PETRA - LAPSARNA

Part Km Time
Petra - Anaxos   30'
Anaxos - m. Tsichranda   45'
m. Tsichranda - M. Tsichranda   30'
M. Tsichranda - K. Limenas   2 h 30'
K. Limenas - Anc. Antissa 3  
Anc. Antissa - Gavathas 3  
Gavathas - Liota   30'
Liota - Lapsarna   1 h

This route is an adventure by the seaside at the northern coast of west Lesvos. We start from Petra(1), the coastal village and summer resort, crowned by the rock of Panagia (Holy Mother). Further on, we meet Anaxos (2), a tourist beach. From its west end after the hill, we take the old trail - formed by mule drivers - "hanging" over the deep blue water and the dark rocks and adorned with amarant (Helichryssum italicum), overlooking the "rock of the seal" and a chapelet by the water. Selles, the middle peak of the mountain, is characterised by the ruins of an archaic castle.

The bay that we meet next adorned with olive trees, oak trees and ruined old churches, is Mikri Tsichranta (3). We go round the rocky cape closing the gulf from the west, we meet at its root Agios Panteleimon, and we enter Megali Tsichranta (4). The river descending from Filia forms a uniquely beautiful bay, ornamented with little houses, poplar and olive trees and numerous ruins of ancient times. At its west end, witness of a long gone era, stand the oak warehouses.

Continuing our course above the lovely coast, the hills covered with oak trees (Quercus Mecrolepis) and several little gulfs embellished with dark coloured volcanic rock, we arrive at Kalos Limenas (5), a mountainous peninsula, the port of Skalochori. Here, oak warehouses have been turned into homes and cafes, "Bits" of history are scattered among barren hills.

More to the west our way takes us to the peninsula crowned by the Medieval castle ("ovriokastro", castle of the Hebrew). It is here that stood ancient Antissa (6), one of the Six Cities of Lesvos. Her ruins are not but very few. Behind this cape at Kampos, Voulgaris river ends.

The next bay is called Kampos tou Gavatha (7). A rocky mountain now separates us from the little harbour and the village: houses, little restaurants, a smooth swimming beach and a small island in the open of the gulf. An history of the place goes far back in time and is outlined by the many churches of the area.

Liota is a village spreading its house, its many fountains, its historic plane tree and the monument of St. Mary along the slopes of several hills. Further to the west we meet ORFIKIA and finally the Gulf of Lapsarna (8) ending at the stone cape with the church of Panagia of Pohni. From here the road takes us back to Antissa.