MUNICIPALITY OF EVERGETOULAS-MUNICIPAL DEPARTMENTS

   The Municipality Evergetoula covers the Eastern department of Lesvos and is constituted by the municipal apartments: Asomatos, Ippeios, Kato Tritos, Kerameia, Lampou Miloi, Muxou and Sikounta. Was created in 1998 with seat the Municipal department Sikounta and according to the last inventory (2001) its population amounts in 3.336 residents.

    Main characteristic of Municipality are the fruitful plains (vegetable gardens, olives, fruit-bearing trees, walnuts) and the green, full of olive trees mountains. The simplicity of natural beauty gains easily the impressions of visitors. Very often the visitor sees springs, traditional founts and small streams. The rich network of paths of "olive " and "water "attracts the outdoorsy visitor. The plain and the settlements are scattered with Byzantine and post Byzantine monuments (Byzantine Monastery of Kato Tritos, Temple of Saint Prokopios of Ippeios, Temple of Taxiarches-Asomatos, and other many). The great number of chapels  all over the municipality proves the deep spiritual tradition of place.

    In the swamp of Ntipi flows into the river Evergetoulas in which is owed also the name of Municipality. The river Evergetoulas (his name implies the importance of his benefaction in the region from the antiquity) springs from the north-west slopes of Olympus mountain, goes through Lampou Miloi and in  Kerameia is linked with the river that flows down from  Karini  and flows into the swamp of Ntipi.

ASOMATOS
    The area is found in altitude 301m.it is full of trees, in the Eastern side of mountain Liakas, next to the elongated mountain range named "Nikonas".
The village existed from the 13th century, before the sovereignty of Gatelouso. The oldest testimony for the village existence is found in 1246. The tradition considers that the village was settled initially 3 km northern, in the place "Chorafelia". Then the residents moved in the region of river Andriotis, Named Antreia Deka and then in current Asomatos area. Settlements are scattered in the region (round Taxiarches and Saint Vasilios). In Taxiarches and Antreia area were found graves and traces of settlements.
    Asomatos is considered one of the most beautiful traditional villages of Lesvos that maintain their genuinely characteristic architecture until today. Asomatos has officially been declared as a traditional village. The visitor discovers the authentic Lesvos, with the traditional kalderimi in the village, between the stone houses with the elaborately decorated taps and unique "sahnisinia" that leads to the centre of village with the traditional coffee shops and the church. The church is dated from 1796 and is dedicated to Taxiarches Michael and Gabriel of Asomatos from where took its name the village.
    The visitor must visit the rich in exhibits Museum of church that is found in the grounds of temple of Taxiarches, where are looked after a lot of heirlooms of history of village and temple as well as a lot of old utensils of domestic use.
Next station for the visitor is the Centre of Environmental Education that is unique in the island. It was founded in 2002 and is accommodated in the Primary School of Asomatos (built in 1927). This Centre aims initially in the education and culture of environmental conscience of students of schools of Lesvos but also entire the country.
In Asomatos works a traditional cafe from the Agro-tourist Cooperative of Women where can the visitor admire all the traditional products for which is famous the village: the traditional rusks, the tasty traditional sweets and the various types of basketry.
 

Agioi Anargyroi
    8 km away from Asomatos is found the park of Agioi Anargyroi that rightly has been characterized as a place that smoothes the soul of visitor [ the chapel was built in 1881 ]. It is an area in the valley that westwards goes through the tributary of Evergetoula, framed with pines and all sorts of rich vegetation and cherry trees.

 

 

