SIGHTSEEING

The castle of Myrina and the deer

The castle of Myrina was built in 1186 by the Byzantine emperor Andronikos Komninos the first, upon older remains of the pelasgic wall which was accomplished and repaired by the Genovese Gateluzi and the Turks. In the castle of Myrina lives free a large population of deer. The first dama-dama pair was transferred in 1970 by Rhodes. Their population today is about hundred. In winter, the lack of food drives many of the deer out of the castle and one can even encounter them in the narrow streets of Myrina.

Sand dunes

In the northwest part of the island, following the path southwest of the seashore Gomati, you reach the sand dunes which take up an area of about seventy acres. The vegetation growth there is little and fine sand is extended everywhere. The locals call the area “fat sands”. The landscape, which looms up among hills and wild olive trees is really impressive and unique of its kind.

Hanging waters

Following the path from the end of the shore of Ai Yiannis you meet the first fal, which is known as “ryaki tou Katsaiti”. The first fall is about of 15 meters in height, while the second, higher, falls at the place “Kremasta Nera” (“Hanging Waters”). The trail among the imposing rocks, the oleanders and the small lakes formed, is substantially impressive. The ideal season to visit the falls is Spring.

Prehistoric Settlement of Poliochni

The Neolithic settlement of Poliochni lies on the eastern side of the island, in the Voroskopos area near the village Kaminia. It was discovered by the Italian Archaeological School of Athens in Summer of 1930. The archaeological remains represent a large section of a settlement dating back to the early Bronze Age, with many phases of architectural and cultural development spanning over the entire 3rd millennium BC. The excavators assigned a different colour to each architectural phase, thus distinguishing a total of seven phases, the last of which coincide with those of facing Troy. Poliochni is considered the first organised settlement in Europe, with its own granaries and the first in the world Bouleuterion (assembly area).

Kabeirion

The ancient site of Kabeirion lies in the Khloi area of Northern Lemnos. It affords a spectacular view of facing Samothrace where the Kabeiroi (or Great Gods), were also worshipped. According to mythology, the Kabeiroi were the 3 sons and 3 daughters of Hephaestos and Kabeiro who were worshipped as Gods on the island. Their worship was deeply sacramental and included rituals that became known as the "Kabeirian Rites" which were related to issues such as the rebirth of nature and fertility. The Kabeirion was the centre of this worship. Excavations have brought to light the sanctuary that had a longstanding life from the early Lemnian period (8th century BC) up until late antiquity.
On the rocky coast lies the sea grotto known as "the Cave of the mythical Philoctetes", the wounded Homeric warrior who was supposedly abandoned there by his comrades on their way to Troy.

Hephaestia

Ancient Hephaestia was built in the area north of Pournia Bay. The city dates back to the early Bronze Age and seems to have been inhabited until the Byzantine Era. Archaeological excavations have revealed, among others, the Sanctuary of the Great Goddess, the Necropolis, the baths, a large dwelling - most probably a palace - and a Hellenistic-Roman theatre. Significant finds of locally produced ceramic art of high artistic quality are exhibited at the Archaeological Museum of Myrina. Only certain sections of this magnificently located vast archaeological site have been excavated.

Neolithic Settlement of Myrina

Outside the castle walls on the eastern side of Myrina lie the ruins of a neolithic settlement with remarkable elements of early town planning.

Kotchinas or Kotzinos

Kotchinas (earlier named Kotchinos or Kotzinos) was the seaport of Hephaestia. Its development is believed to have contributed to the decline of Hephaestia during the Byzantium. In fact it was said to have been the island capital during the post-Byzantine Era and was fortified by a castle probably built by the Venetians. What remain today are only fragments of the castle and the Church of Zoodochou Pigi (life-giving spring) with its "ayiasma" (holy water) that uprushes from the depths of a rock.

Riha Nera

At Riha Nera in Myrina, continuous research has brought to light interesting information and the ruins of a centre of the Early Bronze Age. Its history most probably runs parallel to that of Poliochni.

Myrina. Sanctuary of Artemis

Artemis is mentioned in bibliographical sources as being the patron saint of Myrina. The Sanctuary of Tavropolou Artemidos was discovered accidentally while construction work was being carried out for the erection of a large hotel in an area toward Avlona Beach north of Myrina. The Sanctuary consists of a main building and a paved outdoor area, on either sides of which open up chambers which served as auxiliary areas for the purpose of worship. The finds, which include ceramic figurines of bulls and relics from the sacrifice of a young bull, date to the 7th century BC and are exhibited at the Museum of Myrina.

Hellenic Workshops of Hephaestia and Myrina

Near the Sanctuary of the Great Goddess, in the ancient city of Hephaestia stands a remarkable Ceramics Workshop of the Hellenistic Times. A similar workshop is located in the area between the hospital and the Technical Lyceum, outside the walls of Myrina and in the vicinity of the Hellenistic and Roman Necropolis. The common characteristic of these two workshops in Hephaestia and Myrina is the influence which Attica ceramics had on them, due to the strong presence of Athenian klirouchioi on Lemnos during that time.

The Tower of Fisini

The entire S.E. of Lemnos was called Skala during the Middle Ages. This area seems to have been an important centre especially during the Venetian and Genoese Rule. Ruins of a fortified tower and scattered traces of what once were houses, wells, columns and windmills can be found there.

Palaiokastro or Vryokastro (Plakas)

On the easternmost tip of the island lie the ruins of a remarkable castle. It was built during the Middle Ages on a small peninsula south of Plaka.

Palaiokastro (Moudros - Roussopouli)

Extensive ruins of fortification works and walls are found on the hill bearing the same name between the villages of Moudros and Roussopouli. The ruins indicate the site where the first settlement of Moudros must have been. Access is possible via a dirt road that runs as far as the "Menalpi" location. From there on a trail leads you up to the summit.