By Musbau A. Bello
The promise of a small village is usually with little experiences that vanish in days. Sigri Island, a village of about 300 inhabitants, is a unique adventure with more memorable and lasting experience to offer than most big tourist cities in the world. Is that an exaggeration?
The road that leads to Sigri opens up to pristine and most beautiful part of Lesvos Island in Greece. The village is unique for its petrified forest that has already attracts a museum and park, exotic natural beaches, locally produced food, locally owned and run restaurants, sea foods; all with relatively western infrastructures that guarantee comfort for a sizable number of tourists. While looking for other features that could help to explain the evolution of this rare landscape, my special interest in rich cultural and historical legacies was arrested by the churches, monasteries and castle in this area. Of particular reference are the church of Agia Triada and the Sigri castle with their unique and gorgeous features. These are monuments of centuries old architecture and art that testify to the country’s rich religious heritage, doggedness of faith and tradition. Interestingly, the church of Agia Triada was originally a mosque built late in the Turkish period of 1870 and converted after the treaty of Lausanne in 1923. Evidently, there is an old hamman (Turkish bath), with water reservoir that fed it, which has remained unused since the Turks left the region. Out of my curiosity and admiration, I did ask one of the locals of the possibility of reopening this bath. He made it known to me that there are plans in place as interest from both within and outside the village particularly the tourist is growing every year. What a great icing on the cake that would be if plans are accomplished. There is no end to ingenuity in this village. This was again proved by the Sunday service in the church which was conducted in original traditional orthodox way. The congregation consists of both males and females but with distinct separation between the two.
The castle of Sigri on the other hand is a small stone castle, built sometimes in 1750’s and 1760’s in the ottoman style. The architecture is typical of Arabian with its alternating red and white stones originally used as fort by the Turks. What I found interesting in this castle is the well preserved remains of Turkish inscription and decorations. This I regard as a reflection of admiration of the past. Making it to the apex of the castle was garnished with promise of a wonderful view of the Aegean Sea, one that must not be missed by every intending tourist.
These are not all to be learnt from a visit to the most fascinating adventure in Greece, but a piece of the whole. The village represents an epitome of sustainable society. The fact that there is a tremendous potential for mass tourism left me with a question that remained unanswered until the end of my four days visit. Why is it difficult for mass tourism to consume Sigri as it had done to some touristic small towns or villages?
Sustainable tourism has promote/been promoted by successful preservation of the monuments and cultural heritage of this village. It plays an important role in making it a sustainable sector by: preserving the genuine history, making available for tourist diverse options and values for their money and time, and putting at its very core, the values of the Sigri people.
