Tour to Limonos Monastery & Molyvos Village

Discover the beautiful city of Lesbos, built like an amphitheatre with a Byzantine Castle towering over it from the top of a pine covered hill.

You will head to the northern part of the island to visit the Monastery of Limonos. This huge complex was founded in 1523 and is manned by a handful of monks who are responsible for maintaining the three stories of cells that surround a giant courtyard, adorned with massive urns and strutting peacocks. There's a library, a museum with lovely icons, manuscripts, embroidery, jewelry and also a couple of chapels. Ladies will only be able to visit one of these chapels, since the other is protected by the Avaton, an old Christian Orthodox custom that forbids women in a place of worship.

Your tour then continues to Molyvos, the most attractive spot on the island. Beautiful stone houses wear colourful shutters, some standing defensively with their rear walls to the sea. They mount the slopes between the picturesque harbor and the Genovese castle which dominates the town and offers fine views stretching right across to Cape Baba in Turkey. After visiting the castle you will have some free time to stroll through the winding, cobblestone lanes shaded by vines. Lunch will be served in a village along the way back to the port.