Ancient Eressos was extended from the slopes of Vigla hillock to the plain today called "exocastro", where the ancient acropolis was
situated. Sections of the polygonal wall that surrounded the Acropolis are preserved. And there are still ruins from square and round Genoese towers dating back to the Turkish occupation. In the middle of the hill, and very well preserved, lies a Roman cistern. Graves and sarchophagi from the Hellenistic period were found to the west. However, the sand has buried the establishments of a port that have been found in the coastal area.
Copper coins, among the first that were cut carrying the inscription ERESI, and others that portray Sappho and the daughter of the goddess Demetra, Persephone, were also found here.
From the inscriptions that were found, it has also been determined that there was a temple of Dionysos, in honour of whom gymnic games were being held. Another inscription also reports the existence of a temple of Athena, at the site where today the chapel of Panagia Minarva lies.
In the area of Thermi, 12 km north of Mitilini, excavations realised by the American Archaeologist Miss Lam (1930-32), brought to light traces of five successive ancient settlements, dating the first two in 3,200-3,000 BC, the third in 3,000-2,800 BC and the remaining two in 2,800-2,400 BC. It is said that the settlement was abandonned after a fire in 1,200 BC.
In the surrounding area, ruins of a temple dedicated to Thermia Artemis, were found as well as several significant objects, now exhibited in the Archaeological Museum of Mitilini. As the findings indicate, the settlement had a significant civilization similar to the Trojan, Minoan and Mycenaean. It is said that in the ancient years, there were 160 towers in the area, yet only a few of them can be seen today.
The Archaeological Museum of Mitilini is housed in a traditional mansion, which the Archaeological Society has bought.
In the museum, one can see, behind show cases, typical examples of
prehistoric pottery and clay statuettes from the settlement of
Thermi, Geometric and Archaic vessels from Andissa, terra cotta from ancient Pyrra, as well as vessels from various areas of the island
dating back to the Classical and Hellenistic periods.
In the courtyard, inside glass covers, there are aeolic capitals
from the temple of Apollo at Klopedi, as well as the marble throne of
the orator Potamon, votive altars, etc.
Recently, a new Archaeological Museum has been constructed in town and houses a great number of finds dating back to 3300-1200 BC which were kept in the basement of the mansion.
The Byzantine Museum of Mitilini opened its doors for the first time in 1978. Its foundation is due to the desire of the archibishop to save the religious treasures of art and devotion, scattered in the area of his provinced, from looting and damage.
The place has a surface area of about 880 sqm, and it is especially arranged to house remarkable icons that have no religious character.
Of unique importance are the icon of St.George, the icon of John Theologhos, an icon of the Virgin with Christ, from the 16th century, and the icon of Koimesis (Dormition), made by Theophilos. Also on display are vestments embroidered with pearls, pieces of fine screens from old churches, ecclesiastical items, manuscripts, books etc.
Near the pier of the town of Mitilini lies the imposing church of Agios Therapon, which impresses with its architecture. It is
a three-aisled basilica with neoclassical elements and influence from Renaissance. The construction of the church was started in 1860, with designs by the local architect, Argyris Adalis, on the site, it is believed, of the ancient Asclepeiion.
The church has a collection of remarkable icons and the relics of the Archibishop Ignatios Hugrovlachias, who was born in Mitilini are also kept here. At the entrance of the church lies the marble bust of the national hero, Archibishop Smirnis Chrysostomos, and the bronze bust of Ignatios.
Mandamados is famous for its Taxiarch. The church is situated within a short distance from the village. It was built in 1700 and restored in 1879. The saint's icon is carved, made of unknown material. Legend claims that the icon was created by monk, who used clay and blood from the monks, when the monastery was still in this area.
Taxiarch is considered the patron saint of this district in particular and Lesvos in general. Even the Turks admired his miracles. In the church, a national and religious heirloom, the archieratic sac of martyr Patriarch Gregorios EŽ is kept. Inside the church, one can also admire the old golden stole (1656), old Bibles and other religion's books.
The feast of Taxiarch takes place on the Sunday of the Myrh-bearers and it is celebrated glamorously. This feast is connected with the custom of animal sacrifice.
The Folk Art Museum of Lesvos lies in the recently repaired
building of the old port-authority. It contains articles of different seasons, showing the Lesbian style and portraying the Lesvian past. Visitors finds clay vessels, jugs from Agiassos and Mandamados of former times, plates decorated with images from old everyday life, clay articles and lamps in various sizes, mortars, daggers, swords, local costumes and so on.
Formerly, the museum was housed in a hall from a male high school built by Lesvian donors during the Turkish occupation. It also contains the famed high school library, with 5,590 volumes and many manuscripts, some of which come from the library of Selybria.
The monastery of Leimonos owes its name to the area that was called Leimonas because of its abundance of water and vegetation. It was founded in 1523 by the archbishop of Methymni Ignatios Agalianos, and it was the spiritual centre of the island and its "secret" school during the Turkish occupation.
Inside a crypt of the katholikon (lodger) of the Monastery
Panmegiston Taxiarchon objects of impressive art were found, that one can study in the large halls of the monastery, which have been turned into a museum. Among the objects are marble fountains, china, lamps, icons with golden plated images and saints, painted according to the popular Byzantine style, glass oil lamps in a variation of colours and decorations, the Turkish flag, loot from the battle of Klapadou and so on.
The library of the monastery houses a real literary treasure: More than 15,000 documents and 450 manuscripts of unspeakable value dating back to the period between the 9th and 19th century. Among those of distinction are St Ignatios's hand-written gospel, "eiletario" (long and narrow stripe) from the 11th century, written on leather with marvelous colourful miniatures, "evangelistario" (gospel) also written by hand, "megalogramma" of the writing of the 9th century, sultan firmans, and so on.
