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  he capital of Lesvos is Mytilini, which many years ago has given its name to the island and is built on 7 hills. Over the pine forest stands the castle, one of the biggest castles of the mediterranean region. The quay and the parallel road of the market represent the beat of the life in town.
At a small distance from the quay is located the impressive temple of St. Therapontas, built presumably on the place where was the sanctuary of Aesculapius in ancient times. The ancient theatre is situated into a small pinewood at the highest altitude of the town. It was built in Hellenistic times and was one of the biggest theatres in Greece. In 1958 the archaeologists brought to light the orchestra and the part of the stage and the tiers. On the southern side of the town lies Makrigialo, the most picturesque side of Mytilini. On the road there are wonderful buildings of traditional as well as modern style and the landscape, with the Yachting club at the end, maintains its old beauty. |
| he Archaeological museum of Mytilini is housed in a traditional mansion. Here you can see in the glass-show cases, characteristic samples of the prehistoric ceramic works and earthen figurines of the settlement of Thermi of the bronze age. There are also geometric and archaic pots from Antissa, terracottas from ancient Pyrra, pots of the classic and hellenistic times from different areas of the island and coins from the area of Messa. |
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In the yard of the Museum and in glass windows can be found aeolian capitals from the temple of Apollo in Klopedi, the marble throne of Potamonas, dedicated little altars etc. The archaeological wealth of Lesvos is protected into the basement of the mansion and comprised of a large number of findings dated since the middle of the 4th millennium BC. |
| he gulf of Gera is a distinguish part of Lesvos and is considered as one of the most beautiful gulfs of the Mediterranean Sea. The road from Mytilini to Plomari, follows for a long enough distance the coastline of the gulf, offering the visitor the chance to enjoy the simple and pure beauty of the landscape. The gulf is all green, with numerous and picturesque settlements and a special grace which only the visitors can feel. |
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 esvos received one more gift from Nature. The mineral water springs, scattered on the island, the remains and proof of the old volcanic activity of the area. The mineral chlorine-sodium waters at various temperatures have made Lesvos famous since ancient times and attract a great number of visitors. Today in Agiassos, Lisvori, Thermi, Loutra, Eftalou and Argenos many mineral water springs are open for the public with a very good tourist infrastructure. This wealth of the island, located at very beautiful coastal and all green places, makes Lesvos one of the most beautiful therapy places of the Mediterranean. |
 About 15 millions years ago Lesvos was covered by tropical and subtropical forests, a unique characteristic both for Greece and the Mediterranean. This special vegetation was due to the great water resources that the island had and continues to have till today, but mainly to the active volcanoes that existed under the ground. This tropical forests with the gigantic trees were suddenly covered by lava and volcanic ash, following an intense volcanic activity.The water running through these volcanic grounds for thousands of years crystallised the trunks of the trees. The stone trunks preserved till today, at an area of 150.000 acres on the north-west side of the island, are mainly comprised of quartz and opal, while the characteristics of the trees are clear. |
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Photos and text taken from "Lesvos - The island of Sapfo " (Toubis Editions) |
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