A mountain village of Lefkada, not so well known to visitors of the island, is perched at an altitude of about 630 meters, between the two main mountain ranges of Stavrota and Elati, and looks south to the last rock of Lefkatas and the neighboring islands of Kefalonia and Ithaca.
To reach it easily the visitor should choose the road from the neighbouring Syvros, while the other options, via Agios Donatos – the large plateau in the centre of the island – and via Alatro – a lovely half-abandoned village are recommended for those who are in the mood for driving with a low to high degree of difficulty, although it is worth it because of the wonderful beauty of the route in both cases. On the eastern side where the road comes from Alatro, the old windmills of the village, now in ruins, also dominate, while on the route from the plateau you will be greeted before entering the village by the chapel of Agia Paraskevi with its imposing bell tower on the rock that will make your eyes travel miles away to the blue of the Ionian Sea that will open up before you.
The inhabitants of the village are said to have originated from Crete island and it first appeared as a settlement in sources in the first decades of the 1600s. The reputation of the early inhabitants was not the best, as they are referred to as fugitive bandits and mainly cattle thieves or thieves in general. In fact, it is said that this habit necessarily stopped during the Metaxas years. Today, the few inhabitants of the island are mainly engaged in animal husbandry who of course do not work in the tourism sector. A few accommodations are available for rent during the summer months, which are traditional stone houses with lovely courtyards for relaxation.
Local associations have cleared, mapped and marked old paths and now Agios Ilias is a beautiful pass for hiking enthusiasts.
In Agios Ilias, despite the reputation of its inhabitants, we find one of the oldest Primary Schools of the island – first mentioned in 1830 – built in the southern part of the village. The school even hosted students from Syvros or Vournika, villages with a much lower altitude.
What is interesting about the villages are their old stories that have remained today as micro place names or simply as tales in the memory of the elders.
And of course the fairy tale element is complemented by the fairies who danced in the evenings at the Archontiko spring, south of the village in a deserted location, where the path that connects Agios Ilias with the neighbouring village of Syvros passes through today.
Each small village hid a little story in every corner. All that remains is for someone to unearth it.
The mountain villages of Lefkada await and often represent opportunities to acquire a house or a plot of land and find the tranquility you are looking for. Today there are investors who enjoy the nature and the quietness of the village. Investors/tourists within 12 km can enjoy the amazing beaches of Vasiliki.
See how … [here].