Island of Lesbos

Motherland of Sapfo, Alkaius and many other people of literature and art, Lesbos preserves lively the folklore elements. Beautiful mansions prove the great economical bloom of the island in the past. The beautiful coasts, the archaeological interests and the hospitable islanders are the basic reasons that Lesbos attracts even more visitors every year. The two big gulfs of Kallone and Gera, as well as the coasts of the Aegean, offer varius choises -from cosmopolitan centers till littoral villages of fishermen. The roads are extensive, in a good condition. There is a big number of transportation means to Lesbos.

History

The island was inhabited since BC 3300. During the Trojan War -according to Homer- the Achaians frequently invaded against it. Later (10th BC century), the Aeolians settled there. In the Archaic Times (7th-6th BC century), Lesbos and its capital Mytilene became an important trading and civil center, mainly in the years of Pittakus rule (BC589-BC579), one of the seven wise men of the ancient times. In BC 527, the island was conquered by the Persians till BC 479 when it became mumber of the Athenian Alliance. Then it was successively conquered by the Macedonians, the Ptolemians, Mythridate the king of Pontus (BC 88-BC 79) and the Romans. In the Byzantine Period the Slavs, the Saracens and the Catalans invaded against it. It became island of the latin empire of Constantinople (1204-1247),while in 1354, it was given to the Genevians authority by the Byzantine emperor Michael Paleologe,as an exchange for the help that they offered him. Then the island was conquered by the Turks, who attempted to change the religion of the population. In 1912, it was liberated and corporated in the free Greek state. Ten years later, in 1922, when Smyrna was ruined, refugees inundated the island after the agreement for the exchange of population. Here, there were born the wise man Pittakus, the poet makers Sapfo and Alkaius, the mousician Arion and the historian Ellanickus (ancient people). Lesbians are also the able writers and poet makers of modern Greece: Stratis Myrivilis, Argyris Eftaliotis, Elias Venezis, Ulysses Elytis and the folk painter Theophilus.

Mytilene

Built opposite the coasts of Asia Minor, the capital (and port) is a mixture of old and modern architecture. Old Mytilene is characterized by low houses, shops and narrow streets, lying around and below the castle. On the other hand, modern Mytilene has buldings with many floors, modern street plan, large squares and two or three parks. Among the buidings, and particularly on the littoral street, neoclassic mansions are preserved, called "pyrgelia" by the local people. Mytilene has 28879 inhabitants.

Worth seeing places:

• The Venetian castle. At first it was a Byzantine building (remains of it are saved at the east). It was renewed by Francis Gatelouzo in 1373. It is one of the biggest castles of the Mediterranean. A square tower is saved, known as "the Quin`s Tower", with coats of arms of Gatelouzos family and representations of Roman duelists. Inside the tower there are archades, Roman pool (capacity of 4,000 c. m. ), room of Tourkish theological seminary, et. al.

·         The ancient theater, in the refugees`group of houses (on the left of the road leading to Therme). It was built in the Hellenistic Times and renewed in the Roman Period.

• The ruins of a building, of the third century, at the back of the cathedral. It is believed that it was the Parliament of ancient Mytilene.
• The square buiding, sculptured in a rock, near the Nautical Group. The christian martyrs were buried there. Because of that it is also called "Paleochristian Torment".

• The Hystero-Roman mansion called "the house of Menandrus", in the area of Choraphas, with admirable mosaics and representations of scenes of Menandrus`s comedies.
• Ruins of the polygonal wall of ancient Mytilene (5th BC century), above the cemetery of Agia Kyriaki, north of the ancient theater.
• The Archaeological Museum, near the statue of Liberty, with things found by the excavations made in several areas of the island: Prehistorical things found in Therme and Ancient-Classic things found in Mytilene, Methymna and Antissa. An Aeolian capital of a column was also found as well as a marble throne, with inscription on it, found in the ancient theater. The octagon of Orpheus is also exposed, which is a mosaic representing scenes of Menandrus`s comedies.

• The Byzantine Museum, inside the enclosure of Agios Therapontas church, with pictures of the Byzantine Times and the years that followed and heirlooms of churches, of great value.
• The Museum of Folk Art. It exposes traditional costumes and articles of folk art.
• The Museum of the important painter Theophilus -the house where he was born-in Varea, 3. 5km from the city. It is an offer of the Lesbian art critic Eleftheriades-Teriant. It was decorated by the famous painter John Tsarouchis. It contains works of Theophilus, who was working there while he was contempted, humbled, ignored and very poor. For a long time he was painting for Eleftheriades family. In 1934, after his death, Eleftheriades`s son exposed his work in Paris and other European cities.
• The Museum-Library of Modern Art, near the Museum of Theophilus. It contains works of Picasso, Matis, Sagal, Le Corpizie, Ruo, Leze, Miro, Jiacometi, Charouchis et. al. An offer of Teriant.

