CC BY-SA 3.0, Austroungarika, Wikimedia CommonsView· Lefkada· Greece — Ionian, Saronic & Argolic
Cape Lefkatas Lighthouse & Sappho's Leap
38° 33.8′ N · 20° 32.6′ E
The white limestone cliffs of Cape Lefkatas (Doukato) at Lefkada's southern tip, crowned by a lighthouse where an Apollo sanctuary once stood and where legend says Sappho leapt to her death.
Practical
The lighthouse began operating in 1890, was damaged in a 1950 earthquake, repaired and electrified in 1986 (Greeka). By land it is reached on a rough 16 km road; the ruins of the Temple of Apollo are mapped just north of the light (OpenStreetMap). From the sea, sailingissues.com notes the cliffs reach about 500 m on the west coast; Greeka says the water below is about 40 m deep and good for diving. Give the cape a wide berth: wind accelerates and seas get confused around it (see the Cape Lefkatas passage). Sailingissues waypoint for the light: 38 33.820 N, 20 32.560 E.
Best for
Dramatic headland view and rounding mark