THE ISLAND
Lesvos is the third largest island
of Greece and has a long history that goes back more than 3.000 years.
It has been the birthplace of famous
people, such as the poets Sappho and Alcaeos, Arion the Guitarist, and
Pittacus, one of the seven wise men of ancient Greece. A tradition that
even continues today and gives the island that distinctive atmosphere
which makes it so different from the rest.
Sappho's reputation as a lover of
her own sex, has given the word "Lesbian" an international currency. Her
reputation is based on some of the fragments of her poetry: "I was in
love with you once, Atthis, long ago..."
Rich in olives and fish, the island has an
economic balance rare in the Aegean and because of its relative
prosperity the island is very easy for travelers
to reach even in the quiet months of winter. By air, one can get to
Lesvos from Athens five times a day and from Salonica seven times a
week. By Ferry-boat, one can reach Lesvos every day from Piraeus, and
from Salonica on a less frequent schedule.
Mytilini is the capital of the island and has a
population of 30,000 people. This is about one third of the total
population of the island. It is built amphitheatrically around its well
preserved Byzantine Castle. Not very far from there, on the north-east
side of town, one can find the Hellenistic Theatre with its superb
acoustics and capacity of 10,000 people. Further in the suburb of Varia
one can visit the Theophilos Museum.
