Citrus Estate is located in the south of Chios, in Campos - one of the most beautiful areas on Argenti Street. The Citrus Museum is surrounded by flowers and plants. Downstairs inside the mansion there is an exhibition dedicated to citrus fruits. The exhibition presents objects, photographs and video materials, historical documents telling about the cultivation of these plants, tools and processing methods, traditions and cultural practices, various varieties and subspecies of citrus fruits, as well as the history and life of the area.

The citrus fruits of Chios are famous throughout the world, and to this day their cultivation is the predominant activity in the region. After exploring the museum, guests can relax and enjoy a fresh orange juice or a cup of coffee on the cozy terrace, before strolling through the stunning gardens. At Citrus Estate you can also buy tangerines and other fruits to try.

Vrulidia Beach

Vroulidia Beach is located on the island of Chios, near Samos. It is one of the top ten best and most beautiful beaches in Greece. Vrulidia is located under a huge cliff in a picturesque bay. The coast here is mostly sandy, the water is emerald, transparent, there are boulders all around and majestic peace. This is an excellent place for snorkeling, relaxation and relaxation.

You can see many interesting species of fish and crabs in the water. And the surrounding landscape is simply amazing. There are cafes at the top of the cliff that offer superb views of Vrulidia, the sea and nearby islands. A steep stone staircase leads to the beach. Due to the inaccessibility, there are few people here even at the height of the season. Most of Vrulidia's visitors are local residents.

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Daskalopetra Beach

Daskalopetra is a beautiful long sand and pebble beach. It is located on the east coast of Chios, 4 kilometers north of the town of Vrontados. The beach got its name from the rock of the same name, which is one of the most famous historical monuments on the island. Here, according to local legend, the school of the famous ancient Greek epic poet Homer was located.

Daskalopetra attracts visitors with its crystal clear waters, smooth pebbles and beautiful surrounding scenery. Not far from the beach there is a picturesque port. There are also various cafes and taverns right on the shore, where you can taste delicious local cuisine made from fresh fish. Tourists can stay here in one of the local hotels.

In the southeast of the island of Chios is the ancient, formerly strategically important port of Emporios. Its beach is famous for its unusual appearance, which is given to it by black volcanic stones.

In the literal sense of the word, peace and quiet reigns on the beach - you will not see waves here, since the bay is very well protected. Several small boats and yachts moored at the pier seem to be floating in the air. The water is crystal clear, however, before you have time to take even three steps in it, the bottom drops sharply down. It is better to visit the beach early in the morning or in the evening to avoid burns, which can spoil your holiday experience.

If you just want to take a walk, the local landscape and the main attraction - the archaeological excavations on Profitis Elias Hill - will never cease to please the eye. For those wishing to refresh themselves, taverns are located near the beach in the shade of trees, where visitors can choose from a wide range of fresh local seafood.

Nea Moni Monastery

Nea Moni is the most significant Byzantine monument on the Greek island of Chios. It was erected by the great emperor Constantinos Monomachos. Construction lasted 8 years, from 1042-1054. After some time, the Turks barbarously captured the monastery, burned the church and killed all the monks. The library and sacristy of the monastery complex were also destroyed.

The final destruction was caused by a devastating earthquake in 1881. In 1900, they began to reconstruct the complex. The main temple was restored, having a square base that smoothly turns into an octagonal dome. The church was decorated with excellent quality mosaics and special decorative balls placed at the front door.

Today Nea Moni acts as a functioning temple. The monastery complex is included in the UNESCO Catalog of International Cultural Heritage Monuments. Since 1995, educational programs have been conducted here for teenagers aged 12 to 18 years.

Argenti Museum and Corai Public Library

The public library "Korai" of Chios is one of the largest, and, concurrently, one of the most valuable Greek libraries. In the same building there is an art gallery named after the great local historian and aristocrat Philip Argenti.

Argenti devoted his life to collecting records about the island of Chios, its customs, architecture, and national clothing. The museum contains mainly his collections of folk art, implements, costumes, as well as a gallery of family portraits. Also presented here is a copy of Delacroix’s painting depicting the massacre of the local population carried out by the Turks in 1822. In the lobby there is an exhibition with many old maps of the island.

The Corai Library collection consists primarily of books in French and English. If you are interested in local architecture, you can ask the librarian to introduce you to the drawings of the famous Greek architect Dimitris Pikionis.

Panagia Channel

The Church of Panagia Canal is located on top of a hill with beautiful views of the sea. Most of all, this place is famous for its unique architecture - the temple is surrounded by stone arches, a picturesque atrium and a beautiful garden.

Archaeological research has shown that in Byzantine times there was also a monastery on the site of the church. Now in the temple you can see a large icon of the Virgin Mary, painted by the Cretan priest Emmanuel Skordillis in 1575. According to legend, the icon was found by fishermen in a canal between Kythnos and Serifos. That is why the church is called Panagia Kanala. According to popular beliefs, this icon is miraculous.

The Church of Panagia Canal and the miraculous icon are the peculiar “patron saints” of the island. Every year, on August 15, a holiday and a solemn procession are held in honor of the icon.

Mavra Volia beach

Mavra Volia is a beach located on the southwestern coast of the Greek island of Chios. The entire coast is strewn with black sand and pebbles of volcanic origin. It was this feature that gave the name to the beach - Mavra Volia, which means “black beach”. Today there is not a single volcano on the island, but once upon a time the “living mountains” were the rightful masters here.

The unusual color of the coast made Mavra Volia attractive to tourists. The seashore has a picturesque and unique nature with blue and crystal clear water, which remains quite cool even in the most intense heat.

The beach is surrounded on all sides by rocky hills, the slopes of which are covered with green bushes and grasses. The entire natural composition gives vacationers peace and peace of mind.

The beach is ideal for people who prefer a secluded holiday. Even at the height of the tourist season, this place cannot be called crowded.

Naval Museum

The Naval Museum is a unique cultural monument located in the center of the island of Chios, Greece. Its main task is to systematize the historical and cultural values ​​of these places. The museum hosts a series of lectures and conferences every year, and also collaborates with other museums in the Greek archipelago. It was founded in 1991 by a wealthy Greek family.

The museum's exhibition includes the huge collection of the Progressive Cultural Union (P.E.K.E.V.), which presents models of ships and their parts, as well as paintings depicting sailing ships and steamships, painted by the artist Aristide Vrondadian (1870-1940). It also includes various remains of shells, soldiers' uniforms, flasks and buckles used by the military during naval operations.

The museum building is a 19th-century building made in the neoclassical style. The museum is one of the city's impressive attractions. It fills an important gap in the island's maritime history and shows that Chios was used extensively for shipping and trade over the centuries.

Komi Beach

Four kilometers from the village of Kalamoti lies the magnificent Komi Beach, which for its fine and gentle sand is considered the most beautiful beach on the entire island. Even the smallest heels will be comfortable here. Young people love to play outdoor games here, again thanks to the softness of the sand. On the beach you can take an umbrella to hide from the sun or a sun lounger. Sometimes Komi becomes an arena for music festivals.

