Listed 57 sub titles with search on: Sights for wider area of: "CHIOS Prefecture NORTH AEGEAN" .
CHIOS (Town) NORTH AEGEAN
Typical sample of late neoclassical architecture, it is a stone-made,
three-storied building with an elevated basement and expanded third floor. The
interior of the building is also interesting, since it is specially modeled to
house the National Bank of Greece in the ground-floor and the residence of its
Director on the first floor. The building and the surrounding area has been identified
by a 1986 ministerial decree as a work of art.
The building was constructed in 1926. Due to the increasing needs
of the Bank, there have been various interventions from time to time in the interior.
The last approval for works was given in 1994 to the architect G. Papazoglou who
has also conducted the study.
This text is cited Sept 2003 from the Hellenic Ministry of Culture URL below, which also contains image.
PISPILOUDA (Village) CHIOS
Near the road of Spatounda
- Potamia
that interconnects the two mountainous areas of Amani
and Pelineo,
lies Pispilounda. It is a mountainous village by the mountainside of Amani,
giving to Pelineo.
The archaeological findings of the area are exposed in the Archaeological
Museum of Chios town. In about 2km southeast of Pispilounda lies the medieval
settlement of "Ta Markou" (meaning buildings belonging to Markos). There
are traces of a fortress, a tower, and the church of Panagia, which celebrates
in August 15th. This settlement was abandoned after 1928.
Μ. Dimidis, An. Lagou, ed.
This text is cited Sep 2002 from the Municipality of Amani URL below, which contains images.
ARMOLIA (Village) CHIOS
The Castle is is large and striking. It is built at the hilltop and
maintains an altitude of 220meters; this is one of the highest altitudes evident
in the southern region of Chios.
Its position is such that one can visually inspect the Kalamoti
and Armolia plains as well as the Komi
seashores.
The Apolichnon Castle is one of the most well-preserved castles on
the island whilst its size and numerous interior rooms cannot help but be impressive.
A Genoan, Nicholas Ioustiniani, built the oblong shaped Castle in
1440. The walls were twice as thick and they had small defense towers. Its interior
exhibited water dams and 62 rooms.
As we stroll through the Castle, we can see the remaining ruins of
the rooms, remnants of the defense towers with the loopholes found on the east
and west sides. They also appear within a large area of the well-maintained south
wall that is also relatively high.
There is a defense wall, shorter in height, located outside the interior
wall at a relatively large distance. It was obviously constructed to impede invaders,
since they were afforded easy access from the flat slope and the absence of this
wall.
The north side, on the other hand, is much more difficult to access
due to the rocky cliff. There are large arch-shaped windows on the northeast tower,
which may have been utilized for entry with rope ladders, as was common practice
in those days.
(text: Giannis Makridakis)
This text is cited December 2003 from the Prefecture
of Chios tourist pamphlet (2003).
CHIOS (Town) NORTH AEGEAN
KARDAMYLA (Small town) CHIOS
Medieval fortification design for the purpose of defense. It comprised
the Acropolis of Kardamila. It is traditionally said that the Castle was named
after an old woman from Kardamila who dared to climb the mountain through the
brusque rocks in order to save herself from pirates. Today, two towers have been
saved, which unite the walls. The east tower is semicircular while the west tower
is spherical. The whole compound is situated upon the southern side of the wide,
flat terrain of the mountain. There are cliffs on all the other sides of the mountain;
therefore defensive walls were not necessary.
One version of the tradition states that the west tower was interconnected
to the Koulala well through a tunnel from which water was irrigated to those imprisoned.
The Koulala well was built from the stone in the area and dates back
to the Genoan period (1346-1566). The stone steps are tangent to its walls and
they descent to the foot of the mountain.
There are also bastions in the area, that is, the armed positions
for warriors from the Kardamilian Volunteer Force. These of course were utilized
during the freedom wars of 1912.
Mt. Grias played a significant role during the battle to free the
island. The Kardamilians were able to force the Turks outside their borders. They
took command of the hill by conquering political authorities, thereby reigning
in their victory in the “Battle of Grias”.
