Vavili

Location

Vavili is southwest of the town of Chios and just 7 kilometers from it. The mainly occupation for its 200 citizens is agriculture. Their gardens are located in the West side of the village, on the side of Sklavia, where there are wells with plenty of water. They produce many premature gardening products and the very famous, sweet and easy cooking beans of Vavili. There is also a small production of mastic.

This small village also belongs to the municipality of Kambochora, although it maintains its municipal school. Besides, it has a library and a Byzantine Museum where ecclesiastical objects of great value and wonderful pictures taken from the temple of Panaghia Krina are exposed.

The name "Vavili" is said to be derived from the Genoese last name "Vavilas", while the tradition mentions that the village was built from the slaves (kopelia, sklavia) of the Genoese, who had their castles and their estates in the area (Krina, Kardamada, Anemonas, Sklavia). When the slaves were set free, along with their freedom they had the right to settle in the area nearby and cultivate it, a fact that could explain the name Sklavia (slavery), (sklavi=little slave). In the area the visitor can still see the church of Agios Ioannis of the Catholics and some old Genoese mansions.