Lesvos, or Mytilini, Jewel of the North Aegean is island of natural beauty in the Aegean
Sea just five kilometers from the coast of Turkey, to the north of Chios and south of
Limnos and is the third largest of all Greek islands. The island has been immortalized
by the poetry of Sappho and Alcaeus both born here.The green island of Lesvos is like
no other. Virtually unaffected by the mass tourism, Lesvos is the perfect place to visit
for people who want to experience the real Greece. The history of the island is as
colourful as its traditions, not surprising when you consider that it has been ruled
successively by the Byzantines, the Genoese and the Turks. The island has been
liberated in 1912. The remains of many historical monuments can still be seen
today and some have been preserved to exceptional standards. In fact Lesvos is
one of the few islands in Greece where most of the towns and villages have been
preserved with much of the original architectural heritage intact. There are numerous
sand and pebble beaches and many sheltered and isolated coves dotted along the
spectacular indented coastline. Two huge natural bodies of water, the Gulf of Yera in
the North and the Gulf of Kalloni in the centre give the island it's 'leaf like' shape
and create fertile agricultural plains and valleys. The breathtaking landscape
rolls through regions of pine-covered mountains to areas of barren, yet dramatic
volcanic stone.