Kalloni – Skala Kalloni

Description

Kalloni is situated in the middle of the island and had an enormous increase in the recent years in all areas, as it is an economic and commercial center. Kalloni has a large modern market with shops covering all the needs. It has a medical center, which provides comprehensive health care.

The fields of Kalloni are the largest fields on the island, with its many waters and rich soil the sun warms it 3,000 hours a year. Its the greenest center of the island and densely populated because of its wealth since antiquity.

The coastal areas of the Gulf of Kalloni have joined the network “Natura 2000”, because they are an excellent refuge and breeding of rare, protected bird species. The salt lake of Kalloni collects many birds (flamingos and other), offering spectacular sight to observers. A little bit above Kalloni towards Sigri, in the middle of a green valley, lies the Leimonos Monastery. It is an important monastery in the heart of Lesvos, with an impressive museum.

The monastery was built in 1523 by the Bishop of Mythimna, Ignatius Agaliano and functioned from 1530 as the first school for male clergy and laymen. Within the monastery, there are many small and large churches, old and new. Moreover, there are thousands of volumes of old books and manuscripts of great intellectual value and rarity. Furthermore, it is operating a museum with galleries of images, manuscripts, vestments, liturgical vessels and embroideries. In a short distance from the Leimonos Monastery away is the Monastery for women of the Virgin Myrsiniotissa, a byzantine monastery which was built also by St Ignatius Agalliano, in 1523. Here in Kalloni it worked as the first grammar school on the island, the famous “Greek Provincial School” in 1804 from where graduated teachers who maintened the other schools on the island.

Entering the city we cross Arisvi, which is integrated in the settlement of Kalloni followed by Argiana, Kerami, Papiana and Skala Kalloni, which has modern hotels and rooms. Skala Kalloni is famous for the famous Kalloni sardines which are one of the best dishes in the summer. Indeed the Municipality organizes as part of the cultural events every summer ”the Sardine Festival”, which attracts many visitors. At the beach of Parakoila there are several restaurants where you can enjoy different taste of various dishes. A few kilometers west of Parakoila, is the picturesque village Apothika, with the port of Agra with several restaurants and fresh fish.

Demographic and historical data

The Municipality of Kalloni has a population of 8,194 residents and the area has 24.1946 acres of land. Location of the municipality is Kalloni and includes 9 municipal districts: the District of Agra, Anemotias, Arisvi, Dafia, Keramia, Parakoila, Skalochori and Filia. The archaeological findings and the scattered remains of walls, flywheels, capitals, pottery, the remains of temples, objects, coins scattered over an area exceeding 2,500 square meters mark the history and culture of the two major cities that were lost by a large earthquake in 231 BC.

Sightseeing

Moni Limonos

Limonos Monastery is located in the center of the island, 14 km northwest of Kalloni. The monastery was founded in the Byzantine period and disintegrated in the late 15th century. Bishop of Mythimna Ignatius rebuilt the monastery in 1527 and established a school, which contributed to the revival of monasticism in Lesvos.

The Catholic Church located in the central enclosure is a three-aisled basilica with a raised middle aisle. Built in 1795 in the place of the older Catholic Church and has integrated five chapels. Special interest lays on the iconographic program of the frescoes of the sacristy (cache) in the eastern part of the church. The cemetery of the monastery is outside of the enclosure. In the cemetery of the church, you can see preserved frescoes from the 16th century. The west wing in the central, kept sacred vestments, gold embroidery, fragments of wall paintings, portable icons, sacred vessels, reliquaries and the library.

In recent years, the monastery began to be restored and blowing wind of creation.The current abbot of the monastery, Archimandrite Nicodemus Pavlopoulos thanks to his tireless and very zealous efforts, managed to bring back the monastery to the position it deserves.

Over the last thirty years after a lot of work he restored the old wing of the cells, the Catholic Church and other buildings. He created new buildings in those houses today: the nursing home, where elderly veterans can find hospitality.The capacity hosts at least 200 people in those houses, hundreds of visitors come each year, providing even particularly impressive dining capacity for 500 people.He founded and ran the largest museum that visitors can see in a monastic site in all Greece, where the numerous rooms hold priceless treasures and include:

Ground – Above wing

Shrine of the Holy Relics and images.

Library manuscripts with 516 manuscripts. 59 of those are in membranes. The others are silky or from paper. The manuscripts date from the 9th century until today.

Sacristy

The Museum with an impressive wealth of objects. Among them is a chair of St. Ignatius, chests with diverse, woodcut decorations, pictures with gilded scenes and saints painted in the Byzantine style popular, glass oil lamps with different colors and decorations.

The vestry of Bishop James of Mythimna (+ 1984)T
he Lesbian home

The Folk Museum

Library forms with around 20,000 books by 1498, many of them are very rare. The oldest book is a gospel of the IX century, artistic, written in golden ink. Geological Museum (Museum of Rocks)

In the new wing that is being built, paintings will be exposed in the coming years, coins, etc. All these elements have made in recent years the Monastery Leimonos a major attraction of pilgrims and visitors, both Greeks and foreigners. The tradition is preserved in all its glory, stressing the durability, so that a visit to the monastery is like a view to the religious life, historical and national memories of Lesvos, Greece.

Wetland of Kalloni Gulf

The coastal wetlands of the Kalloni Gulf are one of the most important of the ecologic assets of Lesvos. Coastal areas around the Gulf are a complete ecological system, as this area is a mosaic of salt lakes, small rivers and estuaries torrent, reed, and pine groves. Thus, wetlands serve as a refuge and breeding place for many rare and endangered bird species.

More specific wetlands include the whole coastal area of the Bay and many inland wetlands: Salt lakes of Kalloni and Polichnito, the river Tsiknias, Vouvaris, Mylopotamos,nine Kamares, Potamea, Lagoon of Meson, the marsh of Skala Kalloni, Parakoila, Nifida, etc. The Gulf region is in National & European Inventory “Special Areas of Conservation of Nature” Network NATURA 2000 “.

Monastery of Panagia Myrsiniotissa

Not far from the Monastery Leimonos is the Womens’ Monastery of the Virgin Myrsiniotissa, Byzantine monastery which was rebuilt also by St Ignatius Agalliano, in 1523. Besides of the great history the monastery offers the visitor the tranquility of paradise monastic environment and colorful tranquility of the full flower courtyards.

Beaches

Skala Kalloni

Skala Kalloni has an organized beach with fine sand and warm waters. Just 2 km from Kalloni, in Skala Kalloni you will find many hotels and restaurants.

Parakila

Parakila located a few kilometers south of Kalloni, is in the bay of Kalloni. The beach is sandy and there are several restaurants in the area. The coast is ideal for swimming and fishing.