By Nicolas Bard

Myrina is a picturesque seaside town, the capital of Lemnos and the seat of the homonymous municipality. It is built on the west coast of the island, between two historical buds, and is the main settlement of the island. It has an archaeological museum, and very close to it are the ruins of ancient Myrina, which together with Hephaestia stood out as the most important cities on the island in antiquity.

The city of Myrina was inhabited before the Bronze Age, as evidenced by antiquities found in the area. During the five millennia that passed since then it has always been inhabited in various parts of the area occupied by the present city. A steady reference point of all historical periods is the fortified 120 -meter peninsula, which dominates between the two graphic bays and provided protection and safety to the inhabitants.

Her name was taken by Myrina, daughter of the king of Iolkos Cretheus and wife of the first king of Lemnos, Thoanda. Its foundation was placed in the 12th or 13th century BC, a time when the Mines dominated in Lemnos, and the first castle was probably built in Lemnos. The castle we see today was built in 1186 by Andronikos I Komninos. It was repaired in the years 1207-1214 by Navigajoso, in 1361 by John I Palaiologos, in 1477 by the Venetians and in the late 16th century by the Turks. In 1276 the name “Paleokastro” prevailed as opposed to another, newly built castle of the island in Kozino. Later, however, it was simply renamed a castle.

During the Middle Ages and Byzantine times the city had the second place on the island, after Hephaestia initially and Kozino later. The capital position again took over in the late Byzantine years and during the Turkish occupation. The name Castro was maintained until 1955, when it was renamed Myrina.
The imposing castle of the city covers an area of ​​144 acres. In an early form it was built in the early 12th century and its fortifications were reinforced in 1185 by Emperor Andronikos I Komninos. It was used for its construction whatever material was left of the classic Acropolis of the city, which thus disappeared.

It took its present form during the Venetian occupation of the Philocal Navigayozi (1207-14) and his son Leonard (1214-60). It was then repaired and completed many times: in 1361 by John II Palaiologos, in 1477 by the Venetian Commander Francis Paschaligo and in the late 16th century by the Ottomans.

At all times, this castle was a landmark and at the same time the strongest fortress on the island, which is why the city was called Castro from the late Byzantine years until the mid -20th century. It has a triple wall with 14 total towers, up to 8 m high and 1.5 m thick, which protected a deep ditch to the east, but today does not exist. About 1780, after the repairs of Hassan Pasha Jeserley, the fort was fitted with 150 cannons. It has a central, east gate, leading up an uphill paved path and a smaller, north, near the coast. Today, in the castle, the visitor, among other things, can admire a large deer population that live freely!

The rock where the castle is built divides the beach of Myrina into two main neighborhoods, Roman Gialos and Nea Maditos, named after the exchanging of Greek Asia Minor and Thracian refugees, many of whom were from Maido. The Roman Gialos is dominated by the neoclassical houses of the rich located in Egypt. The Archaeological Museum, the Holy Metropolis of Lemnos, which houses the Ecclesiastical Museum and the Myrina Gymnasium, are also in the Roman Gialos. Continuation of the Roman Gialos is the coast of shallow waters, which in the summer is full of holidaymakers.

The boats in the small protected harbor, the paved straits with bougainvilleas, neoclassical buildings and picturesque taverns on the wave create a highly Mediterranean and authentic Greek landscape, which captivates the visitor from the very first moment. In the summer nights, in fact, where the castle and the chapel of St. Nicholas are illuminated, under the starry Aegean sky is an image that will be deeply engraved within you, and the best souvenir you will take with you, leaving the island.