MUNICIPALITY of POLICHNITOS
Polichnitos

There are two traditions concerning Polichnitos and the origin of its name both of them relating to the word “Polichni”. The first definition is that of small city while the second comes from the conjunction of the words “polla ichni” which mean many traces. According to the tradition the area was scattered with tiny villages (traces) such as St. Basil, Holy Trinity, Melanta, Damandri, Traperia, Tsichia, Drokopia, Kouxonia, St.Anna, Perivola, Katapirgos, and Stogilou. However, out of the fear of Saracen pirates they were forced to move to the location where Polichnitos lies today, away from the sea, surrounded by hills and seen neither by the gulf of Kalloni nor by the Aegean.

From time to time, due to excavations for the construction of wells or houses, come to the surface findings that prove the foresaid tradition. 
Polichnitos is located deep in a valley surrounded by the heights Kardonas, Rachta, Plakoura, Plakes, Prophet Helias and others.
It has been built upon ignimbrites-volcanic rocks. All the buildings in Polichnitos are built with this stone because it is unwearable and easily carved. 

In Polichnitos it is worth visiting the church of St. George, where you can see part of the Saint’s sacred relics and admire its steeple, which is the most beautiful on the island. Visitors should walk the cobble-stoned streets of the village, which has been characterized preservable.

SAINT GEORGE IN POLICHNITOS
The cathedral of St. George in Polichnitos with its wonderful, carved-stone built steeple, which is believed to be the most beautiful on the island of Lesvos, was built during the Turkish occupation and there is a saying concerning its construction. In order for the church to be built a building permission should be granted by the Turks, who never gave permissions for big churches. A man from Polichnitos named Papa dimitriou and nicknamed “Rodanas” took a very thin thread and after folding it in such a fine way as to seem single,  measured with it the perimeter of the unbuilt church and presented it to the Turks in order to get the permission. The tread was sent to Constantinople (Istanbul) with a sailor who knew about the trick. After the Turks accepted the double thread as single, it was sent back. The people of Polichnitos unfolded it and started building the church according to the double perimeter. In the end a large church was built but the Turks executed “Rodanas” because he tricked them.

The building itself is an impressing three-aisle basilica fascinating visitors with its imposing size, the innumerable columns and the wonderful wood-carved temple. The stateliness of the church and the wealth of its construction are seen not only in its interior but also in the exterior courtyards, the surrounding walls and the magnificent steeple. The whole of this noble structure is a work of the most worthy foremen of Lesvos. At the entrance of the narthex there is an inscription with the name of the foreman who built the church. The inscription says: “ Theodore Kalfas son of Athanasios from Vatousa, 1805. Cornerstone put in August”. The steeple and the courtyards were constructed by some of the best stonecutters in Polichnitos. The material used for the building of the church, the steeple and the courtyards is ignimbrite-volcanic rock, which is abundant in the area.

SIGHTSEEING
The mosque built during the Turkish occupation hosting now the post office, the Elementary School, the magnificent mansions at the entrance and further in the village, the Community Youth Centre which in former years was a Municipal olive press with its tall chimney and stork nest on top it (being also the municipal trademark.), the Museum of Folk Art, the church of St. George and the Hot Springs.