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LESVOS (Lesbos), Greeces third largest island, has a long history and varied, fascinating scenery. The birthplace of the illustrious ancient poets Sappho and Alkaios, the guitarist Arion, the musician Terpander and Pittakos of Mitilini, one of the Seven Sages of antiquity, it even today continues the tradition of producing famous artists, poets and writers. The capital of Lesvos is Mitilini, built like an amphitheatre above its ancient namesake and with its Byzantine cats le towering over it from the top of a pine- covered hill. On the northeast edge of town there is a Hellenistic theatre with superb acoustics which once accommodated an audience of 10.000, while to the east of it you can see a section of ancient polygonal wall. The archaeological Museum contains a wealth of finds and the Byzantine Museum has exhibits from both the Byzantine and the post-Byzantine periods.
      
The town also boasts some interesting churches: the Cathedral dedicated to St. Athanassios, Agios Therapontas and Agii Theodori, which has wonderful wood carvings and icons. VAria, a suburb of Mitilini, is the site of the Theofilos Museum with works from Greece's best-loved naive painter Theofilos and the Teriade Museum - Library housing : Great Books" and art magazines published and donated by Lesvos' famous art critic, Stratis Eleftheriades (Teriade). Its walls are hung with lithographs from the Great Books done by Picasso, Matisse, Chagall, Leger and other famous 20th century artists.
Lesbos.
Photo: Rita de Koster
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The harbour on Lesbos.
Photo: Rita de Koster
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Lesbos, Kastro Mytilini.
Photo: Claudia Huisman
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Lesbos.
Photo: Hami Visscher
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Six kilometres away at Moria there is a section of Roman aqueduct erected in the 2nd century A.D. In the northeast part of the island, after passing a series of charming coastal villages, the first major place you should visit is Mantamados, known for its characteristic stone houses, fine pottery, wood carvings, and delicious local cheeses. Don't miss a stop at the monastery of the Taxiarch, which possess the only relief portrait of the archangel in the Orthodox world. Further north, you come to Sikamia, the birthplace of the famous novelist, Stratis Myrivilis, and its port Skala Sikamias, a picturesque fishing harbour with a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Gorgona (mermaid) described in Myrivils' novel of the same name. |
The volcanic landscape, Western Lesbos.
Photo: Gerard Bambacht
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| The next stop is Molivos or Mithimna, the island's best known resort and artists' colony, whose mediaeval castle and traditional architecture give it a distinctive atmosphere. Among its sights are its archaeological museum, library and a small picture gallery. Another of Lesvos' well known places is Agiassos, near the middle of the island. This attractive village has kept its old flavour and the fame of its pottery and wood carving has traveled well beyond Greece. It also has an Ecclesiastical and Folk Art Museum and a Reading Society with a theatre and a good sized library. Don't miss the church of the Virgin (Panagia) with its collection of old icons, which includes an icon of the Mother and Child (Vrefocratoussa) attributed to St. Luke. Further west, Agia Paraskevi, a market town with old mansions, is known for its curious Festival of the Bull, celebrated since 1774. Near here, at Klopedi, are the remains of the ancient Aeolian Temple of Napaios Apollo, while Messa, also nearby, boasts the ruins of a big Ionian temple (late 4th - early 3rd century B.C.), possibly dedicated to three deities, Zeus, Hera and Dionysos. A monument from a later date, the Early Christian basilica of St. George, restored by the noted mediaevalist, professor A. Orlandos, may be seen at Halinados, not far away. |
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| Things to see in the vicinity of Kaloni include the Limonos Monastery (1527) whose church dedicated to St. John contains interesting 16th century frescoes, a library with 2500 volumes and an ecclesiastical folk art museum. Sigri, at the western tip of Lesvos, is a pretty fishing port with a lovely beach and an 18th century fortress. Not far from here is the island's celebrated Petrified Forest, dating back some fifteen million years. The fossilized trunks, some fallen, some still erect, some in the sea, are unusual for the brilliance and diversity of their colours. Also near Sigri are Eressos, the birthplace of Sappho and Theophrastos, and its port Skala Eressou which has a magnificent beach and full facilities for tourists. Worth seeing here are the archaeological collection and the ruined 5th century basilica of Agios Andreas with stunning mosaics. On the south coast, other resorts have grown up alongside superb beaches. These are Vatera and Plomari, Lesvos' second largest town, famed for its exceptional ouzo and interesting architecture. Lesvos abounds in mineral springs, where health spas have been developed, as at the Gulf of Gera, Thermi, Lisvori, Eftalou, Polichnitos etc. |
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Lesbos. Frank and Ruben with Stefanos the monk, Moni Pythariou. Photo: Gerard Bambacht
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Lesbos, Photo: Robert Van Thielen.
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Lesbos, Gavathos
Photo: Eleni
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The map of north-eastern Aegean islands |