IPPEIOS
    Ippeios is the biggest village of the Municipality, having 900 residents. The oldest  chronology for his existence is testified in 1567.It is built in one of the most fertile plains of island full from gardens with olives, with horticultural, and all sorts of fruiter. In the old days the residents used to cultivate cereals, cotton, tobaccos and in particular it was famous for the most excellent production of figs that were exported also. The quality of ground gives impulse in the culture of this products and constitutes the basic employment of residents. In the region "Waters" where sprang abundant waters from the antiquity, it is today found the main pump room of Municipality of Mytilene..
    It is said that the name of the village comes from the word supinely (from supine) that means that is flat or from the word Ypioios. The oral tradition,  attributes the name to the horses that were raised in the old days in the village.
    The village is crossed by a central tiled street which goes through from the central market, with the traditional coffee shops and rich in shade graphic pergolas and the park of village. Above the central street, acquaintance above-mentioned village, the houses are newer since there were staying the refugees of Minor Asia. From the upper village you can admire the view to the plain of Ippeios. Under the street is built the old village with classic houses. In his centre, dominates the church of village, dedicated to Saint Prokopios who is dated from 1741. In Ippeios is found the High school of Municipality, and the Community Clinic.
    In a distance of 3 km from Ippeios in the street to Agiassos, in the area named Mylelia, works a watermill. The water comes from the springs of Enthrono having age 250 years. In this place there is also a small olive press with the classic burrstones, giving the opportunity to the visitor to watch the process of olive-crop oppression and collection of olive oil with the traditional way that used to be done the old years. Thus, "Mylelia" are the "Centre of Search of Old Flavours" and constitute pole of attraction for the Greek and foreigner visitors but also a beloved destination of educational excursions for schools.

KATO TRITOS
    Kato Tritos is a picturesque village of 767 residents in the western side of Gera Gulf which the existence of it is dated from 1565. The village keeps nowadays its traditional character. Short roads that link the two hills of village (the "Mpountika" and "Harakia") give the opportunity to the visitor to admire the view of Gera Gulf, the view of the village and also the green plain of Ntipi and Pigadakia. In the centre of village is found the market with the traditional cafes, a meeting point for the residents and visitors. In the centre of village dominates from 1859 the imposing church of Virgin Mary.

In the top of western hill of village in the locality "Byzantine Monastery" is found the chapel of Taxiarches one of the three Byzantines that are saved in  Lesvos. During the Byzantine season used to be a catholic of feminine abbey and according to the tradition with the abbey of Saint Ioannis Theologos worked up to the capture of Mytilene from the Turks in 1462. There are three layers of murals (newest is dated the 17th century) that reflect the spiritual mystagogue and splendor of that season. The wooden temple of the church has been transported in the ecclesiastical museum of Mytilene.

    Another area of great importance about the residents is Panagia Galousa. It is a chapel next to the remnants of a big church from which many marble parts have remain there. Next to the chapel there is a cavern that is used as a place of devotion for virgin Mary.

Pigadakia
    Pigadakia constitute the coastal region of municipality with the biggest tourist movement because the existence of rented rooms and traditional taverns.. The visitor has the ability of walking in the quiet street next to the sea and of visiting all the chapels that are in the area. Can also swim in clean waters of Gera Gulf and eat fresh fish in the taverns around the small port.
    The area is really picturesque, while at the end of the road there is the small chapel of Saint Therapontas. The whole has been declared as an archaeological space because of the ancient built-up relic that have been observed.

KERAMEIA
    Following the road axis of Mytilene-Agiassos we pass above the second bridge of Evergetoula river and we continue through the village of Kerameia of 446 residents in the centre of a really green plain. Next to this new bridge there is an old one on the old street of 13th century. The village unfolds round the central street with the cafes and the commercial shops. Its residents are refugees of Minor Asia which were installed at the exchange of populations in 1923. The village however existed since 1567.
    From the 15th century there are reports on that as well as for the castle Geremia that is considered that it was found in the region. Even if the island of Lesvos continuously lived under the threat of invaders,  Kerameia was found in strategic place in the Gulf of Gera with the castle to defend the world that lived in this. The church of village-dedicated the Saint Georgios and Saint Charalambos - was built from the refugees on a rectangle building with vaulted roof which today is a chapel dedicated to Saint Sofia. The total manufacture is a sample of manufacture of Turkish fortress that is considered that it became above in the remnant of eminent medieval castle Geremia (or Gieremia) that we have reported before..
    The name of village testifies the existence of  ceramic workshops. According to the tradition the kilns were found in Ntipi and they had the service stations of tiles in Kerameia.

