Lesvos

Third largest of the Greek Islands, Lesvos basks in the blue waters of the North Aegean just off the coast of Turkey.  An island away from the masses, holiday pleasures are simple; hidden footpaths trailing past traditional olive presses, water mills and stone bridges and leading to undiscovered villages, secluded bays and welcoming beaches.

Lesvos boats an ever changing panorama of unique landscapes from petrified forests to the vast salt pans and wetlands of Kalloni, fertile feeding grounds for flocks of flamingoes and migrating birds.  Enchanting scenery of dense olive groves and fragrant forests of pines has long provided inspiration for artists of the ancient world, including the poetess Sappho.  This scenery now offers gentle walks along cobbled mule tracks, country trails and forest paths, glimpsing ancient castles, ruined temples, monasteries and small mountain chapels along the way.

Mytilene’s striking castle is one of the largest in the Mediterranean and across the island natural thermal springs offer Turkish style hammam bathing; spring waters around the Gulf of Kallini are some of the hottest in Europe with temperatures of 60 – 90 degrees Celsius.  Ouzo is one of Lesvos’ top exports; drunk widely in all island tavernas and generously offered to guests as that final drink ‘on the house’.

Whichever Lesvos resort you choose to stay in, the others are close at hand, and of course if you decide to hire a car, there’s a huge unspoilt Greek Island waiting to be explored.