📍Mithymna (Molyvos)

The romantic soul of Lesvos – a medieval town scented with jasmine, built around a castle and gazing out over the Aegean.

🏛️ History & Culture

Mithymna, or Molyvos, is one of the best-preserved traditional settlements in Greece. Built amphitheatrically around its Byzantine castle, it is full of stone mansions, wooden bay windows (sachnisia), and cobbled alleys that lead toward the sunset. A cultural monument rich in stories, legends, and artistic inspiration — it has inspired figures such as Arion, Stratis Myrivilis, Efthaliótis, and many others.

🌿 Villages & Locations

🏰 Molyvos (Mithymna)
The Byzantine castle at the top and the alleyways shaded by the famous “Wisteria Tunnel” leave lasting impressions. Small craft shops, tavern balconies draped in flowers, and the scent of jasmine make every stroll unforgettable. A true living postcard.

🌊 Eftalou
Just 4 km from Molyvos, Eftalou is famous for its thermal springs. It combines a peaceful beach, views of the Aegean, and a rejuvenating thermal bath experience against a backdrop of volcanic rock. Ideal for relaxation, meditation, and inner renewal.

🍃 Vafeios
A gastronomic destination with a renowned taverna serving dishes rooted in local cuisine. Surrounded by olive groves and trails leading to the Ligona watermills. With views of Molyvos and the Aegean, it’s a perfect spot for a scenic and flavorful day trip.

🏞️ Argenos
A mountain village with views across to Asia Minor, filled with chestnut trees, oregano, and woodlands. The former home of writer Georgios Valetas now operates as a museum. The Church of Saint George (1777) and the traditional square create a place of peace and history.

🌳 Lepetymnos
Rebuilt after the 1960 earthquake, the village lies in a lush landscape with hiking trails. Each year on August 14–15, the village celebrates the Feast of the Virgin Mary with a traditional festival full of joy. Small but rich in communal memory.

🕊️ Sikamia – Skala Sikamias
A preserved traditional village with noble houses and the former home of author Stratis Myrivilis. Skala Sikamias is one of the most photographed spots on the island, with the chapel of Panagia Gorgona (“Our Lady the Mermaid”) perched on a seaside rock. The view and atmosphere are simply captivating.

⛪ Religious Sites

  • Panagia Gorgona (Skala Sikamias) – A unique seaside chapel with a poetic aura and maritime backdrop.
  • Saint George (Argenos) – A historic church built in 1777.
  • Panagia (Lepetymnos) – A place of celebration and folk tradition every August 15th.

📸 Nature & Activities

  • Hiking to watermills, gorges, Lepetymnos, and Ligona
  • Thermal baths in Eftalou
  • Observing architectural details in Molyvos & Sikamia
  • Photography in alleys, squares, under wisteria, and at sunset

🍽️ Gastronomy

  • Vafeios: traditional dishes at a well-known taverna
  • Local products: ouzo, olives, sweets, ladotyri cheese
  • Rakadika and small tavernas in village squares and alleyways

✨ Don't Miss it:

  • Walking beneath the wisteria canopy in the alleys of Molyvos
  • Watching the sunset from the Castle and the harbor
  • A warm therapeutic bath in Eftalou
  • Dinner in Vafeios under the olive trees
  • Visiting Panagia Gorgona in Skala Sikamias — perhaps the most poetic spot on the island