HISTORY of LESVOS, THE BIRTHPLACE of OUZO

The Island of Lesvos (Mytilini)

The lush green island of Lesvos (Lesbos, as some know it) is a real discovery for the visitor who wants to experience the living history of Greece. 

The islanders, whilst welcoming tourism, have not yet lost sight of their heritage,traditions 
and the richness their island gives them in their everyday lives with their olives and fishing.

Lesvos, also known as MYTILINI (same as the capital of the island) is situated in the North Aegean, is the third largest island in Greece after Crete and Evia. Six months of sun and warm temperatures can be enjoyed on its award winning beaches, while its modernized road system allows easy travel by coach, car or motorbike.

    

 

It has two large bays, Kalloni and Geras, both with narrow entrances. Kalloni bay measures 19 x 6.5 km (12 x 4 miles) and Gera 10.5 x 4km (7.5 x 2.5 miles). The island's intriging shape was described as resembling the leaf of a plain tree, by the poet Elytis.

Although there are no large, year round rivers with a steady flow of water, there are abundant natural water springs and water courses in the winter and spring. Olive groves predominate Lesvos and there are an estimated fourteen million trees, yielding approximately 25,000 tonnes of olives, which account for a quarter of all Greek production.

 

               


Lesvos' permanently increasing population ensures that local crafts of wood carving, ceramics and some homemade products including ouzo, honey and cheese are not mere tourist attractions, but are part of a traditional lifestyle that still thrives on Lesvos. Local products of Lesvos can be bought.
                                                                    
The numerous festivals held throughout the island during the year are still enjoyed and celebrated in their traditional ways, with the locals displaying their flair for dancing, drinking and eating hours on end, days on end.

 

       


The well preserved village of Molyvos is considered to be one of the most picturesque in Greece. It boasts mansions and houses with architectural designs dating back to the neo-classical era. 
                    
Art and history museums reveal the island's historical importance, as well as its popularityu as a haven for artists and writers through the ages. The island is home to the great philosopher Theophrastus, born in Eressos and it's beauty has long served as an inspiration to poets like Alcaeus and Sappho, who both came from Lesvos.
Sappho was born in Eressos and taught in Mytilini. She was described as the greatest female lyric poet of all time. Her poems were directed mainly at the female sex due to her strong regard for women being individuals and independent.

Lesvos has enjoyed a permanent cultural tradition through its writers, poets, painters and musicians right up to this present day - Theofilos the painter was born in Varia and the Nobel Prize winner, poet Elytis and the writer and poet Myrivillis, just to name a few.

 

    


It's natural attractions include the unique "Natural Hot Springs", health including spas that are dotted around the island, some of which have been modernised for public use. 
The " Petrified Forest", astonisning, situated in Sigri on the west coast where immense volcanic eruption has left fossilized tree trunks and leaves dating  back 20million years, makes a visit a memorable one.

The PETRIFIED FOREST has been worldly known as an amazing attraction.  It has become a GEOPARK of great recognition and it has been awarded the WINNER of the ECOTOURISM awards in 2008.

The island is accessible ALL YEAR ROUND (summer - charter flights / all year - scheduled flights) and most importantly its a BEAUTIFUL ESCAPE all year round (Spring, Autumn and Winter months are also enjoyable).