Lemnos is the eighth biggest island of Greece of 438 s.m. extend. Belongs to the north Aegean sea, the Thracian sea, between Agio Oros, Samothraki, Imbros and Lesvos. Lemnos and Agios Efstratios comprise the courthouse of Lemnos of Lesvos municipality. Capital city and main port of Lemnos island is Myrina, that took the name of the king Thoantas wife. Till 1955 Myrina was named Kastro, a name that some local people use it till nowadays. Lemnos is a volcanic island. There are no forests but there are many extensive, fruitful plains with vines and cereals. The beaches of the island are wonderful and Lemnos is ideal for calm vacation.
According to the myth islands Lemnos and Imbros were once united (were one island) that belonged to one sovereign. After his death the island passed to the possession of his two children. The first son wanted to take the biggest part of the island. The gods got angry and slit the island into two parts. Lemnos and Imbros created. This myth must have a historical base since very deep in the sea, in Saint Ermolaos gulf there are remnants of houses, temples e.t.c. According to mythology, Lemnos is the island of Hephaestus, the god of fire and volcanoes. A myth says that he landed on this island when Hera, his mother, trough him from Mount Olympus (where the Gods resided) because she found that he was an ugly baby Hephaestus broke his leg (or hip) when he landed on the island and stayed lame ever after. The people of the island took care of him and the god taught them his art of ironsmith.
Lemnos is the eighth biggest island of Greece of 438 s.m. extend. Belongs to the north Aegean sea, the Thracian sea, between Agio Oros, Samothraki, Imbros and Lesvos. Lemnos and Agios Efstratios comprise the courthouse of Lemnos of Lesvos municipality. Capital city and main port of Lemnos island is Myrina, that took the name of the king Thoantas wife. Till 1955 Myrina was named Kastro, a name that some local people use it till nowadays. Lemnos is a volcanic island. There are no forests but there are many extensive, fruitful plains with vines and cereals. The beaches of the island are wonderful and Lemnos is ideal for calm vacation.
The geographical position of the island and the security of its gulfs for the imperial fleet upgraded its military position.After the fall of Byzantium, Lemnos was a prey to many pirate raids. The island passed under the rule of the Genoese in 1453, which brought a great financial and commercial prosperity. From 1462 to 1479, Lemnos was an object of quarrels between the Venetians and the Turks. Venice was forced to consign it to the Turks when the Ottoman Empire became supreme in the Aegean. After the Greek Revolution of 1821, Lemnos, like other North-Eastern Aegean islands, did not join the newly built Greek State. Due to the Balkan Wars, the island was only incorporated to the rest of Greece in 1920.
When you visit Lemnos you can enjoy peaceful plains interrupted by small hills, wonderful far-reaching sandy beaches and crystal clear sea waters in every corner of the island, amazing sunsets, like the one in Myrina that has Mount Athos as a background, extremely important archaeological sites that date back to the Prehistoric Period, such as Poliocnhe which is the most ancient city of Europe, Hephaestia and Myrina, the sanctuary of Kaveirio and Artemis and the legendary Philoctetes Cave, the castle of Myrina which is one of the most beautiful fortresses of Greece, traditional settlements, picturesque lanes and little ports, marvelous churches and numerous chapels, picturesque windmills, exceptional mansions of the Egyptian Lemnians, built of the Lemnian stone that offers the island and the Aegean landscape a unique style and finally the 4 remarkable Museums of the island (Archaeological Museum, Byzantine Museum, Folk Museum and Nautical Museum) with numerous and important exhibits.The significant wetlands on the east side of the island, which are places of unique importance that host migratory and endemic birds as well as little animals, the impressive sand hills of Lemnos, a far-reaching sandy extension, the “waterfalls” of Kaspakas, the hot springs of Thermes, the petrified forest, the treasures of the sea bottom can attract the lovers of the nature and the sea during all the seasons of the year.
The basic occupations of the residents are cattle-raising, agriculture and fishing. Also tourism, commerce and nautical occupations develop also. Lemnos produces many goods of excellent quality like: cereals, legumes, wine, figs, almonds and the prize-winning thyme honey with the excellent flavor. In Lemnos island you can taste the great "Lemnos" wine, with special odor and taste that have been often honored in Greece as well as in foreing countries,flomaria” –Lemnian Chylopites (traditional pasta),the Lemnian rusks,. Dairy products like feta cheese, salamoura and Kalathaki and melichloro .The island has a lot of special fish,sea food and local meat cooked with Lemnian tasting. The rocky beaches around the island are ideal for underwater fishing.
Taverns, fish taverns, restaurants, cafes and bars can offer relaxation and satisfaction to every visitor.
You can visiti the 4 remarkable Museums of the island (Archaeological Museum, Byzantine Museum, Folk Museum and Nautical Museum) with numerous and important exhibits.