Chios

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Chios (Port of Entry)

Chios
38°22.2′N, 26°08.7′E Chart icon.png
Chios Delacroix.jpg
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Massacre of Chios - Click for larger view

Chios (Χίος) or Hios or Khios is a craggy island of 858 km2 with the highest peak Profitis Ilias of 1297 m (4297 ft.) in the arid North and the lush Cape Masticho on the South where the unique gum mastich (μαστίχα) grows. It is one of the alleged birthplaces of Homer.

In antiquity the island was very prosperous and after the Persian wars it was an ally of Athens and then Sparta. In the 11th century AD it was taken from the Byzantines, then by the Venetians, who were succeeded by the Genoese, who formed a special company in the 14th century just for the trade of the mastich. In 1566 the Ottomans took the island from the Genoese and held it until 1922 when it joined Greece. During the Ottoman period Chios was granted many special privileges and joined the Greek revolution very reluctantly under the coercion of the Samians in 1822. The Ottoman reaction was devastating. After beheading three Chians who were hostages in Istanbul they send the Turkish armada to invade the island. On March 30, 1822 they landed on the island. Within 24 hours they massacred over 8,000 unarmed inhabitants. The horror lasted for months. Over 25,000 were killed and 47,000, mostly women, were sold into slavery. Within 6 months from the original 120,000 inhabitants only 18,000 were left. The repercussions of this tragedy were felt all over Europe. Intellectuals like Lebrun, Müller, and especially Victor Hugo with The Child of Chios and the painter Delacroix with his Massacre of Chios painting publicized the event which proved crucial for mustering support in Europe for the Greek revolution.

A Mastich bush

The production of mastich (μαστίχα- masticha) gum (Pistacia lentiscus) is a tradition particular to Chios. It is the resin of a bush that is said to grow only in this SW corner of the island. The bush does not grow very big, and at the appropriate time the growers make tiny slits on its trunk. From these slits, the gum oozes out, and it is collected. Tiny droplets are also collected from the ground, hence the sieves. The gum then is taken home, and over long hours during the winter, it is sorted according to quality and size. Families own individual bushes scattered over a wide area. The mastich gum is used as a particularly flavorful chewing gum, as a flavoring for ouzo, in a toothpaste, for a very sweet and sticky favorite of Greek children served in a spoon submerged in a glass of water and called appropriately a submarine, for folk medicines, etc. This information was given to me by one of the women I met on my way near Salagonas. During the Ottoman years, the production of mastich reached its highest point, it being the favorite chewing gum of the ladies in the seraglio because it gave them a sweet smelling mouth.

Charts

Satellite View of Chios & Oinouses - Click for larger view
BA
1645 Nísos Khíos and Izmir Körfezi
Imray-Tetra
G28 Nísos Khíos & the Coast of Turkey
NIMA
54380 Tuzla Burnu to Samos
54386 Khios Strait Greece and Turkey
Greek
334 Chios Island & Opposite Coast of Asia Minor

Radio Nets

  • Coast Guard - VHF channel 12 & telephone +30 22710 44 432 (Chios), +30 22720 76 239 (Limenas)
  • Olympia Radio - VHF channels 85, 25, or 28
  • GSM/GPRS - Very marginal coverage in the Salagonas Area


Also see World Cruiser's Nets

Weather

See Aegean Sea.

Approach and Navigation

The approaches to Chios are straightforward, however,

Danger: With a strong meltemi (northerly winds) the seas on the channel, with its north going current, between Chios and the Turkish mainland can built up to dangerous levels.

Check-in facilities (for Customs and Immigration)

The only port of entrance in Chios is Chios Harbor. If entering Greece it is advisable to contact the Coast Guard (Limenarchio) on VHF channel 12.

Berthing Options

There are five harbors in Chios, one marina and several coves. Also just over a mile to the NE is the very attractive small island of Oinoussa.

Ports

Please see Chios Ports.

Marinas & Yacht Clubs

Anchorages

Please see Chios Anchorages.

Offshore Islands

Yacht Services and Repairs

Also see each Port.

Marine Stores

In the town of Chios.

Yacht Services/Repairs/Yards

Very limited.

Fuel, Water, & Electricity

Fuel
Unclear if available in the harbor of Chios Harbor
In Limniá the nearest fuel station is outside of Volissós but they will deliver except on Sundays. Call +30 22740 21200 or +30 6937 122 901.
In Limenas there is a gas station outside Olýmpoi
In Chios_Marina there is a gas station across the road.
Water
At the shore in Chios Harbor
Outlets on the quay in Limniá
Electricity
N/A (Not Available)
Propane
In town there is a store that will sell, refill, and exchange propane bottles of all sizes including American ones at very reasonable rates. [Google Map] - a bit farther north past Tsatsaroni Marika Pharmacy along Nou Monomachou

Things to do Ashore

Tourism

he Castle in Chios Town - Click for larger view

Chios has many places worth visiting, including some particularly picturesque villages.

Town of Chios

In the town of Chios there is a new Museum with archaeological exhibits, a Byzantine Museum and an ethnological museum. The Genoese Castle of Chios is an easy walk from the harbor.

