Travel Guide to Lesvos, Greece

Lesvos is an island in the eastern part of the Aegean Sea. This is the third largest island of the region after Crete and Evia, and the seventh largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.

The population of the island reaches 108 thousands of people. The capital of Lesvos is Mytilini – a port with a large fish market and a noisy bazar. All free lands in the island are used for olive farming.

Lesvos is the motherland of a great ancient Greek poet Sappho. She was the head of a school for girls and she jumped down from rock into the sea because of her tragic love. The rock’s name is Eresu and it is located in the western part of the island. Starting from ancient times this island is full of thick pine groves and tropical tress. Because of this fact the air on Lesvos is healing and climate conditions are mild.

Lesvos attracts people by its abandoned beaches and large villages made of stone. The settlements in Lesvos have much from Arabian towns with their compact towns with upper floors hanging above the street.

Among the most famous sights of Lesvos are Mytilini with its narrow streets, an antique theatre, and Museum of Archeology. Akrotiri village is the location of the museum of Theofilos Hadzimihail - a great Greek primitivism adept. Theriade Museum exhibits many precious works of art. In this museum you can see pictures created by Chagall, Matis и Picasso. Madamados town is famous for its ceramics; Molivos is the motherland of the ancient Greek poet Arion (born in VII century BC). Tourists may also find much interesting in Plomari and Agiassos towns. Finally, you can visit the ancient Byzantine monastery that has a unique collection of icons. The Petrified Forest is a true miracle of nature. In this forest you will see ancient trees that have been petrified in lava. The giant sequoias lay in elsewhere, resembling huge stones.