Welcome to Palesviaki
«Πουθενά σε κανένα άλλο μέρος του κόσμου,
ο ήλιος και η Σελήνη δε συμβασιλεύουν τόσο αρμονικά,
δε μοιράζονται τόσο ακριβοδίκαια την ισχύ τους,
όσο επάνω σε αυτό το κομμάτι της γης που κάποτε,
ποιος ξέρει, σε τι καιρούς απίθανους,
ποιος θεός, για να κάνει το κέφι του,
έκοψε και φύσηξε μακριά ίδιο πλατανόφυλλο
καταμεσής του πελάγους»
Lesvos or Mytilene as the locals call it, lies in the norh-east Aegean Sea and is the third largest Greek island and the eight largest in the Mediterranean Sea. Its population is approximately 90,000 and its capital is Mytilene.
The island of Lesvos has volcanic origin and is mountainous with the eastern and central parts of the island rich with vegetation whilst the western parts of the island has little vegetation and beautiful beaches.
Also called "Emerald Island" 40% of the island is covered in olive trees and other fruit trees. Forests of mediterranean pines, chestnut trees and some oaks occupy 20% of the island and the remainder is scrub, grassland or urban. In the western part of the island is the world's second largest petrified forest of Sequoia. Read more
The climate is mild mediterranean with long and uninterrupted periods of sun shine.
Lesvos has one of the longest, most turbulent and certainly the most interesting histories in Greece. The island has been called different names during the centuries such as Lasia, which means full of forests, Makaria from the first mythological settler Makara and Lesvo from his brother-in-law. Eolia from the first hellenic race that colonised the island, Ethiopi from the queen of the Amazons, Pelasgia from the pre-hellenic inhabitants. Imerti, which means desirable, Mytonida from Mytona the son of Lesvo and Mytilene from the daughter of Makara. Read more
Over the centuries Lesvos has been a significant hellenic cultural and artistic centre. The island has been the birthplace of many famous people of antiquity such as Arion, Terpander, Alcaeos, Sappho, Pittacos the Mytilenean and Theophrastus. Other famous people such as Aristotle, Epikoure and Theophanes lived on the island for a period of time. In modern times, the island has produced significant poets, novelists and artists such as Odysseas Elytis, Argyris Eftaliotis, Stratos Myrivilis, Elias Venezis and Theofilo Hatzimihail. Read more