Η Karya the mountainous village of Lefkada, is 14 km from the town of Lefkada, about 20 minutes' drive. It is built on the green slopes of the mountain at an altitude of 500 meters, while it is famous for its excellent climate and its natural environment of unparalleled beauty.
The population is about 1.000 inhabitants and during the summer months it shows a significant increase due to the large number of tourists. Starting his walk from the street of the central market of Karya, the visitor will meet the stone fountain with abundant running water.Next to it is the famous ‘square of Karya’ with the century-old plane trees. There the visitor can enjoy a meal or a drink offered by the traditional cafes and taverns. Countless cobbled streets spreading throughout the settlement, old and renovated stone houses, traditionally built, courtyards with terraces, scattered historical churches, windmills, dry stone walls.
At the central point of the village is the church of Agios Spyridonos, with its imposing bell tower, which was built at the end of the 19th century.th century. At the foot of Karya, in the meadow, is the Monastery of St. John the Baptist, built in 1605 AD. Today, visitors to the monastery can admire the few, but excellent frescoes, the carved wooden temple and the stone cells that surround the exterior of the monastery. The history of the monastery is rich, while its contribution to the economic and spiritual life of the area is remarkable.
On the south side of the village, in the meadow of Karya, one finds areas with cultivations of local products, such as lathouria, chickpeas, peas, olives and vines.
Karya, a village with a rich cultural tradition, has preserved many of the traditional customs of the place, culminating in the three-day event of the «Representation of the Village Wedding», which has been held annually since 1979 and is considered one of the most important cultural events of Lefkada.
A visit to the private Folklore Museum of Karya with its traditional exhibits will bring the visitor close to the way of life of the inhabitants of yesterday, to the everyday life of the ordinary Lefkadite.