Incredible beauty, immense olive groves, thousands
pines, long sandy beaches and with a astonishing fossilized
forest, Lesvos, the island with the good climate, the friendly residents,
the place with a lot of past, but also important present,
continue resembling with majestic, provocatively open, fan.
A island with so many beauties that will satisfy also the most exigent
visitor. Few words aren't enough for this island, however we will
attempt to give some information, in order to persuade pleople
to explore it, “swimming” not only in her spotless
waters, but also in her important history, because Lesvos existed
leader in all big fights of Greece, accepted in her culture
the seal of refugees from the Asia Minor and allocates still indelible
traces from the big economic growth in the dues of 19th century,
thanks to the big production of oil and the trade.
Entering in the harbor of Mitilini, the city gains you with in the
first glance. She is stretched out amphitheatrical in seven hills
and her fortress dominates in the picture. Her foundation is placed
in the beginning of 10th century bc. Some traces of jetty of ancient
harbor is found in the “Pano Skalo”. The castle was built
in Ioystiniano's period, while changes were also realized at the
Ottoman domination. The many preservable classic buildings,
in the
districts Kioski and Soyrada, portray the acne that knew the
island in the dues of 19th century.
One of the sightseeings is also the Ancient Theater, the manufacture
of which is dated in the After-Romanic years. It is considered one
of the bigger theaters of antiquity, with average capacity 15.000
people and exceptional acoustics. The christian monuments of
city are particularly considerably for example the church of Saint
Servant, work of known architect Argyri Adali, as the Museum
of Byzantine
Art, the Archaeological Museum and naturally the Museum with work
of Theofiloy. In the Museum of Modern Art - library Eleytheriadi-Teriade
are exposed the said Big Books (prototypes work of art hand-made,
numbered and the most signed from the artist), but also work of famous
painters.
We walk in paved roads of the city, we explore antique-shops
and find small treasures. In the northern region of Mitilini are
saved enough Ottoman monuments, with more importantly Geni Gami
and Tsarsi Chamam that has been shaped in exhibition space.
The summertime in the island is organized crowd of cultural
events. Do forget to go in
the Turkish coastline, either alone us or developing somebody of
the a lot of organized excursions that offer the travelling offices.
Panagia Gorgona
Each village of Lesvos is more beautiful than the other. Each one
has many sightseeings (ruins of ancient temples, Byzantine
monuments etc.). Visit “red” Mantamado, village
with tradition in pottery. His olive press has been changed
in cultural center of Municipality, where in August is carried
out a Lesbos report of ceramic art. Clio and the beautiful
beach “Tsonia”. The graphic Skala Sykaminias with “Panagia
Gorgona”,
where was written the homonym work of Strati Myribili. It Will
nail you the preservable settlement of Molyboy
with his medieval castle. Little far away from the Petra, with
the sundy beach and her own Panagia, built in the top of
enormous rock.
Sigri is also very beautiful, where is found the eminent
fossilized forest, age of about 15-20 millions years and there
is a museum of exhibits for this. Eressos, birth place
of Sapfoys and Theofrastoy, with the amazing beach, is more southernly
surrounded by a splendid volcanic landscape. In the Kalloni
we try the eminent sardines. In the center of the island, the village
of Saint Paraskeui, birth place of Pepis Daraki, where
there is a municipal library that brings her name, impresses with
his mansions. It deserves to watch the racecourse and the festival
of bull if you are there in June, the roots of these customs are
lost deeply in the with christian but also fun istic
influences. In Agiaso you should visit the
church of Panagia, you should try coffee cooked in the ember and
watch the laboratories of pottery and woodcut the creation
of
work in traditional patterns. Also you can visit the Reading room, “source
of” rich cultural activity. In the Municipality Polychnitoy
is found the impressive beach of Bateron. In the beautiful Plomari,
the old olive presses, soap makings, but also
ouzo makings, where is produced the famous Lesbos' product.
They deserve our attention: In the Municipality Geras, in Mesagro,
the devastated pane, the temple of Zoodochoy of Pigis and the
oven with the mural of Theofiloy, that portrays scenes from the
production of bread. In the Reef we walk in the Christianic
catacombs that are found under the temple of Magdalini.
Traditional stone cafe, from the season of Ottoman domination,
in the village Clio.
In each village and city of Lesvos they are many gastronomic
surprises. Her cooker is simply: perfect. In most taverns and
ouzo selling restaurant the prices are absolutely accessible. We
tried ladotiri(oil-cheese), saganaki, fresh fishes, gioyzlemedes,
kiskek and improbable sweets (without fail the marzipans).
We close the island in our heart and its hospitable residents and
we return with the hope of going again at an early date!