1. General Information
2. Ippios Attractions
3. Ippios Events
4. Ippios Delicacies
5. Nearby Attractions

General Information

Like any of its neighborly villages, Ippios is part of a site of immense botanical and zoological interest. The surrounding landscape is home to a broad range of animals, insects and plants, and many a birdwatcher or botanist can be seen roaming the land on the lookout for rare bird and plant species. The village itself is highly traditional, with numerous small cafes, cobblestone alleys and a variety of beautiful buildings.

The valley of Evergetoulas is a haven of olive groves, planes, chestnuts and pines, cherry trees, ivy-clad elms, wild orchids and cyclamens lurking inside the foliage on the ever-fertile ‘kambos’. A seemingly infinite number of chapels, a variety of disused mills, bridges, oases of shade and vistas of breathtaking views characterize the seven villages that composed the Municipality of Evergetoulas before the government reform of 2011 and the administration of Lesvos as a single Municipal unit.

Asomatos, Mychou, Kato Tritos, Lambou Mili, Sykounda, Ippios and Keramia benefit from the natural splendor of the Evergetoulas landscape and the deep affection nurtured by locals for their area and turning their ever-dwindling villages into a treasure-trove of traditional sights, tastes and sounds that continue into the present. Whether you visit here to taste local recipes, chance upon a ‘panigiri’ (fête) of traditional music-and-dance or admire one of the many impressive religious, archaeological or cultural sites in the region, you are bound to feel enthralled at the verdant setting and the ever-presence of tradition and faith into every realm of life in the Evergetoulas region.

The largest village in the former Municipality of Evergeoulas, Ippios is home to some 818 residents and dates from the year 1567. A variety of fruit trees and vegetables are cultivated in the village, having preplaced the plantations of cereals, cotton, tobacco and fig trees that once made Ippios a famous exporter of figs.

The village name is attributed to the many horses (‘ippi’) once bred in the Ippios plain or, as another theory suggests, to the low elevation of the village (‘iptios’ translating as ‘lowland’).

The upper village district affords wonderful all-reaching views to the Ippios plain and is home to a variety of more recent buildings, constructed by the refugees from Asia Minor who came to live here in 1922. In the lower village quarter, a variety of traditional buildings give Ippios its old-fashioned appeal.

Ippios Attractions

The church of Saint Procopios is located in the heart of the village. Built in 1741, the church becomes a pole of attraction for locals on the eve of the feast of the village’s patron Saint.

Ippios Events

The two-day celebration of Saint Procopios commences on July 7th and continues into the early hours of the following day. Like any traditional ‘panygiri’ it is defined by deep religious sentiment and an evening of lively music and dancing.

In early February, Ippios becomes host to the celebration of the ‘zevgades’ (ploughmen), an occupation that was once prominent in the cultivation of land but no longer alive since the earth is currently prepared and planted using mechanical means.

Ippios Delicacies

Ippios is renowned for a variety of local dishes such as mushroom pie, ‘skafoudia’ (aubergines stuffed with minced meat), cuttlefish pilaf and snails in aromatic sauce.

Nearby Attractions

If you are keen to taste a variety of local products, do visit the location of Mylelia, a short distance away from Ippios. It is a beautiful spot where visitors can see a renovated water-mill and purchase a variety of traditional handmade products such as pasta, pickles, jams, ready meals and a variety of fruit preserves.

1. General Information
2. Asomatos Attractions
     2.1  The Church of the Great Archangels
     2.2  The Ecclesiastic Museum and Folklore Exhibition of Asomatos
3. Asomatos Crafts
4. Asomatos Events
5. Nearby Attractions

General Information

Asomatos is a quiet village 22 kilometers west of Mytilene. Built on the foot of Mount Olympos, it boasts a green location, a long history and traditional architecture that has been preserved to this day.

The village was established in the Middle Ages, when, for fear of pirate invasion, the residents of Chorafelia moved southwards. A number of small settlements were formed, the larger of which was ‘Kastania’ (Sweet Chestnut Tree). As the population of Kastania grew and grew, the village of Asomatos became established.

By 1940, Asomatos had reached a population of 900, however the number began to decline following the Greek Civil War. Today, a wander in Asomatos is akin to a visit to a bygone era. The village has retained the entirety of its traditional character and visitors here can have a leisurely walk in the old cobblestone alleys and admire the many tiny chapels, old-fashioned cafes and beautiful stone-built houses of Asomatos. By many, Asomatos is the prettiest village in the region of Evergetoulas.

Asomatos Attractions

The Church of the Great Archangels

Asomatos (meaning ‘disembodied’ or ‘incorporeal’) drew its name from the church of the Great Archangels Michael and Gabriel - Saint Michael is patently referred to as a disembodied spirit in the Orthodox Christian faith. The three-tiered basilica dates back to 1796 and takes pride of place in the village. The impressive, well-maintained church is surrounded by a variety of flowering plants and a retreat in the cobblestone churchyard will afford you a few moments of relaxation amidst the flowers growing abundantly in the gardens of Asomatos church.