There are many hotels, taverns and bars along the coast. So life here does not stop either day or night. This place is most suitable for those who do not seek privacy and prefer an active lifestyle.

The most popular attractions in Chios with descriptions and photographs for every taste. Choose the best places to visit famous places in Chios on our website.

Chios Island is a new beach destination on the Russian market. However, the history of the island as a resort began a long time ago. Initially, Chios was an elite holiday destination for the Greeks; in the 80s, Europeans began to come here, most of whom were Germans, French, and British. In our time, the development of the island of Chios by Russian vacationers begins.

Chios is an island in the Aegean Sea with beautiful beaches, mountainous hills covered with dense greenery, clear dark blue sea.

The island of Chios is a paradise for a relaxing holiday, a family holiday with children. There is no mass tourism, bustle or intense nightlife here. The peak tourist season occurs during the warmest months of July and August.

The island's climatic conditions and volcanic soils allow the fruits to ripen and fill with juicy juice in the sun. Fruits and honey are one of the distinctive features of the island of Chios.

Chios ranks 5th in size in Greece. The island is densely populated and consists of the capital city of Chios and 52 villages, each of which is unique and has its own dialects, customs and traditions.

The villages of Chios Island are designed in a medieval style. This is mainly due to constant wars and therefore they were built for defensive purposes.

On the island of Chios, the only Fortress in all of Greece has been preserved, almost untouched, which survived the Greco-Turkish War of 1822 and the devastating earthquake of 1881.

Map of Chios Island.

The beaches on the island of Chios are mostly sandy, but there are pebble and mixed types, and there are beaches with black (gray) volcanic sand. There are about 50 of them in total, we will list the main ones: Agia Markella, Levkatia, Komi, Agia Fotini, etc.

The best beaches of Chios are located in the south:

• Mavra Volia Mavra Volia is a large bay with black pebbles, about 3 km long.
• Vruldija is a bay with white cliffs and a snow-white sandy beach.

You can get to Chios by sea by ferry from Thessaloniki or Athens, as well as other large islands of Greece, or from the same places only by plane.

The main unique distinctive feature of the island of Chios is the mastic.

The island of Chios is the only place on the entire planet where Pistacia Lentiscus trees produce resin (mastiha). Mastiha is a fragrant elixir with healing properties. A lot of different products are made from mastic resin: cosmetics, soap, shampoo, chewing gum, halva, cookies, chocolate and Mastichato - a low-alcohol drink to improve digestion.

Sights of the island of Chios.

• The capital of the island is the city of Chios. Port of Chios. Ruins of the Genoese fortress;
• Unique villages of the island (Pyrgia, Kalimasia, Thymiana, Armolia, Meste, Vavili, Avgonima, Vrontado, Kardamila, Avantos and many others);
• Sikyas Olymbos cave with stalactites and stalagmites (Olymbia village);
• Homer's Rock. Homer is a native of the island;
• Orthodox Monasteries;
• Three museums of the island of Chios: Ethnographic, Archaeological, Byzantine.

Chios is a small island in Greece, but it is also the fifth largest. Tourists have different attitudes towards this Greek territory. Some fall selflessly in love and yearn to return again from the first second, other travelers need more time to experience Chios, take it into their hearts, soak in the beauty of the island, stroll through the villages and relax on the wonderful beaches of the Greek resort. Tourists who have once met Chios become attached to this corner of Greece forever.

The hospitality of the people of Chios is known throughout the world. They joyfully open the doors of their home, and the tangerine jam served to guests will be a revelation and will be remembered for a lifetime. The wild nature of Chios and the purest waves of the sea will be a vivid impression - the tourist will remember the trip all year round.

There are many original establishments around the port of Chios Island. Modern architecture seems to reflect the rhythm of life of the islanders: noise, bustle, constant movement. There are many shops in Chios where an inquisitive traveler will find many interesting souvenirs, useful items, and memorable gifts.

The history of Chios goes back to antiquity, which is confirmed by archaeological finds made in Agios Galas and Emporio. The discovered objects belong to the era of the first Ionian settlements. The name of the island, according to the historian Isidoros, arose thanks to the Phoenicians. "Chios" is the Syriac word for "mastiha". This resin is the most famous product of the island. Other versions say that the island received its name from the daughter of Khione of King Oenopion, the first ruler of the island. Also, according to one version, Chios is the son of Poseidon. An unusual option concerns the shape of the island: Chios resembles the Latin letter X, which the Greeks read as the Russian X.

The island's seaside villages are attractive due to the lack of tourists. The nature here is pure and beautiful, and therefore Chios is created for a peaceful holiday. What makes the island unique is Hiu. The resin that made Chios famous comes out of the cracks of the mastic tree. Greek shops are full of products including Hiou. Every admirer of unusual products will appreciate chewing gum, girls will definitely pay attention to cosmetics with mastic, and lovers of sweets should try various confectionery products. Hiu is included in both processed and pure ingredients.

The tradition of collecting resin has been preserved since ancient times. The seven mastic villages of the southern region of Masticochoria were equipped with fortresses and gates, which made it possible to protect the unique trees from arriving pirates.

A little history about Chios

Chios is truly a special place. The ship owners of the island village of Kardamila own 5% of the world's maritime fleet. This became the reason for the weak development of tourism in Chios, which is completely unusual for Greece and its islands. However, there are still hotel complexes and large hotels here that provide accommodation for visiting tourists with all amenities. Charters arriving in Chios provide transport links. At the same time, there is no tourist bustle of Corfu and Santorini here; the tranquility of the island creates a peaceful aura around it. This is a great place to relax with your family; newlyweds will appreciate the accessibility of the sea and privacy.

Combining a stunning atmosphere, picturesque landscapes, taste experiments (what one mastic is worth), medieval villages, churches of the Byzantine era, Chios opens the doors of unusual Greece. Mouzenidis Travel creates conditions for an ideal vacation for everyone. Organizing a flight, choosing a hotel, drawing up a cultural program - the company will make the trip exciting, full of emotions and eventful from the first to the last day.

An interesting tourist spot is Chios Castle. Construction of the fortress began in the 10th century. Constant reconstruction and changes have turned the landmark into an example of an unusual mixture of architectural styles. To go see the fortress you need to go to the capital of Chios, which bears the same name.

The city of Kambos is noteworthy. The Genoese nobility came here and created a large number of mansions. Each building is a stunning architectural example of ancient history. Now the villas have been converted into hotels and restaurants, where tourists can have a wonderful holiday.

The nature of Chios deserves attention. The village of Olympia is famous for its caves with stalactites and stalagmites. A trip for archeology lovers would not be complete without visiting the Embryo settlement. The archaeological area is open to visitors, as is the Rock of Gomera. Presumably, this is where the poetry school was located. Scientists claim that Chios is the birthplace of Homer. Religious monuments are represented by the Nea Moni monastery. The 11th century monument is one of the few surviving octagonal temples. The monastery is included in the UNESCO list. It suffered severe damage during the Chios massacre and the earthquake.

