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THE CITY OF MYTILINI
The capital of Lesbos, Mytileni, is very lively (read: busy and crowded) and full of culture and history. It is one of the oldest towns in the Aegean Sea and it is currently populated by about 30.000 inhabitants. There are also a lot of young people due to the 3000 University students, studying at the University of the Aegean. There are museums full of interesting remnants covering the period of the last three thousand years, and in the town itself there are a lot of monuments, beautiful neo-classical houses, churches, and other buildings from various times. Mytileni also has a large, busy and interesting harbour. On the top of one of the seven hills that the town is build on stands a majestic and enormous castle that dates from the Byzantine times. Just like the castle of Molyvos it was build on the ruins of an ancient fortification. This castle is surrounded by a pine forest that reaches down to the shore and the public beach. The buildings, the scenery and the friendly people make Mytileni to a very special place.
If you are on a holiday to find peace and quiet than it is not advisable to book a hotel in this city, because it is really very busy with motorcycles and cars. There is just no escaping from all the traffic. Go to Mytilini to see the Archeological Museum or the Byzantine Ikon Museum (opposite the big church, 2 euro entree), to look at the church, see the beautiful fortress, and to get a taste of it all. A long stay I would not recommend to anybody.
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Hans Huisman, www.angelfire.com/super2/greece 2009