The lush, green island of Lesvos, Greece's third largest after Crete and Evia, is part of the Eastern Aegean islands cluster, located at 180 nautical miles from Athens and at close distance to the Turkish coastline. Castles left behind by invaders through the ages, towns and villages with rich architectural heritage, the unrivaled combination of natural beauty and fascinating archaeological sites, friendly and hospitable inhabitants compose this land of wild beauty, full of story and geological miracles.

THE HISTORY OF LESVOS: Boasting an age-long history Lesvos is mentioned in the Homeric epics. Excavations have brought to light evidence that the island has been inhabited since - at least - the Neolithic period.

The island was occupied by the Romans in 60 BC and later became part of the eastern Byzantine empire, at which time it was repeatedly attacked and plundered by Saracens. Russians and Slavs, Venetians and the Crusaders. During the Ottoman occupation, it was the monasteries and the churches that became intellectual centres operating secret schools and preparing the local population for the struggle for liberation. In November 1912, Lesvos was liberated and in 1923 it joined motherland Greece.

ALTERNATIVE ESCAPADES: Infinite olive groves and numerous pine-tree forests, vast sandy coasts and the Petrified Forest - a unique monument of nature created millions of years ago by intense volcanic activity in the area - compose the extraordinary morphology of the island. Combining beautiful nature with culture, gastronomy with mild entertainment, splendid beaches with superb infrastructure. Lesvos is a unique destination for alternative vacations. The mountain slopes lend themselves for fascinating escapades, walking or pedaling along stone mule paths and old arched bridges, through lush valleys, olive groves, Natura-2000 protected areas and picturesque settlements, climbing thickly wooded hills strewn with old water mills and Byzantine monasteries or relaxing in hot water-springs or exploring the wild beauty of volcanic formations and petrified tree-trunks.