Get to know Eresos and Skala Eresou: useful information on Sappho’s birthplace
Eresos is a small village in Greece situated on the west coast of the island of Lesvos. Skala Eresou is no other than the beach and the port of Eresos. It is situated just a few km away to the south and you can find it populated as any other small village by the sea.
Lesvos island has always been connected to Sappho, one of the most famous lyric poets of all times that lived there during the second millennium B.C. and Eresos was her birthplace.
The origin of the word lesbian thanks to the poet Sappho that lived there
The verses in Sappho’s poems celebrate femininity and love between women, giving way to the term “sapphic”. Sappho in ancient times had come to be acknowledged as the first poetess in history, whose poems praise equally both men and women.
Did you know that in contemporary history the word “lesbian” originates from the name of the island of Lesvos, because it was where Sappho had lived?
At Skala Eresou you can see two statues of Sappho, the poetess: the first one is located at the principal square of the village, made in bronze and with its arms up towards the sky. You can find the second one at the end of the left side of the beachfront, just after the small port and its peculiarity is that it is made out of two marble slabs placed at a distance one from another. That way the shade of the poetess can be reflected on the ground at certain times of the day.
Skala Eresou is a lively beach with very nice bathing waters
The beach at Skala Eresou is sandy (even though you may find small pebbles) and the quality of the water is great enough so that it has been awarded many times the Blue Flag. The beach is for all tastes, from families to young party goers.
What gives the beach its particular character, is that there are many characteristic bars on wooden decks that give the impression that they are floating on water. Since the beginning of the day, you can enjoy your coffee and breakfast on one of the many couches with a sea view to the islet that stands in front of Skala Eresou.
During the day you can take a dip in the crystal clear sea, just taking the stairs from the bars that lead to the beach. As an alternative, you can place your own beach umbrella and towel on the sand since, it is a free access beach, keeping in mind that the central part is quite narrow and therefore, it becomes easily crowded. The right part of the beachfront is reserved to the nudists and therefore, not many bars are present there.
At Skala Eresou you can breathe the dolce vita in the air!
It is hard to find the right words to describe this place. It has become a symbolic meeting point for the lesbian communities of the world and it really knows how to transmit a relaxing atmosphere. It gives you the impression that you are diving into a different world, compared to the traditional villages of the inland that surround the area.
Skala Eresou gives you a sense of pure liberty and the colors are amazing mostly at sunset since, when the sun sets in the sea.
I would propose enjoying the sunset at Parasol bar. It has a Caribbean style that offers an exotic touch to the beachside. It is one of the oldest bars at Skala Eresou and for good reason. The cocktails are great and the music is there for those who want to party at night by the beach.
The International Festival in September: an event for women
The biggest influx of women at Skala Eresou happens in September during the International Women’s Festival that usually takes place at the first weekend of the month.
For the duration of two weeks, women can participate at art and culture events and at the same time relax by the sea and enjoy the dolce vita of Skala Eresou. In the evenings, the bars organize parties or events to keep the fun going late at night.
Where to sleep: my choice is the Eressian Hotel Hammam & Spa
At Skala Eresou you can find many hotels or studios to choose from and is by far the most lively area from dusk till dawn and of course many restaurants and taverns are available to serve lunch and dinner. The nightlife is almost exclusively found here.
If you prefer quiet, you might want to leave the chaotic Skala Eresou and look for a good alternative at the village of Eresos that is only a 5 min drive (about 4 km). Here you will find the calm and tranquility of a traditional village of the island. The choice has undoubtedly got to be the boutique hotel “Eressian Hotel Hammam & Spa”. It is an old house converted into a small Villa Hotel that can offer a very relaxing Hammam and Spa.
In 2021 the “Eressian Hotel Hammam & Spa” won the prize of the Best Small Spa Hotel in Greece, thus putting Lesvos on the map of one of the best Wellness Destinations in the Mediterranean.
Eresos and Skala Eresou are two villages not very noted by the tourist masses, probably because they are not very easily accessible. But if you have the opportunity to visit even for a day by the sea, you will most certainly be positively surprised by this coastline at the west of the island. In between the verses of Sappho and a glass of ouzo (the typical Greek aperitif), your down time to unwind is guaranteed.
