Agiassos

The traditional village of Agiassos, surrounded by pine and olive groves, is located 26 km from the town of Mytilene This charming place with narrow stone streets and traditional houses with wooden balconies with the obligatory flood of geraniums, begonias and carnations is renowned for its long-standing traditions ofceraics production but also woodcarving and weaving. There is also one more pecualiarity, which the Church of the Virgin Mary in the centre of Agiassos: the Church of Panagia ti Vrefokratousa is the second important place of pilgrimage after the island of Tinos with a miraculous icon of which the charm has the ability to heal. The greatest concentration of pilgrims can be found there on the eve of September 14, the day before the feast of the Virgin Mary. On this day people celebrate, drinks ouzo, eat meze and sing and dance until the morning. There are also many traders coming to the village at hits time, making use of this unique opportunity and trying to sell the most of their products, including religious objects or home-made products like Touloumotiri, a delicious cheese maturing for several months in sheep or goatskin.