Listed 100 (total found 109) sub titles with search on: Sights for wider area of: "IONIAN ISLANDS Island complex GREECE" .
CORFU (Town) IONIAN ISLANDS
Kanoni takes its name from the gun emplacement established here in 1789 by the
French on the site of the present day tourist pavilion. From here one can see
Pontikonisi, the Vlacherna
Monastery and the Halkiopoulos Lagoon. The view is superb and the sunset an
unforgettable experience.
A very famous place in Corfu with a small church of Pantokratoras.
LEFKADA (Town) IONIAN ISLANDS
Lefkada is impressive even as it first greets the visitor, as he crosses the narrow
strip of dry land and the 50-metre long floating bridge from the coast of Aitoloakarnania.
The bridge turns around on itself allowing small boats to pass through the canal
of Lefkada. Gyra is one of Lefkada's most important natural beauties. This narrow
strip of white sand, 7 kilometres long, which embraces the lagoon on the north
of the island, 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 grow within natural conditions.
The lagoon of Lefkada is a wonderful wetland inhabited by many and rare species
of bird, such as swans, pelicans, herons, wild ducks, wild geese, coots and others.
This extract is cited April 2004 from the Prefecture of Lefkada URL below, which contains images
ARGOSTOLI (Town) KEFALLONIA
The bridge connects the two banks of the lagoon linking Argostoli
with Drapano. Built in 1812,
it was constructed following the plans of De Bosset, a Swiss engineer of the English
Army. At first it was wooden but soon it was replaced with a new one built on
stone arches. Thirty years later the whole bridge was a stone.
This text (extract) is cited January 2004 from the Assoc.
of Local Authorities of Kefalonia & Ithaca tourist pamphlet.
DRAPANO (Settlement) ARGOSTOLI
Built in 1813 by a colonel De Bosset. It belongs to the period of British rule. Through a succession of archways it links Argostoli with the opposite shore.
PIGADISSANI (Village) LEFKADA
The 'Marcous' bridge, a traditional stone bridge with an arch, is also here. It
must have been built by the Venetians as it has a Venetian name. It is a charming
little bridge located in the midst of thick vegetation and well worth visiting.
Another exceptional natural feature in this area are the waterfalls of Akoni,
which are of great ecological interest. This natural environment has been praised
in the works of Lefkada's two great poets, Aristotelis Valaoritis and Angelos
Sikelianos.
CORFU (Town) IONIAN ISLANDS
Lazaretto islet is located on the NE side of Corfu island, two nautical
miles from the city of Corfu. It has an area of some 17,5 acres, belongs to the
state and is being administered by the National Tourist Organization. Still preserved
on the islet are "the wall" against which stood those condemned to death, the
two-storied building that served as the Headquarters
of the Italian army and a small church.
Lazaretto islet was a concentration camp for the prisoners of the
National Resistance movement of the 1941-1944 period.
The building housed from 1819 the first Greek University, known as the Ionian Academy. The institution was destroyed by the German bombings in September 1943.
It was built in 1855.
A venetian building, which was restructed after the 2nd Word War.
It is the most ancient alma Mater of Greece, which was established in 1836 by Petro Vraila Armeni and houses a unique library including 30,000 volumes of that era.
Designed by the architect Chronis, the old prefecture is a characteristic example
of neo-classical architecture. It is situated in the upper part of the Spianada.
The old prefecture stands on the site of the house which is the birthplace of
Ioannis Capodistrias, the first governor of Greece.
It is a well preserved venetian building, of which the construction began in 1663 and was concluded in 1691. At first, it was the club of the high society (Loggia), but in 1720 it turned into a theater, the first one in Greece and one of the oldest in Europe. In 1733 it became the first lyric theater in the East and since 1903 is the Town Hall of Corfu.
The present-day town hall of Corfu was built during the period of Venetian rule,
between 1661 and 1663. It initially served as a club for Venetian naval officers
and as Hall (Stoa) of the Dignitaries. Later it became the town's opera house
and theatre. It is in the Renaissance style.
The edifice, with columns in the Ionian style, was built in honour of the British High Commissioner Sir Thomas Maitland in 1816. It is in the Spianada.
