Leros is a lovely verdant island with a variety of natural settings. Green valleys interchange with dry hills and sandy beaches with spectacular rocky cliffs over the sea. The numerus bays and little coves offer an excellent selection of beaches. It is an unspoiled island which retains its Greek character. Leros' inhabitants are friendly and hospitable always happy to assist their visitors. Leros has many sights: The imposing pre-Byzantine Castle, ancient churches, museums, distinguished neoclassical houses of the nobble that match with the white and blue traditional popular houses of the island, tree-fringed beaches, beautiful villages. All placed in a beautiful natural setting for unique and unforgetable holidays. Leros is the island of Artemis, the goddess of nature and the hunt, is a paradise in the blue waters of the Agean. According to the tradition, the the miraculus Icon of Virgin which is housed in the church of Megalohari Kyra tou Kastrou in Platanos, set sail from Constantinopole on board lit by a sacred candle, and turned up in Leros during the Turkish occupation having. The inhabitants led by the bishops retrieved it from the seashore and carried it in great procession to the Cathedral. The next day, the icon had vanished and the Turkish captain of the Kastro found it, candle blazing, in the fortress gunpowder store, even though the door had been firmly locked. The icon was taken back to the Cathedral, but the next night decamped to the arsenal again. It kept this up until the Turkish governor was conviced it was a miraculus sign and gave the powder store room to the Christians. There are many restaurants, taverns, grill houses, confectioneries, coffee shops, discos and clubs. For those who love sports, diving centres and basketball grounds are available. the capital of Leros, is very pretty especially at night with stunning views to the fishing village of Panteli below. Platanos is crowded by the Kastro (Castle), a Byzantine fortress renovated by the Knights of Saint John and the Venetians and later used a military observation post. During ceasefire the inhabitants used to live in and they were well protected of it. Today there are ruins of about 180 homes in Kastro. The fortress was built over the ancient ruins and a 7th century BC tomb has been discovered. There are 370 steps up or a winding road. Lovely, flower-decked houses scent the steep march up, a march rewarded not only with views of the village spilling down to Agia (Santa) Marina, but of the "four seas" of Leros, the bays of Panteli, Marina, Gournas and Lakki. Inside Kastro there is the beautiful church of Megalohari Kyra tou Kastrou, the (Madonna of the Castle) with the miraculus icon of the Virgin. Near the Town Hall in Platanos Square is a small museum housing local finds. There is also the Antonelli family museum. |
