Mytilini city alsocalled Mytilene, capital of the Lesbos island we find it on theeast coast just in front of Turkey. The step to the east is reallyshort.

Built amphitheatricallybetween seven beautiful hills full of vegetation that extend as faras its natural port, it is a cosmopolitan town, an artistic,commercial and industrial center where the past and the present mergewithout bothering each other. Old neighborhoods, delightful suburbs,archaeological monuments, imposing churches, stone palaces,interesting museums, a seafront with the most modern comforts, wherethe Aegean view is breathtaking and a labyrinth of narrowstreets that put even the more expert drivers in finding the exit, inshort, everything you need for a relaxing holiday without evergetting bored. There is also a beach where you can recharge yourbatteries and enjoy a fresh swim.

Inhabited since the10th century BC, ancient Mytilene was actually an islet where themedieval castle stands which is separated from the coast by theEuripo canal which connected the north port to the old port and thesouth port called new port. Later the canal was filled thus joiningthe two strips of land. The southern port is flanked by a long pierand on the outside there is the tourist and commercial port on oneside and the ferry dock on the other. In the center a small anchorwith a circular shape. Until the seventh century BC, the leadershipof the island was disputed with Methymna, later becoming the maincentre. From the 6th century BC it was subject to dictatorships,conflicts with Athens, civil revolutions and conquest by the Persiansand managed to be independent for the first time in the Roman period.From 1355 to 1462 the Genoese Gattilusi family occupied the islandand contributed to the Byzantine fortress reconstruction. In1462 the Ottoman Empire took possession of Lesvos and of the whole ofGreece, dominating it until 1912.

Mytilene is very active and lively from dawn to late at night. There are numerous shops whereyou can find the perfect souvenir, cafés where you can meet thelocals and listen to fantastic stories, trendy restaurants, typicaltaverns and clubs where you can spend wonderful evenings. There aremany things to see and do in Mytilini starting from its imposingcastle considered one of the largest in the whole Mediterranean.Above a hill to the south of the city, it has Byzantine origins andwas erected above the ancient Acropolis. Today you can see theOttoman baths, the queen’s tower, the crypts and a cistern used forcollecting water. From here the view is magnificent. A fresh pineforest surrounds it which reaches the shore of the public beach ofgolden sand bathed by a crystalline and transparent sea. It is wellequipped with sunbeds, umbrellas, bars and changing cabins and isalways very crowded especially in the summer. Finally, in the warmseason it becomes the scene for numerous cultural events.

For a dive into the past andto understand the importance of this multifaceted island, theArchaeological Museum right in the center of the city is not to bemissed. It occupies two buildings next to each other and preservesfinds from the Hellenistic and Roman periods such as sought afterfloors, friezes, mosaics from Roman villas and various sculptures.

For a little frivolity andlevity, a trip to the main shopping street Ermou is a must especiallyfor the ladies. Nice shops of all kinds for a personal gift or as asouvenir of the holiday. On the way you will come across theimpressive Turkish Yeni Tzami mosque. It was commissioned in 1825 bythe local Ottoman governor and features elements of Byzantine andTurkish architecture. The building is stone with a red tiled domedroof. In the early 1920s the Saracen population left the island andthe mosque became a refuge for Greek refugees. In 2000 restorationworks were carried out, bringing it back almost to its former glory.Theatrical performances and exhibitions are also organized here.

Still following ErmouStreet, we arrive at the Agios Therapon church which dominates the Mytilene sky. Built in 1860 it is located just behind the harborroad in the market. Built on top of an ancient Byzantine style templededicated to the god Apollo, inside there is a rich collection oficons and sculptures in wood and gold. Also worth seeing is the 16thcentury St. Athanasius Cathedral where there is a secretunderground tomb and the St. Theodore sacred relics martyr hangedby the Turks in 1795. On 17 February and the fourth Sunday afterEaster a large party in his honour.

In the old district of Apano Skala near the old port, you can admire the ruins of the ancientagora and the Roman aqueduct as well as an ancient theatre. Thesuburb was colonized by Greek refugees from Asia Minor in 1922 forwhom two storey stone houses were built which are still inhabitedtoday. In the Varia district on the outskirts of the capital, you canget lost in the Theophilos Museums and in that of Teriade. Bothhouse collections that are the envy of even the most famous museumsin the world. Specifically, that of Teriade welcomes the works ofStrati Eleftheriadi a subsidizer of the arts who has collected worksby great Greek and European artists such as Picasso, Matisse andMiro’ just to name a few.

And finally, how can we failto underline the fact that Lesvos is considered the capital of Ouzo?Stop at the Matis Ouzo factory where the market is in a small streetthat connects Ermou street to Archipelagos street, it has a hundredyears of history in the production of the famous distillate drunkthroughout Greece and the world. The base anise seed for itspreparation is grown right on Lesbos in the area called Lisvory.However, if you want a tour that tells the story of Ouzo well, go tothe Barbajjanis factory in Plomari. For those who have never heard ofit before, know that it is a must in Greece, it is usually drunkaccompanied with the famous “mezedes” (appetizers in Greek)based on fresh fish, cheese and olives, just to give you an idea.

These are just a smallpart of the things to see in Mytilini, a rich, lively, stateless cityand an excellent base for exploring the wonderful  Lesvos island.