SIGHTS-CASTLES
Please choose a castle from the map in order to learn more about.
CASTLE OF MYTILENE
It
is built on the top of a pine-clad hill, near the area of the southern port, and
it is considered as one of the biggest castles of the Mediterranean. Its
construction has started since the Byzantine era ( 483-565AD ) with the use of
ancient structural material and was completed during the years of the domination
of Genovese Gatelouzes ( 1355-1462 ). At the internal many small towers were
built in 1373 with ramparts and ditches by the first dominator of the Gatelouzes
family Francisco. In1384 a disastrous earthquake demolishes the castle and so it
is reconstructed.
Afterwards it
is fortified with defensive works ( new ramparts, dikes and cannons ), until the
Turks occupy it in 1462. Even today the Gatelouzes palace is preserved - a
square stone built tower with a built-in slab. On this slap we can see
well-defined sculpted figures, which represent the blazon of the family and
representations of Roman duels. At the external gate we can see the blazon of
the Byzantine Imperial Family Paleologon. During the Turkish occupation a
Seminary was built - building preserved till today -
and
other additional works were made. Also inside the castle there are underground
galleries -which have served as the shelter for the women and children during
periods of war- and a water cistern ( capacity 4,000m3). Today the castle is
used as the place where cultural happenings take place.
Ancient
Theatre of Mytilene :
It
is on a pine-clad hill - hill of Ayia Kyriaki - at the Northwestern edge of
Mytilene. It came to light during the excavations in 1958 and it is considered
as
one of the biggest theatres of the antiquity, with capacity 15,000people and
with an extremely good acoustics. According to the tradition the Roman Emperor
Pompey during his visit there - decided to copy its architectural structure and
to built a similar one to Rome. The Greek State is gong - in long term - to
restore it aiming at its opening as an open-air theatre.
Yeni Tzami
( Yeni Mosque )and Turkish Bath : They
are in the center of Mytilene, excellent buildings constructed during the period
of the Turkish occupation but from Greek hands and with Greek architecture, as
they have obvious elements of Byzantine architecture. Unfortunately both of them
are in bad condition due to the lack of proper conservation. Today the
Municipality of Mytilene is working out a scheme aiming at their total
restoration and the proper development of the surrounding area.
Statue of Liberty : It is at
the foot of the pine-clad hill under the
area of the Mytilene ' s Castle. It took the place of the picturesque small
castle "Kastrelli" in 1922. It is made of bronze in Germany, while its
model has been created by the famous Greek sculpturist Gr.Zevgoli and the design
was made by the Lesvian painter G.Iakovides.
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