Lesbos - Gattelusi Castle

Lesbos' Gattelusi castle is built on a crag projecting eastwards into the sea. A path runs up through a pinewood to the entrance, on the strongly fortified southeast side. Fragments of ancient masonry built into the walls and towers are a reminder that the extensive castle ward occupies the site of the ancient acropolis. Canadian archeologists who recently carried out the first excavations in this area found remains of buildings which on the basis of the Aeolian pottery recovered from the site they interpreted as a sanctuary of Demeter of the Archaic period (seventh-sixth century B.C.).

There are a number of mosques dating from the Turkish period.

Over a side gate in the northwest wall can be seen the double coat of arms of Francesco I Gattelusi (1355-85) and his Byzantine princess, with an inscription of 1377. From the north end of the castle there is a fine view of the ancient north harbor, with the remains of its breakwater.