The green island of Lesbos is a popular summer resort without being too busy. This is where the 7th century BC poetess Sappho lived, as well as Alcaios, another ancient poet and allegedly Sapphos lover. The philosopher Theophrastus was born here in the 4th century BC, and the poet and Nobel Prize winner Odysseas Elytis also came from Lesbos.

Sappho's reputation as a lover of her own sex, has given the word "Lesbian" an international currency. Her reputation is based on some of the fragments of her poetry: "I was in love with you once, Atthis, long ago..."

Rich in olives and fish, the island has an economic balance rare in the Aegean and because of its relative prosperity the island is very easy for travelers to reach even in the quiet months of winter. By air, one can get to Lesvos from Athens five times a day and from Salonica seven times a week. By Ferry-boat, one can reach Lesvos every day from Piraeus, and from Salonica on a less frequent schedule.

Mytilene is the capital of the island and has a population of 30,000 people. This is about one third of the total population of the island. It is built amphitheatrically around its well preserved Byzantine Castle. Not very far from there, on the north-east side of town, one can find the Hellenistic Theatre with its superb acoustics and capacity of 10,000 people. Further in the suburb of Varia one can visit the Theophilos Museum.

Twelve kilometers from Mytilene, near the town of Moria, one can visit the Roman Aqueduct that was built in the second century AD.
Going further up north by the east coast, thru a series of beautiful little villages one will arrive in the town of Mantamados, famous for its cheeses and the fine pottery. The next stop will be Skala Sikaminias, one of the most charming fishing villages one would ever see.

And then, at the northest point of the island one will find the picturesque village of Mithymna (also known as Molivos), with its mediaeval castle and the traditional architecture. Molivos is also the islands best known resort. By some it has been called “the closed place to paradise, on earth”.

The association with Arts is appropriate enough, for it was here in Mithymna that the head of Orpheus is said to have been washed ashore after his dismemberment of the Thracian women. Another mythical citizen of Mithymna was the lyric poet and musician Arion. It has been said that he has been saved by the music-loving dolphin.

Only a short distance of 5 Km SW of Molivos the village of Petra can be found. Petra has one of the best sandy beaches of the island.
Again further south the village of Agia Paraskevi is situated. This village has a lot of old mansions and is known for the Bull Festival that has been celebrated since more than two hundred years. Near the village lay ruins of an ancient temple of Napaios Apollo and the ruins of an Ionian temple dated from the 3rd century BC. This temple was dedicated to Zeus, Hera and Dionysos.

In the island’s center, not far from Agia Paraskevi, lays the modern town Kalloni. It is famous for its sardines which are caught in the nearby bay called the Gulf of Kalloni. On this gulf one will also find the popular summer resort Skala Kalloni with its beautiful sandy beaches.

Also near the center of the island another well known town is Agiassos. This town is famous for its pottery. Going further south again we reach the towns of Plomari and Vatera which have the one of most superb beaches of the island, 10 Km long.

At the western tip of Lesvos, Sigri is a pretty fishing village with a nice little beach and a castle that goes back to the 18th century. Not far from there lies the Petrified Forest, dating back fifteen million years.

Finally, not far from Sigri, one will find the town of Eressos. Eressos has been the birth place of Sappho and Theoprastos. Its port, Skala Eressos, is a famous resort with a magnificent beach.

Lesvos, as it can be seen from its classical history, its abundance of poets, musicians, philosophers and lawgivers, was one of the great cultural centers of the Greek world. It was second perhaps only to Athens, in its influence if not in its power.

As a place for a holiday, for a rest or for quiet work, Lesvos is HARD to BETTER. It is big enough to permit that change of scene so necessary if one is to avoid “island claustrophobia”. It has a further advantage that it is easy from here to organize a trip to visit Troy or to explore the coastline of ancient Ionia.

There are many places to visit, and several beaches have watersports. The island is also great for trekking and driving around, and many bird-watchers have found their paradise on the island.

Lesbos has a good nightlife, and you’ll find bars and discos in Mytilene, Mithymnia and Skala for example.

In Mytilene and Mithymna you’ll find both Greek and International restaurants, but all the villages also have small, traditional taverns with good food. The island is known for its olives and ouzo, and there are several local sweets.

Tag: Lesbos island