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TOWNS
& VILLAGES
Of LESVOS
MEGALOXORI
Ten Kilometres north of Plomari is the village of
Megalochori formerly
the site of the original Plomari. It was built after the
destruction of Constantinople at an altitude of 645 m
which explains the number of water sources (10) and it was
once the biggest village in the area. In the middle of the
19th century most of its inhabitants went to settle at the
present day Plomari.
It is often referred to as Kameno Chorio (=Burned Village)
since it was burned down three times in the past from the
pirates or from ars onists
(1843). In the beginning of the last decade, it was almost
burned twice. The second and biggest fire burned thousands
of fields and if the village still exists it’s due to a
miracle. Even though very few of the houses were destroyed
it was one of the biggest fires Greece has ever known. Now
it is known as the Switzerland of Lesvos due to its high
altitude, healthy climate, orchards, rich vegetation and
abundant water.
After the first houses, in the flagstone paved squar e
you will find the Church of St. Ioannis, (built in 1795)
in a beautiful flower filled courtyard, the high
plane-tree, walnut-trees and traditional cafeneia and
restaurants. Its iconostasis is carved, just like in the
other big church of the village, Panayia (Mother Mary).
This second church is devoted to Metamorphosis of Christ,
but the locals also celebrate in this church the grace of
Mother Mary, too. It was built in 1765 and on its carved
iconostasis are icons from the Bible. You can visit the
churches if you ask the villagers for the keys. Someone
will lead you there.
Further in you will find the Karidia (walnut-tree) square.
The tree which gave the name to the square does no longer
exist. You will only see a plane-tree that took its place.
At the north of the village is an area called Aklisid
(small church) where are two small churches and a huge
plane-tree.
In the centre of the village is the monument of Wise
Veniamin the Lesbian. In his honour the Veniamineia
Festival is organised every year.
From Megalohori you can get to Agiasos in a road that up
to recently was very difficult to negotiate without a
jeep. At the moment they are in the process of tarmaking
the road but as usual it is not known when the job will be
completed..
The town has a number of Greek-Americans,
Greek-Australians and Greek-Africans, some who spend their
summers here and others who have returned to their
ancestral home to live for the rest of their lives.
Click here for Information regarding
ACCOMMODATION
in PLOMARI
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