LEMNOS

A place of incomparable beauty and tranquility

limnos-kastro-myrina_0Lemnos, is the eighth largest island in Greece. It is situated in the Northern Aegean islands. It is located between Mount Athos, Samothrace, Imbros and Lesbos. Along with the neighbouring island of Mount Efstratios are the province of Lemnos.

Geographic Details

Town: Mirina
Dorps: 31
Area: 477,5 km
Coastline: 260 km
Inhabitants: 17.545

Products

The island of Lemnos is famous for the quality of local products, many of which are still manufactured in the traditional manner. Famous flomaria (noodles), rusks, thyme honey, fresh fish, seafood and the local ouzo produced in lakaria -local distilleries on the island- is one of them.

Dairy products are excellent as well, such as Kalathaki -a white cheese featured as Protected Designation of Origin (PDO)-which coagulates in tyrvolia -small baskets woven with rushes- or the Melipasto -or Melichloro- cheese, produced in the summer.

The wines of Lemnos from local grape varieties, giving excellent wines that stand out the delicate scent and flavor.

limnos-ammothines_0

Natural environment

With a spectacular volcanic soil color combinations, soft mountains, low vegetation, valleys and large croplands, Lemnos is a place of unparalleled beauty.

Also a unique attraction of Lemnos, is the Inland dunes forming a desert in the heart of the Aegean.

Hospital

The island has a state hospital with all specialties of doctors.

Available banks on the island

  • National Bank of Greece
  • Alpha Bank
  • Geniki Bank
  • Piraeus Bank
  • Eurobank
  • Hellenic Postbank

History of Limnos begins from the ancient times and the first mention to Limnos by its name was by ancient Mykinaic texts. There are many opinions on how Limnos got this name, some say the origin of the name is Phoenician and it means “Λευκή” (white) due to the low mountains and landscape looks white as you aproach it by sea. Others say that it comes from Homers words “Leion” based on the fact that Limnos has many flat farm lands.

Limnos was Athens main supplier of weatand the Byzantium emperors court. According to the legend when Zeus pushed Hefestos the god of fire from Olympus he landed on Limnos. The people of Limnos helped him and Hefestos to thank them he tought them his art.
The first king of the island was Thoas, son of Dionysus and Ariadne, who was married to Myrina and they had a daughter called Ipsipyle.. When the argonauts were on their way to Kochlida made a stop at Limnos. During their stay, Jason got married to Ipsipyle and the rest of the Argonauts got married to other women of Lymnos.

Limnos emerged as an important part of the Trojan culture due to its geographic location, safe harbors and furtile lands. Known already by Herodotos Limnos was used as a strategic location by the Ottoman empire. The first evidence of humanpresence on the island are dated back to 4.000 BC. Poliochne and Myrina became the major cities between 3000 and 2000 BC. Poliochne located on the eastern part of the the island was discovered in 1930 and it was the first organized cityof europe. From the outside it appeared as a fortress but on the inside it had well organized public areas, rock made squares, streets, wells, city warehouses and with its 30.000 square meters abround 1.600 people it was a city prototype.

Myrina came to light by the greek department of excavations. Bigger than Poliochne, with an extent of 80.000 square meters and population of 4.000 at its peak, was built along the coastline of “Richa Nera”. It had a sewer system made ofrock, streets and alleys. The impressive castle of Myrina was built in a strategic location and it stands until today, in a very good condition. It was used in the past by the Byzantin the Enetians and the Turks. Other importantarcheological areas are the Hefaistia the dominating city in the classic aera and the temple of Kaveira. Hefestia with the temple of the goddess of necropolis and the Greek possibly theater is a place of intense mystical character.There, every year people had festivals and rituals called the “Kaveirian” celebrating the natures rebirth and furtility. At the coast there is the cave of Philoktites, a greek leader who was abandonded by the greek army there ontheir way to Troy.

Limnos also played an important part in the recent Greek history. In October 1912 was the first island released from the Turks and helped releasing more Greek islands of Aegean sea. Moudros and its natural harbor was the starting pointof the Greek fleet during the Balcan wars in 1912-13. Limnos was also P.Kountouriotis’s base for the major naval battles of Ellie and Limnos. From Limnos “Nautilus” and “M. Matouses” made the first aerial army mission of Greece to scoutfor the Turkish fleet.

