The Island of Lesvos is located in the Eastern Aegean Sea, is 188 nautical miles from Athens and the third largest Greek island. It covers an area of 1630 kmÇ and has a population of around 100,000. Olive groves occupy the largest part of the island and they are planted with over 11 million olive trees. Pine forests cover 86,000 acres in the center of the island and in the west the landscape is more ascetic with rocky mountain ranges. The island’s small valleys, fresh and hot water springs, mountain ranges, caves and sandy or pebble beaches make it seem not like an island at all because of the widely varying terrain.

Evidence of Lesvos’ long history can be found in the Petrified Forest in Sigri with recent discoveries that prove that the island’s history goes back twenty million years. The Ottoman Empire ruled the island from 1462 until 1912. The survival of the Greek culture was helped by the formation of secret schools that operated in the churches and monasteries and, as in the rest of enslaved Greece, the clergy played a leading role in keeping alive the hope of national regeneration. Admiral Kountouriotis liberated Lesvos on November 8, 1912 and the island was ceded to Greece in 1914. Lesvos is said to have the favor of the Muses because of its exceptional cultural development. Among the most noteworthy contributors to arts, literature and athletics were: the Father of Botany, Theophrastus (372 BC-287 BC); 6th century Aeolian lyrical poets Sappho and Aclaeus; the folk painter Theofilos (1873-1934); Odysseas Elytis (1911-1996) the modern Greek poet who was honored with the Nobel Prize in 1979; and more recently, Kostas Kenteris, 2000 Sydney Gold Medalist in the 200m. Every corner of the island holds something of interest and because the island has not lent itself to tourism like many other Greek islands have, fresh discovery by the visitor is still possible.

The most remarkable places on the island are: Plomari, famous for its ouzo and marvellous beaches; Molyvos, a popular medieval town with its imposing castle; Petra with its Chapel of Our Lady Glykofilousa (“sweet kiss”), which sits 114 steps high on a rock; Aghiassos with its annual August 15th pilgrimage to the Church of Our Lady of Aghiassos; the long sandy beach in Vatera; the Perivoli Monastery; the traditional village of Vatoussa; Mandamados, the home of traditional pottery; and the Byzantine Monastery of Myrsiniotissa. Mother Nature has been kind to Lesvos because it produces practically everything making it self-sufficient. The modern day production of large quantities of Extra Virgin olive oil, specialty sheep milk products such as Feta cheese, Ladotyri (cheese cured in olive oil) and yoghurt and fish products like the Kalloni sardines will attest to the fertile abundance of Lesvos. More recently Lesvos has become a pioneer in Organic Agriculture in Greece with the production of Organic Olive oils and Feta cheese.

The Island of Lesvos consists of 13 municipalities: Mytilene (Mitilini), Aghiassos, Aghia Paraskevi, Eressos-Andissa, Evergetoullas, Yera, Kalloni, Loutropolis Thermis, Mantamados, Mythimna (Molyvos), Petra, Plomari and Polychnitos.