LAMPOU MILLOI
   Lampou Milloi is a small village with panoramic view to the plain of Evergetopula and Gera Gulf. It is divided from the national road Mytilene-Kalloni and is a great area for excursions. with traditional coffees places and springs. Many years ago there were five watermills and an olive press in the village. From those watermills came the name of the village. Moreover this waters supplied the ancient Roman Aqueduct of Mytilene that passed from there (sources of Taxiarches). Today are preserved stone grooves that led to the watermills. The church of the village is dedicated to Virgin Mary and was built in 1922 from the refugees.
    Following the road axis to Kalloni, turning left in the place named Paspala we reach the valley "Chlias the Tap" where there is a department of The Roman Aqueduct of Mytilene, one of the most important technical work of antiquity in Lesvos, constituted from eminent arches with the four arcs. This masterpiece, a part of which is underground and a part sculptured in rock or on stone-built vaulted arches leads finally after 26klm. to Mytilene. Its start was found in the foothill of mountain Olympus and after it was gone through Saint Dimitrios and the Big Lake, continued through the arches the Paspala, passed above  Lampou Milloi, it was southerly directed - built in rocky sides of Larsos - and from there in the arches of Moria by where it led to Mytilene.
    From Lampou Mills starts a street that links to the village with the road axis Mytilene-Agiassos almost in the height of carrefour to Asomatos. In the middle of the way is built the first from the three bridges of river Evergetoula. The summertime the visitor enjoys the breeze of the trees hearing the crystal water.  From the bridge starts a path that leads to the top of hill. There is found a Byzantine Monument, ruins of church of Virgin Mary.

MUXOU
    The small municipal department of Muxou is built on the foothills of the mountain and in rich vegetation. The residents, refugees from the Asia Minor, they came in 1923 with the exchange of populations and were installed in Turkish up to then village. The church of village is dedicated to Saint Dimitrios and accomodated from 1927 to the old mosque of the village. Many of the holy utensils and heirlooms and also the icon of Saint Dimitrios have been transported by the homonym church of refugees from the Kinikio of M. Asia.
    From the western side of village begins one of the most beautiful roads of the island. If the visitor take the rural street, under the densest shade of trees and abundant waters which run right and left shaping cool streams and small waterfalls, will admire the virgin vegetation. Specifically the spring and the summertime, the visitor has the opportunity to hear the most beautiful melody from the nightingales. Poppers embraced with ivies and olives in pines and chestnuts all together consist the area of Saint Ioannis of Theologos. It is the catholic abbey of Saint Ioannis Theologos that coexisted with the Byzantine monastery of Taxiarches of Kato Tritos.
    One kilometer outside from the village of Muxou is raised the hill of Foussas. In the middle of the hill is found the Cavern of Foussa, the most beautiful of Lesvos. According to official exploration 1981, came to the surface elements very important for its history and for the around region. Thus, the relatively small orifice of cavern leads to booth of height of 1,5m from which begin two corridors. At length of left winger and main corridor of cavern there are scattered graves. In this cavern were found also earthen statuettes of Hellenistic era. The dome of cavern is constituted by marble remains that shape most beautiful complex clusters. In certain points the height of corridor exceeds the 20m and after 85m length with uphill man oeuvres, that leads to a circular room with most beautiful shaping of dome. The right corridor has length 20m and is enough low.

 SUKOUNTA
    Following the street that begins from the park of Ippeios, we can go to the seat of the Municipality of Evergetoulas, Sukounta. It numbers 368 residents and according to the tradition it owes its name to the employment of residents that were cultivated figs.
Small roads that lead to the market of the village, houses built on the foot of  hills, compose the picturesque ness of village. Years before a torrent was passing in the village.

In the village dominates the central temple dedicated to Virgin Mary. In this place there was an older temple built in 1740 which was destroyed in the earthquakes 1867 and was built again around in 1870.

In the village there are the chapels of Saint Paraskevi, Taxiarches, Konstantinos and Helen and that of Saint Kiriaki next to the dry dock of the village. Particular beauty has the wooden temple in the chapel of Saint Konstantinos that emanates from the old central temple 1740.Above the village, in an olive tree side there are the ruins of Byzantine temple and the small abbey Saint Georgios.

Ntipi
   

Ntipi is the seaport of Sukounta. Its history is lost in depths of centuries, with the first traces of residents dated around in 2800-2400b.c. according to built-up relic that have been found in the region. The old industrial buildings and deposits that are found there reveal the glamour and the commercial importance that had sometimes the harbor of Ntipi. From the beginning of the last century up to today functions one from the two seed-oil presses of the island.
Today Ntipi with its graphic port and the taverns between the old industrial buildings, constitutes a pole of attraction for the passerby. The small sandy beaches in the entry of the settlement and is offered for swimming, fishing of various shells e.t.c.. The region of Ntipi has also unique beauty wetland with rich vegetation. With this great diversity of flora and fauna (amphibian, reptiles) the wetland shows the ecological importance of region.