Other Municipalities of Limnos

From an administrative point of view, within the Prefecture of Limnos belong the following municipalities: Mirina, Moudros, Atsiki, Nea Koutali and the community of Agios Eustratios.

The Municipality of Mirina, with capital Mirina, consists of the following five town districts and according to a census conducted in 2001, it has 7.488 dwellers.

• Mirina
• Thanos
• Kapsakas
• Kornos
• Platis

The Municipality of Moudros, with capital Moudros, consists of the following twelve town districts and according to the census of 2001, it has 4.842 dwellers

• Moudros
• Kaliopi
• Kaminia
• Kontopouli
• Lihnos
• Panagia
• Plaka
• Repanidi
• Roussopouli
• Romanos
• Skandali
• Fissini

The Municipality of Nea Koutali, with capital Kontia, consists of the following eight town districts and according to the census of 2001, it has 2.880 dwellers.

• Kontia
• Agariona
• Kallithea
• Livadochori
• Nea Koutali
• Pedinos
• Portianos
• Tsimandria

The Municipality of Atsiki, with capital Atsiki, consists of the following seven town districts and, according to the census of 2001, it has 2.894 dwellers.

• Atsiki
• Agios Demetrios
• Varos
• Dafni
• Karpasi
• Katalakos
• Sardes

Moudros
Moudros is the second largest town of the island and the second most important harbor as well.  It is believed that the name is derived from a huge shell, created from solidified lava, used as cable for ships to lay up. In general, Moudros is a quaint town constructed on the side of a hillock and within the homonymous gulf.
It is designated as one of the best natural harbors of our country and as a very significant biotopos. Among the most important religious monuments in the area are the churches of the “Archangels” and the “Annunciation” of Virgin Mary.
A few kilometers outside Moudros and towards the village of Roussopouli, is located the British Military Cemetery, the simplicity of which emanates a grandeur that impresses the visitor and reminds him of the allies’ sacrifice in the line of duty during the First World War.

Kontopouli
Kontopouli is a small market town in the inland of Limnos and finds itself surrounded  by Hephaestia, Chortarolimni and Aliki. It is a very picturesque town with quaint, stone houses and expands in a plain, whereby great amounts of grain are cultivated.  
Among the most worthy sights is the temple of Agios Demetrios, a traditional basilica with cupola. From 1892 till 1902 the temple underwent extensive reconstruction, while significant architectural sections, such as pillars, capitals, marbles and stones came directly from the relics of ancient Hephaestia.
In town operates the pottery workshop of Ntina Despoteri and the religious painting workroom of Zenovia Kontogiorgi.

Atsiki
The large village of Atsiki expands into the central plain of the island and constitutes the main territory for the production of grain, grapes and various livestock products.   A Women’s Confectionary Association is very active and has many members that organize special gastronomic events. A small soft drinks and non-alcoholics beverage company also operates in the region.
Since 1998, Atsiki has been the capital of the municipality, a fact which prompted  the construction of more school buildings, civil services and commercial stores. In the last few years, there has been an increase in tourists to the seaside ‘’Ayiarmola’’, the area where the country church of Agios Ermolaos was constructed back in 1867.
The local sandy beach with the natural little harbor is very impressive, as is the nearby shore with the reddish rocks. A bit to the north of Atsiki, at Cape Faraklo, the traveller can visit “Ayiasmata”, the spring of natural mineral water that is considered to have healing qualities.   
 
Agios Demetrios
Agios Demetrios is one of the most developed and lively villages of Limnos. Most of its dwellers today are engaged in cattle-raising and farming, and more accurately in the cultivations they have brought with them from their “the lost homelands”, such as the growing of grapes.
People here are extremely hard-working and hospitable and it is very important to underline that the viniculture has been the prime occupation of those refugees from Reizntere. Apart from the ancient variety of grapes that give the well known wines “Limnio” or “Kalampaki”, they also produce the famous “Moshato Alexandrias”.

Kontias
Kontias is the capital of the municipality of Nea Koutali and one of the biggest and most vivid villages of the island. It is a settlement with great historic past that starts from the Middle Ages and has earned its reputation as a graphic village due to its relatively massive vegetation.
The “Old Castle of Konteas”, a local trademark, has been designated since 1346 AD as a monastery dependency of Lavras’ Great Cloister. The ancient village Kontias was built nearby the sea within Diaporion’s natural gulf.
A few kilometers away, at the site known as “Tripotama”, the visitor will encounter the completed dam of Chantria’s torrent. This dam has created an artificial lake that turned out to be a significant eco-system of unrivalled beauty, but also a natural water cistern for agricultural irrigation.