The Turks were forced to march to the village of Pityios
since they believed it was the only village on the island that was not within
range of the sea. The warship, “Makedonia”, however, had reached the
Kardamila port and bombed Pityios
with 67 cannon-balls, upon receiving signals from soldiers located on Grias, opposite
Karfoto. This attack was the determining factor in the war's end soon thereafter.
The battle from Makedonia delivered a serious blow to the Turks' morale since
they were forced to surrender on December 22, 1912 s a result of the front-line
attacks made by the Greek army.
Since then, Chios
came under Greek rule.
(text: Giannis Makridakis)
This text is cited December 2003 from the Prefecture
of Chios tourist pamphlet (2003).
MESTA (Village) CHIOS
The visitor should leave his own transport at the circus outside the village.
The road in the east part of the village makes the Ring-Road of the castle. If
one follows it he will reach the point from which he started. The houses on the
right side of the surrounding wall are modern. The outer wall on its left side
makes the Wall of the castle. The doors and windows of the houses of this side
have been opened rather recently. During the Genoan and Turkish occupations the
entrances of those houses that formed the wall used to be only at the inner part
of the castle. The loopholes were the only openings on the wall and it is them
which have been turned into windows later on. The two openings to the inner part
of the village have been constructed more recently for the residents' facility.
The surrounding wall of this side ends to the tower.
This text is cited Febr 2004 from the Promoting Tourism Prefectural Committee of Chios URL below, which contains images.
The Gateway of the castle is named by the natives as "door of
the captain", that means the door of the governor (it derives from the Italian
word "capitano"). The monoliths of which it consists are remarkable as well as
the iron door that remains in an excellent condition. The door during the Genoan
occupation was opened in the morning at sunrise and closed in at sunset. That
did not happen only when there was a danger of a raid but on a daily basis. It
is because the village was the place of the natives' dwelling but at the same
time it used to exist as a camp for the conquerors. This gate was the only one
on the castle so that the conquerors could easily check the entry of the products,
especially of mastic. All that was due to defence and the facilitation of the
conquerors, since it was according to the products that taxes were imposed.
The house over and next to the door gate must have been the governor's-captain's
residence (that is why it has been named after him). The small window through
which the guards used to observe the residents' entry-exit is noticed at the inner
part of the gate. On the way into the castle two of the most ancient churches
of the village are located. The first one is that of Aghios Georgios and the second
one is that of Aghia Paraskevi, the latter of which is more significant.
This text is cited Febr 2004 from the Chios Prefecture Tourism Committee URL below, which contains images.
AGIO GALA (Village) CHIOS
In Village Agio Galas you can find Virgin Mary' church, which is called Panagia Agiogalousena by the local people. It is a church built at the entrance of a cave. Its old carved wooden iconostasis is unique. Two more caves, one larger than the other extend the cave of the church. In the third cave there are numerous stalactites. The cave is very big and has many rooms. You can visit it, but you can only penetrate 200 m. inside it.
CHIOS (Island) NORTH AEGEAN
"Mitarakiko" is located in Kambos of the island of Chios and is one
of its most significant estates. Inside it stand the impressive main building,
the auxiliary building "anestatiko", a second ground-floor building (atelier)
and the old mansion with the pebble-paved yard surrounded by a reservoir, sitting
benches and a well.
"Mitarakiko" was the home of the famous Greek painter G. Mitarakis,
who mainly used the ground-floor building (atelier) for his residence. The main
building and the atelier were built after the 1881 earthquake, after the turn
of the century.
By a ministerial decree of 1992, the buildings, the reservoir, the
well, the fountain the pebble-paved yard and the wall surrounding the estate together
with N. Platis' orchard inside the protection zone, were all identified as historical
and preserved monuments.
Not all the buildings have been restored but nevertheless they are
preserved in a very good condition. The main building is uninhabited but the orchard
is being cultivated.
This text is cited June 2003 from the Hellenic Ministry of Culture URL below, which also contains image.
"Tetteriko" is today the biggest estate in Kambos, and within its
10 acres stand the main building (mansion), two other auxiliary buildings and
a well-worked pebble-paved yard surrounded by a reservoir, a well and a fountain.