Easter in Chios is truly magical. The ruketopolemos celebrations represent the largest fireworks display in the Mediterranean. The "missile war" (that's how ruketopolemos is translated) takes place between the parishioners of the Church of the Virgin Mary, as well as the parishioners of the Church of St. Mark. Homemade rockets are prepared all year long, and on the night of Holy Saturday they rain down on the village of Vrontados, lighting up everything as if it were day.

The rocky island of Chios is a wonderful beach holiday destination. The Bella Vista area is famous for its beaches. The territories are equipped with the necessary elements, which makes them popular among tourists. Local residents also like to relax here. Another wonderful place is Emboros Bay. Picturesque landscapes, developed infrastructure, a large number of different establishments for a wonderful pastime are created to delight tourists. There is an archaeological park nearby, so history buffs will also find a pleasant entertainment option.

The Mouzenidis Travel company will help you get acquainted with the culture of Chios, taste the unique wine, mastiha, citrus fruits, feel peace, and feel the nature of the island. The smallest details of the trip will be planned, which will allow you to truly relax and unwind. The company's representative offices in the main tourist spots in Greece allow us to quickly respond to customer wishes, making the trip complete and colorful.

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Attractions

Karfas

Karfas is a small resort town located 7 km from Chora. Karfas is gaining popularity among tourists every year. The resort is quite developed. There is a hotel and hotel for everyone here to their liking. You can taste traditional cuisine in restaurants and cafes. For lovers of nightlife, Karfas offers a large selection of clubs and bars.

The resort is famous for its equipped and well-maintained beach with impeccably clean water and soft sand. The resort is popular for families with children.

Elata

The unusually beautiful village of Elata, founded in the Middle Ages, is located 25 km from Chora. It stands on the slope of a steep hill in the depths of Chios. In ancient times, this location saved the local population from conquerors. The settlement was a fortified city. Watch towers were built along the entire perimeter, which provided good visibility. Currently, not all protective structures remain intact.
The stone Church of the Holy Trinity is one of the attractions of this area. In the ancient church of St. John, ancient frescoes dating back to the 16th century have been preserved. Elata is famous for its agriculture. Farmers grow grapes, almonds, mastic and olives.

Not far from Elata there is a picturesque bay and beach of Agia Irini, which are named after the small church of Agia Irene. The bay became famous for its beautiful sandy beach with small pebbles. It is popular among fishing enthusiasts.

Agios Minas

History buffs should visit the nunnery of Agios Minas, located on a hilltop and surrounded by mountainous terrain. The landmark for tourists will be the small village of Neochori. The road from the Capital will be short, only 9 km.

Agios Minas holds a sad history. It was founded in the 16th century by the Reverend Father Neophytos Koumanos and his son Minas. It is worth noting that originally it was a monastery, and in 1932 it was converted into a women's monastery.

Agios Minas is very important for the people of Chios. In the 19th century, during the “Chios Massacre,” women, children and the elderly took refuge in it from the attacks of the Turks. As a result of the massacre within its walls, more than 3,000 people died. Traces of blood are forever imprinted on the stone floors, reminiscent of this tragic event. In the courtyard of the holy monastery, the “Mausoleum of 40 Martyrs” was founded, in which the remains of innocent victims are kept today.

Nope Moni

You can enjoy all the beauty of Byzantine architecture by visiting the oldest monastery of Nea Moni. It is rightfully considered one of the most important attractions of the island. Nea Moni was founded by the Byzantine Emperor Constantine IX Monomachos at the end of the 11th century. According to legend, it was erected on a sacred place.

For centuries, the holy monastery was the most powerful religious center in Greece. He owned vast lands that provided Nea Moni with prosperity for many years. Even during the Ottoman Empire, it did not lose its prestige and prosperity.

The religious center was significantly damaged during the “Chios Massacre”: fire destroyed the iconostasis, archive and library. Stunning frescoes of the Catholicon were damaged, rare and unique church relics were stolen. After these terrible events, the sacred monastery was destroyed by the earthquake of 1881.

Today Nea Moni has a huge territory. In his possession are the main catholicon, small churches of the Holy Cross and St. Panteleimon, a refectory, monastic cells and a small museum. Behind the walls of the monastery, built in the 19th century, there is a monastic cemetery and a small chapel of St. Luke.

Pyrgi

Since ancient times, mastic trees have been popular and famous all over the world. The unique Khiot mastic is the pride of the local population. Thanks to her, Chios is economically developed and constantly prospers. Mastic trees are grown in villages in the south of the island. Such villages are called “masticochoria” or “mastic villages”.

One of the famous and picturesque settlements is Pyrgi, located 25 km from Chora. In the past, getting into the village was quite difficult: it was well fortified with walls and watchtowers. This ensured safety from attacks by pirates. To shelter the local residents, the Genoese erected a high defensive tower, parts of which can be seen with your own eyes.

Walking around Pyrgi, you find yourself in a labyrinth of narrow streets and pass by original ancient stone buildings. In this village you can find extraordinary buildings decorated with rare hand-made “xista” technology. Such houses reflect all the originality and individuality of Pyrga.

After walking the streets, you can relax in the restaurants in the central square. Here in 1694 the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary was erected. Not far from the square stands the ancient Church of the Holy Apostles (13th century), decorated with magnificent ancient frescoes.

Pyrgi is a wonderful place for a tourist holiday, steeped in the history of its people.

Armolia

The ancient medieval village of Armolia is located 20 km from Chora. For a long time, fathers here passed on the knowledge and secrets of pottery to their children, which allowed Armolia to become a leader in the pottery industry. In the village you can attend an interesting workshop on ceramics production, as well as buy original souvenirs (ceramic jugs and vases, cups and plates, and much more).

A local landmark is the Byzantine fortress of Apolichnon, which housed the administration of Masticochoria within its walls during the reign of the Genoese. In the churches of St. Demetrius and the Virgin Mary, which are located in the central square, they were able to preserve the incredible carved iconostasis from 1774. Not far from Armolia is the monastery of the Life-Giving Spring, built at the end of the 18th century.

Places

Another place famous for its mastic tree plantations is the ancient village of Mesta. Like other villages of that time, it had an excellent defensive structure that has survived to this day. Pirates and other invaders were attracted to the unique resin of mastic trees, so the settlement had to be stubbornly defended.

The impregnable fortress did not allow the enemy to enter the city, and the labyrinth of streets confused any uninvited guest.

Now getting to the village is not difficult. The residents of the Place are hospitable and ready to show tourists the sights of their settlement. Where the central defensive tower once stood, the luxurious Taxiarsis (Great Taxiarsis) Church was erected in the 19th century. The ancient church of Agia Paraskevi and Old Taxiarsis also fascinate with their beauty.

Residents of the village preserve their historical values ​​and honor the traditions of their region. The place is very popular among tourists. People come here to stroll along the colorful streets, immerse themselves in the atmosphere of antiquity, and visit the sights of the Place.

Vrontados

Not far from Chora is the amazing town of Vrontados, surrounded by olive groves and luxurious gardens.

Vrontados is considered the birthplace of Homer. In honor of the most ancient poet of antiquity, the legendary “Homer’s stone” is preserved here, on which he taught his students.