In World War 1 Lemnos was used as a naval, airforce and hospital base by the Allies. Other areas where we find signs of ancient civilizations are Agios Efstratios, Alonitsi, the hill of Agios Minas and the Evraiki where there are some remains of an ancient city and an ancient necropolis.

NAME

REGION

Archaeological Museum of Lemnos
Presents the historical development of the island from the Chalcolithic period to the Roman with findings from almost all the archaeological sites of the island (Poliochni Kaveirio, volcanoes, Myrina). It also hosts free private collections and antiquities of Imbros.

Myrina

Ecclesiastical Museum Metropolis Lemnos
Housed at the Metropolis. It brings together major works and relics of ecclesiastical tradition and art of Byzantine and post-Byzantine period.

Myrina

Museum of Prehistoric Housing Poliochnis
Gathers many important discoveries that were made in the settlement of Poliochnis considered the oldest Neolithic settlement in the Aegean and o sygkrotimenos first settlement of Europe. Had a major culture and the first voyleftirio Europe.

Kaminia/ Dimos Moudrou

Folklore Museum Portianou
It works in a traditional two-storey house. On the premises of hosts exhibits from everyday life of the inhabitants and more than 300 items of folk art.

 

Portaniou/ Dimos Neas Koutalis

Maritime Museum delivery sponge Lemnos
Traditional costumes sponge, boats, tools and equipment used to collect sponges are some of the interesting exhibits. Also housed in the premises of ancient objects found at the bottom.

Nea Koutali

Wetland Information Centre Chortarolimni – Aliki
Housed in the former elementary school. Inform and sensitize visitors to the environment, to the protection and promotion of the natural wealth of the region.

Kalliopi/ Dimos Moudros

Archaeological Hfaisteia
Hephaestia the oldest city of Lemnos played an important role in the history of the island. The excavations revealed important sights such sacred cemeteries, public baths, a large house and Hellenistic-Roman theater.

Kontopouli/ Dimos Moudros

Archaeological Site of Ancient Myrinas
The Sanctuary of Artemis, the pottery workshop near the Hellenistic and Roman necropolis, ruins of the walls are some of the interesting remains of a Neolithic settlement outside the walls of the castle of Myrina.

Myrina

Kaveirio – Cave of Philoctetes
Sacred place where celebrated Kaveiria Mysteries – ceremonies celebrating fertility and rebirth of nature. Down the coast is the cave of Philoctetes

 

Gallery of Contemporary Byzantine Art
Unique in Greece, the gallery houses works of great artists from Lemnos, Greece and the countries of the Balkans.

Kontias

Festival/celebration

Date

Region

Feast of St. Panteleimon

27 July

Myrina

Feast of Our Lady

15 August

Myrina, Kaminia,  Tsimandria,  Panagia

Feast of St. George

23 April

Platy, Kalliopi(where organized and Racing), Kaspakas, Kaminia, Repanidi

Feast of Saint Paraskevi

26 July

Thanos

Fair Lady Kakaviotissa

Easter Tuesday

Thanos

Festival of Saint Constantine

21 May

Romanou

Feast of St. Sozontas

6 September

Skandali

Feast of St. Ermolaos

26 July

Atsiki

Novena for the Feast of Our Lady

23 August

Kaminia, Kornos, Plaka, Kotsinas

Feast Commander

8 November

Moudros

Feast of the Prophet Elijah

20 July

Kornos

Feast of Agias.Marinas

17 July

Livadoxori

Feast of the Redeemer

6 August

Nea Koutali,  Panagia

Celebration of the Life Giving Fountain

Easter Friday

Kotsinas

Religious festival Samaritan woman

17 May

Kotsinas

Feast of St. John

22 June

Kaspakas

Feast of St. Demetrios

26 Octomber

Agios Dimitrios

Feast of St. Andrew

30 November

Kornos

ACCESS

Airlines Olympic Air flights to Limnos daily from:

  • Athens
  • Thessaloniki
  • Lesvos

– AEGEAN & Olympic Air  www.aegeanair.com 8011120000  ( inside Greece ) + 302106261000  ( from mobile / outside Greece ) – SKY EXPRESS www.skyexpress.gr – ASTRA AIRLINES  www.astra-airlines.gr

Sealines Limnos is connected by ferries with the following ports:

  • Kavala
  • Alexandroupolis
  • Lavrio
  • Piraeus
  • Lesvos

– Hellenic Seaways  www.hellenicseaways.gr – Blue Star Ferries  www.bluestarferries.gr

Local transportation Local buses to all villages are available daily only in the morning.