Leros and Lipsi, apartments and villas - Lipsi Island
Leros and Lipsi, Greece's most unspoiled islands
Lipsi is a small Greek island forming part of the Dodecanese, located east of Patmos and north of Leros.
It gives its name to a minor archipelago of which it is the biggest (16 square kilometres) and only inhabited island. It is possible to reach the islets and rocks surrounding it by boat.
The caique "Margarita", for instance, leaves the fishermen's harbour in the morning and sails round the island stopping at various rocks such as Makrosinni and Aspronissi, and reaching the islets of Marathi and Arki where it is possible to have a meal in the shade of tamarisks at various family-run tavernas.
A tour of the nearby island of Patmos, the island where Saint John the Evangelist wrote the Book of Revelation, is also unmissable. In Patmos the cave where the saint received the Revelation and wrote his prophetic work can be visited.
In the centre of Chora, the beautiful ancient village with the narrow winding streets, overhanging the sea at the top of a steep hill, stands the formidable monastery of Saint John, built in 1088, and rich in frescoes, mosaics and icons.
Differently from Patmos, Lipsi has not yet become a favourite tourist resort and its natural beauty is unblemished.
Just outside the only village, small churches painted in white and blue, built by the inhabitants of the island as ex-votos, and peasants riding mules bear witness to the age-old activities still practiced on the island.
In the bays, offshore, fishermen in their caiques throw their nets in the sea. In the evenings, in the little harbour of Lipsi, they can be seen mending their nets and removing the fish, which is mostly sold to the tavernas by the sea.
Many cafes and "ouzeri", offering a choice of sea-food appetizers and ouzo, the traditional Greek aniseed liqueur, are located on the sea-front, whereas most of the houses are huddled together on top of the hill.
As for public transport, it is possible to reach Lipsi daily from the other islands of the Dodecanese; there are buses to the main beaches leaving every half hour and two taxi-cabs. It is also possible to rent bicycles and motor-bikes, or of course to arrive on the island with one's own car.
Beaches
The island being so small, it is easy to walk to the many beaches and bays. The coast is all bays, inlets and creeks and there are numerous foot-paths, odorous of thyme and oregano, by which it is easy to find new secluded spots.
However, the easiest beaches to reach are by no means the least attractive! Five minutes' walk away from the Villas we have the beaches of Kohlakoura, Xirokambos and Turkomnima.
Further removed are the beautiful beaches of Platis Yalos and Katsadia Bay, both boasting a small Taverna near the water, and both easily reached by public bus. A dust path, usable by mopeds as well, leads to the more secluded and unspoilt beaches of Monodendri and Kamares.
The walk to the Hermit's House, on Kimissi Beach, is unmissable, as is the subsequent ascent up the hill to the 15th century monastery.
For further information and photo, please visit the Lipsi website.