Pyrgi
is the most colorful village of the Island, with its unique black
and white geometrical decoration in the outside walls of the houses. These
patterns are called "xista" and they are outlined with paint. You will
visit the 12th century Byzantine church of St. Apostles located on the
north-east corner of the central square.
After driving 11 kilometer you will arrive to the
village of Mesta, considered the finest example of its gender. From
the main square, a bewildering maze of cool, shady lanes, provided with
buttresses to protect from the earthquakes and tunnels between the usually unpainted houses
leads off in all directions. Most streets end in blind alleys, except
the critical few which lead to the village gates. We will make a visit to
the largest church of the Island, Taxiarchis. Your last stop will be at the
village of Armolia, where you will be given the opportunity to visit two
renown workshops in order to admire the process of making clay and ceramic
articles.
CENTRAL
NEA MONI MONASTERY, AYGONIMA
AND MEDIEVAL ANAVATOS
Leaving the town of Chios behind, up the sheep herding fields, we
come to the Byzantine monastery of Nea Moni, the most notable of the seven
monasteries of the Island.
Originally, the monastery was founded in the early
11th century by three monks. Later on, in the same century, the Byzantine
emperor Constantine Monomachus, had a magnificent monastery built in this
place. To distinguish it from the old one, it was named Nea Moni (new
monastery). The 11th century church is one of the finest examples of
Byzantine ecclesiastical architecture in the eastern Mediterranean.
We continue at the 11th century village of Avgonima
for a break. And after we arrive to the medieval village of Anavatos,
where the ruins of the historic castle dominate the whole area. You can
still admiring the ruins of the Anavatos acropolis, the city walls, the
churches, the reservoir and the houses
Excursions
to Inousses island
One day
boat trip to Inousses island (lunch-swimming) and to Langada (fishing village)
for coffee.
Duration: 09:00 - 17:00
Here you can find some examples of the most popular
walking paths that our customers enjoyed during their visit in Chios
Island. Nevertheless, you can organize your own walking path for your
group and we can advise you about the rest.
EXAMPLE WALKING PATH No 1
The walk begins in Pitios village. The tradition
says that Homer had passed by this village during his way to Volissos.
There is an old Byzantine tower in the center of Pitios. Walking by the
edge of a small river, we cross the fields on the left side of the village
and we arrive to the small church of Virgin Mary.
Then we take the old rural path that passes through
the green forest and leads to Kardamyla village. We may even meet some
wild goats walking around the rocks. It will take us two and a half hours
to get there. In Kardamyla you can visit the old castle on the southern
side and the old desolated village on the western side.
EXAMPLE
WALKING PATH No 2
This path begins in Emporios port, in an area of
great archeological interest because of the remains of an ancient town
that was discovered there. It is dated around 3.000 B.C. The name of the
port has its origin in the Greek word for trade ("emporion").
Right after Emporios port we cross "Mavra Volia"
beach, which name means "black pebbles" because of the old inactive
volcano situated above the beach. We walk by the shore until it ends and
we take the small path through the rocks. We climb up to a plateau full of
flora and mastic trees. In the middle there is also a Byzantine tower, one
of the many that exist in Chios Island and which was constructed during
the Byzantine era in order to protect Chios against pirates and
conquerors.
We continue walking on the ridge and after about 2
hours we arrive at the southeast end of Chios, the "Masticho" or "Oura"
cape. Walking for another half an hour, we arrive at "Vroulidia" beach
where the bus is waiting to take us back to Chios town.
ARMOLIA - PYRGI - MESTA - EMPORIOS
