LISVORI

At about 3 km outside Polichnitos (while on the road to Mytiline), there is a turning left which will take you to the small village of Lisvori. The houses are built on the hill side, many with panoramic views of the Gulf of Kalona.  The whole area around the village is ideal for walking.

The Church of St.John is at the centre of the village with old fashioned kafeneia    all around it. The locals are mainly farmers tending the olive groves and growing aniseed (the essential ingredient for the production of ouzo), onions, pulses, clover, animal fodder and wheat. Their homemade bread and dairy products are renowned.

Just before the Church a left turning will take you to the Thermal Springs of Agios Ioannis.

Heading towards the coast you coming to a cross roads. If you take a right turn you will reach the Alykoudi Pool by the Beach. The mini Wetland at Alykoudi Pool is capable of turning up as good a selection of waders at close range as almost anywhere else on the island. Large falls of several Yellow Wagtail species have been seen here posing beautifully amongst the wildflowers in company with various Chats, Tawny Pipit, and Stone Curlew etc. As far back as in January 2003, a large number of Greater Flamingos, 12 Mute Swans and 9 Whooper Swans were seen here.

Going ahead at the cross roads will lead you to Skamniudi with its well-protected harbour and small taverna.  At the far end on the costal location Kourtir are the ruins of the sunken harbour of Ancient Pyrra.  Many small boats get moored there and the taverna at the harbour is a good place to eat or just to have coffee in the sunshine. The beach area is small and pebbly but adequate. Summer houses are dotted here and there and everything seems idyllic.

Just behind the harbour, scaling up the hillside there are the ruins of a Byzantine fort or pilgrimage with a Maltese cross clearly visible. Further on into the ploughed fields you can discover the country church of St. Nicholas with the crest of the Palaeologi by the door.