The suburb of Chios is also known for its maritime traditions. This is confirmed by the statue of the "Unknown Sailor", which is located directly opposite the Town Hall.

Local residents say that Christopher Columbus himself came to the sailors of Vrontados and learned navigation from them.

Nowadays, the village is considered an excellent tourist center. It is very cozy and green. In addition to sea attractions, it boasts its temples, restaurants and beaches.

Homer aptly called Chios, his supposed birthplace, “rocky.” The history of the island is turbulent, its appearance is unique, and its character is strong. This large island has always flourished: in the Middle Ages, due to the export of mastic resin - from 1346 to 1566, this trade was supervised by the Genoese rulers, and later by the Ottoman rulers, who called Chios "Sakyz Adasi", that is, "Resin Island". After the island reunited with Greece in 1912, several ship-owning dynasties arose and the island continued to grow rich, albeit in a different manner. Sailing is more than natural for the Chios: in every family at least someone works or has worked in the merchant fleet.

The most powerful dynasties of shipowners, local authorities and the military held back tourism until the end of the 1980s, but the global crisis in shipping (and therefore shipbuilding) and the saturation of other, more “marketable” islands with tourism broke the resistance. Since then, more and more foreigners have been discovering Chios outside its capital: they are enchanted by the villages, Byzantine monuments and the pleasant addition of decent, although remote, beaches. The hinterland clearly does not intend to succumb to tourism, and yet new times have managed to give it a noticeable modern accent, and since among the Chios residents there are many Greeks who returned to their homeland from the USA and Canada, the English language in Chios is not uncommon.

Unfortunately, over the past two centuries the island has suffered from all sorts of disasters so often that it even seems unfair. It was on Chios that the Ottoman Empire committed its most inglorious, if not worst, atrocity against the Greek revolutionaries, destroying 30 thousand Chios in March 1822, enslaving even more of them or forcing them into exile. In 1881, the surviving islanders suffered from a devastating earthquake, and in the 1980s, the island's natural beauty faded due to forest fires that destroyed the forests, which had already been thinned by the work of many generations of shipwrights.

More than half of the majestic coniferous forests have died, with isolated patches surviving only in the far northeast and in the middle of the island (although efforts to replant and restore forests do not remain fruitless). In 1988, the first charter flights from Northern Europe landed in Chios, heralding a potential sea change for the island. But to this day, the island can accommodate no more than 5 thousand visitors, and the lion’s share of places are in the capital and the nearby coastal resorts of Karfas and Ayia Ermioni. But the runway at the airport was nevertheless extended in 2004, so that now the island can receive any jet aircraft, although to this day direct flights with other states, including with, have not been established.

Southern part of Chios island

In addition to olive groves, in the south of the island there are many mastic pistachios (species Pistacia lentiscus); these trees are found throughout the Aegean basin, but only in Chios the fragrant resin is collected in relatively large volumes. For centuries, this resin was used in the production of paints, cosmetics and gummy balls that were chewed like today's chewing gum. Chewing balls were supplied to the Sultan’s harem, where the addiction to this “delicacy” acquired the character of almost a drug addiction. The fact that the Turks turned so fiercely against the Chians is largely due to the fact that the spring uprising of 1822 left them without mastic and the harem without chewing balls.

The mastic trade has kept 20 mastic villages (mastichohoria) afloat since the Genoese asserted their monopoly on the rare substance in the 14th and 15th centuries, but the collapse of imperial Turkey and the development of petrochemicals ended the demand for mastic. Now this substance is just a fun curiosity, but you can chew it (try Elma brand sweetened gum) and, by the way, drink it too (there is a strong drink called mastiha). Since ancient times, mastic has been used by pharmacists and doctors, and today’s cosmetics, toothpastes, elixirs and rinses with mastic are sold in the Mastiha Shop on Eieou in Chios.

Nowadays, mastic villages live mainly from the sale of tangerines, apricots and olives. The mastic villages were not destroyed by the Ottomans in 1822, unlike all other villages on the island, and the surviving architecture is one of a kind: although it is tailored according to Genoese patterns, it very much feels like the neighborhood (even if across the sea) of the Middle East. The villages were built in a quadrangle shape with tall buildings along the outer perimeter, the outer fortified border was broken by only a few entrances to the village, and the gates were usually made in the form of rather long covered corridors under arched vaults.

• Mastic villages

The smallest mastic village, Armolya, located 20 kilometers from the village of the same name, does not make a particularly strong impression, but the locals remain faithful to the pottery craft. But Pirji, another 5 kilometers to the south, is the most colorful village, the houses are dotted with geometric xist patterns: a layer of whitewash is carefully removed from the houses, exposing the black volcanic rock underneath, and in the fall bright purple spots are added to the color scheme - these are tomatoes drying in the sun. The Byzantine Holy Apostolic Church of Agia Apostoli (opening hours unpredictable), located under the arcade on the northeast corner of the central square, is decorated with frescoes painted much later than the Byzantine era.

Recently, all important streets and alleys have acquired boutiques and stalls with postcards, which is somehow not very appropriate against the backdrop of ancient architecture. In the medieval village center there is an ATM, a post office and, in the central square, a cafe and souvlaki stands. Olimbi, 7 kilometers west on the Armolha-Piria bus route, is less visited than other mastic villages, but that doesn't mean it has nothing to interest you. If in Pirya the donjon tower - an almost obligatory detail of the mastic village - looks at the modernized main square with the windows of once residential, but now empty rooms, then in Olimbi the same tower stands in the middle of the square, and in its ground floor there is a rural coffee shop on one side, and on the other – tavern-bar.

The gloomy monochromatic Mesta, 4 kilometers from Olimbi, is considered an example of villages of this kind. Despite the fact that there are more bars, snack bars and shops with junk goods on the outskirts than necessary, almost all residents of Mesta still live by their labors on their land. From the main square, dominated by the Arkhangelsk Taxyarchis Church (the largest on the island), numerous cool, shady alleys with tunnels and buttresses built to protect against earthquakes extend in all directions.

Almost all streets end in dead ends, except those that lead to six exits. Only the northeast covered passage has retained its ancient iron gate to this day. Rooms are offered in half a dozen restored houses by owners such as Dimitris Pipidis, while apartments and a gift shop are run by Anna Floradis, which is more modern accommodation. Of the two taverns, located in an enviable location - on the main square, the quality and prices are better in Mesaionas (Kuga Dhespina), where the hostess is more helpful and offers rooms.

• Mastic coast and Sichias Olimbon cave

The good beaches closest to Mesta begin immediately behind the village port of Limenas Meston: 4 kilometers away is Didima, a double bay with an island covering it, a little further Potami beach with a cool stream of the same name, and finally, Ayia Irini (8 kilometers) - the bay itself is discreet , but with a good tavern. When the wind is from the north, waves rise in all these bays, and the surf carries various floating debris onto the shores. From Olimbi, follow the signs along the paved road and after 6 kilometers you will reach the Sichias Olimbon cave (Easter-October Tuesday-Sunday 10:00-20:00; visiting in groups of up to 25 people every 30 minutes), opened to the general public only in 2003 .