The Ecclesiastic Museum and Folklore Exhibition of Asomatos

An Ecclesiastic Museum and Folklore Exhibition are housed within the churchyard and include a variety of religious items such as age-old books, manuscripts, coins, religious icons and liturgical vestments, together with various samples of traditional Asomatos crafts. The accumulation of historical pieces relating to the religious tradition and cultural life of Asomatos is of crucial importance - the population of Asomatos has been in decline and, to many, the preservation of its religious and creative history is tantamount to keeping the village alive. A visit here is highly recommended, whether you wish to admire the array of ecclesiastical exhibits or gain a sense of the history of Asomatos. To gain access to the collection, contact Father Christos on telephone number 22520-22504.

As the population of Asomatos has been in decline, efforts have been made to draw attention to the village and breathe new life into Asomatos. A Centre of Environmental Training run by the Hellenic Ministry of Education and a Boy and Girl Scouts Environmental Training Centre are present in the area, and organize school visits to Asomatos and its Ecclesiastical and Folklore Exhibitions.

Asomatos Crafts

A number of traditional crafts are being kept alive by the remaining residents of Asomatos. Basket weaving is an art traditionally passed down from father to son, yet many Asomatos women engage in the weaving of baskets and beautiful textiles. If you are interested in acquiring one or more wonderful examples of these age-old crafts, the Agrotourist Cooperative of the Women of Asomatos (est. 1999) sells a multitude of local products such as fruit preserves, aromatic herbs, woven textiles and baskets in all sizes and shapes. A number of traditional dishes are prepared in the Cooperative, where you may - if you are eager to taste a traditional delicacy - purchase and consume a number of snails dishes.

Asomatos Events

Should you happen to be in the area on the day of the Taxiarches, you will be able to join the ‘panygiris’ (celebration) of the village’s main church and participate in the Snail Festival (‘Giorti Saligariou’) taking place on 8th November each year. Snails are a local delicacy and many varieties of snail are present in the area. A dish of ‘Saligaria Stifado’ (snails cooked in a red, highly aromatic sauce) will give you a flavor of the culinary delights of Asomatos.

Nearby Attractions

Agii Anargyri (you might also encounter the spelling ‘Agioi Anargyroi’) is a stunningly verdant location that invites visitors to take a break in one of its numerous small cafes and ravish the coolness and shade afforded the area by its multitude of plane trees and running streams.

Together with Vouvaris and Sedoundas, Evergetoulas is one of the greatest rivers on Lesvos. The river courses through the homonymous valley and lent its name to the former Municipality of Evergetoulas, the cluster, that is, of the villages of Sykounda, Kato Tritos, Lampou Mili, Asomatos, Ippios, Mychou and Keramia.

The valley of Evergetoulas is an area of supreme natural beauty. Seething with plane and walnut trees, olive groves and pines, the valley is home to a number of settlements that, whether largeor small, lively or barely inhabited, benefit from the verdant landscape and their residents’ deep affection for tradition and their beautiful homeland.

The area presents significant interest to botanists, birdwatchers and lovers of the architecture, crafts, recipes and customs and traditions of central Lesvos. The ‘kambos’ (plain) is a verdant environment roamed freely by birds, insects, amphibians, reptiles, and where one may still chance upon an otter, the animal becoming less and less frequently spotted on Lesvos. Wetlands, bridges, abandoned watermills and a multitude of tiny chapels lurk within the area, which is part of the Natura 2000 project.

Sykounda was once the seat of the Municipality of Evergetoulas (the government reform of 2011 meant that Lesvos is currently a municipal unit) and, until 1783, was the second most-populated ‘chora’ (large town) of Lesvos, second only to the island capital of Mytilene. The village is located at a 15.5 kilometer distance from the latter town.

The village is surrounded by olive groves but was once renowned for the cultivation of fig trees, which lent it its former name of ‘Sykous’ (from the Greek ‘Sykia’, ‘fig tree’).

A number of abandoned or derelict industrial buildings and warehouses are present in Sykounda and bespeak its former significance as a hive of commercial activity. The village itself is highly traditional, with old stone-built houses, narrow alleys and a few charming ‘cafenia’ where visitors can seek retreat from the sun and chat to the welcoming locals.

The village church is dedicated to the Dormition of the Virgin Mary and was constructed in 1870.

The astonishingly beautiful delta and marshlands of the Evergetoulas River are present in the area. Before you set off on an exploration of the delta and marshes, do enjoy a stroll in the village and perhaps have a taste of Sekounda’s traditional ‘patatokeftedes’ (potato fritters). Spiced with cumin and red spice, they are a traditional appetizer that goes exceedingly well with a glass of cool beer!