runnismo: Running in Lefkada - How I conquered Santa Maura Castle!

Lefkada, the western coast of Egremni. Staring at this kind of blue you know why this view is one of the most beautiful in the whole world!

Lefkada is a greek island which I adore. It is actually one of the two greek islands accessed by car through a bridge (the second one is Evia - Euboea if you prefer - ). This huge plus of Lefkada was the main reason to make up my mind and visit it the summer of 2008. That was the point of no return... I meet and experienced all the other major Plus of
this island which resulting in returning back every single year ever since, even for a weekend!

Amazing geological formations at Lefkada Lagoon

Lefkada owes its name to the Lefkata Cape (Λευκάτα), at the southernmost edge of the island. During ancient times this cape was called white stone or white edge (Lefko = white in greek). There is a myth, connecting Lefkada with a well known poet - Sapfo the Lesbian (Lesbian used to meant the citizen of Lesbos island. So, Sappho was from Lesbos. But there were rumors that she used to have sex with her young student girds while teaching them poetry. That' s the story behind the word lesbian). According to it, Sappho came in Lefkada from her island, Lesbos, and suddenly jumped down from Lefkata Cape committing suicide. She was broken-hearted by her love, Phaon who was a boatman (well wasn´t she a lesbian...??). At the cape area you can see a lighthouse and the ruins of Apollo Temple. This white cape is dedicated to thegod of harmony and light, Apollo. In future post we will explore a running route around this point.
Some archeologists, having unearthed relative findings, suggest theories, according to which there is a chance that Ithaca from the times of Homer' s to be truly settled at Lefkada! Future will tell...

No it is not an exotic islet in the Indian Ocean... This is part of Lefkada!

Lefkada' s white soil is quite particular! Sacred soil, which while being unified with the liquid substance of the sea create this specific milky blueish turqoise. I have no problem to admit my love to this kind and quality of sea water, which I have found nowhere else but here!

Lefkada, view of Porto - Katsiki beach with said milky blueish sea water!

Two kilometres before you enter Lefkada city you may find the medieval Castle of Santa Maura. It was built by the Venecian people during the XIV century, under Giovanni Orsini, ruler of Despotato d' Epiro. Due to a nearby church named Santa Maura, both the castle and the whole island were named after for the next half a millenium. The castle is located at the edge of a small channel at the coast of Acarnania next to Lefkada.

Engraving showing the fortification of Santa Maura by the Venecians

Santa Maura Castle, at the Acarnania coast next to Lefkada.

The island' s seismicity is increased, same applies to the whole region. That' s why the buildings have a particular construction, including traditional and modern antiseismic technics. Most streets of the city begin from the bridge that connects the island to the coast across the sea and have a radial layout. Main street of the city of Lefkada is Derpfeld road, named after a famous German archeologist. Here you may find some of the most important buildings of the cith, old baroque style churches built during the 17th century.

Sooo, don' t forget we have some 15.50 km to run! Our running voyage will start from Lefkada city and through avenues, channels, floating bridges, medieval castles, moats, beautiful lagoons, amazing flora and fauna, unique beaches... we will return back, closing our running circle! Please review and study the route below, clicking in which, you may dowload it and save it to your smart phone. Shall we...?

We are starting and ending our route from Tzevelekis square, first place you see when you enter the island, which looks like that:

So good start!!We go straight until we find the floating bridge. Sea on the left hand, sea on the right hand... What' s that...? Where am I...? ha ha this is literally the Blue Lagoon! (once a tasty cocktail I had tried at Santorini island. Back then I had no idea about lagoons, nor about running...)

We are here already! First 1.2 km done! You don' t want to know how noisy this floating bridge can get when a car is passing over. this is why our home video has music...

In case the floating bridge is closed because boats are passing by, you will have to wait for a while. If you find yourself in a hurry, then you take a deep breath, you jump into the canal, you are trying to avoid crashing with the yacht and finally you emerge like goddess Aphrodite, taking out of yourself everything green and jelly and you continue...

Until you reach the Castle, you see things like:

Venecian fortification and medieval moat.

It feels awesome to run surrounded by castles, myths, lagoons and such nature.

And the castle finally appears!

3.2 km and you are more than happy having fullfiled about 1/5 of the distance. Already enchanted, let's run to circle the lagoon!

After you return to the floating bridge, you turn a bit right, then a bit left and you see this spot.

Picture from another world. Everything happened to you at work deserved the patience, because now you have this!

Google images becoming a piece of art, when such is the beauty of some places, like Lefkada.

You have run more than half way and you see this windmill built at a gorgeous beach. This is Ayios Ioannis beach (St. John), 4.5 km long with green blue water. A wind & kite surfers fav!