LEROS TRAVEL GUIDE

LEROS > AREAS

AREAS

Ayia Marina, Platanos & Castle

Ayia Marina, a small coastal settlement and one of the two harbours on the island, has expanded over time and joined up with Platanos, the oldest settlement and the capital of the island.

It is the administrative and commercial centre and has the most tourist activity. From afar it looks like a small city which spreads out amphitheatrically between two mountain slopes with white houses which stretch from the waterfront all the way to the foot of Kastro. But the nearer the visitor gets the more the "city" reveals its charms one by one.

Lakki

Lakki, the main harbour of Leros, lies just four kilometres southwest of Platanos; it is enclosed and safe and is one of the largest natural harbours in the Mediterranean. It has up-to-date harbour installations and a separate section for the servicing of leisure craft. It has its own special flavour, completely different from the rest of the island.

Pandeli

A small picturesque bay and fishing village with an authentic island character, it lies in the eastern part of the island, below Platanos and Ayia Marina. As it continues to expand it appears it will soon unite with them.

Most of its houses are old and traditional. Its caiques and fishing boats complete the idyllic picture with the clear blue sea in the background.

Xerokambos

This is a small settlement, another coastal village, lying in the southernmost section of the island and only 7 km. from Ayia Manna. The bay of Xerokambos, with its smallislands, the Glaronisia, which guard its entrance, opens out before it; opposite, one nautical mile away, is Kalymnos, another Dodecanese island.

The houses of Xerokambos are spread out in a small valley, planted with olive, cypress and almond trees and with many flowers.

To the rear the landscape goes up and at the top of a hill, at a height of 70m, lies Palaiokastro or the Castle of the Lepids, older than the Panayia Castle at Ayia Marina. It was built on the ruins of an ancient acropolis which has been dated to 2500 B.C.

During the Early Christian period a large basilica church was built there. Today there is a dazzling white chapel dedicated to the Panayia on the same site.

Xerokambos has hotels, rooms to rent and camping sites as well as restaurants and entertainment centres. On the sandy beach of Xerokambos, shaded by tamarisks, visitors can enjoy a swim in sparkling clean water. For the more adventurous there is the chance to go deep sea diving. There is also a diving school here.