The comedies of Aristophanes are the oldest printed matter, dating back to 1498, while the rarest is a speech by Pope Clementus the 11th, dating back to 1716, which is unique worldwide, and it is not available even where it was first published.
The monastery operates a boarding school, a home for the elderly and camping for poor children during the summer.
The Teriade Museum-Library was founded in 1972. It lies in a large semi-two-storied building, with especially arranged rooms, in the middle of an olive grove in Varia, and it has a surface area of
1,000 sqm. 16 of its 20 halls are available for the permanent
presentation of the 20 books of Teriade.
Among its holdings are five books illustrated by Chagal, three
books with classical Greek themes, the book Erga kai Imerai (Days and Works) by Hesiod, Never Ending Paris with text and 50
lithographies by the great sculptor and Teriade's friend, Giacometi,
and so on.
In other halls are forty paintings by Theophilos, which Teriade
presented at the Louvre thus making Theophilos known as a great painter all over the world.
The emperor Ioustinianos built this imposing castle on ancient ruins, which is a jewel for Mitilini and was renovated later, in
1373, by the Genoese Fragisco Gatelouzo. Several other enlargements were made during the years of the Turkish occupation.
Today in its interior the habitations of Gatelouzoi and Palaiologoi, a Byzantine cistern, a place of refuge, a Turkish "medreses" and a Turkish "kafeneion" (coffee-shop) have been saved. Part of the material for the repair of the castle was carried from the ancient theatre and the temples by the Turks. In the surroundings of the castle, a number of performances are given during the summer.
On the northern side of the city lies the majestic church of the
Metropolis as well as the metropolitan edifice. It is a cross-shaped three-aisled basilica, built at the end of the 16th century. Carved stones from the quarries of Sarmousak in Asia Minor were used for its construction.
In the middle of the central aisle of the church an episcopal grave was found in 1969, that has been used for the burial of the bishops from 1707 until 1783.
The church is dedicated to St Athanasios, and its Altar is one of the most beautiful works of post-Byzantine wood carving. The wood carved screen and the episcopal throne, dated back to 1738 are also wonderful. The icon of Jesus to the right of the beautiful gate is a gem from Asia Minor dating back to the 16th century. In front of the entrance of the church, the impressive bell-tower done in Gothic style, is 33 metres high.
At the site "Karies", over the large village of Thermi, is
situated the nunnery of Agios Raphael, where pilgrims are offered
pleasant hospitality by the abbess Eugenia, who is famous for her
success in morally uplifting literary work.
The monastery was founded in 1963 after a series of dreams that led to the discovery of the relics of St Raphael, St Nikolaos and
St Irene, all of whom suffered martyrdom because of the Turks in 1463.
St Raphael, during his appearances, reported that he suffered
martyrdom on Tuesday, April 9 in 1463, which has been proven by research conducted by the Patriarchate. The relics of little Irene
were found half-burnt inside a jar, exactly as it has been reported
in the dreams.
The church has two floors and its decoration and hagiography is impressive as well as completely plain.
The monastery of Ipsilos appears on the peak of Mt.Ordymnos, 9 km after Antissa. According to several reports, there has been an active volcano since the quartenary period. The monastery was founded, before 800, by saint Theofanis of Sigriani, in honour of St John Theologos, an event celebrated on May 8th.
It is a Byzantine monastery that has been ravaged by the Turks during several time periods. In spite of this, a lot of valuable historical artefacts have been saved and are still kept in its halls. Among these are stoles embroidered with gold, Gospel covers, and altar-clothes from 1588, 1622, 1730 and 1825 decorated with religious images. There are also boxes of saint relics, crosses with rubies and pearls, gold- plated vessels with religious images and a great number of documents, manuscripts and codes of great interest for those studying history and ecclesiastical life.
The southern wing of the monastery was repaired in 1963 by the enviable Archibishop of Mytilene, Kyros Jacob. An enormous fire, in 1967, destroyed the church and the north-western wing of the
monastery. But the ever memorable archibishop restored the remnants according to the traditional way, taking care to preserve the original architecture of the monastery. It was at that time that rooms designed for the hospitality of the believers were also built.
A lot of travellers in the past century, who have visited Lesvos, have written about the Petrified Forest, an area between Eressos and Sigri full of petrified trunks. The petrification took place millions of
years ago. A rich vegetation of huge long-living trees, 6.5 m high,
that looked like oak-trees or plane trees, covered the whole area.
The intense activity of the volcano of Ordymnos sank the "green
kingdom", and through the years, hydrothermic energy transformed the wooden substance into stone, soaking it with dioxide of silicon. The "dead city", according to one account, formed 500,000 years ago, while others say that the petrification took place 20 million years ago.
Today, the scenery one comes across is magnificent as the colours of the trees vary and their brilliancy is impressive. The area is protected according to law number 1469 which forbids the breaking of the petrified trunks, requiring severe penalties for its violation.
An one-storied building, financed by Teriade, has housed the Theophilos Museum since 1965. Today, it has five halls and contains 86 works of the popular painter.
Theophilos was also known as "tsolias" because of the fustanella (Greek kilt) he always wore. For his anatomically primitive compositions, he used a special material which gave his colour its brightness. He used to paint the walls of kafeneios (coffee shops) or chapels. After meeting Teriade, he created 120 works on cloth, the best of which are: Lemnios Kehaghias, The Bay of Geras, The Dancing Fishing Boat and several others that are on display at the museum.
Ioannis Tsarouchis made the iconography of the picturesque chapel of Agia Irini, which is situated near the Museum.
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