Mytilene Fournoi ferry

Mytilene Guide

The ancient Greek city of Mytilene is the capital and port of the south east coast of the island of Lesbos, which lies in the north eastern Aegean Sea. The city's origins date back to the 11th century BC and has a number of neo-classical buildings, public and private, on display. Some of these buildings are the buildings of the Lesbos Prefecture, the old City Hall, the Experimental Lyceum and the various mansions and hotels located throughout the town. Dominating the port is the Baroque Church of Saint Therapon on which construction began in the 19th century and was completed in 1935.

The island of Lesbos has a land area of around 1,600 sq. km and has roughly 320 km of coastline, which makes it the third largest Greek island. The narrow Mytilini Strait separates it from the Turkish mainland.

Mytilene has a port with ferries to the nearby islands of Lemnos, Chios and Ayvalik and at times Dikili in Turkey. The port also serves the mainland cities of Piraeus, Athens and Thessaloniki.

Fournoi Guide

Fournoi is a Greek island that lies in the north Aegean Sea and is situated between the islands of Ikaria, Samos and Patmos. The island's long history is evidenced by the many ancient finds that are dotted around the island that date back to the Ionians, Classical and Hellenistic times. Included in the finds are the cyclopean Wall with signs of an Acropolis on the Hill of Ai Giorgis, the ruins of the ancient temple at Kamari and the remains of homes on the sea bed, the shrine of Poseidon at Agia Triada in Chryssomilia. The island's many hidden beaches and small inlets was a haven for pirates during the Middle Ages as their ships could be easily hidden. In fact, at one point the island was named "Corseoi Island" after Corsairs (pirates).

The island's main village is Campos and has a number of tavernas, patisseries, shops selling traditional products and bakeries (fournoi in Greek) to greet visitors.