Previously, there was only a hole in the ground in this place, into which the surrounding villagers threw garbage and corpses of livestock, but after 1985, speleologists examined the cave up and down. The formation of a huge cavity in the earth, where the temperature is constant - 18 ° C, occurred in two stages 150-50 million years ago. The cavity reaches a depth of up to 57 meters (only the top 30 meters are available to tourists). Stalactites and stalagmites are named not without invention: Chinese Forest, Medusa, Organ Pipes, and quite deservedly, since anything more beautiful of this kind is unlikely to be found in the entire Mediterranean.

And before descending into the abyss or after returning to the surface of the earth, you can walk through untouched places for another 1.5 kilometers, to the cape with the monastery of Ayia Dinami (Holy Power, that is, God - a monastery, in essence, a Trinity), next to which there are two coves: the nearest shore is sandy, the one further away has sand and gravel, so you can also swim. The village of Pirji is closest to the two main resorts of this part of the island. The nearest one, Emborios, is 6 kilometers away. This is a harbor, surrounded on almost all sides by land, in which there are four decent taverns, and the most advanced of them - Porto Emborios - judge for yourself, it is open almost all year round, the prices are fair, homemade desserts, and even seafood, fried silverside with onions or sea bass fry (not from a fish factory), for example.

On the hill to the northeast is the ancient Emborium (Emboreios), excavated by the British, there are plenty of road signs and signs, and in 2004 the site was declared an “archaeological park”, but so far access is closed due to lack of funds. The cruciform early Christian font is more accessible: look out for the sign in the field, almost right next to the water. The font is fenced by a building of a later time (it is under a castle, but there is a grating through which you can see almost everything and even from different angles).

To swim, follow the road to the crowded car park and beach of Mavros Gialos (Mavra Volya), then continue along the flagstone footpath around the headland to a striking pebble spit (part of it occupied by nudists) with purple-gray volcanic stones, it is called The foki is long, and there are cliffs and rocks all around. If you want sand (and amenities), you will have to travel another 3 kilometers to the northeast, to Komi, which can also be reached from Armolya through Kalamoti. There are several taverns that you might find open, most notably Bella Mare and Nostalgia, which are located directly in the sun and provide guests with sun loungers. There are also cafe-bars and, in season, apartments for rent - behind the pedestrian promenade of the beach.

Central part of Chios island

The part of the island that stretches from the city of Chios to the west and southwest is quite comparable to the south of Chios in terms of the number of historical monuments, and the roads are good, so a walk to the west with your own transport will not create problems. On the far shore there are several beaches that may not be the best on Chios, but are quite passable for a dip in the afternoon or evening.

• Kambos Plain

A vast fertile plain, covered with a carpet of citrus groves, is called Kambos (plain) and stretches from Chios to the southwest, almost to the village of Chalkio. The plain was developed by the Genoese in the 14th century, and it remained a haven for the local aristocracy until 1822. Exploring the region by bicycle or motorcycle is much better than by car, because a web of narrow and poorly marked paths often leads you to a path that runs between two high, head-high walls. It is clear that getting lost in such conditions is easy, and zigzag in a car is much more tiring than on something on two wheels.

Behind the walls you can sometimes (glimpse) see decorated ancient mansions made of locally quarried stone, courtyards paved with pebbles or alternating dark and light tiles. In many courtyards, an irrigation pond curtained by a pergola (hedge) survived, filled with a manganos water wheel, which was rotated by a blindfolded donkey walking in a circle: before the advent of electric pumps, such devices pumped water out of wells up to 30 meters deep. Many of the magnificent three-story houses, built in a mixed Italian-Turkish-Greek style, were abandoned and gradually destroyed after 1881, but more and more of these buildings have recently been converted into private estates or converted into housing for visitors.

Each such shelter is unique and inimitable, but Mavrokordatiko, about 1.5 kilometers from the airport, with spacious heated and wood-decorated rooms, and Arhondiko Perleas in the middle of a vast citrus grove with rich breakfasts and jams from fruits grown without the use of chemicals are famous for their special comfort and service and genetic engineering, in his restaurant. On the way to the mastic villages you can drive up to one outstanding Byzantine monument, which, however, is no longer in Kambos. The 13th-century Panagia Krina Church of the Virgin Mary, fenced off from the world by gardens and forests, deserves to be reached by wandering along paved but poorly marked paths, starting from the village of Vavili (9 kilometers).

The church is closed for a hopelessly protracted renovation, but looking through the window in the apse, you will get a fairly complete idea of ​​the intricate internal structure of the temple and its paintings, fortunately there is sufficient lighting - there are twelve windows in the drum. All the late medieval frescoes and part of the Byzantine paintings in the lower row have been removed and are sometimes exhibited in the Justiniani Museum in Chios. On the outside, stonework alternates with brickwork, and this pattern alone is worth the effort spent on traveling to this church, although the architectural harmony is blurred by the awkward lantern added later on the narthex.

• Nea Moni Monastery

The Byzantine Emperor Constantine Monomakh IX founded the Nea Moni monastery in 1042 on the site where the miraculous icon was found, which happened almost exactly in the center of the island. The monastery is ranked among the most beautiful and significant monuments of the Greek islands as a whole; the mosaics, along with the mosaics of Daphne and Osios Loukas, generally belong to the best examples of art of that time that have survived to our time. The surrounding landscape is no less memorable - the monastery stands in the wooded mountains, 15 kilometers west of the port.

At one time, up to 600 monks were saved in the monastery, but during the Turkish invasion in 1822, Nea Moni was devastated, and almost all the inhabitants (including 3.5 thousand surrounding villagers who took refuge here) fell by the sword. Since then, many of the buildings have remained in a ruined state, although the EU recently allocated a substantial grant for restoration, thanks to which the monastery is shrouded in scaffolding from the outside, but it is unknown when they will be removed. The earthquake of 1881 also severely damaged the monastery, and a century later a forest fire threatened to consume everything that remained, and only when the main icon of the monastery was carried in a religious procession around the monastery did the flames miraculously recede and the fire subsided.

Today, only a couple of lay workers live in the monastery enclosure with its vast refectory and rainwater cisterns under the high arches. Just outside the main gate (daily 8:00-13:00 and 16:00-20:00; summer 17:00-20:00) stands an ossuary chapel containing the bones of those who met their deaths here in 1822. The deep grooves left by axes on children's skulls indicate the ferocity of the reprisal.

The Catholicon with a dome on an octagonal drum was built according to a model found only on. The frescoes in the outer narfic are disfigured by holes allegedly left by Turkish bullets, but the mosaics are a different matter. In the narthex itself, the images of the Chios saints are squeezed between the frescoes “Christ Washing the Feet of His Disciples” and “The Betrayal of Judas” (unfortunately, the image of Judas’ kiss has been erased, but Peter is quite recognizable: he cuts off the ear of the high priest’s servant). The dome was once painted with scenes from the earthly life of Christ, but only the “Baptism”, a piece of the “Ascension to the Cross”, “The Descent from the Cross” and the images of the evangelists Mark and John survived the earthquake.

