The traditional settlement of Vatoussa is located on the northwest side of the island, 67 km from the city of Mytilini and borders Pterounda, Skalochori and Antissa. The mountain village is built at an altitude of 300 m in a volcanic crater with a diameter of 6 km, the result of volcanic activity 18 million years ago.
The name Vatoussa probably comes from the adjective “vatoessa” which means an area where bushes are around. It is a village with traditional cobbled streets, stone-built houses with local stone that are integrated into the colors of the landscape, tiled roofs while doors and windows are painted in bright colors.
From the first moment the visitor realizes that Vatousa has kept its impressive architecture. Colorful traditional houses, imposing neoclassical ones, temples, old barbershops and grocery stores take visitors back in time and continue to operate to this day. A change of images that impresses as long as one discovers the hidden corners of the village by walking through the labyrinthine paved alleys of the medieval fabric.
Among the characteristic historical buildings of particular interest are the Gogos mansion which houses the Folklore Museum, the old Girls’ School, a building of the 19th century which today functions as a community hostel, the Boys’ school which today houses the Primary School, the temple of the Taxiarches and the church of the Dormition of the Virgin which was built in 1850.
