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The Paths
A mountainous landscape with dense vegetation, where one can notice the human presence though time, extends between the heights of Olympos and the southern coasts of Lesvos. After the 16th century, people who had problems with the Turkish authorities were the ones that cultivated these areas, clearly the less proper for this purpose. The mountains were covered by the typical Mediterranean olive trees, well known for their ability of surviving in this kind of soil. Olive tree was at that time financially profitable, reason enough to be cultivated in such mass scale.
Milia village from the farm
Factors that assured the survival and pushed the economical development which came when the sea roads were opened, are the well cultivated soil and the great number of springs spread all around. This is the reason why a lot of peasants from the inner land moved to the Plomari area. Walking through these mountains one can experience the unique relationship betweenman and nature: a typical Mediterranean landscape. Constructing terraced fields, man gave space to olive groves, displacing the wild vegetation. There are no deserted points in the area. Other kind of trees are well distinguished among the extended olive grove.
Scenic path
 
Man selected places with natural springs to build solitary country houses, small or bigger villages, according to their cultivating and domestic needs.The traditional type of Plomari's country house with its added parts called dami took its final form through time responding perfectly to functional needs, constructing ability and economical welfare.
 
Paths were the main communication roads among villages and olive groves. Overpopulation and the small size of private property led to the creation of a dense communication path net spread all over the area. The width and the construction quality of every path depends on its importance and use. So there are 3-4 m width and exceptionally constructed stone paved paths as well as short width paths on natural ground. The fountains we meet are well constructed -usually donated to the memory of dearest persons- and offer fresh water to pedestrians and animals. Water from the fountains usually ends up to cisterns for watering the small vegetable gardens of the area. Paths will lead us to fountains, country houses (damia), uphill villages, small churches and to their surrounding nature. Walking along these paths one can see, smell, touch and taste the results of a unique relationship between man and nature.
An old well
 
 
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