KAMINARATA (Village) KEFALLONIA
LEFKADA (Town) IONIAN ISLANDS
The building which today houses the Town Hall was built during the period of British rule.
ASSOS (Village) KEFALLONIA
The construction of the castle of Assos started in 1585, when local
ambassadors asked the Venetians to build a second castle for the better protection
of the island.
The area was chosen because the peninsula is extremelly precipitous
so it’s not easy to be conquired by sea after a naval attack. Assos became the
capital of the northern part of the island and the castle is a typical masterpiece
of the Renaissance.
The aim to establish residents failed due to its far-off position.
A century later, in 1684, the Venetians reconquired Lefkas
and the castle lost its strategical importance. It operated until 1943 as an agricultural
prison.
Today, one can still see the ruins of the walls, the house of the
Venetian chief-master, military buildings and St Marco's church. The Ministry
of Culture works for the protection and conservation of the castle which for centuries
hulks over the Ionian sea, offering a magnificent view to all directions.
CHARAKTI (Settlement) KEFALLONIA
There are remnants of an ancient caslte.
CORFU (Town) IONIAN ISLANDS
Tel: +30 26610 48310-1, 48120, 47914
Fax: +30 26610 47951
The new fortress, otherwise known as the fortress of Saint Mark, was built by
the Venetians in 1576. The British and the French added new sections to it. Its
two gateways are of particular interest.
EPISKOPI (Village) KALAMOS
The Kastro of Kalamos, the so-called Castle-Monastery, is near Episkopi. Only
sections of its tall, stone walls remain, with their beautiful inner arches which
become embrasures for weapons on the outside. Abandonment, earthquakes and the
attrition of time have been relentless with the 'kastromonastiro.' Very little
is known about this impressive monument today, although the Kastro has now been
included in a restoration programme. It is said that the mother of the 1821 fighter
Karaiskakis is buried within the castle. On the other side of the island is Porto
Leone, a charming, little bay so named by the Venetians who first drew up the
maps of the area.
This extract is cited April 2004 from the Prefecture of Lefkada URL below, which contains images
ITHAKI (Port) IONIAN ISLANDS
There are two Venetian Castles at the entrance of the natural harbour.
KASTRO (Settlement) KEFALLINIA
Tel: +30 26710 28300, 28835, 22248, 24466
Fax: +30 26710 28349
LEFKADA (Town) IONIAN ISLANDS
At the entrance to the island, like a silent fortress and testimony to others
eras, stands the castle of Santa Maura. It once embraced the capital and closed
off the road for enemies and pirates. The castle was built around 1300 by the
Frankish ruler Giovanni Orsini when he was given Lefkada on his marriage to the
daughter of the Despot of Epirus, Nikiforos I, as part of the dowry she brought
with her. It is one of the most imposing castles of its era and is an excellent
example of Medieval fortress architecture. The castle was conquered by the Turks
in 1479 who built a large, arched bridge with 360 arches, which cut across the
lagoon from the coast to Kalkanis. This bridge supported the pipes of the Turkish
aqueduct used to bring water to the castle. The bridge dominated the whole area
but was destroyed, however, in the earthquakes. Some traces of its remains can
be seen within the lagoon. The various conquerors who passed through have left
indelible marks on the castle, which put up a courageous resistance to even the
most powerful of earthquakes. The church of Ayia Mavra (Santa Maura) which is
inside the castle is fully preserved. The castle is currently undergoing careful
restoration work in order to restore it to its original design. On entering the
town the visitor is welcomed by the great poets of Lefkada: the park of the poets
contains the busts of Aristotelis Valaoritis, Angelos Sikelianos and Lafcadio
Hearn as well as that of Kleareti Dipla-Malamou.
This extract is cited April 2004 from the Prefecture of Lefkada URL below, which contains images
TSARKASSIANOS (Village) KEFALLONIA
This castle was a look-out tower of Proni.
ZAKYNTHOS (Town) IONIAN ISLANDS
Tel: +30 26950 48099
The Venetian fortress is situated in the place where written sources locate the
wall of the ancient acropolis (Psophidas). The strong earthquakes that have frequently
struck the island destroyed the fortifications so often that they had constantly
to be rebuilt.