• The Public Library which disposes 30,000 volumes.
• The excellent traditional house of Marika Vlachou, near the cathedral. Its ground floor has been turned into a museum- Lesbian House (end of 18th, begging of 19th century).
• The Lesbian House and the Folkloric Exhibition, roofed in the offices of the Lesbian group of the lovers of art called "Theophilus", near the Prefecture`s building.
• The old mansions of the city. Many of them have been turned into consulates.
• The neoclassic City Hall, the old Rustic Bank, the Court, the Scools in the area of Kipos and Great Britain Hotel.
• Agios Therapontas, neoclassic building of 1900. Inside the building there is a picture of Evangelist John (of the 15th century) and monument with the bones of "Ignatius of Hungarvlachy". In the ancient times, on the position of this buiding, there was an Aesculapium.
• The cathedral, of the 17th century, where there are kept the bones of "Agios Theodoros the "Byzantius". An underground archade is saved, under the church vestibule, with graves and cases where bones of Patriarchs and Metropolitans are kept. The churches of Agioi Theodoroi of 1795, Agios Symeon of 1700, Agioi Apostoloi of 1815 and Agios Nicholas which in the past was a mosque and after the chase of the Christians it had been turned into church. In 1462, "Mohammed the Conqueror" had pitched his tent there.

• The cave of Agios Bartholomeos, with stalactites. It is lying in a distance of ten minutes by bus, out of the city, towards the area of Taxiarches.
• The areas of Tsamakia and Makrygialos. The suburbs of Mytilene and the around villages. The covered with pine-trees area of Sourada where many towers-mansions, with Gothic style roofs, are saved.
• The church of Panagia and the Tower of Photiades, in the area of Aclidiu, 1km southwards.
• The ruins of Paleochristian Royal church of the 5th century, in the area of Argalas.
• The church of Taxiarches, in the homonymous village, 4. 5km south-west of Mytilene. The picture of one of the Taxiarches, of 2m height, is there. It was made out of wax and mastich, eight hundred of years previously.
• The Roman aqueduct, in the area of Moria, 5km north-west.
• The French cemetery of the A' World War, in the area of Scala, in Loutra, 9. 5km south-west.
• The traces of ancient group of houses, in Loutra, 7km south-west.
• The mansions-towers of Saltas and Chatzissavas, in Pamphila, 6km northwards.
• The church of Agia Barbara, with marble iconostasis made by Chalepas.
• The archs on which the Roman aqueduct was built, in Moria, 6km from Mytilene.

AGIA PARASCEVI

Mediterranean town, 40km north-west of Mytilene. It has 2628 inhabitants.

Worth seeing places:

• The unique in Greece ruins of buildings of Aeolian style (of the 6th century), in the area of Klopedi. Among them there are remains of Byzantine fort and ruins of Archaic temples, with Aeolian capitals of columns which are exposed in the Archaeological Museum of Mytilene.
• The ruins of "Megalos Naos" ("Great Temple") of the third century, in the area of Messa.
• The ruins of the ancient city of Pyrra (ruined by an earthquake around BC 231), in the area of Agladeri.
• The Paleochristian Royal church of Agios Georgios (of the 6th AD century), in the area of Chalina, one hour way from the town.
• The small church of Agia Paraskevi, sculptured in a rock.
• The Bridge of Kremasti, medieval building, with tradition similar to this of Arta`s Bridge. It is situated between Agia Paraskevi and Stypsi, in the area of Tsiknias torrent. 

AGIASSOS

The island`s pottery center of folk art. Mediterranean, picturesque town, with oriental and insular characteristics. Its is lying on the foot of Olympos which is the heighest mountain of the island, 28km west of Mytilene. The houses are built in such a way that form the shape of an amphitheater. It has 2587 inhabitants. The town is separated in four neighborhoods while the inhabitants of each one strongly believe to its traditions. According to the tradition, Agiassos was created by a miracle of Virgin Mary, whose the picture brought in the area the monk Agathon, who built the church-monasterial group of buildings of "Panagia the Sion", in 1170.

Worth seeing places:

• The church of Panagia (Virgin Mary), built in 1170. The picture of Virgin Mary is a work of Evangelist Luke.
• The Museum of the Church, with manuscripts, parchments and wooden pieces of the Holy Cross. It disposes guests`quarters.
• The ruins of Byzantine fort, in the area of Castelli.
• In Ippeio, 16. 5km northwards, the church of Agios Prokopios, with pictures and vestments of great value. 

