Archaelogical Sites
Archaelogical Sites:
Pyrgi: The entire village of Pyrgi - 25 Km south of the town of Chios - is one of the areas which still stands as it was built. The narrow roads, the innumerable churches, and amongst them the 13th century Byzantine church of St. Apostles in combination with the unique black and white geometrical decor of the outer walls of the houses. -The "xysta" -are the things which enchant the visitor.
Mesta: Mesta, is a perfectly preserved village-castle of the Byzantine period (14th and 15th centuries). It has been designated a listed monument and it is found 35 Km southwest of the town. The Castle-village, takes you back centuries, with its very few changes.
Nea Moni: Nea Moni (New Monastery) is a monument of international significance. The catholicon (main church) is the most important specimen of the insular octagonal domed type of church, and is lavishly decorated with marble revetments and mosaics. The refectory (Trapeza) lies to the SW of the catholicon while the west end of the precinct is occupied by the imposing defense tower. The half-subterranean Cistern, which is preserved intact, dates to the 11th century. The actual cells were constructed later and many of them are almost completely ruined today. The monastery is enclosed by an irregular in plan, stone perimeter wall. Nea Moni was founded in the middle of the 11th century, with a donation of the emperor Constantine IX Monomachos and his wife, Zoe.
Anavatos: Anavatos, 16 Km from town, is an exception. It has no defense tower and is not mentioned in Genoese sources of information. The village was probably built for defense, as an outlook post over the bare western shores of the island. It is not as old as the medieval villages of southern Chios, it peaked during the later years of the Turkish occupation.
Pyrgi: The entire village of Pyrgi - 25 Km south of the town of Chios - is one of the areas which still stands as it was built. The narrow roads, the innumerable churches, and amongst them the 13th century Byzantine church of St. Apostles in combination with the unique black and white geometrical decor of the outer walls of the houses. -The "xysta" -are the things which enchant the visitor.
Mesta: Mesta, is a perfectly preserved village-castle of the Byzantine period (14th and 15th centuries). It has been designated a listed monument and it is found 35 Km southwest of the town. The Castle-village, takes you back centuries, with its very few changes.
Nea Moni: Nea Moni (New Monastery) is a monument of international significance. The catholicon (main church) is the most important specimen of the insular octagonal domed type of church, and is lavishly decorated with marble revetments and mosaics. The refectory (Trapeza) lies to the SW of the catholicon while the west end of the precinct is occupied by the imposing defense tower. The half-subterranean Cistern, which is preserved intact, dates to the 11th century. The actual cells were constructed later and many of them are almost completely ruined today. The monastery is enclosed by an irregular in plan, stone perimeter wall. Nea Moni was founded in the middle of the 11th century, with a donation of the emperor Constantine IX Monomachos and his wife, Zoe.
Anavatos: Anavatos, 16 Km from town, is an exception. It has no defense tower and is not mentioned in Genoese sources of information. The village was probably built for defense, as an outlook post over the bare western shores of the island. It is not as old as the medieval villages of southern Chios, it peaked during the later years of the Turkish occupation.
Virgin Sikelia: Virgin Sikelia is located near the village of Exo Didymes. It was probably the catholicon of a monastery. A one-aisled vaulted basilica with an arched ceiling and a dome. It dates to the 12th or 13th century. a trial search in the interior of the church indicated that there are no frescoes underneath the present veneer.
Volissos: Located about 40km. away from the capital of the island, Volissos has a long history. At Volissos, as to Thoukidedes, there was once an ancient Aeolic city, and the rumor that it was the birthplace of Homer is still a legend told.
On the top of the hill was built a castle in the medieval times. The Byzantine castle has a trapezoid shape with six circular towers. Inside the castle there were several buildings, cisterns and churches. There was also a tunnel connecting the castle with the seashore and the Pithonas district.Volissos: Located about 40km. away from the capital of the island, Volissos has a long history. At Volissos, as to Thoukidedes, there was once an ancient Aeolic city, and the rumor that it was the birthplace of Homer is still a legend told.
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