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Leros Title
Architecture of Leros
The island has many neighborhoods, each with their own architectural styles. This gives the island a unique identity and provides the visitor with many visual surprises. If you are looking for a book look out for Marina's Veniadou "Leros" published in 1984 by Melissa (bee) publishers.
In her book she distinguishes a number of types of houses such as the Medieval buildings, of defensive character. Farmer's houses or rural residences, scattered across the island, mainly in the fringes of settlements and in the countryside looks small and is normaly of one level only. The Urban houses which are built more recently and are mainly of two or three levels height. The Italian built residences and other buildings and finally the neo classical residences.

Here I will list only very few of the areas you can visit to experience the architecture and the spirit of Leros. But to experience the atmoshere I recommend to take a walk via the "Old Road" also known the road of "Euaggelismou" in Platanos.

Lakki: The Italian Rationalism which later became known as International Style, has produced a unique little town in Lakki, which unfortunately slowly but surely it seems to fade away with time. The Italians during their occupation created some amazing buildings on the island both at Lakki and Lepida, but it is Lakki that stands as a great example of the grandeur of the Italian rationalism, with its white surfaces, amazing promenade and open wide spaces it gives the impression of more like Miami and less like a Greek island in the Dodecanese. There have been some attempts to resurrect the buildings but to date no major positive renovations have taken place. Notice that in the rest of the island you do not find any pedestrian paths ( with the exception of a few metres in Agia Marina only on one side of the road starting from the school towards the port).

Platanos/Agia Marina: The areas are characterized by traditional Lerian houses. Neoclassical architecture is evident in the Buildings that house the Mayors offices and the "Old Lerian Club" (Leriaki Lesxi).

Pandeli/Xerokampos: These fishing villages have examples of traditionally built fishing houses and although recent building developments appear to take over the traditional architecture you can still identify the old buildings and partake in the atmosphere of the unique Lerian architecture which is influenced by so many sources.

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