Varia site is at a distance of a two Kilometers away from Mytilene's town - the capital of Lesvos island - . It's a olive trees area beside the sea, with many country-houses, and shops for refreshment and entertainment.

The basic element that dominates to the area is relaxed rhythms of life. Although the area is not far away from Mytilene, its architectural style divides it from the capital and so it is characterized as Mytilene' s suburb.

Luxurious hotels, cafes, bars, restaurants and taverns are expecting you all around the year. Neapolis is the main road junction between Mytilene and the surrounding villages.

Not far away from the Villa Nufaro, another suburb with a unique cultural history, with the museums of the famous Lesbian painters : Theophilos Chatzimichael -folk painter -, of modern art and the library of the art-critic Stratis Eleftheriadis - Terriade, including precious works of art ( Picasso, Shagal, Mattes, Tsarouchis and other's ).

As we go upwards we can visit the villages of Taxiarchis, Ayia Marina and Pligoni. Each one is unique. For instance, Taxiarchis village is situated on the eastern slopes of Mt Amali, having fantastic view of the Aegean Sea.

It is surrounded by a huge rock on the top of which Taxiarchis ( Archangel Gabriel ) church is built. It is a Byzantine church built during the years 1903-1958 and has replaced an older and smaller one.

A rare fresco of Taxiarchis has been rescued ( painted in the 17th century ), which today is being exhibited inside an iconostasis.
 

At the village's market we can see an old fountain constructed in 1753 and renovated in 1875. Also worth seeing are the underground springs at the small church of Ayia Thekla with arches constructed by tiles. There we find the post-Byzantine church of Panayia Potamoussa and the cave of Ayios Vartholomeos ( at Loutra site ).

Afterwards the road guides us to the village of Ayia Marina with old and picturesque little stone-paved streets. There we can visit the three-isled Byzantine church of Ayia Marina -built in 1797 - and that has been characterized as an archaeological area. It owns a wonderful wood-sculptured temple and a throne, both of them created in 1839. The ruins of an older Byzantine church (Panayia Amalis) have been used for the church's construction. Here we find the mansion of Vernardakides ( rich Lesbian family ) and a monumental public fountain ( 1818 ). At the area of Neapolis' beach a Byzantine basilica has been excavated including a baptistirium and precious mosaics of its central isle. It is a construction of the 5th century. At the upward area of the airport we find the springs of river Loudias that had been supplying with water Mytilene during ancient times. There we can see ten water-mills that were functioning till the year 1941. Pligoni is another village of the area, situated at a green site

After Varia we meet Neapoli and Kratigos area : the airport, fantastic beaches, pubs and various accommodations. We have to notice that during the construction of the airport ruins of ancient ( Hellenistic ) temples and Byzantine churches were brought to light. It's very possible that here the ancient temple of god Apollo had been built as the Greek historian Thouckidides describes in his historic manuscripts.

At a distance of 20Km away from Varia - after the gorgeous beach of Charamida - we visit the piney area of Ayios Ermogenis with the homonymous small church built on a rock just beside the sea. Crystal like water and fish taverns just beside the sea waves are expecting you for fresh fishes and the local drink ouzo.