• West Bank

To the west, about 5 kilometers from Nea Moni, on a hillock from which the coast is visible, a few buildings are scattered - this is Avgonima. The name means “a bunch of eggs” - referring to the eggs in the nest from which the hen has just climbed down, and its appropriateness is obvious to anyone who looks at the village from above, from the nearby ridge. Since the 1980s, the village has been almost completely restored and is used as summer cottages by successful descendants of the original inhabitants of the village, although only seven people live in the village permanently. A Greek family returning from America runs a good tavern called Pyrgos (all year round) with simple cuisine in a mansion with arcades on the main square. Accommodation of the highest class is offered here by Spitakia - several restored houses accommodating up to 5 guests; more modern accommodation can be arranged with the mentioned Pyrgos restaurant.

Another 4 kilometers to the north, the paved road ends at Anavatos, a cluster of empty, earth-colored houses barely visible above the pistachio orchards on top of the 300-meter-high cliff on which they are built. During the rebellion of 1822, about 400 villagers and refugees threw themselves down this cliff rather than fall into the hands of the Ottoman punitive forces. This cliff is still used by suicides. In Anavatos there are only two permanent residents looking after the village, and given the lack of accommodation for the night, the presence of only a very mediocre bar-snack and a frightening, ghostly, burdened with painful memories environment, it is better to leave here quickly before it gets dark.

To the west of Avgonima, a wide highway, after several sweeping turns, descends to the sea for 6 kilometers. Turning to the right (north) at the fork, you will first get to Elinda Beach, attractive from a distance, but up close it turns out to be rocky and dull and therefore, it would probably be better to continue the path to reach secluded coves with sand and gravel on the shores on both sides of Metokha , the best of them are Tigani and Makrya Ammos, favored by nudists. The only village nearby is Sidirunda, perched on a charming hillside and facing the sea (there is a good summer tavern).

On the same coast, if you move southwest to the port of Meston, you come across round watchtowers left over from the Genoese, who built them to look out for pirates. You can swim by turning left to Kastella Bay (officially: Trakhili), where there is also sand and gravel. Better protected from the wind, but also more people - Xeropotamos. A rare weekday bus service resumes 9 kilometers south of the fork at the friendly village of Liti, on a wooded ledge overlooking the sea. The taverns and coffee shops in the ancient heart of the village are not particularly attractive to visitors, who prefer to go 2 kilometers downhill to Paralia Lithiou, where on weekends the large but well-trodden and windswept beach attracts crowds of inhabitants of Chios towns and villages.

The best of the two neighboring and equally expensive fish taverns near this beach is Tria Adherfia. Located about 5 kilometers south of Liti, the village of Vessa at the bottom of the gorge is an unsung song, unlike Mesta or Piriya, but, for all its openness, it is quite homogeneous and uniform. Honey-colored houses form a vast network of caged cells, from which bell towers protrude here and there. On the main road that runs right through the village, in the lower floor of the tower, there is a nameless coffee shop, and Kostas (aka Froso’s) in the square serves excellent yiros, loukaniko and souvlaki.

Northern part of Chios island

Northern Chios has still not recovered from the massacre of 1822, and the desolation between Pitios and Volissos left by forest fires in the 1980s leaves tourists feeling disheartened. Since the early 1900s, the northern villages have been deserted and empty almost all year round, and buses, accordingly, go there very rarely. About a third of the former northerners now live in the capital of Chios, returning to their small homeland only for patronal holidays or to look after the remains of their personal household. Others who have moved to the United States, if they move into their homes, do so in the summer and for no longer than a couple of weeks.

• Road to Kardamyla

Blue city buses departing north from Chios head to Vrontados, a long coastal suburb favored by seafarers. Homer is said to have lived and taught on this shore, and on a terrace with a car park, above a tiny fishing port and a pebble beach, you will be shown a platform that supposedly served as his pulpit, although it was most likely the ancient altar of Cybele. That is why many buses heading here have the inscription “Teacher’s Rock” on them.

The seaside village of Pandukjos, approximately 14 kilometers away from the city, attracts people with its cool, albeit expensive, tavern Kourtesis, by the bay, right by the water - by the way, there are lobsters. But what will most likely make you really want to stop on the side of the eastern coastal road is Langada, which is 2.5 kilometers beyond Pandukjos, although there is no standing beach nearby. The village by the harbor is attractive in itself, and nearby there is also an exit from a deep gorge, behind the bay there is a coniferous forest, and behind it -. Arriving here in the evening, you will be tempted by seafood, which is served in the best of the three neighboring taverns on the embankment: Tou Kopelou, or, as it is more often called, Stelios.

Immediately after Langada, a wide dirt road goes deep into the island and uphill and after 5 kilometers leads to Pitios - an oasis on a mountain pass, above which rises a round fortress. Here, and often from afar, people who are not indifferent to food reach out to honor the sanctuary of the local cuisine of Makellos (late June - early September lunch/dinner daily; other times of the year only Friday-Sunday evenings) on the southwestern outskirts of the village. And after another 4 kilometers you will come across a fork, from where you can easily and quickly get to the west of the island.

• Kardamila and surroundings

Road traffic remains intense to the villages of Ano-Kardamila and Kato-Kardamila, the second city from the capital is 37 kilometers away. Situated on opposite ends of a fertile plain bordered by tori, they at first delight the eye as a welcome respite from contemplating the bare rocks, even sung by Homer. Kato, that is, “lower”, although the village is better known as Marmaro, is larger - the second city of the island - with a bank, post office and gas station. It is not very attractive for guests (there are, however, buildings in the neoclassical style), and the port, mercilessly beaten by the Meltemi wind, is very busy.

Facilities for tourists are extremely scarce, a pleasant and striking exception is the Kdrdamyla hotel: spacious rooms with fans, as well as several suites - and the same owners as the Kyma hotel in Chios. The hotel has the only pebble beach on the shore of the bay, and in the hotel restaurant you can count on lunch (July and August), which is worth knowing, even if you are passing through. Other independent taverns that deserve attention are Ouzeri Barba Yannis (all year round) near the port administration and the newer Thalasses - upscale, but not very expensive.

To swim, for the sake of the gravel on the shore of the bay at the foot of the oasis, it is better to go to the west, where Nagos is located 5 kilometers away, there is the final bus stop (operates only in summer). Luxurious greenery is fed by springs gushing from a kind of grotto at the bend of the road, over which towering cliffs hang. The name - a distorted word "naos" (temple) - recalls the temple of Poseidon that stood near the springs, all visible traces of which were destroyed by long centuries of gardening, predatory hunting for antiquities and excavations organized since 1912.

It’s good to swim further from the shore, although the water is a little cold, both seaside taverns are below average (there are a few better ones away from the sea, behind the springs), a bit homey. The only way to find solitude, especially in July or August, is to move another 1 kilometer to the west, to Jossonas. The beach there is much longer, but windier, rockier and without any amenities.

