Ionian Anthology

Live the experience

Our idea of hospitality is driven by the rich local culture and tradition, as well as our love for nature and the environment. We propose curated escapes that provide our guests with authentic Ionian experiences and the chance to become part of the destination, to explore local culture and nature in a meaningful way. 

Arts & Culture

Explore local history, stroll in colorful and scentful alleys, visit museums, admire local churches, learn to weave on the loom, participate in local feasts, visit local arts exhibitions.

Discover Lefkada town's colorful alleys

 Stroll around the narrow-cobbled streets of the old town, with the colorful houses and engaging scents. Learn about the town’s unique architecture form your professional and very knowledgeable guide. Visit the folklore museum and Greek national poet’s Aggelos Sikelianos museum. Admire local churches, including Pantokratoras, which was built by the great poet Aristotelis Valaoritis’ family. Visit a small distillery of local liquer producer, a local bakery, and taste the famous Lefkadian salami.

Explore Lefkada's history

 Visit the castle of Santa Maura on a guided tour. Admire the Venetian architecture at Santa Maura castle and learn about the history of the island through the ages.

Weave on the loom

Greek culture is for sure reflected in the fabrics. Women used to weave the loom to create their family’s costumes or their dowry when the time for marriage came. Today, looms in houses are rarely found in very select cases and regions, although, in recent years, there has been a somewhat increased interest for traditional produce and teaching of weaving on the loom. Today, you may be lucky to see an old lady weaving her loom outside her house in Meganisi, or you may want to try it yourself in a picturesque stone village in Lefkada. You will learn how a loom works and you will weave your own cloth under the guidance of the experts. You will choose materials from the workshop or you can bring your own. In any case, you will take the cloth with you back home. This is also a nice activity for children (usually over 8, although it depends on each child). Greek traditional dancing lessons.

Become a local farmer

Why not get acquainted with the local way of farming at a local farm where you will be able to smell, touch and experience Greek nature? You will get a guided tour through the fruit and vegetables garden under an aged olive grove and taste the fresh produce right from it. The owner uses only traditional ways of cultivating, without chemicals. Feed the goats and chicken of the farm, before you get to taste other local produce such as olive oil and honey. Depending on the season, you will be able to buy produce from the farm. Upon prior arrangement, you will also be able to embark into a local gastronomy experience right at the farm. You can have private cooking lessons learning how to use the farm’s fresh vegetables to prepare traditional local dishes. Of course, here’s the best part, you get the chance to taste them. From cultivation right to a gastronomic pleasure!

Highlights of Lefkada on a guided tour

From visiting the Monastery of Panagia Faneromeni, the greatest religious center of the island, to the picturesque fishing village of Agios Nikitas with the unique architecture of its houses, there are countless authentic Ionian experiences to enjoy. Learn the history of this unique island by visiting its folklore museum hewn into the side of a mountain. Enjoy your coffee and indulge into the delights of a homemade cake relaxing under the shade of the plane trees. Lunch to a special taverna run by a local family and taste homemade food of fine quality! Take the best shot of Nidri and Princes’ islands during a short stop at a perfect sight point. Similar type tours can be tailor-made according to your own preferences.

Tour the mainland's archaeological treasures

Nearby mainland Greece is steeped in history and mythology too. From visiting the largest ancient city of Greece, founded by Octavian Augustus in 28 B.C. with its Roman Theatre, to exploring the Oracle of the Dead of the ancient world at the banks of the mythical Acheron river, one of the seven gates of Hades, to getting guided to Dodona, the oldest of the Oracles, or the place where Alexander the Great and his mother lived, you name it and we arrange it for you.

Participate in the local feasts, admire arts exhibitions

Greeks are always on a hunt for a good reason to celebrate. This may be the name-day of a saint or something simpler, like a celebration for local produce. Lentils, wine, honey, sardines, pick the one that interests you most and you will find yourself on the dancing floor at a school’s courtyard or under the olive trees outside a remote village. Most feasts take place during the summer so, depending when you visit, you will most probably get a chance to encounter a feast or two. If not a local feast, make sure you visit one of the periodical arts exhibitions organised by the municipality either at the town of Lefkada or in one of the villages. The Lefkada International Folklore festival is a feast not to miss if you are around in the second part of August, as folklore groups from all around the globe gather on Lekfada island to show their dancing tradition and create an intercultural bond. We will provide you with guidance of feasts and happenings during your stay.

Nature & sports

The island of Lefkada is a paradise for numerous sports activities, and hosts two of the best spots for windsurfing and kitesurfing in Greece. Lefkada's natural beauty will capture your senses, follow a hiking trail or get a guided herbal walk or take a daily boating trip to live nature at its finest!