ADISSA

Mediterranean town, 76km north-west of Mytilene, with 1340 inhabitants. Built near the position of the homonymous ancient city, on a height of 300m. It was one of the first Aeolian groups of houses. The legent went that the waves brought to its coasts the lyre and the head of Orpheus, after he was murdered by the Mainades (mythological creatures). That area took the name "Orphekia" because of this legent. The ancient city was ruined by the Romans in BC 168.

Worth seeing places:

• The churches of Agios Basilios and Agios Georgios, in Gavatha, 8km northwards.
• The monastery of Ipsilos, with remarkable collection of manuscripts,documents, evangels, articles of churches and the vestments of Gregory the fifth. From there, when the atmosphere is clear, one can see Athos.
• The ruins of the Venetian castle which the local people call "Paliocastro", "Ovriocastro" or "Castle of the Genevians" and the traces of the walls of the ancient city of Adissa, on the coast of Vigla.

Eressos

Mediterranean town with 1581 inhabitants. It is 89km north-west of Mytilene. Scala of Eressos, one of the most picturesque littoral groups of houses of the island, is lying 3km south of the village.

Worth seeing places:

• The Archaic (polygonal wall), Classic, Roman and Byzantine ruins (including a Byzatine-Genevian tower), all over the area.
• Two Paleochristian Royal churches of the fifth century. One in the group of houses of Scala (Agios Andreas) and the other in the area of Aphedelli.
• The small Museum of Skala, with archaeological things: slabs of tombs, species of various ages, ceramics and statuettes of the 4th BC century, Paleochristian sculptured things, mosaics, et. al.
• The anchor of the Turkish ship, which was set on fire by Papanicholis in 1821, is of great historical importance. At the bottom of the sea of Eressus`s anchorage there are lying the remains of the ship.
• Traces of walls of ancient citadel, in the area of Vigla, above the village.

THERME

Traditional village, with picturesque towers and narrow ways paved with flagstones,11. 5km north of Mytilene. It is surrounded by olive groves and vegetable gardens. It has 1.113 inhabitants while in the last years its houses have joined these of "Paralia of Therme". In this littoral group of houses there are springs of healing waters, famous since the ancient times, dedicated to "Thermia Daina". Ruins of temple of the ancient deity were revealed by the excavations, made by the English archaeologist Lamp (1929-1933).

Worth seeing places:

• The Byzantine small church of Panagia the "Tourloti", built in AD 802 or 1100.
• The towers of Goutoglou, Chadoulis and Agelatos.
• The small bathrooms and the draining system.
• Traces of the prehistorical city of Therme in the area of Canoni. Five successive groups of houses are discerned, built in BC 3000. The things found by the excavations are exposed in the Museum of Mytilene.  

KALLONE

Administrative and commercial center, base of the Cathedral of Mythemne. It is 40km north-west of Mytilene and it has 2027 inhabitants. In a distance of 4km there is its port, Scala of Kallone, at the anchorage of the homonymous gulf, with extensive sandy beaches. It is a great fishing center. Kallone is known by this name since BC 1300. Historical monuments prove that around BC 1400 it was a brilliant city which had concentrated inhabitants from the groups of houses of Pyrra and Arisbe. Syranidi is situated there, where the surrender of the Turkish army was agreed, in 1912.

Worth seeing places:

• Traces of ancient and byzantine houses, on the top of the hill of Paliocastro.
• Ruins of temple and castle, in the area between Kallone and Parakila, 12km south-west, on the height of Xirocastro.
• The monastery of Leimona, built in 1523, 5km north-west. In the monastery`s museum there are exposed folkloric heirlooms as well as heirlooms of churches, rare manuscripts and parchments, all of great value.
• The byzantine monastery of Panagia the "Myrsiniotissa", 3km north-west. There, the nuns do excellent works of folk art and prepare rose-water.
• Ancient sculptured tombs, in Philia, in the areas of Gournia and Scotino Vouno, 11km north-west of Kalloni.
• The ancient city in Ermopylaia. According to the tradition it was built by king Pylaias.

MADAMADOS

Mediterranean town with 1452 inhabitants. It is 36km north of Mytilene and 7km from the beautiful beaches of Macrygialos`s gulf. Here, opposite the coasts of Asia Minor, there are the islets of Tsakmaki, Panagia, Barbalias, Asproneso, Tsoukalas and Prassologos. Sykaminea, motherland of the remarkable poet maker Stratis Myrivilis, is lying 9km northwards. Scala of Sykaminea, the port of Madamados, is lying on the north coasts of the island and it is one of the most beautiful coasts of Lesbos.

