About Lesvos / Lesbos, Greece

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Basic Intro to the island of Lesvos

Relatively close to Turkey, and one of the larger islands in the Aegean, the island of Lesbos is to be found in the North Aegean group of Greek islands and has a coastline stretching almost 200 miles. Its capital is Mytilene where about one third of the island's population of around 90,000 people live. Most of the remaining inhabitants are scattered amongst the many inland and mountain villages which delight visitors. Those villages the tourist might like to visit include Plomari, Eresos, Molyvos (historically Mythymna), Agiassos, Sigir, Thermi, Vatera, Kalloni and the villages of Gera.

The interior of the island is mountainous, with 2 main peaks known as Mt. Lepetymos and Mt. Olympus but there are fertile areas that support olive trees (the most important crop) and other fruit trees. Forests of hardwood trees and pines have covered vast areas of the island and still remain in many places. An important petrified forest of Sequoia is to be found on the island. Tourism is an important source of income to the island and is mainly centred on Mytlilene and the towns of Petra, Molyvos, Plomari and Eresos along the coastline.

The history of Lesbos is similar to that of all the Aegean group of islands, through Ancient, Byzantine, Ottoman and finally Greek. For the tourist interested in the history and archaeology then important sites include the cave of Kagiani from Neolithic times, Chalkies from the same era, and Thermi from ancient times between approximately 3000 and 1000 BC. Ruined mediaeval castles and many historically important churches are to be found dotted around the island.

One of the more esoteric of familiar names born on Lesbos is that of Sappho, the poetess who wrote poems charged with so much emotional strength, about women, that the name of her birthplace engendered the term 'lesbian'. Her actual birthplace on the island was Eresos. Other names of note originating or living on the island include the poets Terpander and Alcaeus, the botanist Theophrastus, the hermit Theoctiste, the Ottoman Hayreddin Barbarossa and, more recently, the 19th/20th century artists Theophilos Hatzimihail and Hermon di Giovanno and, latterly, the poet Odysseus Elytis.

The climate is pleasant without extremes of temperature or rainfall but, at the same time, the island enjoys high numbers of hours of sunshine. Two of the islands best beaches are those of Kalloni and Petra and if it's a more vibrant nightlife you'd like to enjoy then visit Mytilene, Mythymna and Skala Eressos. Wherever you choose to visit on this woderful island you'll find taverns and small restaurants providing traditional food and local ouzo and olives.

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