Zematas Beach

Near the archaeological site of Kavirio close to the halfway abandoned village Agios Alexandros. The way to Neftina beach leads partly on gravel road that is in poor condition. Neftina is a long sandy beach with clear water. The beach is shallow and ideal for children. There are no taverns or beach chairs. A visit to the beach combines well with a tour to the nearby archaeological sites of Ifestia and the remarkable cave of Philoctetes at Kavirion. A visit there is highly recommended.

Near the ancient site of Ifestia there are several beaches some of them with touristic infrasctructure that are well managed and where you can find good cool off after a visit to the ruins. The best way to get there is through the village Kontopouli.

One beach is in a bay in the extreme north-east of the island, the other south of the village. The beaches are mainly used by the people of the village. From here you can see the Turkish neighbour island Imvros (Gokceada).

In summer Aliki is a big salt lake where you can walk on and a „must see“ destination in Lemnos. During rainy season it gets to a wetland. This wetland of Aliki- Chortarolimni (inbetween Kontopouli and Panagia) acts as a resting and wintering area for many species of migratory birds. The bird fauna of the region consists of more than 30 migratory and endemic species. With good luck you can see quite a number of flamingos.

The Temple of Kavirio is 3 km from the archaeological site of Ifestia. It is an old sanctuary also dedicated to the Great Gods (Caveiri). Its assumed that the sanctuary of Kavirio was founded around the 6th or 7th century BC and hence is older than the famous Sanctuary in Samothrace where these particular gods were also worshipped. After visiting the site you should definitely have a look at the “Cave of Philoktetis” which is directly below the excavation site. According to mythology, this is the place where the Homeric hero Odysseus, on the way to the Trojan War, had left behind his comrade Philoktetis who was bitten by a snake, in the hope of a cure. It is said that he owed his recovery due to the therapy with the famous “healing earth” of Lemnos. This earth was a major export of Lemnos especially in Roman times but was in use till the 19th century. It was mined near an extinct volcano. This mountain in the mythology was the workshop of the gods blacksmith Hephaestus.

The volcanic origin of the island can be seen particularly well in the very photogenic rock formations from cooled lava in several places on the north coast, e.g. near the village of Propouli on Cape Falakro. The approach is via a gravel track (closed to rental cars). The reddish volcanic rocks of Falakro are most photogenic in the warm light in the evening or in the morning. Another spot is on the headland at Ifestia.