TOWNS & VILLAGES Of LESVOS

CLIO

The village of Clio (built at an altitude of 350 m), was named after Clio, one of the nine muses, protector of the History and the Rhetoric.

The village has sea views and is not far from the coastal hamlet of Tsonia and its red sand beach. As we take the newly constructed downhill spiral road to get there we are travelling through the evergreen olive grooves surrounding Clio.

The origins of the village as in the surroundings of the village are ruins of ancient towns. A recent research has revealed an ancient town of the early Copper Era that dates back to 3200 a. C, situated at the area called Paliocastro.

During the dark years of the Middle Age and before the occupation by the Ottomans in 1453, the natives had to move at the location where Clio is today, because of the pirate’s raids. The first buildings were extended from the position "Platanos" to the position "Hamam" and thus were not visible from the sea. Safe from pirate raids the village grew and prospered.

If we take the uphill road leading out of the village, we see the Church of the Holly Trinity, a three aisle Basilica having at each aisle a cross-shaped dome. It was constructed in 1793 but destroyed later in an earthquake. It was rebuilt in 1839. Its belfry, dating to 1914, is made of a pink stone, called Trahitis with nice relief capitals.

The Festival of Clio

15^th of July: The religious festival of St Kiryka at the cape of Korakas, a wonderful rural area. The evening before the celebration there is a vespers service , followed by the preparation of the traditional meal, "kickech". The horse riders with their decorated horses spend all the night there having fun and drinking ouzo. The sharing of the traditional meal takes place in the morning. The celebration continues at the seaside summer resort, Tsonia. On the beach there are two or three cafes, where an equal number of bands play music. Horse races are organized in the evening, starting from Mandamados until the village of Clio and using a special unsurfaced street for this purpose. The winner’s prize is a cup, a wreath and a sum of money. The celebration is continued at the cafes of Clio (revival of the old custom).

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ACCOMMODATION in CLIO