Nea Moni

About 15 km from the town there is the famous Byzantine monastery of Nea Moni, established in 1042 by the emperor Constantine the Monomachos. It has many 11 century frescoes and mosaics.

Pyrgí
The village of Pyrgi

This is a very picturesque medieval village with narrow streets and old houses whose outer walls are decorated with geometric shapes. This style of decoration is unique to Chios and is called xisti (scratched). Also in Pyrgí there the jewel of a Byzantine, 12 century AD, church dedicated to the Apostles. About 8 km from Pyrgi near the village of Ayii Pente, there are the ruins of a 6 century BC temple of Apollo.

Mestá
The village of Mesta

The town of Mestá is another unspoiled medieval town with windy narrow streets built inside a Genoese castle.          

There is a good restaurant O Meseonas and a taxi in Mesta, tel +30 6972 543 543.

Olýmpoi
The village of Olýmpoi

The medieval walled village of Olýmpoi (Ολύμποι), although less known than Pyrgí and Mestá, has some good examples of houses decorated in the xisti style. Several of the original Genoese buildings are still standing.

About 6.5 km along the road to Ayia Dynamis there is the cave of Olýmpoi, open every day except Mondays, 9:00-19:30 with guided tours, well worth the visit.

There is a taxi, tel. +30 2720 76 357 or 6937 937 758.

Volissós

Volissós is beautiful village built on top of a steep hill has stone houses and a magnificent view. It is believed to be the birthplace of Homer. They will even show you the house tat he was born!

There is a wood burning bakery in Volissós that makes fantastic bread.

The Convent of Ayia Markella

Ayia Markella is the patron saint of Chios. I was told her story when I visited the convent in 1992, by an ancient nun as she was explaining a particularly vividly illustrated icon depicting the Saint's life. It is a particularly gruesome story. It happened some time in the "distant past." She grew up in a wealthy family somewhere near here. When she was maiden, "very devout," her father attacked her sexually. She took flight and hid in some bushes, her father in pursuit. In order to flush her out, he set the bushes on fire and she ran away toward the safety of the sea. He ran after her. She came upon the rocks and kept on running along the rocky shore, until finally her father caught up with her. As he was getting ready to ravish her she prayed for deliverance. The miracle happened: the rock where she was standing was opened and she sank to her waist and the rock solidified around her, thus covering the part of her anatomy her father was after. Frustrated and furious he took off his sword and cut off her breasts, blood gashing out in great streams, and she died a virgin. In the place of her martyrdom, there is today a spring of fresh water, springing from the rocks. This water is considered holy, and every year at her festival there is a great pilgrimage of the devout from the monastery to the spring to collect the holy water in all sorts of bottles which they take home for protection until the next festival. The name "Markella" is one of the most popular names in Chios.

Avgonima and Anavatos

These are very attractive fortified villages built by the Genoese, perched high on rocks. Avgonima has many renovated houses and several tavernas. Anavatos was sieged after the Massacre by the Ottomans. The inhabitants rather then by slaughtered or sold as slaves jumped off the cliff. Ever since the village has been abandoned. Now it is being restored and can be visited every day except on Mondays.

Grocery & Supply Stores

  • Excellent grocery shopping in the town of Chios.
  • Some shopping in Volissós (excellent bread)
  • Limited supplies in Emborio
  • Limited supplies in Limniá
  • No stores in Limenas

Eateries

  • There are many restaurants in the town of Chios
  • The Hodzas (in the town of Chios) is the oldest and famous taverna in the island
  • The Petrino, along the waterfront of Chios Harbor, serves good food
  • There are many restaurants in the town of Marmaro
  • In Mestá try the Mesaionnas
  • In Líthi Kyra Despina and the 3 Adelphia have good fish
  • In Limniá there is good food in the friendly restaurant Ta Limnia (tel. 22710 21 014)
  • The Meltemaki on the waterfront of Katarraktis has the best meze and seafood in Chios. --Memo18111 19:42, 11 May 2014 (BST)

Internet /WiFi

In internet cafés in town.

Laundry

?

Motorbike & Car Rentals

  • In the town of Chios Yiorgos Psoras (+30 22710 41 361 or 6978 775 595) will deliver a car to the marina
  • In Limniá, the owner of the Ta Limnia restaurant, Mr. Tsikalas (tel. +30 22710 21 014), can assist you with renting a car
  • In Limenas Konstantinos Tomazos (+30 22710 722 190) rents scooters from Pyrgí and will pick you up

Garbage Disposal

Bins in all harbors.

Transportation

There are daily flights to Athens and many ferries. Ferry to Psara and Samos.

Routes/Passages To/From

Cruiser's Friends

Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.

Forum Discussions

List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)

External Links

References & Publications

See Greece.


Personal Notes

Chios is a relatively unspoiled by mass tourism island with lovely anchorages villages (--Istioploos)

Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)

See individual ports and anchorages.



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SailorSmiley.gifContributors to this page

Names: Istioploos, Athene of Lymington


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