important historical, natural, as well as cultural monuments to show, both along the coast and inland.

Owing to the fact there are no specific attractions which can lure tourists, this beach offers those in the know the opportunity to snorkel along the rocky coast, in a tranquil setting.

This small cove offers the perfect opportunity for a romantic picnic or a nice glass of wine, near crystal clear waters, away from lots of people.
We recommend this tiny paradise, but be sure to bring fresh drinks (as there are no cafes or restaurants nearby), a parasol and sun cream* for a relaxing afternoon.

*Please make sure to bring a Bio Sun Cream. The regular creams we have found in all shops contribute to destroying the bay’s ecosystem