Visitors say
Very nice place, worth climbing up the minaret. ...... with a little difficulty of course
An interesting facility, but hard to find. It is located on private property.
About
Rising quietly from the landscape near the village of Parakoila, the ruins known as Minares Parakoilon are a poignant reminder of the Ottoman centuries that shaped Lesvos. The name itself — "minarets of Parakoila" — speaks to what once stood here: the slender towers of a mosque that served the island's Muslim community during the long era of Ottoman rule, which lasted from the mid-fifteenth century until 1912. This part of western Lesvos, like much of the island, carried a mixed population of Orthodox Greeks and Muslims for centuries, and the mosques and minarets that dotted the landscape were as much a part of daily life as the Byzantine churches they stood alongside.
Following the population exchange of the early 1920s, which resettled Muslim communities from the Aegean islands to Anatolia and Greek Orthodox communities from Asia Minor to Greece, the mosque lost its congregation and gradually fell into ruin. What visitors find today are atmospheric remnants — crumbling masonry, the base or partial shaft of a minaret, and the faint geometric logic of a once-functioning religious building slowly being reclaimed by scrub and wild herbs. The stonework, typical of rural Ottoman construction on the island, speaks to the pragmatic craftsmanship of the era.
For those drawn to the layered history of Lesvos, Minares Parakoilon offers a quietly affecting experience. There are no crowds here, no signage or barriers — just open countryside and the weight of history in the stones. The site pairs naturally with a visit to Parakoila village itself and fits into a broader exploration of the island's Ottoman heritage, which includes better-preserved structures in Mytilini and Molyvos. Coming here rewards the curious traveller willing to sit with complexity: the reminder that Lesvos was, for a very long time, home to more than one world.
Before you go
What to expect
You arrive to open countryside and silence — no barriers, no signage, just crumbling Ottoman masonry slowly being claimed by scrub and wild herbs. The partial minaret shaft and the faint geometry of the ruined mosque carry a quiet gravity that is hard to find at more visited sites. This is a place for those who want to sit with history rather than rush through it.
Best time to visit
Late spring (May–June) or early autumn (September–October) are best — the walk to the ruins is manageable and the intense summer heat in open countryside is avoided.
How to get there
From Mytilene, drive northwest toward the western part of the island — Parakoila village is roughly 40–45 minutes by car. The ruins are within the village area; locals can point you in the right direction.
Details
Categories
Visitor Reviews
Qiong Wu
March 2026
Beautiful place and nice little walk up the hill to find it
Judith Howlett
October 2024
You really need to just look around to locate the minaret. We went through a gate and made sure we securely closed it There’s a spiral staircase inside the tower but we didn’t think it was safe enough. The site has not been restored.
Sanne van Gils
September 2024
A nice stop along the way. Google Maps directs you to an off-road path. We parked the car and then walked to the minaret in less than 10 minutes, with a beautiful view. The minaret is located on private property, behind a gate. Afterward, we drove a bit further to a very charming little fishing harbor. Once you've driven back, you can also see the minaret from the other side of the main road.
Harm
July 2024
A beautiful piece of the island's history. You can simply follow Google Maps, and depending on your location, you'll have to walk another 200 or 800 meters. The last stretch of road is only accessible to off-road vehicles. In previous reviews, you read that it's located on private property or behind a fence and is inaccessible. Both are somewhat correct; it is indeed private property, specifically a farmer's pasture. But you can open the gate—it's there for the goats on his property—but please close it politely behind you. Then everyone will be happy with your visit. It's very quiet here, and you certainly won't encounter many tourists.
be Tom
October 2023
Maps is misleading you, so mark the spot and follow the road until you're close. Then walk a few meters along the path. The minaret is on private property, so take a photo from the outside and move on.
Danny Verwoert
September 2023
A hidden gem from the time of Turkish rule
Sylwia Pociecha
September 2023
An interesting facility, but hard to find. It is located on private property.
Nusret Demir
August 2023
I have followed the route of Google maps, but we did not see it around,maybe the pinned location is wrong. or somewhere hidden
Rob Kranenburg
July 2023
You can't get to it, it's behind a fence
Γαβριηλ χυτηρης
May 2017
Very nice place, worth climbing up the minaret. ...... with a little difficulty of course
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