Agios Efstratios · Alonitsi & the east coast · Αλωνίτσι
Alonitsi
The long beach facing Lemnos, wind-carved rocks and the cave of the exiled saint
Alonitsi & the east coast · Agios Efstratios
About Alonitsi
Alonitsi is the long beach of the east coast, about 2 km of sand and pebbles looking out to Lemnos. Its cliffs of pale sandstone have been carved by wind and salt into honeycombs, and the coast around it breaks into rocky coves and islets. Tradition says that Saint Eustratios, an abbot from Bithynia exiled here in the 9th century during the quarrel over icons, lived in a cave at Alonitsi. The cave was damaged in the earthquake of 1968. The island's oak woods run down to the shore between Avlakia in the north and Alonitsi, and the clay of Alonitsi was once used to seal the flat roofs of the village.
Good to know
Before you go to Alonitsi
Getting there
Across the island from the village by dirt track, slowly or in a 4×4, or on foot. Bring water and shade.
When to go
On a calm day with a westerly breeze, and in the morning, when the sun is over Lemnos and the rocks glow.
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