Mitilene

Mitilene, also spelled Mytilene, is the capital and port city of the island of Lesbos in the North Aegean region of Greece. It lies on the western coast of Lesbos at the head of a natural harbor and serves as the island’s administrative and economic center. The name is ancient, and the modern city continues to be the main hub for transportation, services, and culture on the island.

In antiquity, Mytilene was a prominent city-state and cultural center in Ionia. It prospered through trade and maritime power and is associated with renowned poets such as Sappho and Alcaeus. The city featured an acropolis, walls, theatres, and other monuments that reflect its historical importance and later influence under Hellenistic and Roman rule.

Geographically, the city is arranged around a crescent-shaped harbor, with a historic core set on hills rising behind the waterfront. A notable landmark is the Castle of Mytilene, a fortress built by the Genoese Gattilusio family in the Middle Ages, which overlooks the harbor. The urban fabric includes a mix of older Ottoman-era and neoclassical buildings alongside contemporary streets and public squares.

Today, Mitilene is the administrative capital of the Lesbos regional unit and a major urban center for the island. The economy centers on the port, commerce, services, and tourism. The city hosts a campus of the University of the Aegean and several museums, including the Archaeological Museum of Mytilene. Transport connections include ferries to the Greek mainland and other Aegean destinations, as well as Mytilene International Airport serving domestic and some international flights.