The main building, of a highest quality architecture, was destroyed
at the 1881 earthquake and rebuilt right after this, following the patterns of
the neoclassical technique, like the rest of the Kambos buildings.
By a ministerial decree of 1990, the buildings, the reservoir, the
well, the fountain the pebble-paved yard and the wall surrounding the estate together
with Antoine Tetteris’ orchard inside the protection zone, were all identified
as works of art and preserved monuments.
This text is cited June 2003 from the Hellenic Ministry of Culture URL below, which also contains image.
AGIOS GEORGIOS SYKOUSSA (Village) CHIOS
THYMIANA (Small town) CHIOS
As we leave Megas
Limnionas, the road takes us to Thymiana. Before we enter the town, a road
to the left leads to the old area of Keramio. Here we see the chapel of Agios
Yiannis Stenakouson (St. John). And beside it is the Pirghos (Tower), which is
of architectural interest; it is 200 years old.
Descending the same road, in less than two minutes, we see the Keramio
or tile factory, which was once a thriving industry. Unfortunately, this large
plant has been closed for many years. South of the factory is the beach of Mavri
with its pebbles that resemble lighted coals from afar. This beach is preferred
by those who seek solitude, away from crowds.
This text is cited Febr 2004 from the Chios Prefecture Tourism Committee URL below, which contains images.
POTAMIA (Deserted settlement) CHIOS
CHIOS (Town) NORTH AEGEAN
The remains of the Early Christian basilica are partly covered today
by a later, small church with a low cement roof. In the basilica are preserved
mosaic floors decorated with geometric patterns, and many relief architectural
parts. Inside the church there is a subterranean vaulted crypt where the relics
of Saint Isidore and Saint Myrope (who martyred in Chios during the Early Christian
period) were once kept.
The Early Christian basilica of St. Isidore was built on the remains
of an earlier, Roman structure. According to tradition, the church was built in
the second half of the 7th century, during the reign of Constantine IV Pogonatos.
In the course of its long history, it has undergone several repairs, probably
during the Frankish occupation, in the late Byzantine period and in modern times.
Five architectural phases - the earliest of which dates to the 5th century - have
been distinguished in the building, which was finally ruined by the earthquake
of 1881.
The first excavation research on the site was begun by G. Soteriou
in 1918 and continued by A. Orlandos, in 1928. Excavations were also conducted
in the summer of 1981 and 1982, by the 3rd Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquities.
This text is cited June 2003 from the Hellenic Ministry of Culture URL below, which also contains image.
VAVILI (Village) CHIOS
The church belongs to the insular octagonal architectural type, and
in a small degree reproduces the catholicon (main church) of Nea
Moni. It comprises a domed naos, an esonarthex and an exonarthex, today completely
ruined. The domed naos and the esonarthex were built at the end of the 12th century
while the exonarthex is a much later addition, constructed in the 18th century.
The greatest part of the interior is covered with wall paintings dated to the
12th century.
The church was constructed at the end of the 12th century. It was
donated by Eustathios Codratos and his wife, Eirene Doucaina Pagomeni, both belonging
to the imperial court of Constantinople.
The donors decorated the church with wall paintings but five more layers of murals
are preserved inside the building. During the catastrophic earthquake of 1881,
the hemispherical part of the dome collapsed, along with the smaller dome of the
narthex, which was reconstructed shortly thereafter.
The foundations at the eastern part of the church were investigated
by means of trial trenches in 1988 and again in 1995. The roof of the church was
consolidated and repaired in 1968. In 1983 the west wall of the exonarthex was
also consolidated and the roof was partly repaired. In 1981-1984, the later layers
of the wall paintings were detached from the interior walls and the original layer
was completely uncovered.
Some of the detached wall paintings have already been restored and
are on display while the rest are still in the process of restoration. The detached
wall paintings of the second Byzantine layer, depicting twelve prophets (dated
to the end of the 14th century), as well as two marble slabs from the original
iconostasis of the church are exhibited in the building for temporary exhibitions
(Giustiniani Palace)
in the Fortress of Chios. Parts of the murals which were painted by Michael Chomatzas
in 1734 are also on display in the Byzantine
Museum of Chios (Medjitie Mosque).
