Lakki in Leros

Lakki is the largest village on Leros with about 2,000 inhabitants. When you arrive to the village you are met by wide boulevards, large squares and remarkable buildings that do not feel Greek at all. Lakki differ from all other Greek towns and villages I have been to, and it is thanks to, or because of, the Italian occupation of Leros between 1912 and 1943.

The bay of Lakki is one of the best natural harbours in Greece. The bay is deep and so large that you can almost imagine that it is a lake. A perfect base for a military fleet in other words. The Italians liked the large bay, and the island's strategic location, so they decided to build a town here in the early 1930s with monumental buildings, wide streets and large parks and squares. The architecture was in the Art Deco style. They named the town Portolago.

This is what most of the houses in Lakki looked like when I was there the first time.

One of the schools in Lakki.

The harbour promenade in Lakki. The large port on the left in the picture.

Lakki seen from the port of Lakki, which is the largest port of Leros.

Much water have flowed in and out of the bay of Lakki since then. The name of the town was later on changed to Lakki, and the town began to decay. I was met by a pitiable sight when I came here the first time. Many, if not all, Italian - once so grandiose - buildings was in miserable condition. Today, many of the buildings have been restored and you are met by a more cheerful sight.

Abandoned military dormitory, and later Technical University, which was abandoned in 1962.

When I was in Lakki the first time, I thought the houses in the picture above were the infamous mental hospital in Lakki. But that was not the case. The hospital is located after Leros Marina and is not something you stop and look at. The buildings remain, but the hospital has long since closed.

Leros Marina. Lakki in the background.

Near Lakki is one of the largest marinas I have seen in Greece. There are also boatyards that carry out all kinds of boat repairs. The marina is very popular with sailors.

Part of the marina in Lakki.

Of course all imaginable facilities is available in Lakki. There is also hotels if you want to stay overnight. Many think that Lakki is a horrible village with its strange buildings and wide streets. I myself like Lakki just owing to that the village is so different from other Greek villages. All this strangeness has a certain charm that at least I'm attracted to.

Mussolini's dream community Portolago changed its name to Lakki when Leros was liberated in 1947.

ACCOMMODATION IN LAKKI

Jag har aldrig bott i Lakki, mestadels för att jag gillar Panteli och Alinda så mycket. Men om jag skulle åka med en tidig färja skulle jag mycket väl kunna tänka mig att stanna en natt, och äta massor med god mat.

Book hotel in Lakki here »

WHAT YOU MUST NOT MISS WHEN YOU VISIT LAKKI

Do not miss Leros War Museum in Merikia, which you can read about here »

READ MORE ABOUT LEROS