From the Monastery to the Lighthouse: Monastery of Agios Nikolaos Niras - Lighthouse The walker’s orientation and safety is solely their responsibility. The present report, the relevant tracks (gpx) and the rest of the informational material are just supplementary. The proper equipment is necessary, depending on the weather conditions and the nature of the route.  Route’s type: linear Route’s duration: 1 hour and a half Route’s length: 4,700 meters Level of difficulty: easy Suggested season: All seasons, weather permitting. In summer, avoid the midday hours, because there are no shady places along the whole section of the route. The route It is a gentle downhill - largely asphalted - route in a beautiful landscape. The route starts from the parking area of the Monastery of Agios Nikolaos Iras. After visiting the monastery, where, apart from the church and other buildings, there are the unique stone beehives of the 17th century. From this point, we head west to the junction with the Provincial Road Komili - Akrotiri where we continue west. The route passes through a unique landscape of low vegetation, where to the west are the evocative rocky vertical coasts with an unobstructed view of the blue Ionian Sea, while to the west the bay of Vasiliki unfolds. In the background (south) are scattered the figures of the islands of Kefalonia, Ithaca, Atokos, Arkoudi, etc. Descending through this landscape, where apart from the lighthouse and the monastery there are no other buildings, we wonder what prompted Sappho to make her leap to this place. When we reach the viewpoint - where special attention is needed because of the steep vertical shores and loose ground - the awe that the landscape inspires in us interprets the myth. From the viewpoint, we continue on to the lighthouse that stands tall and dominates the landscape. From the lighthouse parking lot, an uphill and somewhat rough path, about 300 meters, leads us to the lighthouse site. The view from the balcony of the lighthouse is excellent towards the Ionian Sea and the rocky shores of the cape. The lighthouse marks the end of our course. The return is by the same route in the opposite direction (slightly uphill), unless the walker has arranged for a vehicle to wait for him at the lighthouse. It should be noted that there are no shady places on the route and therefore the walker must have made provision for appropriate equipment and certainly avoid doing the route at midday in summer. The route can also be done by car and is therefore suitable for disabled people, except for the last 300 metres from the car park to the lighthouse. This fact, however, does not pose an issue, because the walker has already enjoyed the endless view of the Ionian Sea and has seen the amazing steep and rocky coastline with the lighthouse. On the island of Lefkada there are: Citizen Service Centres in the town of Lefkada, in Nydri and in Vasiliki. Police Headquarters in the town of Lefkada and a Police Station in Vlyho. In addition to private health structures there are: Hospital in Lefkada Town, Health Centre in Vasiliki and Regional Medical Centre in Syvros. Monastery of Agios Nikolaos of Ira  The Monastery of Agios Nikolaos of Ira is located in southern Lefkada, quite close to Cape Lefkata. The name "Ira" (in the peninsula of "Iera Nira" or "Nira", as the locals usually call it), probably has a connection with the Sanctuary of Apollo of Lefkatas located on the cape. The construction of the Monastery is linked to the transfer of the relic of Agios Nikolaos by Crusaders. The transfer took place from Myra in Asia Minor to Bari in Italy and in 1087 the relic of the Saint passed through the area where the monastery is now located. It is said that the monastery was built there shortly afterwards, and it is reported that it was renovated in the 17th century. The monastery celebrates every year on the 10th of May to commemorate the transfer of the relic from there. In the monastery there is a remarkable iconostasis, a work of 1799, by Andreas Betzos, as well as the icon of Agios Nikolaos, a work of 1699, by Dimitrios Foskaris. In the monastery there is an old threshing floor and stone beehives for bees, as the area is well known for its thyme honey. Due to the remote location of the monastery, it is said that it was also used in the past as a place of exile for clergymen. The monastery can be visited daily during the following hours: October - April, 9:50 - 13:30 and 16:00 until sunset, May - September, 9:30 until sunset. Cape Lefkatas (or Dukaton) Lefkatas is the southernmost cape of the island of Lefkada. It is an imposing landscape of white rocks that fall steeply into the Ionian Sea and fill you with awe. At the same time it is an ancient sacred place, which is followed by mystery, myths and traditions. The original name of the cape was Lefkas. Homer mentions in the Odyssey (ω 11) the famous 'Lefkas Petri'. This is the name of the town which the Corinthians founded at the northern end of the island in the second quarter of the 7th century BC and then the whole island. From the adjective Lefkas was formed the adjective Lefkatis and in Doric Lefkatas (= the lord, or the owner of Lefkada Petris or Akras). The same name was given to Apollo, because of his sanctuary, which was located there. Few remnants of it can be seen today scattered around the lighthouse building. The sanctuary was known throughout the ancient world. Every year there were festivals of Panhellenic character, probably in early spring. In Mycenaean times it is said that they made sacrifices to appease the gods and the Spirit of Tempest. Later, they replaced the victims with convicts, but they gave them a chance of salvation. Before they were thrown into the rock, they tied birds and feathers around their bodies for a smoother landing. If the convict escaped, he was spared his life. In the 6th century BC there was a tradition that the incurably in love and frustrated jumped from the cape. It is mentioned in the verses of many ancient poets and was probably mentioned by Sappho, the great poet of antiquity. From there came the tradition that from this cape she fell into the sea and met her own death, despairing of her unfortunate love for Phaon. That is why the cape is also called "Kavos tis Kyras" (Cape of the Lady). The Lighthouse "Dukato" The lighthouse is built on the site where the temple of Apollo Lefkata used to be. It started to operate in 1890 with oil. During the 2nd World War it remained switched off and operated again in 1945, again with oil. In 1950 it was destroyed by an earthquake and operated temporarily as an automatic acetylene torch until 1956, when it was repaired. In 1986 the oil machinery was replaced and it began to run on electricity.