An entire village of stone and wood, with its Genoese castle, its labyrinthine cobblestone streets, its dozens of fountains and its sea view.
Without exaggeration, Molyvos is the most beautiful village of Lesvos and one of the most beautiful in Greece.
The traditional stone houses and villas with tiled roofs are real architectural ornaments and reach the castle and blend harmoniously with the natural environment, forming a residential complex of exceptional beauty that will fascinate you.
Molyvos has been marked as a "traditional settlement" since 1965 and since then no one is allowed to build a new building in the village with other materials, except stone and wood.
The cobbled streets, the paths leading to the old neighborhoods, the churches and the charming beaches complete the fairytale beauty.
The ancient name of the settlement was Mithymna, from the daughter of Makareas and wife of Lepetymnos. According to mythology, Mithymna, along with Mytilene, Antissa, Arisvi and Eresos, were the children of King Makaras, who settled Lesvos. The towns of the island, which have lived in the same place for thousands of years and retain the same names, received their names from the king's children.
The name by which the village is known today was acquired at the end of the Byzantine period.
The imposing Byzantine castle that dominates the area, covers the entire hill above Molyvos and is an attraction for visitors to the island. The castle of Mithymna is built on the remains of the ancient fortress, on the top of the hill. It was founded in the Byzantine period, according to one version in the 6th century, during the reign of Emperor Justinian, known for his building activity. According to another view, the castle was built after the middle of the 13th century to defend against Turkish and Frankish invaders. The present shape of the castle is a result of the 14th century works and the Ottoman additions after 1462.
The churches of Agios Panteleimon, Agia Kyriaki and Taxiarchis (the oldest), the mansion Komninaki Kralli (building of the School of Fine Arts), the house of Eftaliotis, the fountains of the Ottoman period, with embossed decorations and inscriptions give a special character to Molyvos.
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