Chios Mesta Anavatos Nea Moni Emborios Olympoi Cave Pyrgi Kambos Nagos Volissos Agio Gala Cave Karfas Oinouses Tsesme Agia Markella Olympi Panagia Voithia Agios Minas 3 WindMills
Chios (Chora)
The capital of chios, where the majority of chians live, work, entertain themselves. Here lies the main port and close by the airport.
Mesta
Mesta is a well- preserved castle-village of the Byzantine era, 35 kilometers south-west of the city of Chios. It has been proclaimed a landmark and is a beautiful village with narrow streets, small stone houses adjacent to each other forming a strong protective wall and architecture rich in arches, terraces, and round turrets.
Anavatos
The medieval- Byzantine village of Anavatos, hidden and difficult to reach, resembles a castle-tower. The locals call it the Mistras of the Aegean. It was the last rampart of freedom, and like the Zallongos, it fell to in the hands of the Turks after being betrayed.
Nea Moni Monastery
20 kilometers for the city of Chios is the monastery Nea Moni. It is situated in quiet wilderness. The monastery is a temple built completely of marble and is interiorly decorated with mosaics of Byzantine style, expressive of a majestic history. During the Turkish domination there were many monks who became martyrs in their effort to keep the monastery impregnable to the conquerors. Till this day the monastery retains its traditions and remains in operation without electricity. In combination to its isolation, Sunday mass and other Christian celebrations resemble a different epoch.
Mavra Volia - Emborios
This is a beach of unique morphology in Greece. The beach pebbles are black due to the inactive sub-aqueous volcano.
The 'Deep-cave' of Olimbi
The Olimbi cave is 57 meters deep. According to scientists, it began to form 150 million years ago and was completed 50 million years ago. Its limestone decorations are still in formation. The stalactites have been given names like Medusa, Armonio, Spileanthropi, Lahanokipos.
Pyrgi or Pirgi
Pyrgi or Pirgi - The village of ColumbusTowards the south-west of Chios one finds Pirgi. It is a village with the characteristic exterior plastering of the houses. The houses are also built adjacent to each other enabling inhabitants of older times to easily notify each other of piracies. There are inscriptions that bear witness that Christopher Columbus on his way to America stopped on Chios and Pirgi to give his crew a rest.
Kambos (Kampos)
Kambos is famous for the impressive villas and town homes that were the homes of the Genoese and the Greek gentry. The villas possess extrordinary architectural style and are built in the middle of well-watered fertile grounds. Most of them are very well-preserved or renovated.
Nagos
One of the most famous beaches of Chios.
Volisos - A commercial center
In older days Volissos was a trading center and a meeting place for people of the north and south. Chios is geographically situated in the middle of two lands, Greece and Asia/Arabia, and thus was a resting place for sailors and an ideal place to sell their goods: Eastern silks, spices from the south and northern products. Were sold in the bazaar. The bazaar lasted days and every evening a variety of different kinds of dances and music was played. Some of these musical mixtures have become traditional and are still played by local bands. In Volissos there is a tower that is lighted at nights and can be seen from many kilometers away.
Agio Gala Cave
Karfas
The most popular tourist destination in chios island
(more info).
Oinouses or Egnousa
Oinousses ornate with high mansions built in the traditional Aegean island architectural style, Egnoussa has approximately 800 inhabitants, all occupied with maritime activities. Egnoussa is the birthplace of some major Greek ship owners.
Tsesme or Cesme (Turkey)
Cesme is a village located at the tip of a peninsula, part of the Gulf of Izmir. This fishermen's village (which name means 'Fountain') counts abundant healing springs and thermal waters in its area. Cesme is dominated by a 14th century Genoese fortress. Though it is becoming a popular holiday resort especially for surfers, it has been able to preserve its Turkish characteristics. Arrive here by boat on a 45 minute trip.
Agia Marcella
The monastery of Agia Marcella is situated 36 kilometers from the city, near the sea. Saint Marcella denied paganism and became a Christian martyr. She was hunted and killed by her father, the ruler of the island. History tells us that the hunt was tragically ended at the sharp rocks near the beach, 200 meters away from the place where the monastery now stands. Agiasma is the name of the place where the rocks miraculously opened up to protect the saint from her fathers’ wrath but there was not enough space for her head, and she was beheaded. On the day of her memory a commemoration is held in that spot and the remarkable fact is that the water is sweet, not salty.On the day previous to her memory thousands of people either on foot or by car go to the monastery and take part in the pompous liturgy or to fulfill a vow.
Olimbi
The village of Olimbi is 31 kilometers form Chios and 6 km form Pirgi. It is a medieval village with narrow, cobbled streets and a heavy but simple architecture that gives it an archaic atmosphere, like a memory of the Byzantium in a modern time. The locals are primarily beekeepers and farmers.
The monastery of Panagia (Virgin Mary) Voithia
In the area of Fragkomahalas, 3 kilometers from the city of Chios and with the entire city at its feet is the monastery of Panagia Voithia. The completion of the monastery was achieved thanks to the trouble and care of the ever-memorable friar Anthimos, a monk with many gifts and healing abilities. Visitors can learn more about him reading the book "O Gerontas".
The monastery is unique and at a time was inhabited by up to 80 nuns under the guidance of friar Anthimos. Today only 15 nuns live there. When guided through the court, it feels like time has stopped. The interior of the temple has the saints' skull. Many visitors can smell the faint fragrance coming from the sacred remains of the Saint.
Agios Minas Monastery
It is located outside Thimiana, a village near Karfas. 5 thousand Chians were killed there, and most of them were women, children and seniors who were unable to defend themselves from the invaders. The interior of the temple bears witness of burned flesh, of babies and people trying to escape the flames that were everywhere- signs of them are visible on the marbles.
The 3 Windmills
