This month I visited with my wife and young son the island of Lesvos. After taking the ship from Piraeus and after a trip of 10 hours we arrived to the post of Mytilene..Mytilene is an ancient city founded in the 11th century BC. Mytilene is the capital and port of the island of Lesbos and also the capital of the North Aegean Region. The seat of governor of the North Aegean Region is Mytilene.
Standing on seven green hills rooted in the heart of the Aegean, spreads the city of Mytilene. Contemporary Mytilene with a population of thirty thousand is built on the ruins of the ancient namesake city, the birthplace of leading intellectual personalities throughout the centuries.The greatest lyrical poets of all times were born here, Sapho (700-600 B.C.) and Alcaeos (640-560 B.C.) as well as Pittacos one of the Seven Sages of antiquity. The intellectual tradition continues to modern days with Odysseas Elytis (1911-1996) winner of the 1979 Nobel Prize for literature. A walk through the picturesque neighborhoods, the Promenade and the traditional commercial street (Hermou) from the Ancient Port in Epano Skala to Kioski and Sourada will convince the visitor of the warm hospitality of the natives and he will admire the exquisite, preserved historical Mansions of various architectural styles. The city is adorned with imposing churches, most distinguishing among them the Metropolis Cathedral with the 33m. Gothic steeple built in the 17th century and the domed church of St. Therapon (1880).
Of much interest is the Monastery of St. Rafael just 12Klm. from Mytilene nestled in the olive groves of Karyes, Thermi. Mytilene is the headquarters of the Ministry of the Aegean and the University of the Aegean. The city has an international airport and harbour which connect the island with Athens, Piraeus, Thessaloniki, Volos, Kavala, Alexandroupoli and the islands of Limnos, Chios, Samos, Icaria, Kos, Rhodes, Crete, etc.
Mytilene is famous for it numerous local OUZO distillers, if Ouzo was Wine, Mytilene would be Vourgoundy they say…. and they are right .Mytilene is THE definite Ouzo capital of the world and also the home of the famous sardines. It is a beautiful city full of life and great friendly people. It is very cheap (although the ship tickets are not), and you need at least a week if you want to visit all its notable points of interest.
Please enjoy the photos and if you enjoy them consider visiting this great Greek Island.
In the old city you can find great examples of last century architecture with elaborate roofs and balconies.
Visitors of Lesvos Island can travel by ferry from the port of Mytilini on Lesvos to the Turkish port of Ayvalik. In high season, ferries run almost daily between Ayvalik and Mytilini but less frequently at other times of year; usually Thursday is quite busy for the big market (bazaar) and Saturday’s for the smaller version.
At the port you can see some very expensive yachts from around the world, this one one had a USA flag.
Street view of the agora with Agio Therapon Church seen in the back.
Sensational majestic exterior and interior, the church of Agios Therapon is one of the most recognizable monuments in the island, although its history, its present form at least, just over the half century, while inaugurated in 1935.
We know that by 1850 at the same place there was a small temple dedicated to Saint Therapon also.
The church served the needs of patients and hospital staff, the well-known “hotels” of Mytilene, which was precisely opposite the present church, where is the building that houses the Byzantine Ecclesiastical Mouseio.The basic architectural style of the church is he registered his cross with a dome.
With the first glance but one realizes that it bears on its outer form many and intense gothic characteristics, the presence of which is probably due to effects received by the Argyris Adalis during his apprenticeship near the two great teachers.
The exterior decoration is the brainchild of famed painter and sculptor Lesbian Nicholas Kesanli. H diversity of its parts makes it impressive. The church is built of ashlar stones. It is even known that much of the material for the construction of the temple was moved from the famous quarry Sarmosak of Asia Minor. On the façade there are two tiers of columns, Ionic and Corinthian. Five domes crowning the edifice. Each dome supported pediments, which are decorated with paintings and sculptures.
The woodcut temple is the work of 1915 and created by the hand of a craftsman Mytilene, Demetrios Kovala. He also created the pontifical throne, the pulpit and the two major shrines of the temple. In the nave, between the pontifical throne and shrine, the tomb of Metropolitan Oyngrovlachias Ignatiou, one of the great protagonists of Greek Revolution of 1821. The relic was moved to St. Therapon the church of Agia Triada of Livorno, where the prelate had been buried after his death in Pisa in 1828, and the marble sarcophagus was placed 1965.
The city is very much alive, busy streets next to the sea.
The day I visited the city drag racing was taking place.
Mytilene is the city of Stratis Mirivilis.
Stratis Myrivilis (Greek: Στράτης Μυριβήλης, pseudonym of Efstratios Stamatopoulos (Ευστράτιος Σταματόπουλος); 30 June 1890 – 19 July 1969) was a Greek writer. He wrote mostly fiction: novels, novellas, and short stories. He is associated with the “Generation of the ’30s”.
Stratis Mirivilis Statue.
The city is full of beautiful statues.
The Statue of Liberty (Greek: Άγαλμα Ελευθερίας) is a bronze statue erected at the harbor of Mytilene on the island of Lesbos in Greece.
The statue was created by Greek sculptor Gregorios Zevgolis based on a design by local painter Georgios Jakobides. It was cast in Germany in 1922, and was erected and dedicated in Mytilene in 1930.
The statue and its marble base stand 15 meters (49 ft) tall.
The statue of liberty and beneath it dozens of immigrants newly arrived from Turkey.
More immigrants waiting for the next ship to Piraeus.
The ship for the trip back to Piraeus.
Enjoy more photos in my flickr album.
I used NIKON D3200 with lenses NIKON 18-55VR f3.5 & NIKKOR 55-200mm VR
Digital Film Revolution 