USEFUL INFORMATION

ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURES 

Marine transport

Leros is connected with Greece’s main port, Piraeus and the rest of the islands of the Dodecanese like Kalymnos and Kos for example, by regular, daily shipping / transport lines of Piraeus. Leros is connected with the neighbouring islands through the scheduled services provided by smaller, local passenger ships.

Air transports

The Municipal Airport of Leros, located in the northern part of the island at Partheni, operates domestic flights. Its operation began in 1984, and it hosts Olympic Airlines’ ATR-43 type aircraft, which connect Leros with Athens Airport with daily flights all year round.

Road network

The transportation needs of the Residents of Leros living in the interior of the island are met by a municipal bus service. The island’s main road axis consists of a paved and asphalted road that begins at the beach of Xerokambos. It crosses Lakki, Platanos, Agia Marina, Alinta and ends up at Partheni Beach.

Water supply – the Sewer system – Litter Disposal

Today’s demands on water are met by the use of an underground, natural reservoir, through drilling and wells, the digging of shallow surface sources and the import of dinking water.

Soon to be completed is the Municipality of Leros’s project for the development of the water supply and sewage system combined with the installations of the biological purification project, which is funded under the guidelines of the Southern Aegean’s R.O.P programme.

Waste disposal is accumulated at the region of Vathia Lagada where it is openly disposed by a loader and combustion. Waste-collection is done daily and transported to the waste fill area by the Municipality’s waste-collection service Lorries. The Southern Aegean’s R.O.P programme has been included in the financing of the construction of the Sanitary Burial Space (HYTA) for the island of Leros.

Energy infrastructures

The island of Leros’ electrical power needs are met by underwater connections with the power producing plant D.E.I, in Kos. In the area of Memigaria, Alinda in Leros a windmill park has been installed by the National Eclectric Company’s sub-division, D.E.I. Renewable Energy - Rokas ABEE, and has been in operations since February, 2002.

Health

The Hospital of Leros at Lakki is a surgical hospital and operates general pathological, paediatrics, obstetrics and orthopaedic clinics. Within the building of the State’s Rehabilitative Institution, Leros’s Health Care Centre operates. A rural community clinic operates at Marina.

Fine Arts and Cultural Facilities

The main arts and cultural facilities of Leros constitute the Archaelogical Museum at Agia Marina, the ‘Tunnel’ War Musuem at Merikia, the Library and the Ecclesiastical Museum which are connected to the building cluster of the Castle. Some very valuable hand-written manuscript treasures of Greek heritage are preserved and exhibited in the Castle. Yet, in the museum, heirlooms of the Holy Metropolis of Leros as well as artefacts from the classic Byzantine and early Christian periods are exhibited. The Municipal Folkloric Museum is housed in the Beleni Tower and at Platanos, there is the local Archives of the State’s General Archives with rich, historical material. The Kandioglou and Antonello Mansion and the Collections of Giannis Paraponiars and Tasos Kanaris are two privately run museums.

The presence of local cultural associations is remarkable. Their objective is to rescue and promote the traditional and cultural elements of the island and to intellectually educate and entertain the residents. Specifically, we refer to Leros’s Educational and Cultural Association “Artemis” and the Leros Theatre Group. The “Artemis” Association was founded in 1978 and covers a great spectrum of the cultural representation with various departments including dancing, folkloric, theatre, musical as well as sports. The Leros Theatre Group started in 1982 as a theatre workshop of the “Artemis” Association. However, since 1989, it has been operating as an independent, amateur theatre organization and performs exceptionally both locally and throughout the entire Aegean region.

Administration

Administration is centralised at Platanos and Lakki where the urban infrastructure is densely populated combined with the greatest number of permanent residence. Combined with the efficiency of the road network and small distances from one place to other, the island’s administrative services are easily accessed allowing for accessibility to all residence and citizens of Leros.

Education

Educational infrastructure facilities are in place for three levels of education including pre-school, primary and secondary levels.

Pre-school level: There are six Kindergartens on Leros: 2 in Agia Marina, 2 at Lakii, 1 at Alinta nd 1 at Xerokambos.

Primary School: In the same communities, there are four primary schools.

Secondary School: There is a Junior High School and the Lyceum at Agia Marina and a Junior High School and Technical Lyceum at Lakki.

Sports

In Lakki, towards the exit to Platanos is the Municipal Stadium, which is mainly used for playing football, while next to the area of the former PIKPA (the Institution for Mentally and Physically Challenged Individuals) there is basketball court, with a concrete geound.

At Platanos, next to the Lyceum, there is an athletic area with track and field sports facility. At Panteli lies a basketball field and in Temenia there is 5 X 5 football field and tennis court.

In Lakki, a new, modern basketball and volleyball centre (Merikia), combined with a football stadium and track field at Xerokambos. In the primary schools courtyards, there are playgrounds that operate and are open to the public beyond regular the school working hours.

Social Providence

There are two Municipal Day Care Centres at Lakki and Kamara.

Care and Welfare

The State’s Rehabilitative Institution combined with the Leros Health Centre is at Lakki. This is the only institution on the island providing health care service.

Culture

At Agia Marina, in a neo-classical preserved building (it used to be the Urban Faculty of Leros), is housed the Archaeological Museum of Leros. Among its exhibits are ancient utilitarian objects and inscribed architectural members. At Alinta, in the Beleni Tower, the following are hosted:

• - The Historical Museum, with photographs, portraits and printed material that is identify with the history of island.
• - The Folkloric Museum, with rich exhibits with respect to the popular folk tradition of Leros like furniture, utensils, clothes, musical instruments and others.
• - The Press Museum, with old printing instruments and machinery and old ocuments.
• - The Municipal Art Gallery, where the works of art of Leros’s local artists are exhibited.

The old Town Hall building, which was once the Hall of Elders, was built by Lerian Nikolas Tsigada Pasha. It accommodates the Municipal Library and the Historical Archives of Leros.

In the library of the Virgin Mary at the Castle, one can see rare publications and very rare religious and precious, historical heirlooms.