After more than a century of uncertainty and more than a decade of methodical excavation, archaeologists have revealed the ancient theater of Lefkada—an extraordinary cultural monument and the only known theater of its kind in Greece’s Ionian Islands. Hidden for centuries beneath olive trees and encroaching modern buildings, the theater is now a testament to the region’s storied classical past.

The great theater of Epidaurus, designed by Polykleitos the Younger in the 4th century BCE, Sanctuary of Asklepeios at Epidaurus, Greece. Credit: Carole Raddato

Lefkada, a geopolitically significant island off Greece’s western coast, was settled by seafaring Corinthians in the 7th century BCE. Because of its strategic position on significant maritime trade routes, the island grew into a fortified polis with monumental public architecture. The theater, carved into a hillside about 3 kilometers south of today’s city, was constructed around the 4th century BCE at the height of Lefkada’s economic and cultural power.

Although German archaeologists Wilhelm Dörpfeld and E. Krüger first discovered the theater back in 1901 and documented it in Dörpfeld’s Alt Ithaka in 1927, the site was eventually reburied. Forgotten for years—overrun by olive groves, agriculture, and makeshift storage buildings—it wasn’t until 1997 that the theater was rediscovered during geomorphological surveys conducted by the 12th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities.

Formal excavations began in 2015, led by Dr. Olympia Vikatou of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Aetoloakarnania and Lefkada. Under the support of the Municipality of Lefkada, the Region of the Ionian Islands, and the cultural ᴀssociation DIAZOMA, full-scale excavations began in 2017. The undertaking was considerable: olive trees had to be uprooted, and several modern structures were demolished. But it was well worth it.

Aerial view of the ancient theater of Lefkada, taken in 2024.

Archaeologists uncovered an exceptionally well-preserved cavea—the semicircular seating area—of 24 rows and 12 grandstands that could accommodate about 3,500 spectators. Experts project that if the structure had been completed, it would have seated as many as 10,000 or even 11,000 spectators. The orchestra, or the performance area, is circular and 16.65 meters in diameter and is partially cut out of rock and bordered by decorative stonework.

Among the most intriguing finds are three lavishly decorated stone thrones featuring lions’ paws, dolphins, birds, and sirens—they are believed to have been reserved for top-level officials or priests. Even after centuries of decay, especially because of farming activity, the lower sections of the theater are well-preserved.

Theater of Dionysus. Credit: The story of Greeks / H.A.Guerber

As restoration plans move forward, this once-forgotten monument will become a landmark not only for archaeology enthusiasts but for tourists seeking a greater appreciation of the Ionian Islands’ ancient past.