Chios

Chios is the 5th largest of the Greek islands, situated in the Aegean Sea, 7 kilometres off the Asia Minor (Turkish)coast. The island is noted for its strong merchant shipping community, its unique mastic gum and its medieval villages. The 11th century monastery of “Nea Moni”, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is located on the island.

 

Mavra Volia

Black pebbles beach - 3 bays at the edge of a volcano - this has to be my favourite beach in the whole world!

 

 

 

 

Mavra volia beach at Emporio Bay

 

 

 

 

Lunch in Emporio Bay

Emporios is a small, leeward harbour in the South-Eastern end of Chios popular for its superb beaches of "Black Bay" and "Foki".

 

 

 

 

Pyrgi - where time stops

Pyrgi is a fortresslike complex of narrow streets, tightly packed houses and arches, with a ruined tower-dungeon at its center. Even more unexpected is the distinctive graffito technique (xysta/ksista) used to decorate the exteriors of many of the buildings: The outer layer of cement is painted white and then geometric shapes (triangles, chevrons, circles, etc.) are scraped away. I love this town and count it amongst my favourite places on earth. I consider myself very lucky to have visited this town twice now.

Pyrgí is the largest of the largest of the villages in Mastichochoria (southern part of Chios where the mastic is produced), and its populations is little short of 1200.


See http://www.math.auckland.ac.nz/Events/2006/ICEM-3/2.Prez%20Given/Prez%20given%20ppt/stathopoulou-prez.pdf for more on the xysta

 

 

 

 

Pyrgi

 

 

 

 

Pyrgi

 

 

 

 

Pyrgi

 

 

 

 

Pyrgi

 

 

 

 

Living in the alleyways

 

 

 

 

Pyrgi