Partheni lies on the bay of the same name; the small island of Archangelos is located at the entrance to the bay. The village’s history includes the church of Agia Kioura and its wall paintings, while trails near Fakoudia lead to historic sites. If you’re looking for accommodation in Partheni, you can plan your stay around the coastline, churches and archaeological sites.

Bay, Village and Surroundings

Leros Airport lies just outside the small village of Partheni. The name of the village is also used for the bay; the small island of Archangelos lies at its entrance. The village, bay and island are three distinct landmarks for finding your way around, while the airport is just outside the village.

Agia Kioura: Dedication and Wall Paintings

The church of Agia Kioura lies north of Partheni and is dedicated to Saint Matrona of Chios. German air raids damaged it in 1943. Political prisoners created its wall paintings between 1967 and 1974; the paintings show a modern style that departs from the purely Byzantine tradition. The damage and the later pictorial program thus belong to two separate chapters in the church’s history.

Churches and Traces of Artemis

Old materials were used to build the church of Agiou Georgiou; they probably came from the ancient Temple of Artemis. At the church of Agios Georgios south of Partheni, evidence was found of a Hellenistic altar room dedicated to Artemis. The exact location of the well-known sanctuary from the Classical period has not been established. The links to Artemis therefore range from the probable source of the building materials to archaeological evidence of an altar room.

Trails to Fakoudia, Markelos and Archaeological Sites

In the Fakoudia area, a trail leads to a stone kiosk. From there, you can visit the ruins of the Farinata Battery. A few meters before the kiosk, a trail branches off to the south; it is one kilometer long and leads to the summit of Markelos. The distinction is useful for finding your way: the trail to the ruins leads to the kiosk, while the turnoff toward Markelos begins just before it.

The route from the Partheni dam to the archaeological site climbs 400 meters. There are a few carved stones from a Hellenistic sanctuary there; the site is not guarded. Walking time for the Partheni–Temple of Artemis–Fakoudia route is 50 minutes, not including breaks. Allow extra time for breaks and your visit, in addition to this walking time.

Agia Kioura Beach

Agia Kioura Beach has sand and pebbles and no facilities. An unpaved road suitable for vehicles leads there from the church of the same name in Partheni. When deciding whether to stop at the coast, you can take both the beach surface and the access road into account.

Discover more destinations: Panormos, Kampos, Agia Marina, Pserimos, Astypálaia, Masouri, Patmos, Skalia

For the broader travel overview: Kalimnos.