• Volissos town and surroundings

To get to Volissos by the most direct road, you need to drive 42 kilometers from Chios (but the 44-kilometer-long route through Avgonima is much easier). Volissos was formerly a trading village, where residents from a dozen nearby mountain villages gathered on market day. Its ancient stone houses are still picturesquely located around a dilapidated Byzantine fortress on the top of a mountain, the towers of which were fortified by the Genoese in their (later) time. At first, Volissos makes a depressing impression: almost all 250 permanent residents (mostly elderly villagers) have moved to newer houses around the main square, but if you have a little patience, then everything seems better.

The local quiet and peaceful customs are doomed to soon disappear: the upper part of the village is already affected by the fever of hasty restoration, and it must be admitted that the taste of the craftsmen is usually above all praise - accordingly, prices for renovated real estate soar into the stratosphere. Around the square you will find a post office, an ATM and a trio of mediocre taverns. A couple of gas stations are 2.5 kilometers away from the village and only one gas station is nearby. If you rely on public transport, keep in mind the overnight option, because the bus only stops by on Sundays, picking up day-trippers and then three more times on weekdays, shortly after noon (unless you agree to a flight at 4:30 am).

But don't worry, the area has the best beaches and some of the most interesting accommodation offers in all of Chios. The best and most trusted accommodations are in a few restored buildings, in particular in 16 old houses in the vicinity of Pyrgos. Volissos Travel. Guests - usually housed in groups of two - have terraces and fully equipped kitchens at their disposal, the air is air conditioned, and the sleeping platforms are supported by unusually shaped tree trunks (this is because the owner, Stella, is a sculptor by training).

Volissos has a port called Limnia (sometimes called Limya) 2 kilometers to the south, but ferry and caique services to Psara have been cancelled. The best taverna in the port is Zikos (all year round) at the far end of the promenade: good grill and excellent house salad with sun-dried tomatoes, and seafood on occasion. And from Limnya it’s a stone’s throw to fabulous beaches. Having walked - or driven - 1.5 kilometers along the cape to the southeast, you will see the seemingly endless sand and pebble beach of Managros - hurry, they are already arguing about building a large resort here.

More secluded, sandy Lefkatya is a 10-minute walk along a cement access road that winds along the headland north of the harbour. Facilities consist of a seasonal snack bar on the sand and apartments, the owner of which, Ioannis Zorbas, has beautifully placed the accommodation in the garden, along the paved road from Volissos. The highway goes to Limnos (not to be confused with Limnya), this is another sheltered bay located 400 meters east of Lefkatia. Of the two taverns here, Taverna Iy Limnos offers better food: grilled fish and specialties, such as cocoras crasato (rooster in wine). Latini Apartments are neat and feature many stone terraces.

Local postcards like to include views of Ayia Markella, which is 5 kilometers north-west of Limnos: behind the long beach is the monastery of the patron saint of Chios (feast day July 22), but the monastery is not of particular interest to foreigners, and only pilgrims. But in imitation of the Gospel episode with the expulsion of traders from the Temple, only religious objects are sold inside the monastery fence, and all sorts of plastic crafts will be imposed on you only on the approach to the monastery.

The dirt road behind the monastery is suitable for any vehicle with a minimum of caution, and will take you to a surfaced road over the north-east coast. Turning left you will reach the remote village of Ayia Gala, famous for its cave temple complex built into the high cliffs above the stream at the bottom of the village. Signs saying Panayia Ayiogaloisena indicate a path crossing the stream, but to get to the grotto with the churches you need to find a person with the key to the grotto (ask at the central coffee shop) and then go down the steps by the eucalyptus tree.

Of the two churches in the cave - it has become part of the tourism business, and, presumably, permission to visit the grotto will soon be formalized - the one closer to the entrance is larger, it was built in the 15th century, but it looks newer, since it underwent a major restoration in 1993 . But when you see the incredibly ornate temblon (iconostasis) in the distant, smaller and more ancient church, you will forget everything else, especially since the frescoes are heavily smoked, with the exception of the wonderfully mysterious and sad Virgin Mary, the most sorrowful in the entire Christian world, with the Child in her arms.

Satellite islands of Chios (Psara and Inousse)

Both small islands have a village, a separate monastery and several beaches, but both are surprisingly different from each other and, of course, from their huge neighbor. On Inus, which is closer and smaller, there is a daily boat service from Chios during the season. Connections to Psara by sea are highly dependent on the weather (there are theoretically almost daily flights from Chios, as well as several government-subsidized ferries per week), but it is perhaps too far away for a day trip for a few hours.

• Psara islet

The hero of the revolutionary war, Admiral Canaris, was born on the island, and in the 1820s, Psara, which had the third merchant fleet, made it available to the independence fighters. And she paid dearly for it. In 1824, the Turks, furious beyond measure, landed an innumerable army on the island, crushing the resistance. About three thousand islanders escaped on tiny canoes and were saved - they were picked up by sailors of the French fleet, but most of the population retreated to the powder magazines on the hill, and then the besieged blew up the ammunition along with themselves, not wanting to surrender to the enemy.

Today this sad, barren piece of land fully lives up to its name (in Greek: “grayness”) - Psara has never recovered from the misfortune that destroyed her people and ended her well-being. The Turks burned all the buildings spared by the explosion, gardens and, in general, everything that could burn, and now, officially, a little more than 400 islanders live on Psar. If hopes for the best arose in recent years, it was only in the 1980s, when the descendants of Canaris living in France proposed a program for returning the island to life and a Greek team appeared that was supposed to carry out this plan.

It was possible to improve the port, the supply of electricity and clean water and open a secondary school, a by-product of stable cultural ties with, which, however, did not increase the number of tourists visiting Psara. The path to Psara is a serious challenge: the ferry that regularly leaves for the island from the city of Chios takes up to 4 hours to cover 57 nautical miles (105 kilometers), and the sea is almost always rough. Although in the village stretching to the east above the harbor there are few buildings built earlier than the 20th century, for some reason the strange pile of church and secular buildings that greet those coming ashore is pleasing to the eye and soul.

There is something elusively southern in the appearance, you seem to be in or, and none of the strange churches is like the other. If you have to spend the night, choose between half a dozen very simple rooms and three more sophisticated options - these are the Psara studio and the Restalia apartments, both establishments are rather nondescript, but with balconies and kitchens. The third option is xenon EOT, the state travel agency located this hotel in a former, albeit restored, prison. Taverns, a post office, a bakery and a store complete the list of available amenities; there is no full-fledged bank.

The beaches on the island are decent, and get better as you travel from the port to the northeast. Quickly passing Kato Gialos, Katsouni and Lazaretto with the power plant on the side of the road, you will reach Lakka Beach in 15 minutes, which means "hollow" or "ditch" - the name seems to imply rock formations with grooves and recesses in which you can hide from the strong winds that often blow on this coast, and a dead swell reigns near the coast.

Limnos, a 25-minute walk from the port along the coastal path, is large and inviting, but without a single decent taverna, like every other beach on the island. The only other thing you can do on Psar is a hike to the north of the island; the path there, by the way, is paved and leads to the Assumption Monastery of Kimisis. In the 1970s, the monastery was left without inhabitants and comes to life only in the first week of August, when the revered monastery image is carried in a religious procession from the monastery to the village and back on the evening before August 5th.