The construction of the walls and the Fortress defensive system,
which are preserved, was completed in 1646 when the "proveditor general da mar"
was Io. Bapt. Grimani. The work was done by Venetian engineers and local builders,
with great care and strong materials. At that same time the main stone-paved road
was laid down, running to the coast. This was the Strada Giustiniana, the Sartzada
as it was known in more recent times. An important programme of conservation and
repair of the walls and the buildings of the Fortress, together with work on the
water-supply and drainage systems, was carried out by the English in 1812 while
they were in control of the island.
In 1970-71, the Archaeological Service undertook the consolidation
of those sections of the walls and gates of the Fortress which were in danger
of collapsing. As a result of excavations which began in 1984 and are continuing,
many churches, datable from the 11th to the 18th centuries, have been discovered.
Found in addition are other buildings, a sophisticated system for gathering rain-water
(pipes, cisterns, etc.) as well as drainage pipes. Most significant, however,
is the archaeological material which dates from prehistoric to post-Byzantine
times, thus giving special importance to the place.
The visible monuments found during the course of recent excavations
are datable from the Byzantine period down to the time of the English occupation.
a. Sotera or Pantocrator or "Domo" or San Salvatore (Byzantine Church of the 12th century).
b. St. Frangiskos (St. Francis), three aisled basilica of the 14th century.
c. St. Varvara (St. Barbara), a single-aisled basilica.
d. St. Ioannes Prodromos (St. John the Baptist), enf of the 15th century.
e. Church of the Hyperayia Theotokos (Virgin) Laourentaina.
f. St. Ioannes (St. John) Theologos, 15th century.
g. Venetian prisons
h. Venetian powder-magazine.
i. English OfficersΥ Playing Field.
j. English Barracks
k.Headquarters - barracks.
The Venetian Fortress dominates the landscape at Bohali. It has impressive outer gates with the lions of Saint Mark. Mediaeval Zakynthos was situated inside the fortress. Amid verdant surroundings the visitor can see: the church of the Pantokrator, which was used as cathedral by the Latins, the church of Saint Francis of the 14th century Minorite order, Agia Varbara, a small single-aisle basilica near the Venetian prison and the 15th century church of St. John the Baptist, dedicated to the then patron saint of the island, as well as the surviving section of the churches of St. John the Theologian and of the Panagia Theotokou Lavrentaina.
This text is cited December 2004 from the Ionian Islands Region General Secretariat URL below, which contains image
The Venetian Castle on Bohali Hill. Above the main entranceone may distinguish the Venetian blazon of the lions of St Markos.
AGIOS NIKOLAOS (Port) ZAKYNTHOS
AGIOS PETROS (Village) LEFKADA
CHALIOTATA (Village) KEFALLONIA
Nature's splendor is evident in every centimeter of this unique sculpure of earth and rock. The visitor will be impressed at the very moment that he steps into this laboratory of nature, where stalactites and stalagmites have been taking shape and form for thousands of years. The reflection of light on the stalactite surface creates an atmosphere beyond reality. The cave is made up of a down-sloping corridor 44 meters long leading into a main hall 30 X 40 meters. The hall itself is decorated with stalactites and stalagmites, has fantastic acoustics, and has been converted to a concert hall featuring an actual stage at the deep end of the cave. The roof is intact and has developed into a unique natural artpiece. Drogarati Cave is a rare geological phenomenon drawing thousands of visitors every year. The area is host to many small and large subterannean caves and lakes which to date have not been developed to make them accessible for organized tours. Of these, Aggalaki Cave and Zervati Cave are the largest and most significant.
This text is cited Mar 2003 from the Municipality of Sami URL below, which contains images.
ITHAKI (Island) IONIAN ISLANDS
ITHAKI (Port) IONIAN ISLANDS
MEGANISSI (Island) IONIAN ISLANDS
TSOUKALADES (Village) LEFKADA
ZAKYNTHOS (Town) IONIAN ISLANDS
POROS (Small town) KEFALLONIA
The ravine of Poros is one of the most beautiful geological phenomena of Kefalonia. It is an 80 meter deep precipice, with steep slopes. This wild and imposing landscape is connected to a strange legend, that claims that the hollows in the rocks are the footprints of the huge supernatural feet of the hero Hercules
SKINIAS (Village) KEFALLONIA
AGIOS KIRYKOS (Village) ZAKYNTHOS
The traditional building of N. Kolivas where is housed the conservatory of the countryside
CORFU (Town) IONIAN ISLANDS
This two-storied house was built in 1845 by the architect, Chronis. The remarkable ceiling-painting inside the ground-floor is pasted on a layer of canes that is "hooked" to the ceiling.
