Lakka Lighthouse: A Guiding Light Through History

Lakka Lighthouse, situated on the northern edge of Paxos, has a history dating back to 1825. The British initially constructed it, and its first lantern was lit on June 1, 1831. The original mechanism featured a reflector system of 10 parabolic mirrors.In March 1913, disaster struck when the lighthouse collapsed into a 200-meter-long ravine due to subsidence. Fortunately, no lives were lost. A new lighthouse was constructed in 1919 at a nearby location called “Kuera”. It featured an updated lighting system capable of emitting three white flashes every 24 seconds, visible from up to 26 miles away.The lighthouse was bombed during the Italian-German occupation in World War II but was restored and relit in 1952. Today, the square stone tower stands as a beacon of history and resilience. While the lighthouse itself is not open to the public, the grounds are accessible and offer views of the Ionian Sea. A chapel dedicated to St. Nicholas, built by lighthouse keepers who rescued an icon of the saint during the 1913 collapse, remains a significant symbol of the lighthouse's enduring legacy.