Molyvos Castle, Lesbos, Greece
It’s worth all the steps up to the Molyvos Castle. Besides the view, you pass a lot of shops on the way up.
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In its heyday, this monastery housed over 150 monks. It served as a Greek learning centre during the Ottoman occupation (when formal Greek education was prohibited and monasteries often served as secret Greek schools).
Situated near the village of Dafia, it has also functioned as an Orthodox Church retirement centre.
When we visited we got the impression that the monastery had been almost forgotten – apart from the occassional tourist that wanders through.
However we have sinced learned that the place is still an important spiritual center on the island with a museum, a library and social services, and that overnight stays are possible.
Maybe it’s a long bow to draw, but perhaps places like this could play a role in assistance to the large number of refugees that are coming to the island from conflicts in the Middle East. Of course, they may be already doing that. If you have further information about this, leave a comment below.
It’s worth all the steps up to the Molyvos Castle. Besides the view, you pass a lot of shops on the way up.
Mytilini, the capitol of Lesbos is situated on a harbour that is circled by shops, houses, restaurants, churches and a huge castle.
Ypsilos Monastery sits on the top of an extinct volcano. Originally built in 1101 it has had a few reconstructions since.
A great stop-off point on the way to Daylesford in Victoria’s mineral springs area.
The Reporters Memorial in Bayeux is an avenue of white rememberance slabs of stone, each seven feet high, and each recording the names of reporters who were killed reporting conflict.
The Notre-Dame Cathedral in the centre of Bayeux was built in 1077 and was the original home of the Bayeux Tapestry. It is known as Cathedral of Our Lady of Bayeux.