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Lesvos Safari Tours |
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Jeep Trekking Tours - Outdoor Activities - Travel Services on Lesvos island
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Kalloni lies precisely in the centre of Lesvos. It is endowed by the nature, since it is embraced by the gulfs waters, supplied by the rich plain of 100sq. km, where six rivers flow through it and always provide product sufficiency due to the underground and spring waters fertilizing its vineyards and gardens, and guarded by the historic monasteries. It was always the crossroad, from where the main axes passed which have not changed much from ancient times. In the last decade, this large village has presented great development in the field of trade and constitutes the seat of the municipality that comprises the settlements of: Agra, Anemotia, Dafia, Kerami, Parakila, Skalohori and Filia.
The gulf of Kalloni, the largest gulf of Lesvos island, with a very narrow mouth towards the open sea, produces plenty and excellent quality fish, sardines, scallops, cockles and mussels. Also it is the islands eco-tourist centre, since, despite the distortions caused by the development of the urban landscape, in the broader region the natural environment is until today preserved unaltered. Its biotopes are integrated to the Natura 2000 protection network and due to the presence of a significant number of rare birds in various periods of the year, constitute poles of attraction for a great number of eco-tourists and birdwatchers.
Skala Kalloni is a picturesque harbor and it offers one of the most beautiful and well organized beaches in Lesvos which attracts a great number of Greek and foreign summer visitors, since its tourist substructure satisfies every demand.
The summer festivals present a special interest: the festival of sardine in Skala Kalloni in July, where tones of fresh grilled sardines are to be offered to the visitors with plenty of ouzo accompanied with live Greek traditional music and dance shows. The livestock-breeding in Agra, the wine festival in Anemotia as well as the panigyri of Saint Trinity on the 7th of July in Kalloni, which includes three days feast and horse – races.
There are significant archaeological sites, since, within the boundary of the plain, the ancient Lesbians worshiped many of the ancient gods in great sanctuaries, parts of which are saved until today. The temple of Messa was dedicated to Zeus, Dionysus and Ira, constituted a worship and communication centre for all the Lesbians, and at the beginning of the 2nd century B.C. was the seat of the federation of all the cities of Lesvos. During the early Christian period a basilica was erected over the temple, which was succeeded by a mid-Byzantine church. There are many remains, ruins, altars and ancient remnants around the region, signs of worship of the Lesbian people who arrived there as pilgrims to the great sanctuary of Pyrra and of the entire island. Important archaeological sites are also found in Apothika, between Parakila and Agra, where the ancient retaining wall of about six meters height is located, but also in Makara, bearing the name of the first settler of Lesvos during ancient times.
Monastery of Leimonos, a men convent situated in the centre of Lesbos, 14km from Kalloni to Fillia in a fertile basin. Established in Byzantine years was inhabited until the occupation of the island by the Turks. The monastery was re-founded in 1526 by St. Ignatios Agallianos, a significant personality who contributed in the rebirth of both education and the Church. At that time the well-known Leimonas school - which remained open until 1923 - functioned within the monastery enclosure.
