Chios town
The historical elements of Chios are as many as its beauties. Many of its traditional villages are built in medieval architectural style of incomparable beauty. The trademark of the island is the special type of lentisk resin produced by the mastic tree. This tree thrives only within the 21 mastic villages of southern Chios. Chios town is the island’s capital and main port. The island has everything, from valleys with flowers to beautiful sandy of pebble beaches.

Chios town
Chios town, spread out along the east coast, is the island’s capital and main port. The town of Chios can be characterized as the center of its civilization. In the city one can find evidence from all periods of its long history since the Chios town has always covered the same geographic area in each rebuilding through its history. While your walk in the center of the town you must visit the Archaeological and Byzantine museum that will bring up historical memories, the Naval museum, the famous Korais Library with 135.000 volumes including valuable manuscripts describing the events of the local history and a collection of rare books of Adamantios Korais as well as the unique collection of documents related to Chios, the Castle of Chios, built in the Byzantine times and repaired during the Genova occupation during the 15th century. Along the central road of the castle one can visit the church of Saint George and to the north the Turkish Baths. Worth seeing are also the Kria Vrisssi and Koule, the Turkish tower. Besides the historical monuments the city of Chios provides hours of relaxation either at the town’s main square, Plateia Vournakiou, with its cafι and sweet shop or the busy and picturesque harbour with the traditional taverns. In addition Aplotaria, the commercial street is the ideal place for shopping while the near by beaches are ideal for swimming and enjoyment.

Beaches
Karfas:
A beautiful organized beach, which combines golden sand and shallow waters

Mavra Volia:
One of the most famous beaches on the island, covered in black pebbles, that came from the explosion made by Psarona volcano.

Elinda:
A beautiful bay with one of the best beaches of the island.

Villages
Kambos:
Situated just outside the city of Chios. A fertile valley with gardens and citrus groves where one can see the old Genoese mansions with the beautiful pebbled yards.

Pyrgi:
Is the largest medieval mastic village. The facades of the front village houses are painted with bands of geometric designs known as "xysta".

Anavatos:
Situated west of the capital, and built on a natural medieval fortress.

Volissos:
Volissos is at the north part of Chios with its ruined Byzantine castle and the Monastery of Agia Markella.

Nea Moni:
a monastery with some of the most brilliant samples of Byzantine architecture.

Kardamyla:
is built on the site of ancient Kardamilis. The architecture of the village is traditional with narrow streets, covered passages and stone built houses decorated with flowers and plants.

How to get there

• By air: from Athens and Thessaloniki
• By Ferry: from Piraeus, Thessaloniki, Kavala, the eastern Aegean islands and the islands of Dodecanese.