THE NORTH EAST AEGEAN ISLANDS
Five large islands scattered about the northeastern Aegean are
Europe's sea border with the East. Five large islands and dozens
of smaller ones, precious stones woven into the deep blue silk
of the Aegean, are a valuable inheritance with a long and rich
history.
Built on the ruins of the ancient city of the same name, Mirina,
the capital of Limnos with the delightful houses of the
seacaptains with their wooden balconies, with pebbled streets,
and kind people. Picturesque villages dot the island. Nea
Koutali is an enchanting pine-forested area with wonderful
water. Moudros, the island's second major town, has pretty
houses and nice beaches. Poliohni has ruins dating from
neolithic times and a few remnants from a bronze age settlement.
Between Limnos, Lesvos, and Siros, is a virgin island with only
one village and great beaches; Agios Efstratios.
The third largest Greek island is Lesvos. Olive groves that go
on forever, thick pine forests, sandy beaches, monasteries,
pretty traditional houses and old mansions. The truly ancient
history of the island is visible everywhere on Lesvos. Starting
out from the capital Mitilini, which is built on top of the
ruins of the old town, one begins to get acquainted with the
unending beauties of the island. Northeast of town is the Roman
aqueduct, further north Pirgi Thermis with traditional old
houses, and the Loutra Thermon. Scenic seaside villages with
wonderful beaches, like Plomari, known for its ouzo, are
everywhere. The mountain village of Agiassos, on the foothills
of Mt. Olympus, has charming houses and little streets. Sandy
beaches at Vatera, Kaloni, Mlthimna, and famous Molivos; a
picturesque place with special colour, a long tradition in folk
art, intense night life in the summer, it is a meeting point for
artists. A Byzantine castle looks down on the village and the
lacy beaches of Eftalous to the north and Petra to the south.
The sights continue to be impressive, from the fossil forest at
Sigri to the antiquities at Eressos.
South of Lesvos lies one of the most beautiful islands of the
Aegean: Hios, where the green of the trees and the aquamarine of
the sea are within kissing distance. Here the verdant valleys
embrace the pretty towns redolent with mastic from the countless
chewing gum trees (actually, mastic-trees). The millennia-old
history of the island disappears into the recesses of mythology.
Multi-coloured houses, fishing boats, and nets spread out in the
old harbour. Modern houses and busy shops in the new harbour,
opposite the castle. Large old stone houses decorate the plain
with the lush gardens and orange groves. Charming little fishing
villages such as Vrontados, Pantoukios, and Lagadas. Good
beaches at Kardamila. Alpine scenery with rare beauty at
Volissos, such as the Venetian fort and the historic monastery
of Agios Georgios. Enchanting scenery just before Nea Moni.
Villages unchanged since the middle ages at Anavato and Mesta.
Pottery workshops at Armolia and painting compositions at Pirgi.
Pretty pebble beaches and sandy shores and then by caique to
Psara, the small but historic island.
A rocky island with fine sandy beaches and only one village,
with a strong Cycladic flavour, Inousses, lies to the east of
Chios.
Samos, the easternmost island of the Aegean, is within swimming
distance of Asia Minor. Images of the island are framed by
bunches of Samian grapes, vine leaves and vineyards. The
capital, Samos, is built like an amphitheater at the end of a
deep bay, next to the harbour of Vathi. Plane trees, springs,
and neoclassical buildings coexist harmoniously with modern
elements at Karlovassi. Gorgeous beaches at Kokari, pebbled ones
at Potami, busy ones at Tsamadou and the best one on the island
at Hrissi. Fishing villages with sandy beaches, mountain
villages with picturesque alleyways and houses in the charming
local style. There are many monasteries on the Samos, such as
Megali Panagia, Agia Zoni, Vronta, Panagia Spiliani, Zoodohou
Pigi. Finally, to the south is the Pithagorio or Tigani with the
ruins of the ancient acropolis and Evpalineio aqueduct, and
further south still is the Heraio, dedicated to the worship of
Hera.
Southwest of Samos is Ikaria, which boasts an incredible range
of scenery. Steep and naked rocks to the south, a calm and
serene landscape to the north, where one encounters fabulous
beaches. The island's capital, Agios Kirikos, is decorated with
several old two-storey captains-houses. The radioactive springs
at Therma have been used as a spa since antiquity. At
Karavostamo, on the north coast, the white washed houses peek
through the vegetation reaching almost to the water's edge. The
small, pretty harbour of Evdilos is next to some fine beaches
with charming tavernas on them. A dense pine forest is host to
several streams that flow onto a spectacular beach at
Armenistis. Many villages scattered amid the verdant
countryside. To the north, Fanari is of special archaeological
interest in a place of great natural beauty.