The mansion belonged to the Kapodistrias family. After the World War II and until 1969 the building was housing the offices of the Corfu Prefecture and the upstairs area was used as residence for the Prefects.
In 1979, restoration and reconstruction works took place and today the building houses the Ionian University.
This text is cited Feb 2003 from the Hellenic Ministry of Culture URL below, which also contains image.
Nowadays, this building houses the Dionyssios Solomos Museum and the Corfu Institute of Studies.
Built in 1824 as a residence for the British high commissioner Sir Frederick Adam,
it later passed into the hands of the Greek royal family. The Duke of Edinburgh
was born here in 1921. After the abolition of the monarchy in 1975 it became the
property of the people of Corfu.
KALIPADO (Village) ZAKYNTHOS
Modern country house, with Gothic and Baroque influence. It has also the architectural characteristics of local building with covered approach to the house (maistros) and stone courtyard doorway. It was built at the beginning of the century as the vacation retreat of a Zakynthos family and subsequently came into the possession of I. Kardaris. The central building is to be renovated as a house.
This text is cited Jan 2003 from the Hellenic Ministry of Culture URL below, which also contains image.
KERAMIES (Village) KEFALLONIA
In the village of Keramies, there are nice traditional mansions.
LEFKADA (Town) IONIAN ISLANDS
Behind Saint Spyridon Square is the house which was the birthplace of the scholar and translator Lefkadio Hearn.
Beside the library is the house where the great poet Aggelos Sikelianos was born.
LIXOURI (Small town) KEFALLONIA
The old mansion of the Iakovata family, one of the few buildings escaping destruction
in the 1953 earthquakes, has been renovated and now houses the Public Library-Museum
of the Iakovata brothers. The library contains rare books from donations by descendants
of the family as well as other donors. Some of them are: a rare edition of the
"Complete Works of Hippocrates" from 1595, manuscripts of the gospels
and a collection of similarly rare portable icons.
MOUZAKI (Village) ZAKYNTHOS
An English stately home and a characteristic example of the Zantean mansion. It
is said to have been called the Saracen Mansion because of the area's being a
hideout for Saracen pirates. The building's impressive facade survived the 1953
earthquakes. It is on the road to Mouzaki.
AGIOS NIKOLAOS (Village) KEFALLONIA
Lake Avythos (or Great Akoli) is located within the municipality's borders next to the village of Agios Nikolaos on the road from Pyrgi to Poros. It is believed that the lake is bottomless. Its abundant waters are used for irrigation and domestic consumption in the wider area - from Pyrgi to Poros Valley. The locale is yet another example of the island's natural beauty, featuring lush vegetation and rare animal and bird species.
White and imposing, the hermit's cliff takes its name from a monk who lived here in olden days, subsisting off the roots which he collected on the mountain.
PAXI (Island) IONIAN ISLANDS
White and imposing, the hermit's cliff takes its name from a monk who lived here in olden days, subsisting off the roots which he collected on the mountain.
The cliff of Mousmoulis at the southern tip of the island, offers a marvellous view over the open sea.
PIGADISSANI (Village) LEFKADA
The village of Pigadisanoi is a beautiful village with stone-built houses on the
edge of the plain, clambering over a verdant precipitous slope One of the main
attractions of the village is the church of the Ayioi Anaryiroi.
There is an old horse-drawn oil press in the vicinity; known as 'Koukouliotis,'
it is still preserved in a good condition.
There are several windmills and watermills nearby, evidence that the
place was always rich in crops. The old folk describe how in the past many of
the region's watermills were set out in a row, one below the other, and that they
were powered by the same water. All the mills were privately owned. Inside the
mill would be the miller's bed, the corner with the fireplace, and his household
would always be poor.
The first windmills most likely appeared at the beginning of the 18th
century. Sources collected by the professor of folklore P. Kontomichis show that
in 1760 there were already at least 60 windmills throughout the whole of Lefkada.
