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| For many years Leros has carried the stigma of a place to
which people were sent for exile. As a result, its beauty has not been
discovered, and the advantages it offers as a destination have not become
known.
Furthermore, because of its small size and the absence of expansive sandy
beaches, Leros never caught on as a major tourist destination. It
remains geared primarily to Greek and Italian visitors, and offers
relaxed, quiet surroundings, with a wide array of moderately-priced
establishments offering good quality, genuine Greek food. The positive
outcome of this lower development is the fact the local character has been
maintained in large parts of the island, and the phenomenon of extensive
construction of chararacter-less buildings just for the sake of touristic
exploitation is not apparent. |
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| Walks |
| The rolling hills of the island and the extensive
roadworks completed by the Italians, allow the visitor to travel to enjoy
the rare flora and fauna during long walks. |
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| Beaches |
| The roads that offer the great walking terrain have also
turned out to be the bane of the few beaches on Leros. |
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| Cultural Sites |
| With the exception of the castle built by the Knights of
St. John, the ruins of an ancient temple, believed to be a temple of
Artemis, and a few churches, Leros does not offer much of great cultural
interest. However, in combination with the surrounding islands (see
below) the visitor can have a varied cultural experience. The easy
access via hydrofoil and caique, can make for interesting day trips.
Visitors can also refer to the Ministry of
Culture - Archaeological Site Map for more information of the
archaeological sites in the region. |
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| Museums |
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Leros has a recently opened archaeological museum for the display of
the local finds and Belenis folkloric Museum with exhibits from the
various stages of the island's development. |
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| Surrounding Islands |
| Visitors staying in Leros can plan day trips to the
surrounding islands and uninhabited islets.
The islands and islets of Kalymnos, Patmos, Kos, Lipsi, Arkoi, Marathi,
Farmakonissi, Pserimos, Archangelos, Strongylli, Plateia, Aghia Kyriaki are
all easily accessible via hydrofoil or caique. They offer a
wide variety of archaeological sites, interesting towns and beaches.
Finally, the islets of Aspronissia and Tiganakia have some of the
most amazing beaches and anchorages in the Dodecanese.
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