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Chios Island - Castles
23-09-2012 16:05Chios has one of the best preserved medieval defence networks in the Mediterranean (castles and towers, fortified settlements). This is a remarkable case of a defence system presents common features with other Mediterranean areas, but also features of both distant past (antiquity), and medieval and later era. The medieval past of the island is reflected in the marble monuments that survive from this period, both in town and in villages, which are found evidence of Byzantine, Genoese and Venetian times.
The key location of the island in terms of geopolitics, on the limit of the eastern Mediterranean, owes its importance in the Byzantine Empire to the rivalries of the naval forces of Venice and Genoa to conquer it.
The Medieval period of history is still alive in the many castles and towers of the island, witnesses of the need for fortification and defence against pirates and potential invaders and conquerors.
During the conquest of Chios by Genoas, (1346-1566), the villages of southern Chios, got organized as settlements fortresses, to defend against external threats, but also control manpower. Striking point is that the Castle of Chios, and the medieval castle villages are still alive settlements.
Fortified medieval settlements:
Mastichochoria:
Pyrgi
Mesta
Olympoi
Kalamoti
Armolia
Vessa
Anavatos
Castles with easy access:
Castle of Chios town
Castle of Volissos village
Castles easily visited by paths (slight ascent in some cases):
Apolichnon Castle (Armolia)
Grias Castle (Kardamyla)
Orias Castle (Kabia)
Dotion Tower (Pyrgi)
“Ta Markou” Tower (Pispilounta)
Viglas
Circular towers built on the capes of the island to observe the sea.
Viglas you can visit: Vigla Pachi (Sidirounta), Vigla Mesta, Vigla Trachiliou (Lithi).
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