Sigri is a small fishing village on the western edge of the island of Lesvos in the northeast Aegean. Lesvos itself is the third biggest Greek island, and it offers visitors a variety of landscapes and sights that for the most part have remained unexploited by tourism. The refugee crisis hit Lesvos hard in 2015, and tourism has never quite bounced back from that.
On the opposite side of the Lesvos airport and main town of Mytilini, nestles the fishing village of Sigri. The volcanic landscape, the deep blue sea, the sandy beaches, the dramatic rock formations, and the famous Petrified Forest Park are just some of the features that make a visit to Sigri a unique experience.
What attracts people to Sigri is its remoteness, something which has kept it from becoming a mass tourism destination. It is a living village, and visitors immediately feel a part of the community. Within minutes of arriving, you will be greeted or smiled at or even asked where you are from. Within days, you will know a good number of the locals and their families. Return for a second time, and it will feel like coming home.
Don’t expect the picture-perfect postcard scene upon arrival, which you get with a visit to the village of Molyvos. Sigri is an odd village, clinging to craggy, sharp rocks that have been shaped by wind and sea. Weather determines the villager’s mood here. A south wind, with its humidity and heat, makes them lazy, sometimes cranky. A fierce north wind comes to sweep it all away, but after a day, shutters close, jackets are pulled out of closets, and your ears long for silence. Only the wind and kite-surfers enjoy the north winds. Then there are those perfect days, with a light breeze, warm temperatures, when everything clicks into balance and smiles are found on everyone’s faces. There is no more harmonious place to be.
Despite its small size, Sigri boasts four traditional tavernas with an exceptionally high standard of food (August gets very busy so expect to wait for a table) and other less formal cafes and fast-food establishments. Remarkably, visitors can also find a variety of things to do: want to tap into your creativity, paint a landscape en plein air or write a masterpiece? The Sigri Arts Retreat (www.sigriartsretreat.com) offers week-long painting and writing courses with professional artists and writers. How about trying your hand at the extreme sport of kite-surfing? With Extrados Kite Surfing School (www.extradoskite.com), you can learn or improve your kite-surfing skills on a beach you’ll more than likely have all to yourself. Or, simply wind down on one of the many beaches in the surrounding area of Sigri, each with its own character and energy. Don’t expect umbrellas and beach bars anywhere (although the village beach has a small cantina and some lounge chairs); this is the beauty of Sigri: it is you coming face-to-face with raw and undisturbed nature.
The narrow village streets also boast an Ottoman castle and baths. Sigri also has its local beer and excellent honey. Studios, apartments, and holiday homes are available for rent in and around Sigri for an extended stay. It is the perfect location for watersports like kite surfing, hiking, and birdwatching.
Sigri’s most visited attraction is, of course, the Museum of Natural History of the Petrified Forest (www.lesvosmuseum.gr)and the surrounding petrified forest parks. No visit to Lesvos is complete without a stop at the petrified forest museum and parks. Trees millions of years old now turned to rocks of beautiful shapes, colours, and textures await the visitor. The new road being built between Kalloni and Sigri has unearthed even more specimens, creating a kilometre’s-long outdoor museum. During the summer months, the museum also organises a boat trip to Nissiopi island (an uninhabited island and UNESCO site), where more petrified specimens can be seen in their natural environment.
Getting to Sigri: you can take the direct ferry from Pireas to Sigri, which runs every Saturday during the summer months, and makes stops in Mykonos and Chios. If you choose to fly to Mytilini, you will have to either rent a car and drive the 90km to Sigri, or take a taxi.
Accommodation in Sigri: Evangelia Studios and Apartments and Sigrion Villas. Phone: +30 694 494 3063 Website: www.sigriholidayrentals.gr
Read also:
Agiasos, the colourful mountain jewel of Lesvos
A Spirited Tour of Some Ouzo Distilleries on Lesvos
Lesvos’ Beaches: A Haven of Sand, Pebbles, and Charm
