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 arsonists (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 square 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.

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ACCOMMODATION in PLOMARI