Kalliopi, Limnos

Kalliopi is a village in Lemnos, built on the east side of the island. Administratively it belongs to the Municipality of Lemnos of the North Aegean Region (Kallikratis program).

From 1999 to 2010, according to the then administrative division of Greece, it belonged to the municipal district of Moudros of the Municipality of Moudros. It used to belong to the prefecture of Lesvos.

According to the latest census, it has 334 inhabitants. It is built on low ground and quite close to the sea (Keros Bay).


Historical data

The establishment of the village dates back to about 1200. According to some versions, the establishment of the village coincided with the period of decline of Volcano. The village was first inhabited by Kalliopi or Kalli, who was a wealthy resident of Hephaestus and owned a farm in the area, but was expelled for her misconduct.

In the cemetery of the village there is a marble sarcophagus that has an engraved cross and the words:

MTR THD, THE WORK OF THY KALI

The original settlement was located closer to the sea, in the area of ​​Arionas, where its ruins are located. From Kalliopi comes the sea warrior George Kapetanakis who acted in the Greek revolution of 1821.

Keros Bay is the beach of the village. The bay stretches for about three kilometers and was an important port until the late Middle Ages. It got its name because of its shape, which looks like a horn. Some sources refer to it as Port Kharos.
Today's village

The patron saint of the village is Agios Georgios, in whose honor a temple-style basilica without a dome was built in 1869. Traditional horse races take place every year on the feast of St. George. The route covered by the riders is about three kilometers and extends from the church of Agios Georgios near the beach of Keros to the entrance of the village. This is followed by an award for the winner and a dance party with traditional dances and plenty of food and wine. The custom is ancient and has been practiced since at least the middle of the 19th century. A 1916 publication mentions (ed. "Lemnos", f. 21, 22/4/1916):

"On the 23rd of midnight, the feast of St. George, a festival is held in Kalliopi, with horse races taking place every year."

Kalliopi is built on lowland land and its inhabitants are mainly engaged in animal husbandry, poultry, agriculture and fishing. Near the village there is Chortarolimni, one of the most important wetlands in the prefecture of Lesvos. It is part of the NATURA network and is protected from environmental conditions. Since 2001, an Environmental Information Center has been located in the village, housed in the building of the primary school, in order to protect and highlight the natural wealth of the area. There the visitor can be informed and sensitized on environmental issues.

There are taverns in the village, while there is the beach of Keros with a canteen. In front of the beach there is a forest where vacationers can camp.

Kalliopi is also a village of traditions and legends.

Composer / singer Stelios Rokkos, who lives permanently in the area, also comes from Kalliopi.

Sights

Keros Beach
Environmental Information Center
Church of Agios Georgios
Early Christian tomb in the cemetery of St. Anna
Chortarolimni

Bibliography

Tourptsoglou-Stefanidou Vassiliki, "Travel and geographical texts for the island of Lemnos (15th-20th century)", Thessaloniki 1986.
Cdrom District of Lemnos: "Lemnos Beloved".
Th. Belitsou, Lemnos and its villages, 1994.
"LIMNOS: Historical & Cultural Heritage", published by G. Konstantellis, 2010.

Municipal unit Moudros
Municipal Community Moudros
Κουκονήσιο, το (νησίς)
Moudros (Μούδρος, ο)
Community Kalliopi
Kalliopi (Καλλιόπη, η)
Community Kaminia
Voroskopos (Βοροσκόπος, ο)
Kaminia (Καμίνια, τα)
Community Kontopouli
Agios Alexandros (Άγιος Αλέξανδρος, ο)
Agios Theodoros (Άγιος Θεόδωρος, ο)
Kontopouli (Κοντοπούλιον, το)
Community Lychna
Anemoessa (Ανεμόεσσα, η)
Lychna (Λύχνα, τα)
Community Panagia
Kortisonas (Κορτισώνας, ο)
Panagia (Παναγία, η)
Community Plaka
Plaka (Πλάκα, η)
Community Repanidi
Kotsinas (Κότσινας, ο)
Repanidi (Ρεπανίδιον, το)
Community Roussopouli
Roussopouli (Ρουσσοπούλιον, το)
Community Romano
Romano (Ρωμανόν, το)
Community Skandali
Skandali (Σκανδάλιον, το)
Community Fisini
Agia Sofia (Αγία Σοφία, η)
Fisini (Φισίνη, η)

See also: Limnos, island

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