• Islet of Inuse

Inuse is also inhabited - about 300 people live there permanently, more than half as many as before the war, but its history is not at all the same as that of Psara. Generation after generation, this medium-sized island, which only began to be settled in 1750 by shepherds who moved from Chios, supplied the Aegean Sea with more and more new names of shipowners, and many were among the richest families in the country: all these Livanos, Lemos were born here , Pateras, and there is not a square or street on the island that does not bear the name of one or another of the major clans.

It’s clear where huge villas come from on a generally sleepy island and why yachts come here in the summer. Moreover, through the efforts of many ship-owning magnates, a maritime museum was created (daily 10:00-13:00; 1.50 €), located near the embankment, and at its western end, with the money of the same big shots, future merchant mariners study at a large nautical school . During the Sunday season, to make an excursion from Chios to Inousse within 24 hours, just take the local ferry Inousses II: on almost all weekdays this ship arrives at Inousse at 13:00 or 15:00, and departs back to Chios at 8 :00 the next day.

If the tourist season is over (or has not yet begun), the trip will cost more: on Chios they offer, asking twice as much as for a regular ferry. The harbor seems to be guarded - although it is already surprisingly well protected - two islands with churches, both private property. The village of Inuse is surprisingly large, with houses clinging to the slopes of the hills surrounding the ravine. Although the town's countless riches are famous all over the world, it looks unpretentious: in houses with local characteristics, traces of discreet neoclassicism are noticeable.

The only, but comfortable and recently renovated Thalassoporos hotel is located on the main path of the eastern slope of the hill, but there are no licensed buildings. Things are bad with restaurants; there is almost nowhere to eat, except perhaps in the simple Pateronisso tavern, clearly visible at the beginning of the pier. Every season, a few simple Uzers try their luck at the nautical school. Cafe bars such as Naftikos Omilos support some nightlife. Near the museum you will find a post office and a bank.

Everything else on this serene island, at least on its southern slope, is striking in its lush greenery and pleasingly well-groomed. There are no springs on Inus, so water, both fresh and brackish, is taken from wells, and there is also a reservoir. The sea off the southern coast, sheltered from the winds, is unusually clean and calm, with beaches to choose from – Zepaga, Bilali and Castro, a 5, 20 and 30 minute walk to the west from the port, respectively. The more secluded Furquero (or Farquero) is a 25-minute walk to the east: first along a cement path ending at a coastal chapel, then along a path, past a coniferous forest and through a ridge. But as on Psar, there are no (at least permanent) amenities on the beaches.

The road to the west ends at the rather creepy Annunciation Monastery of Evangelism, built at the expense of one of the branches of this rich, pious and populous Pateras family. Inside lie the relics of Irini Pateras, whose father Paganos Pateras was seriously ill, and the loving daughter began to fervently pray that she would be destined to die in her father’s place. Her prayers were answered, and in the early 1960s the girl died and was subsequently canonized. The father, who outlived his devout daughter by several years, was also buried in this monastery. And the abbess, who now presides over 20 nuns, a widow who took monastic vows, bore the name of Mrs. Pateras in the world. The monastery accepts only women, and random visits from the leisure public are not at all welcome.

In contact with

An ancient Chios legend says that when the Romans led Saint Isidore to execution, he, without repenting, but in great sadness, cried throughout the journey, and his tears falling to the ground turned into fragrant mastic. This is the explanation for the unusual phenomenon: a tree that is found in many parts of the Mediterranean produces mastic only in Chios and nowhere else. Therefore, they believe that mastic is a gift from Saint Isidore. However, Chios is interesting not only for its mastic. There are also villages with traditional architecture - Olympus and Mesta.

There is Pyrgi, a traditional village with extraordinary “scraped” ornaments on the walls, the likes of which are not found anywhere in Greece. There is also the New Monastery, a famous Byzantine monastery with magnificent mosaics. There is also the famous Rock of Homer - “Daskalopetra”. All attractions are inextricably linked with the history of the island from ancient times to the recent past. Until 1822, when the island rebelled to gain freedom and suffered terrible massacres at the hands of the Turks, why Chios became known as the most martyred of the Greek islands. You can arrive to Chios by ferry from Piraeus, Thessaloniki, Kavala, Lemnos, Mytilene and Samos or by plane from Athens. Chios is located near the coast of Turkey, between Samos and Lesbos and, together with Aenoussa and Psara, makes up the region (none) of Chios. The island extends over 842 square kilometers and has a population of approximately 54,000 people.

The city of Chios or Chora, as the locals call it, is located on the eastern coast of the island, near the coast of Asia Minor.

It is the capital of the island and region (nome) of Chios, which has a population of 24,000 people. The city was built on the site of an ancient Ionian city, from which only minor ruins of the theater and city walls have survived. The old Turkish quarter is located north of the port and inside the large Fortress, which was built by the Byzantines and later expanded by the Genoese. Walking from there to the city center we can visit the Archaeological Museum and then the A. Korais Library, which is one of the largest in Greece and has about 130,000 volumes, as well as the interesting ethnographic museum of Philip Argentis located in the same building. Nearby stands the Cathedral of Saint Victors, built in 1881. The territory of the island of Chios has 10 so-called. municipalities (Chios, Gomeropolis, Kardamyla, Kamprochora, Mastichochoria, Amanis, Psara, Enoussa, Ionia, Agios Minas).

Chios is a mountainous island. The highest mountain is Pelinei (its height reaches 1297 meters), densely covered with pine trees. Other important mountains of the island are Provatas and Epos. The area of ​​the island is 842 sq. Km, the length of the coastline is 213 km, the population is 50,000 people. In the south of the island, many Chios are engaged in the production of mastic, one of the main products. Based on finds made in a cave in the north of Chios, it is established that the island has been inhabited since the end of the Neolithic (4000-3000 BC)

The climate on the island Chios has typical Mediterranean characteristics, with north or north-westerly winds typical of the island and temperatures not exceeding 28 - 29 degrees Celsius. Winter is usually calm here. In summer, precipitation falls quite rarely and in small quantities. Maritime trade plays a very important role in the economy of Chios.
Trade, navigation and art received particular development in the history of the island of Chios.

The main port is located in the town of Chios, where private yachts also stop. There are a number of seaports that rank second in importance. These are Lagada on the north coast, Marmaro in the northeast, Mesta on the southwest coast and the port of Limnia, located in the western part of the sea coastline.

As mentioned above, one of the most important products of the island of Chios is mastic, which is also unique in its production method. In 1346 the island was captured by the Genoese. Then they founded the first Maoru company to produce mastic.
And in 1566, the island was captured by the Turks, who granted Chios a number of privileges because they were interested in the mastic trade. Mastic is well known and widely celebrated throughout the world for its aroma and taste. Mastic is grown mostly in an area called Mastichohoria (“Mastic villages”). "Mastic villages" are all the villages south of Kampos. There are mastic trees on both sides of the road. Each tree produces about 200 g of mastic per year. Approximately 20 tons of mastic are exported to different countries. Jam, butter, wine, citrus fruits, grain products, etc. are also produced here.