The monument is closed to the public (it opens only during the summer)
due to restoration work inside the building and at the wall paintings.
Among the countless churches and the small picturesque chapels which
decorate the colonizings of the Municipality of Kampochora, the church of Panagia
Krina holds a special place. Between the colonizings of Vavili, Halkios and Zifias,
surrounded by a beautiful natural landscape with olive groves and pine trees,
the temple resists vigorously to the passing of time and carries its history to
the present day. It is considered to be a golden ring in the chain of the religious
tradition of the island. The initial temple was built in the 12th century, the
outer one was added in the 18th century. As owners of the initial temple are mentioned
Eustathios Kordatos and his wife Irene Doukena Pagomeni, who belonged to the imperial
court of Constantinople.
The shape of the temple is octagonal and looks like the one of Nea
Moni, keeping however its unique brightness, with the irregularly built walls
allowing the sunlight to "revive" the church and its wonderful wallpaintings differently
according to the light of the day. The first hagiographies were made, according
to an inscription, in 1197. But inside the temple there are five more different
kind of hagiographies, each from a different period, that are maintained until
today and give the visitor an image of the development of the art of painting
in Chios. The second decoration, of the Byzantine period, was done at the end
of the 14th century. From this the icons of the twelve prophets have been rescued
and are now exhibited at the . The paintings of the third period, also Byzantine,
can be seen on the wall of the North and the South temple, while the ones of the
post-Byzantine period remain in the Altar.
In the year 1734 the whole temple was almost covered by the hagiographies
of the artist Michael Homatza and after the destructive earthquake of 1881, the
paintings of the Ruler of Everything and the Angels were painted on the dome.
A few years ago, the works for the maintenance of the church started and it is
remarkable how the specialists have managed to separate and restore parts of all
the painting styles. These maintenance works continue until today.
MESTA (Village) CHIOS
The road on the left of Aghia Paraskevi leads to the village square. The villagers
call it "Livadi". The square is a resort after an exhausting day. There
is a particular reason that a daily stroll in the square is considered necessary.
As it is obvious the house of the village and especially those which form the
castle do not provide any open space or gardens since they are built in a way
that unites them all. There are cases when the boundaries of two neighbouring
houses can be hardly distinguished. As such the square is the only open area of
the castle. It is where friends meet, where news are heard, where the villagers
have their morning coffee or their afternoon ouzo. Although it is a calm and quiet
place on a daily basis, it turns to a centre of bacchic festivities the days the
villagers have a feast. Island songs are played by the villagers' musicians and
all ages men and women dance until the morning and drink wine and souma of their
own production.
This text is cited Febr 2004 from the Promoting Tourism Prefectural Committee of Chios URL below, which contains images.
KALAMOTI (Small town) CHIOS
North of Kalamoti, there is a medieval tower called Zyvos which was destroyed
by the earthquake of 1881. General meetings of the "Public of Mastic Villages"
were held in this tower in which the representatives' election took place. Near
the tower's remains, there is the Byzantine church of Panaghia of Sikelia that
possesses exquisite ceramic decor and is dated to the 13th century.
MESTA (Village) CHIOS
The Tower is one of the four towers the castle used to have on the
four corners of its rectangular part. It is circular and consists of two floors
which communicate through a spiral staircase. Only three of the towers are redeemed
nowadays (unfortunately, the one located at the corner where the parking area
is these days has been destroyed). One of the three existing ones is now a residence,
a very unique one since it has circular rooms. The towers used to be in direct
contact with each other through a tunnel parallel to the outer road.
The loopholes of the tower can be still noticed. From outside they
look as narrow openings although from inside they look like tunnels. From the
tower by taking the ring road one reaches the entrance of the village-castle.
This text is cited Febr 2004 from the Promoting Tourism Prefectural Committee of Chios URL below, which contains images.
The main road from the proskynima leads to the Northwest side of the
castle, the so called "tower of Militas". It derives from the Italian word militare
which means army. The tower can be seen more clearly from the square outside the
castle and nowadays it has become a residence. The reason it was named after this
word is because it was reinforced by a military force since it is located facing
the sea from where all raids were expected.