Evidence supplied by older residents suggests that there were over ten in this
particular region. The watermill at Anemomylia (which means 'windmill') is the
property of the Municipalit of Karya and it will soon be restored with its machinery
and sails, adding to the beauty of the local environment.
This extract is cited April 2004 from the Prefecture of Lefkada URL below, which contains images
POROS (Small town) KEFALLONIA
The river Vohinas, noisy in winter and covered by plane trees in summer passes through Poros. It springs from lake «Avithos» (which means «bottomless»), because of its immeasurable depth. The rich valley of Tzannata coupled with the pine covered mountain Enos, enriches the sight of Poros. At this point, its worth mentioning the black pine and the wild horses that live on this high mountain.
CORFU (Town) IONIAN ISLANDS
The monument was erected to the memory of the British high commissioner Douglas, responsible for the construction of a number of important public works on the island.
CORFU (Town) IONIAN ISLANDS
In front of the entrance to the Old Fortress the Venetians erected a statue in
honour of the German Field-Marshal Mathias von Schulenburg. They wished by this
means to express their gratitude for the services he offered them during the last
siege by the Turks in 1716.
Between the coastal road and Mouragia are the picturesque narrow streets of the
town's old quarter, the "Kambielo". A characteristic part of the old
town, with the oldest churches and other buildings.
Situated in the Spianada, the statue of Capodistrias, the first governor of Greece after the country's liberation from the Turks, is a work of the 19th century.
At the north end of Espianade is the Palace of St. Michael anf St. George built by the English in the early 19th century. Today, the Museum of Far Eastern Art is housed in the Palace.
AGIOS ILIAS (Village) LEFKADA
Near the village, at Bisa, is the Monastery of Ayios Georgios. Its foundation
is estimated to have taken place in the late 16th-early 17th century, at any rate
not later than 1620. It was never a large monastery but was, however, very rich
and with many possessions. The small church has been extended in an easterly direction
and was once filled with wall-paintings, very few of which survive today. The
local residents say that in 1922 the church was used as a place of isolation for
people suffering from smallpox. After the epidemic, in order to disinfect the
church, the walls were pounded and whitewashed. A portion of the newer iconostasis
of the mid-18th century, with excellent wood-carvings, survives, including two
icons, one of the Theotokos (Virgin) and one of Christ. The Archaeological Service
has found the remains of ancient towers at Marmara, Pyrgi and Kleismatia.
This extract is cited April 2004 from the Prefecture of Lefkada URL below, which contains images
APOLPENA (Village) LEFKADA
The monument is located in the village of Apolpaina, 2 km. to
the south of Leucas. It is a single-aisled, wooden-roofed church, with a three-sided
apse at the east, which has a bilobe window. The walls are built with unworked
stones but the lower parts and the apse are distinguished by the use of the "cloisonne"
masonry (stones enclosed by bricks). The main entrance is in the north wall of
the church. Fragments of the wall paintings are preserved on the south and east
walls of the interior. The east wall was covered with a monumental representation
of the Ascension, which has been removed and is now kept in the Byzantine Museum
of Athens.
The
church of Panaghia Hodeghetria was the catholicon (main church) of a monastery.
It was built in the middle of the 15th century and is one of the oldest Byzantine
monuments on Leucas. According to tradition, in this monastery hermited Helen
Palaeologhina, sister of John VIII Palaeologos and mother-in-law of the last duke
of Leucas, Leonardos II Tokkos. The iconographic program of the wall paintings
in the church is probably connected to her. The frescoes are dated to the middle
of the 15th century and are distinguished for the fine workmanship. In the beginning
of the 18th century, the church became the metochion (dependence) of the monastery
of Saint John Theologos at Karya, and had considerable real estate until 1927,
when it was purchased by the Greek state.
The south wall of the enclosure and its north supporting wall were
reconstructed in 1977. The lintel of the gate of the circuit wall and its Byzantine
inscription were cleared and restored and the pictorial decoration of the walls
was freed of all the recent coatings. Consolidation work of the masonry was carried
out in 1960 and 1980.
The monument is used as a church but opens only on certain days of
the year.