Explore Ionian Sea's hidden jewels

With numerous green tiny islets of unparalleled beauty in the glittering Ionian sea, calm seas with crystal-clear waters, hidden beaches and secluded coves only reachable by boat, the region is ideal for a private island hopping experience. Drop anchor, swim, snorkel, explore, have lunch at an idyllic seaside village at Meganisi, or a more remote island if you wish. With a skipper or without one, select your rib and spend a dream day out at sea, a must-live experience when in Lefkada. There is a selection of boats to choose from, up to 30hp do not need a license, higher hp need either a license or to be skippered. We will be happy to help arrange this.

All aboard on a private sailing trip

Get onboard a luxurious modern sailing boat or a traditional schooner and cruise the shimmering Ionian sea. Visit nearby tiny islands or further away larger ones such as Paxos, Ithaca, Kefallonia. Plan your trip’s itinerary together with your captain according to your preferences. You may even choose to select a cruise to spend sunset at sea, an equally fulfilling experience with the daily ones. Onboard the boat you will be pampered by the hospitable hosts, you will be offered welcome drinks, “meze” meal tasting various small portions of Greek food, main meal with seafood and local wine, while you are admiring the immense natural beauty around you. You may even get your chance to become the captain and show off your talent at sea! A dream day to remember! We will be happy to organise this for you.

Bike or walk the town and around

Wander around Lefkada town’s small cobbled streets with the narrow alleys and the colorful houses before you set gears to explore the area around the lagoon, which is a Natura 2000 protected area hosting from flamingoes to herons and ducks. Bike right between the lagoon and a 7km long sandy beach, which locals call “o gyros tis gyras”. Stop at the old windmills, right at the beach of “Miloi” where you get a chance to admire either the colorful kite surfs that fill the sky or the windsurfs sailing at the sea, or, depending on the time of the day, the magnificent sunset colors as the sun sets on the Ionian sea. You can even take your coffee at one of the windmills, which has been converted to a cafe. Move further on right till the very end of the Agios Giannis (or “Ai Giannis”) beach to discover one of the oldest chapels on the island. Continue within the lush greenery through the old olive grove and make a stop at a traditional cafe to savour a traditional refreshment called “soumada”. Of course, there are various other options for biking elsewhere on the island with a guide or not. We will be happy to provide you with the options.

Take a herbal walk

Learn about herbs through a magical botanical route through paths, springs and meadows starting from a traditional stone village in the inner side of the island. Depending on the season, the herbs and flowers you will encounter will vary. However, do expect to smell oregano, thyme and sage in your walk, and see rare flowers around, while your guide enlightens your knowledge about the flora you come across.

Various other sports

The island of Lefkada is a paradise for numerous sports activities. It has two of the best spots for windsurfing and kitesurfing in Greece, it has two diving schools with an interesting underwater world to explore, all kinds of watersports, such as water ski, SUP, kayaking through the islands and even paragliding from the top of a mountain and landing on one of the most famous beaches. Horse riding on the beach is another interesting activity, while there are various options for hiking & biking around the island. Tell us what your preference is and we will provide you with the details.

Gastronomy

Let's make your holiday even tastier! Create granny's dough through private cooking lessons at the comfort of your villa, visit a local distillery to taste its wine, or an old oil factory to understand how oil was locally produced 

Cook Greek granny's recipes

Let us make your holiday even tastier! Create granny’s dough, “open the fylo” or prepare your local dish yourself through private cooking lessons for you and the family, at the comfort of your own villa. Your private chef will guide you on a gastronomical journey through the local cuisine’s most travelled delicacies. From the famous tzatziki and mousaka to the traditional spinach pie in handmade dough or traditional dessert with semolina, cinnamon, raisins and almonds, you will get acquainted with the process of cooking local specialties, and also learn the old traditional way of preparing the local cuisine. Our chef will teach you how to prepare the recipes and will serve you your drinks while the meal is getting ready. He will make the table and invite you to try the feast when the meal is ready. A three-hour gastronomical experience.

Taste local wine

Having fertile grounds, Lefkada has a tradition in wine producing with the local varieties, “Vardea” (white, grown on the south of the island) and “Vertzami” (red), grown only in Lefkada. Acquaint your senses with the local wine at a beautifully preserved winery. You will take a guided tour through the winery, starting from learning about traditional wine making methods and having a look at some old wine-making and farming tools. Through the vineyard, you will then visit the winery where you will learn about the pr

Get acquanited with the old olive oil production

Similarly, you may visit a local olive oil museum up in a traditional hamlet of mountainous Lefkada called Syvros. The museum is called “Fabbrica”. The stone building itself used to be an olive oil factory owned by Tsarlambas family, one of the oldest families on the island, and is officially characterised as a historical monument. The old olive oil factory was built in the early 1800s by the ancestors of the current owners and was in operation till mid-70s. Visitors can sample in the tasting area, where they can get acquainted with the traditional techniques, tools and machinery for olive oil production.

Special Events

Celebrate that special occasion! Thinking about a surprise birthday party for your partner or child, celebrating your anniversary with your spouse, feeling ready to propose to the love of your life? Whatever your special occasion, leave it to us, and we will be happy to organize the event you desire while taking your luxury stay in the Ionian to the next level.

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