Page - Location
Leros
Leros or the Island of Artemis as they called it in the past it is not just tourist visit but rather a tourists time travel in the past, an island that is far from being a crowded tourist destination.
Leros Island is located between the islands of Patmos and Kalymnos in the South Aegean Sea and belongs to a group of islands called Dodecanese. The island has multiple coves and bays and it seems untouched by the modern tourism practices.
The islands proximity to Turkey (just 7 nautical miles) along with the connection network of ships and planes (and sea planes from 2016) with the surrounding islands and nearby Turkey’s coast, makes it very attractive among the tourists who are seeking an authentic and original “Greek vacation”.
A small Paradise of the Aegean, as most visitors call it, along with the hospitable nature of its residents make it a prime destination for the travellers who seek culture, adventure, fine dining and clear blue waters.
A well kept castle from the days when the island was under the Venetian Knights dominates the hill of Agia Marina (the quaint old Roman north port of the island) day and night. Agia Marina is also home of the archaeological museum of Leros that houses artefacts dating back 3000 years b.c
At the south side the island is home to Lakki the largest natural port of the Mediterranean and the existence of a unique city build under the architectural style of rationalismo, one of the modernist movements that was born during the WW1. Rationalismo can best defined as a style somewhere between Art Deco and Bauhaus or the precursor of the “International style ”.The “razzionalismo style” is so rare that can be found only in two other cities in the world Sabauda in Italy and Asmara in what is now Erithrea. At Lakki one can also discover “Agios Theologos” the oldest Byzantine church of the island dating 1000 years ago and the war museum or “The Tunnel” an eye opener to the 20th century history of Leros .
The landscape of Leros has rather soft texture, low flat areas and fertile valleys are formed among its hills. Because of the mild climate, the cultivation of a variety of fruit including citrus fruit and olive trees is extremely favourable. With the exception of Lakki the architecture of Leros includes the neo classical homes build in the second part of the 1800 as well as the Aegean style of homes that can be seen in most of the islands in Greece.
The Municipal Library and the Leros’s Historical Archives are housed in the center of the island right bellow the castle. The local shops cover the annual as well as the seasonal demands for both produce fresh fish and Lerian honey, an excellent grade honey that is collected from the pristine hills of the island with a taste of thyme and other herbs found in Leros.