24-09-2012 16:05

Chios Island: Medieval gleams
 
From the very first moment reaching the island of Chios you can sense the noble style of the island. Chios has never been a famous tourist destination and this fact is the reason for having maintained the originality through time.
The smells emanating from the gardens in Chios and the aroma of Mastic are the most intense sense in the island. Chios is very well known for the naval tradition always standing silent and distant, waiting to be discovered only by those who would appreciate its mysterious and distant beauty.
The city of Chios where is also the port of the island, is built on the remains of the corresponding ancient city.
Starting from the city of Chios we get to know the history of the island with the fortress in the northern side of city, built 9th with 10th century. Entering the South Gate you see the building of Ioustiniani that was restored in the past few years and is museum of mosaics, Byzantine and post Byzantine mural of Saints, pictures and wooden sculpture.
On the same level there is the prison in which were imprisoned the 70 notables of island before they were decapitated, in 1822, and the grave of Kara Ali. Visit also the temple of Saint George, Turkish Baths, and Koule, the Turkish tower. Apart from the museums, the more important cultural centre of city is Omireio Intellectual Centre, built in 1974, but also Korai’s Library, third in quantity of books in Greece. While you leave the city, the nature of Chios is revealed with charming landscapes and incense. Here Genoas and the local aristocrats of 14th century chose to build their manor houses. The plain has still churches with impressive belfries and southern, in the village of Babyloi, you will admire the Byzantine temple of Virgin Mary of Krinas (13th century), with elaborate murals. In the mountain range, is found the region of Sklavies, resort for Genoa conquerors.
This region is the most beautiful in Chios Island. Follow South-eastern the way to Karfa, Aghia Ermioni and Megalo Limiona. Continue westwards to the village of Thymiana, well known for the stone, but also the Carnival that takes place here. Near Neochori is the historical Abbey of Saint Minas, where 2000 people took refuge in 1822, where they were also sacrificed.
Kallimasia is a medieval village of Chios that was destroyed by the earthquake in 1881. Here you can find the Women Handicraft Partnership in order to buy local products and dedicate some time to the Folklore Museum of the village. The legendary mastic gum of Chios has offered fame but also economic development in a region that is fixed by Mastichochoria (villages where mastic gum is produced. Kalamoti is a medieval settlement of Chios that is ideal for swimming with the sand beach. Try local cuisine and especially sweets. Try local cheeses and the eminent kopanisti cheese of Chios. Do not omit to try mastic gum, marzipans and drink the marvellous ouzo of Chios, liqueur and rosewater.
Medieval Chios is in the southwest part of the island. The past lives up in Armolia, Pyrgi, Olympus (where you will see the cavern of Sykia, small but impressive), Mesta and Vessa that supplemented the citadel style architecture of island, in the 14th and 15th century. The tour includes the village of Tholopotami, Exo didima, Byzantine church of Virgin Mary of Sicily and the ruins of Zyves. In Emporeio, the southern settlement of Chios, you will see the Temple of Athina Poliadas, while the village of Pyrgi, that is northern, is known as the “painted village” with houses ornamented scratched style. Here is also the temple of Saints Apostoloi (12th century). In the port of Fanoi you can see the remains of the temple of Fanaios Apollon, in the village of Mesta you will admire the church of Taxiarchis with a wooden carved temple while in the west side of the island you can swim in the beach of LImena of Mesta, Aghia Irini and Lithi. Have a stop in Aghios Georgios Sikousis to enjoy the view and find Karies famous for the fountains. Visit also Nea Moni for the mosaics for which is characterised as Byzantine Monument of National Importance.
 
In continue you find the village of Vrontados, on the beach of which the statue of Unknown Sailor dominates and the village of Daskalopetra or Stone of Homer, where according to the tradition poet Homer used to teach. You will continue for the monastery of Mersinidio and beautiful villages of Pantoukio, Lagkada, Ano and Kato Kardamyla. In the mountain of Grias you will find the ruins of a Roman Castle and south-western, in the village of Pityos, an ancient settlement, in which, according to the tradition poet Homer lived. There is also a Genoa Tower.
In the North is found the taller mountain of the island, Mount Pelinaio, with altitude of 1297 m. In the Monastery of Moundes (1570) you will admire the murals, work of Mr Katarraktousi and of other painters of the island. You will visit, also, the villages of Katavasi and Sidirounta, with beautiful view to Volissos an important village of the region, claiming, also, the fatherhood of Homer. It is built on the slope of a hill, in the top of which, there is a Byzantine fortress.
 
In Limnia, you will find beautiful beaches and Saint Markellas, as well as the villages of Amanis (Pyrama, Parparia, Tripes, Melanio). In the mountain of Amanis there are localities of natural beauty. We will attempt an exploration in the cavern of the village Aghio Gala, in which have been found important prehistoric discoveries and it is still not entire explored. In the entry is saved the Byzantine church of Virgin Mary of Agiogalousainas, with appreciable wooden temple. Villages with special beauty are Nenitouria, Kourounia and Egrigoros. Near the village of Keramos there are mines of antimony and in Agiasmata, hot water sources with sanatory properties. Anavatos is a true revelation. You see pictures that remind mountainous historical villages of mountainous Greece, while on the entire slope we see old mansions, Stone built, with imposing architecture. The village of Anavatos had a lot of forests during byzantine and post byzantine years, worked here lumberjacks for the ship yards of Istamboul.
 
History
The history of the island of Chios is lost in depths of centuries, in the beginnings the first millennium BC. The first residents were Pelasgoi, Leleges, Kares, Avantes, Paiontes and Sinties. In the years that followed, Iones gained the battle of sovereignty and the 8th century BC was established in the island the “Big Clause”, the statute of Regime of Chios, which is considered to be the oldest Constitution in the world. Chios claims also the fatherhood of Homer. The golden era was the 6th century BC, when the island knew big commercial and cultural acne. Known sculptors of Chios and founders of Islander Faculty were Melas, Mikiadis, Achermos and Voupalos, while from Chios came also the philosophers Theokritos and Ariston, historian Theopompos, geographer Skymnos. The life in Chios at that time was considered life with luxury and wealth that emanated from big commercial activity.
Chios was subjugated, afterwards, in Perses, Athenians, Macedonians, King Mithridati, and Romans, while the glamour of island was not regained even in the years of Byzantium. Acne and prosperity came back to the island only during Ottoman domination as, substantially self-governed regained its commercial force. This heaven on earth was destroyed because of a scary fact, the Slaughter of Chios, in 1822. In 1881, a terrible earthquake destroyed again the island that became, finally, part of Greece on 11 November 1912 by the Greek Army.

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