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ISLAND INFO
Chios Island
The historical elements of Chios are as many
as its beauties. Many of its traditional
villages architectural style of
incomparable beauty. The trademark of the
island is the special type of lentisk resin
produced by the mastic tree. This tree
thrives only within the 21 mastic villages
of southern Chios. Chios town is the
island’s capital and main port. The island
has everything, from valleys with flowers to
beautiful sandy of pebble beaches.
Chios town
Chios town, spread out along the east coast,
is the island’s capital and main port. The
town of Chios can be characterized as the
center of its civilization. In the city one
can find evidence from all periods of its
long history since the Chios town has always
covered the same geographic area in each
rebuilding through its history.
Places to visit
While your walk in the center of the town
you must visit the Archaeological and
Byzantine museum that will bring up
historical memories, the Naval museum, the
famous Korais Library with 135.000 volumes
including valuable manuscripts describing
the events of the local history and a
collection of rare books of Adamantios
Korais as well as the unique collection
of
documents related to Chios, the Castle of
Chios, built in the Byzantine times and
repaired during the Genova occupation during
the 15th century. Along the central road of
the castle one can visit the church of Saint
George and to the north the Turkish Baths.
Worth seeing are also the Kria Vrisssi and
Koule, the Turkish tower. Besides the
historical monuments the city of Chios
provides hours of relaxation either at the
town’s main square, Plateia Vournakiou, with
its café and sweet shop or the busy and
picturesque harbour with the traditional
taverns. In addition Aplotaria, the
commercial street is the ideal place for
shopping while the near by beaches are ideal
for swimming and enjoyment.
Villages
Kambos:
Situated just outside the city of Chios. A
fertile valley with gardens and citrus
groves where one can see the old Genoese
mansions with the beautiful pebbled yards.
Vrondados:
is the seat of the Municipality of Homeroupolis
and is located 5 km far from Chios town, at the northeast side of the island
The most well known place in the area of Vrondados is the seaside settlement of Daskalopetra (the teacher's stone).
According to tradition, this is the place where the famous poet Homerus taught his immortal epic poems.
Hundreds of people visit every year Vrontados at Easter period to watch the unusual
and sensational event of Rocketwar.
According to this custom, over 60,000 rockets are fired from the residents of two opposing camps to each of the other's rival churches in the parishes of Saint
Mark and Virgin Mary Erethianis.
Pyrgi:
Is the largest medieval mastic village. The
facades of the front village houses are
painted with bands of geometric designs
known as "xysta".
Anavatos:
Situated west of the capital, and built on a
natural medieval fortress.
Volissos:
Volissos is at the north part of Chios with
its ruined Byzantine castle and the
Monastery of Agia Markella.
Nea Moni:
a monastery with some of the most brilliant
samples of Byzantine architecture.
Kardamyla:
is built on the site of ancient Kardamilis.
The architecture of the village is
traditional with narrow streets, covered
passages and stone built houses decorated
Beaches
Karfas:
A beautiful organized sandy beach with
shallow waters
Mavra Volia:
A long beach with black pebbles . One of the
most famous beaches in the island
Agia Fotini:
A beach with black and white pebbles and
blue waters.
Komi:
Beautiful beach with golden sund
Vroulidia:
Sandy beach with crystal clear waters
Elinda:
A beautiful bay with one of the best beaches
of the island.
How to get there
- By air:
from Athens and Thessaloniki
- By Ferry:
from Piraeus, Thessaloniki, Kavala, the
eastern Aegean islands and the islands
of Dodecanes
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