leros

Lying between Patmos and Kalimnos , Leros is an island with many beautiful bays. Inded one of these is used for its main harbour, Lakki, which is the largest and safest in the Dodecanese islands. Without high mountains but with a lot of greenery, mainly pine trees, it has an area of 53 sq. km. and a coastline of 71 km. It has a population of more than 8,000 inhabitants most of whom are concentrated in Lakki and three other settlements which are joined to each other: Platanos, which is the capital, Aghia Marina, the island's second port, and Panteli. Platanos is the capital of the island, built amphitheatrically below the impressive castle, with its traditional houses, the picturesque narrow lanes, the small lanes, the small square with a plane tree in the middle and the Town Hall on one side. The archaeological collection is kept at the Town Hall and high up in the village, on the slopes of the castle, is the Old church of Aghia Paraskevi. The castle is definitely worth a visit. From there you can admire the lacy coastline, the beautiful sand beaches and the blue sea. From the square of Platanos a downhill street leads after about 500 meters to teh picturesque Aghia Marina, the island's second harbour. There are a few remains of the ancient town there. The two settlements are joined together. South of Platanos is the third settlement, Panteli, to the rear of a bay with the same name which has a sand beach. All three of these settlements are now joined together as from time to time houses were built in between following the contours of the natural terrain. The main port of the island is Lakki, situated in its enclosed and secure bay. Large buildings, wide streets and a lot of greenery give it a completely different look from that of the villages which you are bound to encounter visiting the island of Leros. Alinda is a beautiful seaside settlement with an extensive sand beach and avery clean water. It is 3 kms NW of Platanos to the back of Alinda bay (or Aghia Marina). West of the bay of Aghia Marina and very near it (a neck is formed there) is the bay of Gourna with two mangificent sand beaches, Kokkalis and Drymonas. This region also has the picturesque Aghios Isidoros. On the Northernmost tip of Lero sis Partheni and the bay of the same name with the islet of Archangelos at its entrance. It is 9 kms from Platanos and it is said that the temple of the Parthenos (Virgin) Artemis was built there from which it took its present name. The airport is also close to Partheni. Xerokambos is an old seaside settlement on the southernmost end of the island, 8 kms from Platanos. It lies to the back of a narrow bay of the same name and has a beau-tiful beach with sparkling clean water.