The mesmerizing Lesbos island, the 1/3 biggest in Greece, boasts several bodies of water, a rich range of flora and fauna, well-known olive groves, a candy Mediterranean weather, hot springs, a unique petrified wooded area, museums, fascinating traditional settlements, and lovely examples of industrial structure from the island’s 19th-century business improvement.
Lesbos, as a massive place for the migration of populations from the East to Europe, has been influenced by various cultures, and nowadays, keeps these elements visible. The island is dotted with Byzantine and up-Byzantine monuments, castles, churches, monasteries, and traditional stone and timber buildings, which upload an Oriental appeal to the mansions, towers, and well-preserved inland settlements.
The charm of Lesbos appears limitless: If staying in cozy motels, traveling the city's two great artwork museums, or lodging in an appropriate resort on the northern coast of Molyvos (historic Mithymna) isn't always sufficient, this green island can awaken absolutely everyone's green spirit with cycling stories and trekking trails.
Map of Lesbos Island
| Name | Lesbos Island (Greek: Λέσβος) |
| Country | Greece |
| Region | North Aegean |
| Coordinates | 39°13′N 26°17′E |
| Area | 1,633 km2 (631 sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC +2 |
| Population | 83,755 |
| Airport | Mitilini Airport Odysseas Elytis (MJT) |
History of Lesbos Island
Lesvos Island, positioned within the northeastern Aegean Sea, ranks third amongst Greek islands and is considered one of Greece's oldest inhabited areas.
A volcanic eruption 20 million years in the past divided the island into two awesome landscapes. The jap side is luxurious with olive groves and forests that reach down to the ocean, at the same time as the arid panorama on the western side contrasts sharply, domestic to the famed Sigri Petrified Forest, one of the two biggest petrified forests in the world (the alternative being in Arizona).
According to Greek mythology, the island's first settler became Macareus, the son of Helios, who had 4 sons and five daughters: Mytilene, Mithymna, Issa, and Arisvi. The name "Lesvos" is derived from Lesbius, the grandson of Aeolus and husband of Mithymna, who arrived with the Aeolian settlers, gained strength, and named the island after himself.
Ancient Lesvos Island's Art
Since ancient instances, artwork and literature have flourished on the island, and the contributions of Lesvos are considered pivotal in shaping ancient Greek subculture. Famous musicians of antiquity include Terpander of Antissa, Arion of Methymna, and Kydias of Mytilene.
The famed lyric poet Alcaeus and the distinguished poetess Sappho, frequently known as the "Tenth Muse," have been both stimulated by this place, leaving at the back of works that have persevered unchanged for hundreds of years.
Also notable is Pittacus, one of the Seven Sages of ancient Greece, Theophrastus, a student and successor of Aristotle and the founder of botany, and Longus, who in the 3rd century AD, authored the world's first novel, Daphnis and Chloe, a pastoral tale of idyllic love.
Best Things to Do on Lesvos Island
Mitilini (Μυτιλήνη) is a city complete of surprises, supplying numerous locations to visit. Castles, mansions, museums, and church buildings are just a few examples. The marketplace is brimming with shops and attractions, and a few homes have been restored. There are also mosques and Turkish baths. The port is energetic, with boats, small vessels, and sailboats, surrounded by using bars and taverns.
The island's inhabitants are religious and engaged in cattle farming (raising about 300,000 dairy goats and sheep), olive cultivation, and beekeeping. Lesvos produces particular PDO and PGI products, such as Kaseri, oil cheese, and graviera.
From the moment a vacationer arrives on this island, they're enveloped in a special air of secrecy that emanates from this sacred vicinity. Unique archaeological treasures included wetlands teeming with endemic birds, museums, monasteries (together with the Taxiarchis Monastery in Mandamados, the Monastery of Agios Raphael, and the Ipsilou Monastery), church buildings scattered at some stage in the island, pristine seashores, delicious neighborhood delicacies, and precise festivals that blend Christian and Greek mythological events convey the range and infinite surprises to the traveler.
Mithymna (Μήθυμνα) is one of the maximum stunning villages on the island. Tall stone houses are scattered everywhere. Strolling via its narrow cobblestone streets, visitors are enchanted by its beauty. Further down, the seashore and the close by small woodland, along with the tranquil and picturesque harbor, make it an area you’ll by no means want to go away.
Petra (Πέτρα) is placed 5 kilometers south of Molyvos. It is one of the most lovely spots in Lesvos, with charming stone houses, slim streets, and delightful, endless seashores. At the village's height is the Megalochari Church, handy via 112 steps.
Kalloni (Καλλονή) is a stunning metropolis, known as Achyrona till the past due 19th century. A 20-minute pressure from the town takes you to the medieval castle Paleokastro, now in part preserved. Being centrally located on the island, Kalloni has accrued many offerings, with a lovely marketplace full of stores and big exhibitions.
Sigri (Σίγρι) is a picturesque fishing village on the western quit of the island. It is said that its name comes from the phrase "Safe Harbor," used to explain this location with its lovely natural port. Sigri was as soon as home to Turkish residents who left in 1923. The present-day citizens are refugees from the Marmara Sea islands of Koutalis in Asia Minor.
Eresos (Ερεσός) is the birthplace of the historical poetess Sappho. It is likewise the name of a historic city in Lesvos, with records spanning three,000 years. Today, it's far a very beautiful village, bustling with tourism in the summertime. In iciness, the villagers live within the upper village, 4 kilometers from the sea, and in summer, they move to the Eresos steps, in which there are lovely seashores and many inns. Eresos has a huge cattle farm, and till the Nineteen Seventies, it became into well-known globally for its dried figs, which were exported globally.
The Petrified Forest, located in the northwestern part of Lesvos, is estimated to be around 20 million years old. The bark on maximum trees stays unchanged, even as a few have fused. Their colors are past human imagination. The timber stands 6 meters tall with a circumference of 8.5 meters.
Mantamados (Μανταμάδος) is a picturesque village on Lesvos, located 35 kilometers north of Mitilini. All the homes are constructed of stone. The significant market for Mandamado's capabilities is the stone church of Agios Georgios. Just outdoors the village is the Taxiarchis Monastery, one of the most famous in Lesvos.
Lesvos Island is domestic to many historical and traditionally large monasteries, along with Saint Ignatius Monastery, Moni Agiou Rafail, and Ipsilou Monastery.
Lesvos is also renowned for its warm springs, which account for a quarter of Greece’s thermal baths. Geras, Eftalou, Lisvori, Polichnitos, and Thermis are well-known for their recovery waters, acknowledged for treating rheumatism, bronchitis, arthritis, sciatica, gynecological and pores and skin diseases, amongst others.
