Petra is a large settlement on the northern coast of Lesvos and is about 55 km from the city of Mytilini. The traditional settlement of Petra is located next to Molyvos and is one of the most tourist developed parts of the island. The stone-built seaside settlement is an attraction for travelers due to its picturesqueness and special character. It would be appropriate to mention that Petra had a remarkable intellectual movement in the generation of 1930, in the so-called Lesbian Spring.
A typical landmark of the area is the church of Panagia Glykofilousa, one of the most important pilgrimages in the whole of Lesvos, which is located on top of a rock with a height of about 40 meters and can be reached by 114 carved steps. This rock dominates the entire plain and the settlement of Petra, giving its name to the area. In the place of the temple, there was probably a small fortress of the Genoese period, which is proven by the existence of the Coat of Arms of the Gateluzoi, found on a slab of the stone-paved enclosure. The church is a three-aisled basilica and the interior of the church is adorned with rare Byzantine icons, precious vessels and an exquisitely aesthetic wood-carved episcopal throne despite the great looting of 1865. The current form of the church dates back to 1840 when it was renovated from the ground up with a Sultanic firman which is still preserved .
Well-preserved neoclassical mansions of the 19th and 20th centuries, traditional buildings in winding picturesque alleys make up the image of the picturesque settlement that is buzzing with life. The visitor deserves to notice the special architecture, the neat courtyards, the ornate entrances, the doors with knockers that testify to the flourishing life of the last century. Among the buildings of the settlement, the Church of Agios Nikolaos in a central part of the settlement with rare frescoes from the 16th AD is of great interest. century.
In Petra is the restored two-story mansion of Vareltzidaina that functions as a Museum. Built at the beginning of the 18th century, it is a representative example of a traditional mansion of the period for its structure, arrangement and decoration. The solid stone-built ground floor lends a fortress-like character, while on the contrary, the upper floor, which is built of light materials using the Baghdadi technique (wooden frame, coated with mud), is characterized by a strong decorative mood expressed through wood carvings and wall paintings.
Ancient tombs (Keramidaria site), Roman era coins, Byzantine reliefs etc. have been found in close proximity to the settlement. which prove the continuous habitation of the area since ancient times.
