Ancient Poliochni is found on the east coast of Limnos. It prospered greatly thanks to its commercial contacts with the Northeast Aegean islands, the coast of Asia Minor, the Greek mainland, and the Cyclades. It is considered one of the large early urban centres of the Early Bronze Age and the first city in Europe with a basic social and civic structure as suggested by the presence of a public building called Bouleuterion. It had stairs on the west and east sides, which indicate that it was probably intended as a meeting place for the elders of Poliochni. This building measures more than 50 square metres and could have accommodated more than 50 people. 

The Archaeological site of Hephaistia is found on the north of the Bay of Pournias and in historical times it was the second most important city of Limnos after Myrina. The excavations by the Italian School of Archaeology in Athens and the responsible Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities brought to light ancient finds which prove the continuous habitation of the area from the Late Bronze Age until the Byzantine years.

The discovery of a cemetery, dating back from the mid-8^th to the 5^th c. B.C. and a significant sanctuary, provide important evidence about the city of the ancient times. The sanctuary which identifies with the sanctuary of the Great Goddess and is built on the west slopes of the peninsula within the city, was used from the mid-8^th until the end of 6^th c. B.C. when it was violently destroyed. The building remnants of the central compound, of which the lowest course of stones are preserved, are found in two levels: the lowest on the west, consisting of seven consecutive small rooms and the highest on the east consisting of three rooms with an opening to a yard. From the visible monuments of the archaeological site, the two ceramic kilns of a workshop of the Hellenistic years (2^nd -1^st c. BC) revealed next to the worship building. The remnants of the Hephaistia theatre are also saved, dating to the beginning of the Hellenistic period and was modified during Roman times. Restoration works have been taken place at the ancient theatre, in order to be preserved and open to public. At the southeast of the city near the sea, bathing facilities and remnants of residences have been revealed of the Hellenistic and byzantine years

Tel.: +30 2254 0 41364, 22510 22087
Admission:  Full: €2, Reduced: €1
Opening Hours: Wednesday to Monday: 08:30 – 15:30 until February, Wednesday to Monday open: 08:30 – 16:00 in March
Source: http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/3/eh355.jsp?obj_id=2396

The Archaelogical site of Kabeirion is one of the most ancient and long standing sanctuaries of the Aegean islands. It was founded in late 8^th c. BC at the north of the island at the cape Chloe and constituted a vital centre of mystic cult from the early years of Limnos culture until the late Roman era. Three initiation halls were discovered dating back to the archaic Hellenistic and late Roman times respectively. It was ransacked and burnt during the roman times between 2^nd and 3^rd c. AD, when the area was abandoned and operated as a big “quarry” for the construction of subsequent buildings.

The late Roman initiation hall (the so-called Basilica), built on the foundations of the archaic one, was a hall of 17m long divided into three parts by two rows of five columns. The two side sections had a greater length than the central one, with stone seats at least along the southern wall. The central hall was separated from the sanctum by a corridor. Its formation indicates that they wanted to repeat in general and smaller scale, the floor plan of the destroyed former Hellenistic building. Its ruins represent the last period of the sanctuary’s existence and prove the long standing survival of the Kabeiroi cult on Limnos. There is no trace of replacement of this cult by the Christian one. Perhaps the destruction of the building and the final end of the sanctuary was due to the catastrophic rage of the first Christians in the end of the 3^rd or the beginning of 4^th c. BC. Remnants of residencies are saved from that period.

Tel.: +30 22540 22990
Admission:  Full: €2, Reduced: €1
Opening Hours: Wednesday to Monday: 08:30 – 15:30 until February, Wednesday to Monday open: 08:30 – 16:00 in March
Source: http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/3/eh355.jsp?obj_id=2530  

The Prehistoric settlement of Myrina was developed at the same time with Poliochni, however, according to excavation findings, it met its greatest prosperity during the “Red” (2500-2300 BC.) and “Yellow” (2300-2000 BC.) periods, while remnants saved from the previous and posterior periods are limited.

