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THE VILLAGES OF LEROS
Agia Marina - Platanos
One of the two harbours of the island is Agia Marina. Once a small seaside
settlement it spread with time and joined with Platanos, the oldest
settlement on the island and once the capital. It is now the
administrative and commercial centre of the island. From a distance it
looks like a small town which extends amphitheatrically between two the
sides of two mountains. Its small white houses spread from the beach up
until the foot of the hill on which the castle stands. As the visitor
approaches the town it reveals its fascinating sights, one by one. At
Platanos many traditional two storied houses have been preserved, and
amongst them are many distinguished houses, which have been built very
close to each other and so have created picturesque small narrow streets.
These entice the visitor to walk through them, and experience the
nostalgic atmosphere of the old town, the old windmill or the “Avlaki”
with its taps bringing pure water from the springs of Paliaskloupi. The
town hall is housed in two neoclassical buildings and next to it, is a
genuine traditional café the “Leriaki Leshi”, one of the few which
have been preserved nowadays. Platanos and Agia Marina, two settlements
which have joined and are now inseparable, are home to the biggest market
on the island. A beautiful small hospitable town which has a lot to offer
the visitor from modern shops for all of your purchases to the enchanting
view from the famous castle of the “Panagia”. Built on the top of the
hill Apitiki, the castle dominates over Agia Marina keeping watch on all
the surrounding area and with a panoramic view of the endless blue of the
Aegean sea, from Patmos to Kalymnos and further to the coast of Asia
Minor.
Panteli
Panteli is a small picturesque bay and fishing village with true island
character, which is to the east of the island, below Platanos. Because of
continual expansion, it is heading towards joining with Platanos. Most of
its houses are old traditional houses. The caiques and fishing boats and
its background of clear blue sea complete the idyllic picture of the
village. Panteli has developed into the cosmopolitan centre that it is
today, with the yachts, which moor next to the little fishing boats, the
restaurants and the night life at the discos, bars and pubs.
Lakki
Only four kilometers south west of Platanos is Lakki, the main harbour of
Leros. The harbour is protected and safe. It is the biggest natural
harbour in the Mediterranean sea. It has modern harbouring facilities and
a yacht servicing team. Lakki has a character totally different to the
rest of the island, both unusual and extremely impressive. With its
imposing buildings stretching along the coast and built in a peculiar
architectural style, Lakki is one of a kind. The roads are wide and there
are trees and parks, all planned and created by the Italians in the inter
– war years. The Lerians have preserved these historic buildings, which
are today considered as architectural masterpieces of the early twentieth
century, unique in the whole of Europe and draw the interest of all the
visitors to the island. A little way out of the town is the temple of
Agios Giannis o Theologos. This temple has been standing there from 1000
A.D. and is one of the most noteworthy Byzantine churches, with wonderful
mosaics from the eleventh century. Lakki is particularly tourist
developed, with modern shops, hotel complexes, restaurants and bars and
clubs.
Gourna
In the east of the island stretches another of Leros’ open bays, Gourna,
with greeny/black sand and shallow waters, which continue for quite some
distance into the sea. There, there are groups of country tavernas,
beautiful houses and orchards full of citrus fruit trees which complete
the landscape.
Xirokampos
Xirokampos is a small settlement and an old seaside village. It is
situated in the southern most area of the island, just 7 kilometres from
Agia Marina. In front of Xirokampos, its bay opens out with the tiny
islands (the Glaronisia), protecting the entrance to the bay. Opposite, at
a distance of one nautical mile, is Kalymnos another Dodecanese island.
The houses of Xirokampos are spread out in a small valley full of olive
trees, cypress trees, almond trees and many flowers. At the far end of the
village there is an incline and at the top of the hill, at a height of 70
metres, Paliokastro or Kastro ton Lepidon as it is also known, is
situated. This castle is older than the Kastro tis Panagias at Agia
Marina. It is built on the ruins of an ancient acropolis, dating from
2.500 B.C. In early christian times a large basilica was built there.
Today on the same site we can find the little white church of the Panagia.
Xirokampos has hotels, rooms for rent and a campsite along with
restaurants and bars and clubs. The visitor can enjoy a swim in the
crystal clear waters of Xirokampos’ sandy beach which has armirikia
trees that give it shade. For the more brave amongst you, you can do free
diving here or scuba diving if you wish. Here there is also a diving
school.
Bourlidia
Bourlidia is a sight of rare beauty on the island with its sandy beaches
amongst rocks, crystal clear sea for swimming and fishing, paths for calm
walks, all in combination with remnants from the second World war on the
hill.
Krithoni
Between Alinta and Agia Marina lies Krithoni, which stretches from the sea
up on to the hill. It is very green with beautiful houses, lots of little
churches, old Lerian houses, luxury hotels, guest houses, rooms for rent,
bars and clubs, restaurants and swimming pools. The Patriarheio is an old
neoclassical house of distinction and in its courtyard it has the small
church of Agios Sofronios. Here the patriarch of Alexandria, Sofronios,
who loved and helped in the development of Leros, used to stay from time
to time.
Agios Isidoros
In the area of Kamara, a little to the north of Gourna on a rocky hill
over the sea there are steps that lead to a small beach. A little further
along amongst the rocks is the small picturesque church of Agios Isidoros
with its balconies and its stone seats, by the little harbour created
through subsidence. It is definitely worth visiting.
Partheni
At the north most tip of Leros lies Partheni and the bay with the same
name which has the island of Archangellos at its mouth. This small fishing
village spreads out before you like a painting between a large, fruitful
valley and the sea. It is a historical and well known from antiquity. It
is here that it is said that the ancient sanctuary of Parthenios Artemis
was built and it is from this that the place took its name.
Mplefoutis
Mplefoutis is situated in yet another of the wonderful bays in the north
of Leros, near Partheni. Mplefoutis is a small settlement, in a very green
area, with beautiful sea and small tavernas. It is an ideal place for a
relaxing and peaceful holiday.
Alinta
Alinta can be found in the center of the Agia Marina bay and consists of
the most tourist developed area of the island today with the most modern
tourist facilities. The area is very rich in vegetation with pine trees
and olive trees and a huge sandy beach with crystal waters. The tower of
Mpeleni here is a smart, carefully renovated house of distinction, which
houses the Folklore and History Museum. Also in the summer, and mainly at
the start of August, great cultural events are organized in its courtyard.
In the surrounding area there are the two churches Agios Sofronios and
Agioi Saranta. Very close by to Alinta is Krifos, a small idyllic sandy
beach hidden amongst the rocks. Above Krifo, Kleidi stretches upwards.
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