Tuesday, May 29, 2018

LESVOS: Not one of the most popular, but one of the most beautiful Greek Islands!



It is a fact that Lesvos is not as popular as Mykonos, Santorini, Naxos or Crete. However, it is one of the most beautiful and historical islands of Greece. If you haven’t visited Lesvos yet, here you can find some interesting information about the place. After that, we are sure that your next holidays are going to be there!

For those who love Greek History and Mythology, Lesvos is an ideal destination as it has many Archaeological Sites. The best of them are:

Castle of Mytilene: In the northern part of the city, between a green pine and the sea, rise the remnants of the castle of Mytilene. It is kept in good condition and is one of the largest castles of the Mediterranean area. Its construction and reinforcement took place at various times.
Archaeological site of Mesa at Agia Paraskevi: The temple of Mesa, dedicated to Jupiter, Dionysus and Hera, was a center of worship and communication. In the early 4th century BC, it was the seat of the League of Lesvos’ cities. The site contains many architectural fragments from the temple. In early Christian times, a funerary basilica was built on top of the temple, which was later supplanted by a post-Byzantine church.
Sanctuary of Apollo at Klopedi is located northwest of Agia Paraskevi, Lesvos and is one of the most important examples of the archaic architecture of the island. The temple, probably dedicated to Napaeos Apollo, was first founded in the 8th century BC and its final form took place in the middle of the 6th century BC.
The castle of Sigri is one of the later fortifications on the island. It is located at the western end of Lesvos and was built in 1757 by Suleiman Pasha in order to protect the area from pirate raids and to ensure the smooth trading of the goods. The castle is characterized by the Arabian arc placed over the gate with red and white stones.
The castle of Molyvos is located in the northern part of the island of Lesvos at the place of ancient Mithymna and is the second largest and important castle of Lesvos.
Roman Aqueduct of Moria: Parts of the Aqueduct are preserved close to the village of Lampou Mills. The aqueduct is a great technical work that existed there since the 3rd century AD. It started from Agiasos and arrived at Mytilene.


The most popoular attraction of Lesvos is The Petrified Forest, a fossilized forest ecosystem that includes hundreds of standing and contiguous petrified tree trunks covered with volcanic materials and fossilized in their place 20 million years ago. Within the layers of volcanic ash are revealed branches, roots, fruit and tree leaves as well as fossilized animal bones. Major fossil areas are also found in the coastal zone and in the marine area west of Lesvos. In the area of the Petrified Forest, there are also impressive volcanic geotopes, which witness the intense volcanic activity in the past. It could be described as a window in the geohistoric evolution of the Aegean region over the last 20,000,000 years. By presidential decree (Presidential Decree 443/1985) it was declared a preserved monument of nature. In 2004 the forest joined UNESCO's World Geopark Network.
The area "Western Hersonissos of Lesvos - Petrified Forest" is included in the list of areas of Community importance for nature protection, known as the European Union's Natura 2000 Network. Three important ecological units are distinguished in the area, the western land area surrounding the area of the Petrified Forest with the microenvironments that host rare and often endangered species of plants and animals, an important sea section around the rocky isle of Nisipos or Megalonisi and the pine forest Pterounta - Parakoiilli, where the only Rhododedron in Greece is found.
The rich cultural heritage of the area of the Petrified Forest includes two of the six ancient cities of Lesvos, Antissa - the birthplace of the musician and poet Terpandros - and Eressos - the birth town of the poet Sappho and the great philosopher Theophrastus, who is considered to be the father of modern ecology.

Visiting Lesvos without trying the traditional products is a big mistake!
Lesvos is famous for a wide range of traditional products that grow on this land. Many of these products are displayed in the local shops whether it is for gastronomic purposes, delicious sweets, beauty oils, aromatic soaps, traditional delicacies, ceramic pots, wood carved pieces, fruits and vegetables or other use.
The island is well-known for the fine ouzo, the local drink of Greeks which accompanies the food of Lesvos cuisine. It is produced in many varieties.
The incomparable taste and flavor of olive oil is a real gift of nature. In Lesvos, there are more than 11.000.000 olive trees and endless cultivation areas around the island. The olive oil of Lesvos has been awarded many times in international exhibitions for its excellent quality.
Lesvos is also known for its long tradition in cheese production and particularly ladotyri, feta (hard cream cheese) and kasseri (yellow cheese with a spicy flavor), an ideal appetizer.
The salted anchovies of Kalloni are the most famous product in Lesvos offered in many waterfront taverns and restaurants around the island.
One of the best products in the world is definitely honey, which is also available in many parts of Lesvos.
The folklore tradition of Lesvos is still maintained by the locals. A wide variety of ceramic pots and other pieces can be found in the local workshops scattered in the town. Woodcarving is also an art that survives in Lesvos. The women in the island of Lesvos are involved in the art of weaving and cooking creating some beautiful embroidery pieces that can last for a lifetime as well as delicious traditional recipes passed from generation to generation.

 

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