The large islands of the Aegean Sea retain something of the magic of the past, the calm and peace that seaside holidays offer us, far from the crowds of visitors and crowds.
THE SamosTHE LesvosTHE Lemnos and the Chios, the beloved large islands of the North Aegean Sea, are so special and so different from each other that each is a special destination in itself. Islands with “intense personality”, places of history and tradition that have managed to preserve their particular character and identity, offering their visitors unique images, tastes and smells from other eras.
And as there has been a lot of talk lately about overtourism on our islands, we decided to travel to the large islands of the North Aegean Sea and spend our vacation in authentic places that seem to have been untouched by the passage of time. We will walk through dreamy forests, breathe fresh air and see green landscapes, swim in quiet beaches with deep blue waters, taste authentic flavors and delicious local products, eat lots of fish and fruits of fresh sea, visit traditional villages with stone houses and meet each other. beautiful people. The islands of the North Aegean Sea have the power to enchant travelers with their grandeur and simplicity.
The North Aegean Sea is closer than you think
The large islands of the North Aegean Sea may be far from mainland Greece, but they are less so than you think and are very easy to visit. These islands are regularly connected to the main ports of the country with new ships equipped with all modern amenities, while Chios, Lesbos and Samos have airports and flights are very regular. The North Aegean Islands are not faraway destinations; they are accessible destinations that await us to spend the most carefree and authentic vacations of our lives.
The Samos of History lost in the depths of the centuries
Samos is a green island full of pine forests, olive groves, citrus orchards and fertile vineyards that give us the award-winning Samian wine. A special island, with a very rich history as it was the center of the Ionian civilization and one of the most important spiritual centers of the ancient world. The goddess Hera and the great mathematician Pythagoras were born here. Aesop and Herodotus lived on Samos, as did Epicurus, Aristarchus, and many other scholars and scientists. We will therefore follow in their footsteps and visit Heraion, one of the largest and most important temples of Antiquity, but also the famous cave of Pythagoras where the philosopher fled to escape Polycrates, the tyrant of Samos
Samos is a dream vacation destination, as it offers the ideal answer to the eternal dilemma “Mountains or sea?”
In Samos we will combine the two, as we can stroll and discover the traditional mountain villages, built on green slopes, or swim in the pristine small pebble beaches of the island. We will not fail to taste the famous Samian sweet wine and visit the island’s wine cellars.
Lesbos, the princess of gastronomy
Lesvos, “the plane leaf that someone threw into the middle of the sea”, according to Ulysses Elytis, is an island with fanatical friends and constant visitors. An island with a rich history, unique architecture, rich historic mansions and industrial buildings, witness to a glorious trading past, medieval walled towns, traditional stone settlements and of course the vast olive groves which produce one of the world’s oils most famous olives in the world
In Lesbos we will definitely visit the Petrified Forest, one of the rarest natural monuments in the world, and the Kalloni Wetland which is home to more than 250 species of birds and is considered one of the most important wetlands of Europe. Lesbos is an ideal destination for those who love good cuisine and authentic flavors. The island’s particular culinary culture is based on the local “births” of the fertile lands and fishing areas that surround it. Here we will taste the famous olive oil, taste the traditional dishes with high quality local meats, taste its famous cheeses and of course the famous Kalloni sardines.
We will be sure to visit Plomari, the home of authentic ouzo, which we all associate with sun, sea and vacation. Lesvos is simply a culinary paradise.
Lemnos, the unexplored island
Lemnos is a special, almost unexplored island that can offer a lot to the traveler who wants to discover its beauties. Besides the important archaeological sites and traditional villages expertly built of stone and iron, in Lemnos we can really enjoy the sea, since the island has more than 100 beaches, most of them with golden sand. We will also visit the strange Sands, also known as the “Sahara of Greece”. This is an extremely rare, almost unreal landscape of dunes created by erosion and deposition of sand. A blessed place, Lemnos has offered sought-after products since Antiquity, such as the famous wine, known even from the Homeric Epics.
Lemnos is one of the fertile islands of the country and the ideal place to enjoy authentic local cuisine with local products. Here we will taste special cheeses, such as melichloro, cascavali and kalathaki, excellent quality honey, many locally caught fish and seafood and flomaria, a type of traditional pasta made from cereals from the ‘island. And because we love wine, we will not fail to visit one of the vineyards of Lemnos, to taste the red Limnio and the white Moschato, excellent wines with a particular taste due to the volcanic soil.
Chios, the island of mastic and aromas
In the northern Aegean Sea there is a very special island: it looks like a huge botanical garden and smells wonderful. Chios is such a special island that it could belong to another country at another time. The inhabitants live in fortress villages built in the Middle Ages and grow crops, mainly mastic and citrus fruits. Mastic is the precious treasure of the island, a unique culture in the world, a natural product that has more and more uses from gastronomy and confectionery to cosmetology. The fertile plain of the island is full of orange and tangerine trees, many say that Chios oranges are the most delicious. Chios, like all the islands of the North Aegean Sea with its rich history and glorious commercial past, is an island with many faces that deserves to be known from one end to the other. The city hides architectural treasures, witnesses of the numerous conquests and the glorious past. Here we will see monuments of the past, imposing mansions, with ornate doorways and imposing arches, as well as well-kept stone houses, a sign of economic prosperity.
If we wander towards the outskirts we will discover wonderful villages, each with its own character. We will visit the impressive Mesta, a medieval village built like a castle with stone houses and narrow cobbled streets with arches. A historic fortress to protect against frequent raids by pirates and Turks.
Chios, like most of the northern Aegean islands, has countless beaches with crystal clear waters. The most impressive beach is Mavra Volia, with its deep waters and characteristic black pebbles resulting from the volcanic eruption. Chios is the island of perfumes, wild landscapes and medieval castles. An island that directly wins the heart of the traveler and can offer him many emotions.
So this summer we are traveling to the northern Aegean islands to walk through places of unique natural beauty and get to know our territory better, its history, its traditions and its authentic Mediterranean flavors, far from the hustle and bustle of thousands of tourists. visitors. On the Aegean Islands we will relive the authentic vacation we love.