Castle of Santa Maura, Medieval military fortress in Lefkada Municipality, Greece
The Castle of Santa Maura is a fortified structure built on a narrow peninsula with nine round cannon bastions and tall defensive walls surrounded by a moat. The complex spreads across a large area, with preserved fortification elements providing views across the Drepanos Channel toward the Ionian Sea.
The fortress was founded around 1300 by Count Orsini and later controlled by multiple powers who recognized its strategic importance for regional defense. Ottomans, Venetians, French, Russians, and British forces held the site during different periods before it became part of Greece in 1864.
The fortress held a complete community inside its walls, with homes, schools, and religious spaces where daily life unfolded for centuries. These domestic spaces reveal how inhabitants balanced defensive duty with ordinary family routines.
Plan to spend time exploring the extensive fortification layout and enjoying views across the water from various points. Wear sturdy shoes since the terrain is uneven and paths cross over ancient stone structures and defensive walls.
A water system built in the 16th century supplied the fortress inhabitants and surrounding settlements with fresh water using engineering methods of that era. This aqueduct reveals the technical skills and infrastructure planning that sustained life at the site during the Ottoman occupation.
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