Worth seeing places:

• The monastery of Taxiarches, with old wrought in relief picture of Archangel Michael.
• Remarkable Byzantine building is the church of Agios Stephanos.

·         The ruins of Medieval castle, on the way to the valley of Sarakina.

·         Ruins of Byzantine fortress, in Kleio, in the area of Paliocastro, 6km northwards.

Mythemna or Molyvos

The most traditional area of the island. Preservable group of houses, with 1667 inhabitants. Built on the slope of a hill, 61km north-west of Mytilene (through Kallone), it provides many facilities to the visitors. Excellent is the castle, saved in a very good condition. Mythemna was the second civil developed city of the island , in the third BC century. In the interval between the Roman and the Byzantine domination it began to decline but when it was qonquered by the Genevians it started to flourish again. It strongly resisted to the Turks.

Worth seeing places:

• The castle, old, Byzantine and Genevian fortress, which is stetching till the seashore. There are remains of ancient Mythemna (polygonal walls of the 8th BC century and ruins of Archaic temple), sarcophagus,as well as tombs and buildings of the Roman Period (Roman aqueduct).

• In the City Hall, the Archaeological Collection (jars, inscriptions and ceramics found in ancient Mythemna) and the library with more than 1,000 volumes of manuscripts.
• The house of Argyris Eftalioti, in the center of Mythemna, and the burned small house of "the teacher with the golden eyes", female hero of the poet maker Stratis Myrivilis.
• The house where Elias Venezis spent his summers and the grave of Eftaliotis, in the littoral area of Eutalou, 3km southwards.

Petra

Littoral village with abundant waters and green. It is 55km north-west of Mytilene and it has 1305 inhabitants. In front of its gulf there is the covered with pine-trees islet of Agios Georgios.

Worth seeing places:

• The church of Panagia (Virgin Mary) the "Glykophiloussa" -preservable monument of the 18th century- built in a rock, height of 27m. It has 114 steps.

·         The mansion of Varelgidaina, preservable building -with wall paintings.

·         The monastery of Agios Nicholas -of the 16th century- with wall paintings.

Plomari

The biggest town of the island, 42km south-west of Mytilene, with 3673 inhabitants. Built in 1842 -it is a group of houses with good street plan. There are mansions, parks and much green in the around areas. It presents remarkable touristic activity and it is famous for its "ouzo" (kind of Greek drink). It offers many facilities to the visitors.

Worth seeing places:

• The caves in the areas of Kokkala, Agios Isidoros and Mauri Petra.
• Ruins of the house of the wise man "Veniamin the Lesbian", in Megalochori, 7km northwards.
• North-west, in the area of Kournela, there is the small Royal church of Saint John the "Prodromos" (=Baptist) as well as not exploited springs of healing waters, in the area of "Kryphi Panagia".

Polichnitos

Mediterranean town with 2975 inhabitants, 45km west of Mytilene. Polichitos has astonishing view on the gulf of Kallone and the Aegean Sea, as it is built on a height. Many small, united groups of houses constitute this town. Skala, the port of Polichitos, with (not exploited) springs of healing waters, is lying in a distance of 4km, at the entrance of the gulf.

Worth seeing places:

• The rich collection of ancient coins in the exhibition building of the Gymnasium.
• The monastery of Damandrius of the 12th century, near Polichnitus.
• The tower where Michael Paleologe lived when he was banished, in Skala of Lisborio, 4km northwards.
• Vassilika, traditional village, 5km north-east, place of banishment of the Byzantine empress "Irene the Athenian".

Sigri

The beautiful coast and the petrified wood are the characteristics of this group of houses, although there are only remains of the petrified trees. It is 93km north-west of Mytilene and it has 402 inhabitants. The islet Nisope is very close to its small port.

Worth seeing places:

• The Venetian castle, with posterior additions by the Turks.

·         Byzantine and Medieval ruins, in the area of Paliocastro.

·         The petrified wood, in a distance of 12km. There are bodies of trees which had been covered by burning material, one million of years previously. The scientists believe that this was the result of volcanic activity. Also, on the islet of Nisope as well as in the around sea area there are petrified plants. One can get to the wood by bus from the village.

The petrified wood

Archealogical Sights

Beaches

KOZAKTUR

İLETİŞİM
E-Mail: bayiacente@hotmail.com
TurizmAnasayfa

www.midillituru.com