Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
by smaller inter-island ferries (see p.581). Immediately above it, older
Plátanos
stands
beneath a Knight's castle, while on the bay to the south
Pandélli
is a busy but attractive
little resort.
Plátanos
Draped over the saddle between Ayía Marína and Pandélli, a one-minute taxi ride or
five-minute walk up from the ferry dock,
PLÁTANOS
is a residential community full of
fine Neoclassical and vernacular houses. A good central base for exploring the island,
it's short on restaurants or nightlife.
Kástro
May-Oct Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri 8.30am-12.30pm; Wed, Sat & Sun 8.30am-12.30pm & 2.30-6.30pm; Nov-April daily
8.30am-12.30pm • €1
Atop the mighty headland northeast of Plátanos, Léros's
kástro
overlooks virtually the
entire island - which was of course why the Knights sited a castle up here. Reach it
either via a steep stair-path from the central square, or along a zigzagging road that
starts its climb 100m back from the beach in Pandélli.
Although the castle's walls and staircases have been stabilized and/or restored, there's
little to see; the reason to come is to enjoy the stupendous views from the battlements,
especially dramatic at sunset.
Archeological Museum
Tues-Sun 8am-2.30pm • Free
Léros's
archeological museum
, a short way down towards Ayía Marína, is little more
than a single room. Its few artefacts are however well laid out, with good explanation of
where each was found, and a clear account of Lerian history.
8
Pandélli
Ten minutes' walk down from Plátanos, the former fishing village of
PANDÉLLI
has
been transformed into a smart, rather upscale but still very pleasant little resort. In
summer, there's little room on its small but reef-free, pea-gravel
beach
for anyone other
than guests at its beachfront hotels, but it holds a good crop of cafés and tavernas. A
short way east around the bay, a long cement jetty still serves local fishermen rather
than yachts, which in high season must anchor offshore.
Southern beaches
Sadly, the prominent coastal footpath that heads south from Pandélli peters out as soon
as it curves out of sight. To reach
VROMÓLITHOS
, 1km south, pedestrians and drivers
alike have to follow a higher road, through the village of Spília.
Although the
beach
at Vromólithos is usually less crowded than Pandélli, it's no place
to linger, consisting of a long narrow strip of exposed gravel squashed up against the
high walls of beachfront properties. The sea is clean, but you have to cross rock seabed
at most points to reach deeper water. There's a more secluded, sandier cove southeast
towards
Tourkopígadho
, and an even better duo at the end of the side-road to
Aï Yiórgi
.
ACCOMMODATION
PLÁTANOS,
PANDÉLLI AND AROUND
Castelo Beach
Pandélli beach
T
22470 23030,
W
castelo.gr.
With its castellated tiers dominating the west
end of Pandélli beach, this hotel is an eyesore, but once you're
inside - whether in the spacious en-suite rooms, many of
which have four-poster beds, or in the terrace caf
é, per
ched
just above water - it's a great place to take it easy.
€120
Ì
Hotel des Couleurs
Plátanos
T
22470
23341,
W
hotel-des-couleurs.com.
This gorgeous Italianate
mansion, tucked up on the hillside just a few steps from the
centre of Plátanos, holds six irresistibly stylish suites, each
decorated in a different colour and featuring antique
furnishings such as four-poster beds or clawfoot tubs.
Charming and ver
y he
lpful hosts, and superb breakfasts
out on the terrace.
€90
Panteli Beach Studios
Pandélli
beach
T
22470
26450,
W
panteli-beach.gr.
Dutch-owned complex of
