Description of the attraction
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 regular ferry connections 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 founding of the city 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. In the 7th century BC. Mytilene was one of the most prosperous and influential cities in Lesvos, 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 should be noted that within two years - from 337 to 335 BC. - the legendary ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle lived in Mytilene together 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 flows quietly into them - and it is decorated with bridges of white smooth stone. You might think that you see not a city, but an island. " After centuries, the canal was silted up, and then it was completely covered with earth.
Today, Mytilene, with its picturesque promenade, cozy streets, many beautiful neoclassical mansions, impressive temples and fascinating museums, is a popular tourist and cultural center of Lesvos and is famous for many interesting sights. Among the most interesting places that are definitely worth visiting 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. Therapont, the Cathedral of St. Athanasius, the Byzantine and Ethnographic museums. The Church of St. Simeon, the Church of the Mother of God, the Eni Jami Mosque, as well as the Monastery of St. Raphael, located about 12 km from the city, and the Theophilos Museum in the suburb of Mytilene, the town of Varia, also deserve special attention.
