Mithimna

The lush, green island of Lesvos named also Lesbos (/ˈlɛzbɒs/; Greek: Λέσβος Lesvos, pronounced [ˈle̞zvo̞s], sometimes referred to as Mytilini after its capital) is similar to no other Greek island. It is the third biggest of the islands in Greece after Crete and Evia. Virtually unaffected by the mass tourism that has transformed different islands into event congregations,

Lesvos is the ideal spot to visit for individuals who desire to encounter the genuine Greece. Located in the northeastern Aegean Sea, the island which is sometimes referred to as Mytilini, after it’s capital, is separated from Turkey by the narrow Mytilini Strait. The island is forested and mountainous with two huge crests, Mt. Lepetymnos at 968 m and Mt. Olympus at 967 m, commanding its northern and central segments.

As per Classical Greek mythology, Lesbos was the benefactor divine force of the island. Macar was supposedly the first ruler whose numerous daughters gave their names to a percentage of the present larger towns. In Classical myth his sister, Canace, was slaughtered to have him made ruler. The local names with female origins are liable to be much prior settlements named after local goddesses, who were replaced by gods. Homer alludes to the island as "Macaros edos", the seat of Macar.

Lesvos Island in the North Aegean, Greece, has a fascinating cuisine, accentuating on dishes that go with ouzo. In spite of the fact that Mytilene has the larger part of bars, taverns and dining locations, a fair percentage of the island's best restaurants are placed in scenic villages, while fish taverns and crowd-pleasing bars are spread crosswise over picturesque beaches.

The island hosts a plethora of notable landmarks, architectural sites, churches and monasteries, museums and galleries, castles, towns and villages where you can immerse in authentic Greek culture and is an ideal travel spot for active-type tourists. The petrified forest of Lesvos, formed from fossilized remains of plants can be found near Sigri, on the western part of the island, has been designated as a protected natural monument. Here, in the resides the Museum of Natural History/Petrified History visitors can take a journey back in time, exploring past events that took place in the Mediterranean Sea during the past 20 million years.

The Archaeological Museum of Lesvos, situated in Mytilene, is hosted in two buildings: the exhibits of the old building include figurines, pottery and jewellery from the Prehistoric to the Roman Era. In the new building visitors may admire the exhibition “Lesvos from the Hellenistic to the Roman Era”, which also includes mosaics and frescos from luxury Roman houses. Other museums in the region vary from The Varvagianni Ouzo Museum, where visitors can see how ouzo is created, The Soap Museum, more appealing to teenagers, The Teriade Contemporary Art Museum, alluring tourists with rare collections of books which depict images of the works of the most important artists of the world, The Museum of Paleontology and Geology – Vrisa Collection of Natural History, an ideal place for children to be dazzled by fossils of vertebrates, invertebrates, gigantic turtle shells, mineral specimens and many others.

The Greek island is blessed with three wonderful castles: The Mytilene Castle, the Mythimna Castle and the Sigri Castle. The Castle of Mytilene thrones atop of the hill close to the Mytilene port, being one of the largest castles in the Mediterranean Sea whose construction was initiated in the Byzantine Era. This château is isolated in three parts with the middle part including a jail complex, a seminary and an underground water tank. Voyagers may be fascinated by the Gattelusi Palace, the blazons of Gattelusi and Paleologi, and run their fingertips upon the castle’s impressive walls. The Mythimna or Molyvos Castle is one of the extremely well preserved castles in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea. The castle was constructed in the Byzantine years and a few increments were made by the Ottomans. Its grandeur is astounding and it is considerably more amazing when it is pleasantly lit up during the evening. The Sigri Castle was raised during the Ottoman Era in the 18th century. It is not a huge château, however it has an intriguing flawless square shape, four towers on the corners and wonderful arches.

Further more, summer guests may appreciate a few events in Lesvos - such as Carnival Celebrations, The Bull Feast, a popular dancing, eating and horsebackriding tradition, The Ouzo Festival, The Beach Street Festival, an innovative gathering for grafitti artists all over the world - and swim in the island's staggering shorelines, included in the top beaches of Greece.