The summer house of the famous poet Angelos Sikelianos

The small islet of Agios Nikolaos, located in the lagoon of Lefkada, is closely connected with the poet Angelos Sikelianos and his wife, Eva Palmer-Sikelianos. The couple stayed there during the summer months, as living on the islet in winter was extremely difficult. As locals know well, in winter “you cannot stand on Agios Nikolaos,” something also confirmed in Eva’s own writings.

Access to the islet was exclusively by sea. The couple would reach it by boat, and they obtained drinking water from a spring on the mainland, directly below the small chapel of Agios Antonios. Life on the islet required preparation and self-sufficiency, reflecting the deliberate choice to spend time in such an isolated setting.

The islet of Agios Nikolaos covers an area of approximately 4.000sqm It lies north of the coasts of Akarnania, opposite and slightly north of the chapel of Agios Antonios. For those approaching Lefkada, it appears on the right-hand side about 500 meters before reaching the small fortress of Teke.

The history of the islet predates the Sikelianos couple. During the Venetian period, the harbor of Lefkada operated in this area, and a quarantine station functioned on the islet, where crews and travelers were isolated for health control purposes.

Today, Agios Nikolaos remains a small but significant site of memory, combining Lefkada’s literary heritage with its earlier strategic and public health history, while preserving its quiet and secluded character within the lagoon.