Agios Efstratios Island

By boat

Ship AIOLIS

Departure from Agios Efstatios to Myrina (Limnos) at 06:30.

Departure from Myrina (Limonos) to Agios Efstratios at 15:00.

Agios Efstratios Island is linked by boat also with Agios Konstantinos, Kymi Kavala and Lesvos.

The island was named after Saint Eustratius, who lived on the island in the 9th century as an exile, because he was opposed to the iconoclastic policies of the Byzantine Emperor Leo the Armenian. His grave is still being shown by the inhabitants. The island is mentioned in the Isolario by Cristoforo Buondelmonti in 1420 as Sanstrati.

The island was used to house political prisoners in internal exile by the Metaxas Regime in the 1930s. On 19 February 1968, an earthquake (7.1 on the Richter scale) demolished most of the houses, which were replaced by concrete prefabricated buildings laid out in a military-like camp formation. Nonetheless, the island retains a very attractive capital, also called Agios Efstratios, while preserving a rather unspoiled Mediterranean environment with pristine beaches. It is mostly a place for relaxation and meditation. During the Greek military junta of 1967–74, the island was again used as a prison for political dissidents. One of its most famous prisoners was Mikis Theodorakis, political activist and musical composer.

Source: wikipedia.org

Agios Efstratios (808 - 903)