Nea Koutali
No more than one century old, the “new village” of Nea Koutali is built amphitheatrically on the west side of Moudros’ gulf. Together with Agios Demetrios, Nea Koutali is the second village of the island built by refugees from Asia Minor.
It is true that thanks to the hard work of these first inhabitants, who engaged in naval occupations and sponge-fishing, the village managed to prosper and contribute to the further development of Limnos.
In 2006 the Museum of Naval Tradition and Sponge-fishing was inaugurated, depicting the naval life of the dwellers prior to their up-rooting from Propontida. Among the exhibits of the museum, the visitor can see many heirlooms, photographs, diving equipment, components of sponge-fishing caiques, varieties of sponges and processing equipment.
Very impressive as well is the archeological collection of the village, which consists of objects collected by the sponge-fishers from the bottom of the ocean, such as urns and pieces from anchors.
Today, the village bridges exquisitively the past with the present and it will be truly fortune should the traveller have the chance to pay a visit. There are plenty of things to see, magnificent local inns and taverns to visit and a beautiful beach for joyful swimming.

Pedinos
The word pedinos in greek means plain, flat and the village Pedinos has taken up that name exactly because of the nature of its position. Today the only remnant of old Pedinos village is the church of Agios Ioannis, built in 1858 by donations from Limnian refugees. The church is famous for its gold-plated fretwork icon screen.

Tsimandria
Tsimadria is the village of all cattle-raisers in Limnos, who go by the name of “Kehagiades”, a nickname that sometimes is ascribed to the village as well. It goes without saying that the village is still  the basis of cattle raising and cheese-making even today, with great production of local quality meat and cheese. In summer, the village attracts many tourists who come to enjoy delicious local dishes and to entertain themselves by participating in the wine-press.

Portianos
By far one of the most picturesque villages is Portianos, with its extreme natural beauty, long history and folklore tradition. This village was the birthplace of many stone-makers, carpenters, blacksmiths, sculptors and painters.
During the First World War, the Allies encamped there, organized a hospital, built a desalination water system and according to the testimonies of many dwellers, they had even placed rails to move wagons.
 Thanks to this early intracultural interaction, which was compatible with the local artistic tradition, the people of Portianos started using the nick-name “little Paris” when referring to their village, Among the worthy sights of the village is the Folkloric Museum, the aristocratic building of the Elementary School dating back to 1870 and the two military cemeteries.        

Kallithea
According to historical sources, the village was initially named Agios Georgios and was constructed at the edge of the Bay of Moudros. However, its position was such that during the years of Turkish dominion it was susceptible to buccaneer attacks making the dwellers feel completely insecure.
Therefore the locals decided, during the 18th century, to move the village to a new location that would offer them a good view (Kali thea) or surveillance over hostile attacks. That way, they could buy time in order to hide at refuges in the hillocks.
At the spot of the original village only rocks and remnants of an old country church dedicated to Agios Georgios have been found. For the traveller who wishes to do some sight seeing we recommend the various small country churches and the beautiful beach of Sarpioskala.

Agios Eustratios    
A rather small, volcanic island of the northeastern Aegean covering approximately 42 square Kilometers. The third and smallest island of the County of Lesvos, one of the most isolated of the Aegean sea, is located a bit to the west of Lesvos and about 20 nautical miles southwest of Limnos. The biggest plain of the island is located at the position “Alonitsi”, where it used to be an extended vineyard.
The most suitable swimming beaches that can be reached by car, are “Kalami”, “Panagia”, “Antonios”, “Lidario”, “Ftilio” and “Alonitsi”. The waters are very clean, deep and excellent for under-water fishing.
Vegetation lacks both in quantity and in variety, yet the few greeny areas covered by oak-trees are found mainly in the north-east. The port of Agios Stratis, at the region, bearing the same name, is quite small and transportation is hectic, but its vivid scenery pays off for the visitor. The total population of the island does not exceed three hundred people and the main occupation is fishing. Cattle-raising and farming is practiced to a lesser extent and only in the few regions suitable for such activities.