The houses of the settlement, stone built from top to bottom with mud as binding material, were spacious: big and elongated buildings divided into two or more rooms communicating by small openings. Their entrance was at the east. The span roofs were made of mud, wood and seaweeds. Myrina was destroyed many times by earthquakes and each time the inhabitants rebuilt or repaired their houses depending on their needs as abandoned older buildings and traces on the walls of every phase indicate.

The archaeological site is well-organized for visitors, where besides the explanatory signs, routes were set with mandatory direction. Moreover, at the stone building housing the public information centre you will find the mock-up of the settlement and audiovisual installation.

Tel.: +30 22540-22257
Admission:  Full: €2, Reduced: €1
Opening Hours: Wednesday to Monday: 08:30 – 15:30 until February, Wednesday to Monday open: 08:30 – 16:00 in March
Source: http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/3/eh355.jsp?obj_id=7461  

The Castle of Myrina is built on a rocky and steep peninsula connected to the mainland only from the east. It is the biggest in size fort of the Aegean. Its contemporary form dates back to 1207, when the Venetian Filocalo Navigajoso megaduke of Limnos barricaded Myrina. His heir however, Leonardo Navigajoso, was the one who fortified the castle and kept it under his rule for 45 years. During Turkish dominion, Turkish people inhabited the castle. During the siege of Myrina by the Russian fleet in 1770, the walls of the castle were severely damaged.

On the eastern and southern part, the wall is high and the number of the towers relatively big, while on the northern and western side the wall is lower and the towers few. On the highest part of the hill there is a half ruined fort building with many inner halls. Furthermore, in the castle you will find a Turkish Mosque, an underground vault hall and cisterns. Today the Castle of Myrina is a monument open to public.

Tel.: +30 22540 24091
Admission: free
Opening Hours: always open to public
Source: http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/2/eh255.jsp?obj_id=1593  

The excavations carried out in 1991-1993 brought to light the sanctuary of Artemis, which was located outside the city walls of Myrina and was continuously used from the Archaic until the Hellenistic period. The archaeological site (declared in 1993), located inside the courtyard of the “Porto Palace” Hotel at Avlona, Myrina is open to the public.

The excavations in the plot of N. Trataros were carried out by the 20th Ephorate in the years 1991-1993 at the owner’s expense. The architectural remains on the site were consolidated by the 20th Ephorate in the summer of 1992.

Several architectural phases have been distinguished in the sanctuary of Artemis, dated from the Archaic until the Hellenistic period. The central building consisted of an open, paved courtyard on either side of which, were organized rooms used in the ceremonial procedures.

Tel.: +30 22540 22990
Source: http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/2/eh251.jsp?obj_id=2489  

On Limnos there are two allied cemeteries of great historical importance, in the villages Moudros and Portiano at the site of Pounta. Three historical periods are related to these cemeteries: the Russo-Turkish war, the World War I and the October Revolution. Soldiers who in 1915, during World War I, participated in the Gallipoli Campaign are buried in these cemeteries, mainly Australians and New Zealanders, members of the ANZAC (Australian-New Zealand Army Corps). Moreover, according to the Russian army archives, about 70 members of the Russian fleet which arrived at the island in 1770 under the orders of the two Orlov brothers to campaign against the Turks during the Russo-Turkish war (1768-1774) were buried in the spot where the church of Evaggelismos in Moudros and later the monument of sacrifice of Russian people were erected. Finally, more than 300 Russian refugees are buried on Limnos, mainly military officers of the “White Army” with their families who escaped to the island after the October Revolution in 1917of whom 29 in Moudros and the rest at the cape of Pounta.

Commemorating events take place every year on the island in October (Days of Russian-Greek Friendship) and in 25 April (Honoring and Commemoration events for the Fallen in the Gallipoli Campaign). Officers of the above mentioned countries as well as descendants of the victims participate in these events, arriving on the island to honor their ancestors.

Info: www.friendsofanzac.com