Petra (Lesbos)
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Petra (Greek Πέτρα ( f sg ) rock ') is since 2011 one of the thirteen municipal districts on the Greek island of Lesbos. The village of the same name was in 1918 recognized as a rural community ( kinotita ), 1994 with the incorporation of Lafiona and Skoutaros to township ( dimos ) collected in 1997 and expanded to include rural communities Stypsi and Ypsilometopo. This community was on the occasion of the administrative reform in 2010 in the newly created municipality Lesbos, which covers the entire territory of the island, and forms in this one district.
Location
Petra is 55 km from the capital Mytilini on a bay, in the small islands of Ai Giorgis, micro- Nissi, Glaronissi and Myrmigi, conservation areas and refuge for wild birds are. Petra is bordered to the north by Mithymna ( Molyvos ), to the east by Mandamados, on the southeast by Kalloni and in the southeast of Agia Paraskevi.
The main village is situated on a long sandy beach in a fertile coastal plain, from projecting his landmark, a 40 meter high rock with the church of Panagia Glykofiloussa.
History
The area of Petra was inhabited since ancient times, as evidenced by the activities detected in Keramidaria graves. According to legend, Achilles was anchored in the bay on the way to Troy.
Sultan Mehmed II during the reign 1462 Ottoman troops landed under Mahmud Pasha on Lesbos and devastated the island. On March 12, 1676 the French pirate Hugo de Crevelier attacked with 800 men Petra and plundered it. He spared the churches, but took 500 young men and women with him.
In 1865 the town was sacked by the Ottoman troops, took away all the gold, silver and silk, which they could lay their hands. Miraculously spared the silver cover of the Madonna icon, the silver censer of 1667 and the Goblet of 1742.
Petra was taken on December 6, 1912 by Greek troops; in the days before it was hit by looting, abductions and killings of civilians and set on fire. With the entire island came in 1920 under international law to Greece.
Administrative divisions
The municipality of Petra is divided into three districts and two local communities.
Villages and settlements
Petra
Petra ( 1108 inhabitants), the seat of the municipality is very dominated by tourism, agriculture and fisheries has long been replaced as the main source of income. The long sandy beach directly in front of the place, many small hotels and pensions, car rental, restaurants, taverns and bars, souvenir and craft shops Petra has a certain notoriety because here in 1983 with the support of then-ruling PASOK, the first women's cooperative of Greece was founded. She has driven the development of a more sustainable tourism significantly. The rural women banded together for economic reasons, to become financially independent. Many women of the cooperative rent rooms. They also run a small restaurant.
- High above Petra lies between walnut and poplar trees, the tiny village of Petri ( 39 inhabitants ), in which several foreigners have purchased homes. The path leads to the historical source " Achilliopigada ", is said to have drunk from the Achilles water.
- Miradellia (61 inhabitants) is located one kilometer east
Lafionas
Lafionas ( 154 inhabitants, or Lathiona Λαθιώνα from the ancient Greek Lanthano be hidden ') is located about five kilometers southwest of Petra located on the mountain Roudi with beautiful sea view. The Church of the Dormition of Mary, a three-aisled basilica was built in 1870 and renovated in 1920. South of the town are the ruins of an early Christian church and the chapel of Agios Alexandros, along with a sarcophagus of gray trachyte, in which the holy ascetic Alexandros was probably buried.
Near the destroyed mountain village Κlapados is located, the scene of the last victorious battles of the Greek forces against the Turks in December 1912 for the liberation of the island was. From here an ecological trail runs through State pine forests, of which offer great views of Anaxos, Petra, Mithymna, and Eftalou.
Stypsi
Stypsi (855 inhabitants) is located ten kilometers from Petra located in 400 meters lively mountain village, which is protected by the mountain Lepetymnos in the north.
Skoutaros
Skoutaros ( 881 inhabitants), a roughly eight kilometers distant from Petra large village on the northern slope of the Skotinos, probably gave the place its name. The people live mostly by sheep and olive growing, in recent years, partly also from tourism. The place has two olive presses, a kindergarten, a primary school, a community clinic, the " Anaxos " cultural and sports club. At the village square is the church of the Dormition of Mary, a three-aisled basilica with a carved iconostasis and a bell tower of gray trachyte. The nearby neoclassical former school building from 1909 and is built of trachyte.
- Anaxos Skoutarou (152 inhabitants), originally the port of Skoutaros, about 3 km west of Petra located, is a thriving beach community with a beautiful sandy beach, which is conducive to the development of tourism. Some taverns and pubs, hotels and car rental apartments and much more.
- West of Anaxos subscribes to the beach of Mikri Tsichranta ( Ambelia, 4 neighbors ), behind which extends a green valley.
- Further west Megali Tsichranta with the chapel of Agios Panteleimon.
Ypsilometopo
Ypsilometopo (104 inhabitants), two kilometers east of Stypsi in 400 meters height under green trees hidden little village. The church Taxiarhes at the entrance, built in 1807, a three-nave building of dark trachyte with three altars and a carved iconostasis. The source Aslanis under tall plane trees donates crystal clear water. The women's cooperative for rural tourism and handicrafts of Stypsi - Ipsilometopo here has a second workshop. Near the village there is the chapel of Agios Dimitris, built on the site of an early Christian basilica with three naves in 1954, have been preserved from the column bases and some components.
Attractions
- To the church of Panagia Glykofilousa (Greek Παναγία η Γλυκοφιλούσα, Süßküssende Madonna ') on the rock lead 114 carved into the rock steps. Built in 1747 and 1840 restored church has a beautiful iconostasis and some preserved frescoes. The view of the place, the surroundings and the Gulf is impressive.
- In the village is the church of Agios Nikolaos is decorated with frescoes from the 17th century.
- In Petra several well-preserved patrician houses from the 19th and 20th centuries with planted courtyards and artistically carved entrance doors with nice knockers are. The newly restored " residence of Vareltzidena " not far from the central court with carved balconies and valuable interior with beautiful frescoes preserved as a museum.
- In a nondescript building has an ouzo distillery. It was founded in 1884 by Vasilis Kouroumichalis, who had learned the burning of Ouzo and Cognac in Istanbul. The tradition of ouzo - firing is continued by his granddaughter Ourania Kouroumichalis.
Personalities
- Takis Eleftheriadis, painter (1911-1987)
- Thrassyvoulos Stavrou, poet (1886-1979)
- Germanos Karavagelis (1866-1935), born in Stypsi, was bishop of Kastoria, organized in the battles with the Bulgarians to the liberation of Macedonia in 1912 the resistance of the Greeks.