In order to conceive the significance of the tower in terms of the
defence of the castle, as well as the effective of the entire system of defence
of the village it is worth to mention the following:
The castle was a quadrilateral with a triangular peak on the Northwest
side that ended to the "Tower of Militas". This was the front line of defence.
Inside, as it shows in the village plan, two roads which started from the square
and converged just before the tower of Militas formed a castle inside the main
castle. That was the second line of defence. The main tower where the church of
Big Taxiarchis is located made the third line of defence. The central tower received
all visual messages sent from Merovigli (=the watch tower of the daytime), the
highest mountain of the area, and motivated the whole system of defence. As such
if the enemies took the castle they would have to fight hard again so as to seize
a second castle almost identical to the former. If they took that too, they should
have much more troops in order to conquer the heart of the castle, the central
tower.
Anyway, the tower of Militas played the most significant role in the
repulse of the raiders because of its position; it also protected the most important
good for the besieged, the water. The well is located under the tower in a shed
in the inner part of the castle. The ruts on the mouth of the well are very typical;
they have been made by the ropes which have been going up and down for centuries
so as to draw water out. Since the slabs showed signs of wear some new were placed
over the old ones but they were also worn. An underground tunnel used to link
the well with the central tower of the castle, so if the enemies conquered the
village but not the tower, the besieged people would have water supplies. The
gate which is located in the tower of Militas is more recent. Perhaps there was
an emergency gate of the castle at that point. On the way back, the road from
the tower of Militas leads to the triangle which is formed by the two inner roads
of the castle. At the house which is in the corner of the two roads, remains of
another tower can be seen; its existence confirms the idea that a second line
of defence existed indeed.
This text is cited Febr 2004 from the Chios Prefecture Tourism Committee URL below, which contains images.
AGIO GALA (Village) CHIOS
Analogism to Agio Galas, in a top of a mountain you can find the desolated village of Agio Giannis . The view is wonderful. You can see the blue of Aigaio.
An abandoned village on the Amanis
slope. Its location is alluring, offering an infinite view of the Aegean
as well as an unforgettable sunset. The homes, basically in ruins, reveal the
architecture of the small, poor village homes of the area. The villagers that
sowed the barren slopes of Amanis
used to say “Spiti oso xoreis kai ktima oso thoreis”, meaning that
their homes were built small, just enough to fit all family members, while they
were to cultivate as much land as they could in order to survive. The ground floor
of the two story homes was used as a stable. There was an inner staircase within
the home, which led to the balcony. That way, both floors could be accessed from
within.
The home interior usually had two rooms. The fireplaces today are
still maintained and so are the thick shafts located in the center of the room
that served to hold up the roof.
The village was abandoned around 1960.
(text: Giannis Makridakis)
This text is cited December 2003 from the Prefecture
of Chios tourist pamphlet (2003).
KAMBOS (Settlement) CHIOS
Kambos in Chios island is a unique ensemble of agricultural settlements that serves as an exceptional example for the harmonic coexistence of residence, agricultural and auxiliary buildings, that stand in 200 estates surrounded by high walls. Equal in number with the estates are mansions of high architectural quality and auxiliary buildings, elaborate pebble-paved yards, reservoirs, wells and citrus orchards.
Kambos has a history that goes back to Byzantium. Byzantines were followed by the island’s conquerors, the Genoans and the Turks, the 1822 massacre and the terrible 1881 earthquake, events that influenced life in Kambos. However, despite all these disasters, conquests and changes, Kambos kept its character unspoiled from the 14th century until our days.
Many mansions have been restored and are used either as residences or as lodges. The residence character of the Kambos mansions still survives in a great extend and some of them (around ten) have been transformed into lodges while almost all the orchards are being cultivated.
The area within Kambos’ current limits has been identified as an historical location, according to the topographic diagram 1:5.000 and beyond it, up to one property width.
This text is cited Feb 2003 from the Hellenic Ministry of Culture URL below, which also contains image.
AGIOS GEORGIOS SYKOUSSA (Village) CHIOS
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