Municipality of Gera
The municipality of Gera consists of the villages Papados, Palaiokipos, Perama, Plakados, Mesagros and Skopelos. It is historically known under the name of Iera, a coastal town during the Roman times, which probably was sunk, because of tectonic activity. During the last years of the Turkish domination, the region achieved a great development which is proved by the many industrial units of that time, such as oil-presses, soap factories and tanneries. The mansion houses in the region are the evidence for this economic prosperity. One of these is the Vrana mansion, where the mother of the Nobel Prize winner poet Odysseas Elytis lived. This building today lodges the town hall. In Perama there is the larger tannery of the Balkans, the ???Sourlanga tannery, but it is out of operation for about 20 years now. In Mesagros, the visitor should visit the Muslim mosque with the particular minaret and the old bakery with Theophilos??? wall paintings. Major sites are the small cave located under the temple of Agia Magdalini in Skopelos and the church of Agios Ermolaos built in 1795 in Palaiokipos. On of the most interesting walking routes following the olive tree paths is that from Skopelos to Karyonas Mountain. The main village in the area is Papados. The church of the Taxiarhs and the ruins of the small fortress on Kastelli are some of the important sites in the village.
The most beautiful and developed beach in the municipality is the Tarti beach, with crystal clean waters and picturesque fish taverns. However, the gulf of Gera is the most beautiful monument of nature. The gulf???s mouth towards the open sea offers a bewitching view. The lacy coasts and the very small bays found within the gulf are of infinite beauty