Cyclades
Islands
: Amorgos, Andros,
Folegandros, Ios,
Kea, Kythnos,
Milos, Mykonos,
Naxos, Paros
and Antiparos, Santorini,
Sifnos, Serifos,
Sikinos, Syros,
Tinos
Northern
Aegean Islands:
Chios, Ikaria,
Limnos, Lesvos,
Samos, Samothraki,
Thassos
Ionian
Islands:
Corfu (Kerkyra), Ithaki,
Kefalonia, Kythera,
Lefkada, Paxos,
Zakynthos
Saronic
Islands:
Aegina, Angistri,
Poros, Hydra,
Salamina, Spetsis
Sporades
Islands:
Alonissos, Skiathos,
Skopelos, Skyros
Dodecanese
Islands:
Astypalia, Halki,
Kalymnos, Karpathos,
Kassos, Kastellorizo,
Kos, Leros,
Nisyros, Patmos,
Rhodes, Symi,
Tilos
Other
Islands:
Crete, Evia,
Cyprus
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Dodecanese Islands - Leros
Leros is a hospitable, warm, and relaxing place to visit.
It is much wetter than many of the Dodecanese
Islands, with numerous creeks, promontories, and deep
bays; and in the waters near Leros are numerous tiny islets
waiting to be explored. Leros is located east
of the Cyclades and off the southwest coast of Turkey.
The mountainous island consists of three peninsulas joined
by two isthmuses, and has a total area of 20 square miles.
On the east and west coasts,
inviting beaches can be found.
Leros, and Kalymnos to the southeast, may comprise the
Kalydrian Isles described by Homer. It was certainly famous
in ancient times for its honey,
and also for a temple to Artemis. Leros has a more ancient
history than many of the Dodecanese Islands, occupied
by Carians at first, then later by Cretans, Ionians, Byzantines,
and Rhodians.
Leros was popular with pirates historically; its many
deep natural harbors provide ample hiding places for ships.
It was the site of nasty fighting during World War II,
when some 2000 British sailors were lost. Today, beautiful
Italian villas still stand vacant along eucalyptus-lined
streets, deserted during World War II and never reoccupied.
On the Acropolis at Leros, the ruins of a medieval Crusades
castle still stand, capping the hill with an ominous shadow
from the past.
Most of the property on the island belongs to the women,
not the men; an ancient custom contrary to most of Greece
of handing down estates and other property to daughters
is normal here. An ancient festival is celebrated in houses
where a marriage has taken place during the year, in which
adults compose satirical verses, and children dressed
as monks recite the verses. It is believe that this festival
is derived from ancient Dionysian competitions.
The island’s economy is based primarily on agriculture
and fishing. The fertile valley in the center of the island
is excellent for growing figs, olives, carobs, tobacco,
fruit, and wine grapes.
Leros is connected to Piraeus, Rhodes, and Samos by
ferry.
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