Levkas, Lefkada, Lefkas,Ionian islands
Agia Mavra Castle
| Location: |
| Lefkas island, at the entrance of the island from the mainland |
| Region > Prefecture: |  |
| Ionian islands Lefkas | |
| Municipality > Town: | |
| City of Lefkada • Levkas | |
| Altitude: | |
| Zero Altitude |
| Time of Construction | Origin | |
| around 1300 | FRANKISH  |
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| Castle Type | Condition | |
| Coastal Fortress |
Relatively Good
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One of the most impressive medieval buildings in Greece. It was built around 1300 by the Lombard lord Ioanni Orsini when he got the island of Lefkas as a wedding gift when he married the daughter of the ruler of the Despotate of Epirus Nikiphoros I.
History
1302: Construction of a small fortress by Orsini
1331: Conquest by G. de Brienne and forces of the Kingdom of Naples
1362: Annexed by Leonardo Tocco, count of Kefalonia
1410-1420: Fortification improvements by Carlo I Tocco
1479: Captured by the Ottomans
1502: Captured by Western Allies and occupation by Venetians
1503: Given to Turks in exchange for Kefalonia
1566-1571: Extensive reconstruction and creation of Ottoman town
1684: Captured by the Venetians under Morosini
1797: Occupation by the French
1798: Captured by Russian forces in alliance with the Turks
1807: Return of the French after the victories of Napoleon
1810: Captured by the British
1864: Union of the Ionian islands with Greece
| First entry in Kastrologos: | September 2012 |
Sources
- Μάρκος Σφέτσας, Concise History of the Castle of Santa Maura, Fagotto books, 2015
- Documentary Το κάστρο της Αγίας Μαύρας, από το 1300 μέχρι σήμερα - The castle of Santa Maura
- Photos 1 (June 2023) and 21 (October 2024) by Nikos Kavvadas
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| Access |
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| Approach to the monument: |
| The castle is at the entrance of the Lefkas island from the mainland, just before the bridge. |
| Entrance: |
| Free entrance Tuesday to Sunday, mornings only |
