Chios

Chios is located in the northeastern Aegean Sea close to Asia Minor. It is the fifth largest island of Greece with a total area of 842 square kilometers and 51,936 residents. It belongs to the prefecture of Chios together with the islands Oinouses, Psara and Antipsara. The capital and main port is the city of Chios which population reaches 23,779 people.

Chios was an important commercial center during the Middle Ages and is home of great men of letters. It has taken many names over time, such as Aithalia (“Soot”), and Pityousa Mavronisi. It is said that the name came from the homonymous Syrian word for mastic.

Chios develops an intense anaglyph with mountains, hills and rocky terrain. The highest peak of the island is located northwest of the mountain range of Pelineo at the height of 1297 meters. It has limited vegetation and few plains. The greatest of these is the famous Kampos (“Plain”), which is situated in southeast of the island, mainly planted with citrus but also with the widely known to all of us mastic tree which is found only on the island of Chios and nowhere else in the world!

The climate is temperate Mediterranean, with mild winters and warm summers. The locals mainly work on shipping, trading, fisheries, tourism and agriculture. The main products that are produced is mastic, oil and wine.

Numerous beaches with crystal clear turquoise water, sand or pebbles exist in every side of the island, giving visitors the opportunity to choose each day a different beach to enjoy swimming. Some of them cosmopolitan and well-organized and some other lonely and isolated are capable of full filling the expectations even of the most demanding guests.

Chios with the famous mastic trees, the primed gardens, the parks and the meadows with lemon blossom as along with the wild tulips create a unique landscape full of color, aroma and flavors. What is more, the island because of its long history, it is filled with medieval villages of great architectural interest.

A stroll through the narrow alleys between the imposing castle as well as the beautiful mansions can take you back to another era!

A vacation on the island will offer you peace, leaving you with a sweet taste of mastic in your mouth!

«ὀψὲ δὲ δὴ μετὰ νῶι κίε ξανθὸς Μενέλαος,
ἐν Λέσβῳ δ᾽ ἔκιχεν δολιχὸν πλόον ὁρμαίνοντας,

ἢ καθύπερθε Χίοιο νεοίμεθα παιπαλοέσσης,
νήσου ἔπι Ψυρίης, αὐτὴν ἐπ᾽ ἀριστέρ᾽ ἔχοντες,
ἦ ὑπένερθε Χίοιο, παρ᾽ ἠνεμόεντα Μίμαντα.»

Homer's Odyssey, Rhapsody C

«Όσο πήγαινε το βαπόρι, τόσο εκείνη προχωρούσε να μας ανταμώσει. Ερχότανε η Χίο με τα βουνά της, με τους κάμπους της, με τις παντοτινές της πρασινάδες. Ερχότανε κι όλο μυροβολούσε.»

John Psycharis