CHios is a large, green island located a short ferry ride from Turkey and between Lesvos and Ikaria. It is a very attractive island due to its lush vegetation, beautiful beaches and unique medieval villages, kept in very good condition. The island offers lively nightlife, great natural beauty and numerous attractions. Chios people live off tourism to some extent, but this is not their main source of income. One of the island's most important resources is mastic, from which chewing gum is produced, for example, and others make their living from fishing, farming or working on ships. On the island there are many beautiful, clean beaches of sand and pebbles where you can bathe with your family and friends or alone on the secluded beaches. In addition, there are many good places to visit, villages with historic monasteries, and many other opportunities.

The name of the island may come from the Greek word for snow (chioni), as the patron god of the island, Poseidon, was born under the snow. In the old years, the island was quite rich because of its mastic and wine, and this was also the first place in Greece where there was slavery. Chios fought alongside Athens against the Persians in the fifth century BC, and would later be ruled by Macedonians, Romans, Venetians, and Turks.

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Daskalopetra; Daskalopetra is one of the best known monuments of the island. “The Teachers' Stone” at the foot of Mount Epos is where Homer taught his students. At the top of the rock, a rock is carved and rises about 1 m. above the plateau.

Olympi Cave; Olympi Cave is located 10 km from the port of Mesta and 5 km from the medieval village of Olympi. According to scientists, the creation of the cave began 200,000 years ago. The temperature inside the cave is 18 ° C and is the same all year round. The oxygen level is 20% and the cave is 74 meters deep. The decoration made by nature in the cave is beautiful. The cave is mostly reddish-yellow in color. This color is the result of carbonic calcium and the red-colored clay compounds in the cave.

Kambos; The area of ​​Kambos is unique because of the red stone used in the construction of the houses. The red stone comes from the city of Thymiana. The area was used as the summer homes of the Genoese who once populated the island. In its height, it had more than 200 mansions built in this style.

The castle ; "To Kastro" The castle played an important role in the history of Chios. It was originally built by the Byzantines. The main entrance is on the south side, near Voukaniou Ssquare, behind the city hall. It is divided into three parts and the passage rotates twice; There is a gallery that forms a safe. The level area that exits after leaving the gallery is dominated by the rebuilt Giustiniani Mansion.

Agia Markella is a monastery open to visitors and is located outside the Volissos village. The saint is celebrated on July 22. Nea Moni is another monastery, and perhaps the most visited of the two. Date of the eleventh century. Nea Moni was built by the Byzantine Emperor Monomahos. The construction would take 12 years. It is similar to the monuments found in Constantinople, and its typical octagonal style can only be found in Chios and Cyprus.

Mesta: Mesta has preserved many unique buildings dating from the twelfth century. Mesta was also designed and built as a fortress, withstanding pirate attacks throughout its history. When the Mesta is entered through its small entrance, you find yourself in a maze of small streets and alleys. In the main square there is the main church, the Tachiarchion. In the main square, you can enjoy "Souma", a strong alcoholic drink made only in this area.
Anavatos; Anavatos is built on top of a mountain in the central part of Chios. It is only accessible from the south. The inaccessible meaning of Anavatos reveals the purpose of the position of this city. Today, few people live their daily lives in Anavatos. For the film critics among us. Anavatos was one of the filming locations for the James Bond movie "Just for Your Eyes." Lithi; The Lithi is situated four kilometers north of Vessa. The place names probably derive from the "Alithis limin" attribute granted to the site by ancient travelers. Lithi is a famous fishing village. It is worth visiting its beach and enjoy the beautiful sea and fresh fish. The sunset at Lithi is unforgettable.

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Fly to Chios from Athens (45 minutes) or Crete (just over an hour). There are also regular ferry routes from Samos which take a couple of hours, or from Piraeus and Kavala, which may take more than 5 hours depending on the ferry you choose.

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