Pringiponisia Islands
Scorpios Island
The “Pringiponisia” (Princes islands) is a complex of seven (7) verdant small islands in the eastern coast of Lefkada opposite the touristic resort of Nydri. The islands that belong to this complex are Meganisi, Scorpios, Madouri, Skorpidi, Sparti, Cheloni and Tsokari and they constitute one of the most famous attractions on the island. Meganisi, Scorpios and Madouri are the only inhabited islands of this complex. The most famous of these islands is “Scorpios island” named after its shape which is familiar to a land Scorpion. The island became globally famous when it was bought in 1963 by the late Greek shipping billionaire Aristotelis Onassis and hence the island is also known as the “Onassis Island”. He developed a private paradise by turning the island into a luxurious resort where many celebrities and famous persons of that era hosted by Onassis on various occasions. Maria Callas, Greta Garbo, Frank Sinatra, Winston Churchill, Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly and Prince Renee are some of the famous personalities who have been in Scorpios island. In October of 1968 the wedding ceremony of Aristotelis Onassis and former first lady of the U.S. Jacqueline Kennedy took place on this island in the little chapel of Panagitsa. This island played a significant role in the growth of Lefkada’s tourism potential.
Madouri Island
Nydri honored the legacy of the Greek tycoon by erecting a bronze statue of Aristotelis Onassis in its main square. The calm and emerald-green waters in this side of the Ionian sea make feasible to visitors to explore the nearer islands of the complex simply by renting canoe, pedalos and paddle boards whereas for the more distant islands renting a small boat will be more than enough. Madouri island is one of the aforementioned nearby islands where its yellow neoclassical mansion, which proudly stands at the west shore of the island staring towards Nydri and Elati summit, dominates the island. This lush green islet immersed in pines and bushes is a privately owned island by the Valaoritis family since the beginning of the 19th century. Aristotelis Valaoritis was born in Lefkada in 1824 and he was a national poet of Greece and politician contributing significantly towards the integration of Ionian islands to the Kingdom of Greece. He was also the great-grandfather of Ioannis (Nanos) Valaoritis a multi-awarded and most famous modern Greek writer, poet and novelist.
