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Photo: Antonis Tsapepas, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The War Museum tells the story of Leros during World War II, when the island became the scene of one of the Mediterranean's fiercest battles. Exhibits include military equipment, photographs, uniforms and wartime memorabilia, while the underground setting provides a vivid impression of the island's strategic importance during the Battle of Leros.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
Lakki is one of Greece's most distinctive towns, renowned for its remarkable collection of Italian Rationalist architecture dating from the 1930s, when the Dodecanese were under Italian rule. Wide boulevards, elegant public buildings and a spacious natural harbour give the town a very different character from the island's older villages. Today, Lakki is the island's main ferry port.
Palaiokastro occupies the site of the ancient acropolis of Leros and is one of the island's oldest fortifications. Built during the Hellenistic period and later reused as a Byzantine refuge, the hilltop preserves sections of ancient defensive walls, the remains of an Early Christian basilica and panoramic views over the bays of Xirokambos and Lakki. Nearby is the picturesque Church of Panagia Kavouradaina, built into the coastal rocks below.
Platanos is the historic capital of Leros. Narrow streets, traditional houses, small cafés and attractive squares give it a distinctly Greek island atmosphere, while many elegant neoclassical mansions reflect the island's prosperous past. Above the town stands the imposing Castle of the Knights of St John, one of the island's most important landmarks. The climb is well worthwhile for its panoramic views and impressive medieval fortifications.