Mytilene description and photos - Greece: Lesvos (Topic)

Mytilene description and photos - Greece: Lesvos. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The name in English is Mytilene.

Photo and description

Mytilene (Mytilene) is the largest settlement, the main port and the administrative center of the Greek island of Lesvos. The city is located on the southeast coast of the island and has a regular ferry service to the islands of Chios and Lemnos, as well as the Turkish city of Ayvalik. From the port of Mytilene, ships go to Piraeus and Thessaloniki. Just a few kilometers from the city is the Mytilene International Airport - Odysseas Elytis.

The exact date of the city's foundation is not known for certain, but Homer in his writings speaks of the existence of Mytilene as an organized settlement already in the middle of the 11th century BC. e. In the 7th century BC. Mytilene was one of the most prosperous and influential cities in Lesbos, vying for the palm with northern Mythimna, and already in the 6th century had its own coinage. Mytilene is considered the birthplace of such outstanding personalities of Ancient Greece as the poet and musician Alcaeus, the poet Sappho, the historian Gellanicus and the sage Pittak (one of the "seven wise men" of Ancient Greece). It is worth noting that within two years - from 337 to 335 BC. - The legendary ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle lived in Mytilene, along with his friend and successor Theophastus.

Initially, the ancient city was limited by a small island lying not far from the coast. After its unification with Lesvos, two harbors were formed - the north and the south, connected by a narrow channel about 30 m wide and 700 m long. The famous Greek writer Long (2nd century AD) in his novel "Daphnis and Chloe" very colorfully describes Mytilene: “There is a city in Lesvos - Mytilene, large and beautiful. It is cut by canals, - the sea quietly flows into them, - and decorated with bridges of white smooth stone. You might think that you see not a city, but an island. " Centuries later, the canal was silted up, and then completely covered with earth.

Today, Mytilene, with its picturesque embankment, cozy streets, many beautiful neoclassical mansions, impressive temples and entertaining museums, is a popular tourist and cultural center of Lesvos and is famous for its many most interesting sights. Among the most interesting places that you should definitely visit are the famous fortress of Mytilene, the Archaeological Museum, the ruins of the ancient theater (one of the largest theaters in Ancient Greece), the Church of St. Ferapont, the Cathedral of St. Athanasius, the Byzantine and Ethnographic museums. The Church of St. Simeon, the Church of the Virgin Mary,

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Topic: Mytilene description and photos - Greece: Lesvos.