Léros
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Chief town: Ayía Marína
Léros is a hilly and fertile island with an abundance of water and a much indented coast. The inhabitants live by farming and fishing.
In antiquity, Léros was dependent on Miletus in Asia Minor. Although continuously inhabited since then, it has never played a part of any importance in history. In the 14th century the Knights of St John established themselves on the island and held it against the Turks until the 16th century. In recent years it has had a rather mixed fate: For many years a leper colony, it was a German naval base during WWII, a re-education center for the children of Communist partisans from 1947 onwards, a notorious psychiatric institution from 1957 onwards and a concentration camp for opponents of the military dictatorship from 1967 to 1974.
Every year, on the last Sunday in Lent, there is a Carnival in Leros - complete with chariot parade, fancy ball and festival.
Léros is a hilly and fertile island with an abundance of water and a much indented coast. The inhabitants live by farming and fishing.
In antiquity, Léros was dependent on Miletus in Asia Minor. Although continuously inhabited since then, it has never played a part of any importance in history. In the 14th century the Knights of St John established themselves on the island and held it against the Turks until the 16th century. In recent years it has had a rather mixed fate: For many years a leper colony, it was a German naval base during WWII, a re-education center for the children of Communist partisans from 1947 onwards, a notorious psychiatric institution from 1957 onwards and a concentration camp for opponents of the military dictatorship from 1967 to 1974.
Every year, on the last Sunday in Lent, there is a Carnival in Leros - complete with chariot parade, fancy ball and festival.
Address:
Leros Tourist Office, Town Hall, Léros , Greece
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