What to see in Chios?
The island of Chios is large and has many attractions. In addition to the beautiful beaches, the main feature is the medieval villages with towers, walls, crenellated houses, and many Byzantine monuments. The southern part remains the most fascinating. Below are the main things to see.
Chios (Chora)
Located opposite the Turkish coast, it is surrounded by gardens and a plateau rich in vegetation. Unfortunately, the 1881 earthquake caused much damage, and Chora, with its beautiful medieval village, was partially rebuilt. Chios has a characteristic old port with small colorful houses, and behind the quay, the "Archaeological Museum." The "Museum of Neo-Greek Sculpture" is also very interesting. Ottoman buildings (old mosques, a mausoleum, and a prison) can be seen everywhere, as well as Christian monuments like the Metropolis and the church of Aghios Isidoros. However, the overall appearance of Chios is modern.
Castle of Chios
A fortress surrounded by walls enclosing the old and picturesque Turkish quarter with its Byzantine baths and the church of Aghios Georgios.
Library of Chios
The Korais library in Chios contains one of the most important collections of ancient manuscripts in Greece. It holds about 130,000 books and also houses the Folklore Museum.
Vrisi tou Pasa
A place near the sea, near Vrontados, where you can see a huge split rock (called "petra tou Omirou") on which, according to tradition, Homer sat to teach.
Volissos
A beautiful village with colorful houses, narrow alleys, and a now-ruined Byzantine castle.
Pitios
A village in the mountains where the "presumed" birthplace of Homer with its olive grove exists.
Monastery of Nea Moni
One of the most important Byzantine monuments (11th century) in Greece, with beautiful frescoes and stunning mosaics. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1990.
Anavatos
A scenic and traditional ruined and abandoned village with houses perched on the mountain and surrounded by cliffs.
Kampos
A beautiful village with numerous 18th-century holiday homes that constitute a sort of open-air museum.
Armolia
A village famous for its ceramic workshops. In the past, it had one of the most important fortresses on the island.
Pyrgi
An incredible village (national monument) with houses decorated with beautiful white and gray geometric designs, unique in all of Greece. The houses are close to each other and surrounded by walls. The Byzantine church of Agioi Apostoli and the basilica of Koimisis Theotoku are beautiful.
Mesta
A beautiful medieval village, one of the best-preserved on the island, with corner towers, walls, narrow streets with arches, and ancient houses.
Ossuary of Mitras
A local pilgrimage site in memory of the "Massacre of Chios" that occurred in 1882 by the Turks, in which more than 25,000 islanders were barbarously killed.
Cave of Agio Gala
Located near the tiny village of Agio Gala in the northwest of the island, it is a cave inhabited since the Neolithic period.
Archaeological Zone
Among the archaeological sites on the island, we find, in the area of Mount Pelineo, a large village from the 8th century BC and an acropolis with the temple of Athena. Near Kato Phana, there are the remains of a temple of Apollo.
Mastice
For those who love nature and its curiosities, starting from the monastery of Aghios Minas (proceeding south), you can see the "crying bushes," the mastic trees from which the famous aromatic mastic of Chios is extracted, used especially in confectionery. This type of tree exists in other parts of the Mediterranean but only in Chios does it produce mastic (about 200 kg per year per tree). According to an old tradition, it represents the tears of Aghios Isidoros shed by the Saint along the way to the place where he was killed by the Romans. The villages where the mastic trees are found are called Mastokoria and in the past, they were guarded by armed guards because they managed a true treasure.
Mount Pelineo
It is possible to climb to the top with a walk of about three hours starting from the village of Kombia or Spartounta.
Boat trip to Oinousses
Oinousses is actually an archipelago of nine islets, without tourist facilities, among which the largest gives it its name.
Easter in Vrontados
A famous festival with a kind of Easter war between two rival churches. The battle consists of launching rockets and fireworks with the aim of hitting the opposing church.
Carnival of Olimbi
A carnival highlighting the contrast between the island's farmers and the Turks who occupied it in the past.
