Lesvos Island
Lesbos also called Lesvos by the Hellenic people is located in the north of Greece very close to the Turkish coast.
Third in size of all the Greek islands, it has an area of over 1,600 square kilometres. From volcanic origins and with a rich and constantly changing morphology, despite its beauty it is little visited by tourism, in recent years above all due to its unfortunate position which, being very close to the East and Turkey, is a land of immigration.
The bravest but not for a danger factor but only for a matter of embarking on a journey since there are no direct flights from Italy and from almost all of Europe and who want to visit a part of Greece that is still almost unknown , they will find a great surprise because Lesvos lacks nothing indeed it perhaps has much more to offer than the more noble islands.
An area that has undergone several earthquakes in history that have changed its shape but which have contributed to giving life to a corner of paradise. There are many mountains, the highest being the Lepetimno massif to the north with the top of Profitis Elia (968 metres) towering above them all. Dense pine forests, endless expanses of olive trees, oaks, chestnuts and a vegetation that offers an innumerable number of species. There are no rivers and lakes, on the other hand you can admire fantastic waterfalls (especially in the south) and miraculous thermal springs known for thousands of years with curative properties for many pathologies such as rheumatism which attract many Greeks every year.
Lesvos is also right on one of the main migratory routes, the salt mines in Kaloni towards the west, they are the residence of fifty pairs of herons as well as other specimens of birds in some cases even very rare. In the Skala Caves, on the other hand, always on the western side, the monachus seals of the Mediterranean unfortunately in danger of extinction find refuge, and again in the Limoas Monastery the area has been declared protected as they stop by wild birds.
The island is also known for being the birthplace of the poetesse Sappho originally from Eresos. After spending about ten years in Sicily with her family in exile, she returned to Lesbos where she became director and teacher of a religious association dedicated to the god Dionysos in a kind of boarding school where according to the story she would have had love affairs with some of the girls. Then following an unrequited love for Faone who left her 'for another, she out of desperation committed suicide' in Porto Katsiki in Lefkada by jumping off the cliff.
Hence the saying "sapphic or lesbian love" to indicate female homosexuality.
One of the products of excellence of Lesvos is the oil that is obtained from the cultivation of the many olive groves on the island, another is the wine processed above all in the area of Plomari to the southeast and last but not least the most famous liqueur of who hasn't had at least one glass of Ouzo all over Greece? Its inhabitants are very kind and open to foreigners but they are also very attached to their roots, so much so that traditions are still very present in daily life, handed down from generation to generation.
A visit to the capital Mytilini is a must! In the shape of an amphitheater it boasts a beautiful 14th century Byzantine castle on the pine-covered hill that completely dominates the beautiful bay that welcomes it. Old houses and modern buildings that despite the differences do not clash with each other, on the contrary they give it that particular touch. Noisy and full of life with its large port where visitors disembark, it offers travelers excellent cuisine and many cultural points such as churches and museums, not to mention its navel promenade of the city. Northeast of Mytilini the ancient theater of the Hellenistic period which can accommodate up to 10,000 spectators with stunning acoustics.
Do not miss the petrified forest in Sigri in the northwest formed by a frightening volcanic explosion twenty million years ago which covered all the trees in the area with its ashes, thus favoring the fossilization of the subtropical forest.
To the north is the town of Molyvos also called Mithymna a much sought after destination for a holiday on Lesvos. Born in the Bronze Age, it is dominated by a medieval Genoese fortress that reaches down to the sea. Stone and wood houses perched on the promontory, cobbled alleys and all possible comforts with the addition of a beautiful beach in case one day you just feel like idleness.
And yet Skala Kallonis in the center of the inlet which naturally delimits and divides Lesbos in two. A classic fishing village with very fresh fish taverns, small hotels, a lovely square sheltered by large platinum trees and obviously the city beach could not be missing for a nice swim. In the first week of August, Skala Kallonis hosts a fun sardine festival, of which it is considered the capital. Birdwatchers will find many specimens to see and study especially near the salt marshes that surround the area.
Finally, to the north, another stop is Skala Sikaminias where you will take a dip in the past between the Sanctuaries of Zeus, Hera, Dionysos and the temple dedicated to the mythical God Apollo, one of the most sacred monuments for the Greek people.
Being able to describe all the wonders of Lesvos is a tiring undertaking, the best thing is to go and discover it directly and see with your own eyes how beautiful it is and how much it has to offer.