In 1960, the greatest part of the wall paintings, which were painted
over, was revealed. Their cleaning was completed in 1969, under the auspices of
the Archaeological Society, and 14 fragments were removed and transferred to the
conservation workshop of the Byzantine Museum in Athens.
CHAVDATA (Village) KEFALLONIA
There are remnants of this monastery.
SPANOCHORI (Village) LEFKADA
At Spanochori there is a very old monastery dedicated to the Prophet Ilias. From
old documents we learn that the church was given, in a dilapidated state, by the
Venetian government to the cleric Meletius Vonasieris, who rebuilt the monastery.
Under his direction, the small monastery acquired much land and became wealthy.
Gradually, however, the bad administration and embezzlement by the later heads
led to the monastery's decline. Finally, in 1815, it became public property. Successive
fires have destroyed a large part of the monastery.
This extract is cited April 2004 from the Prefecture of Lefkada URL below, which contains images
VOURNIKAS (Village) LEFKADA
The north section of the region has many interesting natural and cultural
features which, even though they have not yet been developed for tourism, are
well worth seeing. The dilapidated monastery of Ayios Ioannis can be reached on
the route up towards Syvro,
five kilometres south of the village of Vournika, at the quiet and peaceful spot
of Rodaki from which the whole of the gulf of Vasiliki
can be seen.
This monastery is one of the most interesting on the island and was
most likely built in 1654. The church is built over the floor of a large ancient
Doric temple most likely dedicated to Demeter, the goddess of agriculture and
fertility. For this reason it is said that any childless couple that steps over
the threshold of the church and follows the service will then have a child. There
are even traces of the ancient temple, such as the Doric column capitals and part
of the paved floor. The original church was continuously expanded, the number
of monks' cells increased and auxiliary areas built. In the late 18th century
the monastery became public property and in 1797 it was given over to the Monastery
of Asomatos Vafkeris. The church is in a fairly good condition, within a large
precinct. It has two entrances and a separate seating area for women. Sections
of the paintings on the east wall of the church are well-preserved and rendered
in an exceptional artistic style. The austere figure of the Platytera (the Virgin)
can be seen in the apse above the altar. In the prothesis is a painting of the
Akra Tapeinosi, followed by Ayios Stefanos and Ayios Romanos. The delicate and
elegant technique used in the paintings is still obvious, despite their deteriorated
condition.
This extract is cited April 2004 from the Prefecture of Lefkada URL below, which contains images
ARGOSTOLI (Town) KEFALLONIA
CORFU (Town) IONIAN ISLANDS
The biggest and the most beautiful square of Greece, the centre of the city. At the square took place many big parades, the procession of patron saint of Agios Spyridonas, an open-air concert, a walking and many more events.
LEFKADA (Town) IONIAN ISLANDS
The central square of the town. The name is taken from the adjacent church of the same name which dominates the square. Around about there are coffee shops, confectioneries, restaurants.
ZAKYNTHOS (Town) IONIAN ISLANDS
Coming from the main jetty at the harbour we meet the largest and newest public
square of Zakynthos town. The statue of the national poet Dionysios Solomos dominates
the square, which in the evenings becomes a place for taking a walk and meeting
friends and acquaintances.
Saint Mark Square (or Platyforos, as it is known to the locals) is the official
public square of Zakynthos. In the past it was the upper class that frequented
the square. It was here, too, that the Popolari burned the Golden Book.
The former is the most important and most central location of Zakynthos. It is a commercial centre with characteristic arcades. To this day it remains a hub of activity serving the needs of both the locals and visitors. Strata Marina is the town's second important street. It starts at Solomos Square and ends at the church of Agios Dionysios. Today it is the street with the most tourist shops. Formerly it was the town's business quarter. The bus station and ticket office are in Strata Marina and in order to explore the island the visitor can of course choose one of the many excursions available. Most travel agencies also have their offices here.
This text is cited December 2004 from the Ionian Islands Region General Secretariat URL below, which contains image
CORFU (Town) IONIAN ISLANDS
SKALA (Village) KEFALLONIA
Memories of the area's long past, such as ruins of houses and churches and old fountains still survive in Old Skala.The village has a magnificent view of the boundless Ionian Sea, as well as the island of Zante and the Kyllini Castle.
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