North Chios

In the north of Chios we may not find as much villages as in the south, however, there are many things one should not miss in this area. Here you will find the highest mountain of the island and the village of Volissos, famous for its Castle. Besides, it is in this part of the island where the National Resistance movement against the German found its recess in the abandoned town of Kidiada. Would you like to see it?

Starting from one of the upper villages of the central region, in the area of Vrissi Passa,  and going north along the coast you can see Miligas and Agios Ioannis Tholos, two small beautiful bays with a few ships and boats. Next comes the bay of Pantoukious with its few cottages forming a summer village. Finally, at the end of the road, there is a smooth slope over the sea where it stands the monastery of Myrsinidi.

A little further on we come across with Sykiada. This is a small seamen village with stone houses of heavy structures and simple materials, characteristic of the modest life of sea people. Soon we get to another seamen village, Lagada, which is said to be one of the most beautiful villages of Chios. One of its beauties is that it is built on the shore of a bay next to a large valley of olive and fruit trees with abundant springs of fresh water. Besides, this area is also well known because of its well-conserved old windmills.

However, between Sykiada and Lagada there is another small but important village, Kidiada. Deserted since 1949, this village was used during the German occupation as a hiding place and base for the National Resistance. In their memory and honor a monument has been erected in the village.
From Lagada, turning west and next to a low hill, you fill find Agrelopos, and going north and around the side of the hill, the road reaches Yyvari, a small bay from where you can see the small island of Tavros.

From there next destination is Delfini (Dolphin), another historical spot. In 411 A.D., when the Chians defected from the Common Alliance, the Athenians occupied this natural port and fortified for strategic reasons.

28 kilometers north from Chios we find the small town of Kardamila. It is interesting to notice that in this village a cultural movement founded a Club for the Cultural Progress and Development of the town in 1979, the "Filoproodos Omilos Kardamilon". This club provides the villagers with a library, workshops and different folklore related lessons, complemented by the permanent folklore collection exposed at the Marmaro Square.

Six kilometers from this village, next to the coast, lies Nagos, a unique summer resort. In this leafy area of abundant springs were found the remains of an ancient temple in 1921 during some excavations. Another great beach is Giossonas, a little further to the north.

We get then to the highest mountain in Chios, Pelineon, with a high of 1297 meters. On its sides are located the villages of Amades, Viki and Kambia, known for their cherries. Also on its sides are Fyta, an old fort built in 1516, Diefha, and Pytios, one the most important villages in the island. They are all comprised in the Kambia area. 6

A little further on the road takes us to the Moundon Monastery. This old Byzantine monastery used to be one of the most important religious centers in Chios during the Turkish occupation. It was built in the 16th century honouring Agios Ioannis Prodromos and today is a deserted secluded monument that is worth visiting it.

To the north of Chios and west of Vrontados starts the treeless and lonely road that climbs to the Aepos mountain and that takes us to the desolating remains of a thick forest that got burnt in 1981. On the same northwest direction we encounter the small villages of Katavassis and Sidirounda. The second one is especially beautiful, since it is located at the top of a hill overlooking the sea. Next to it you will find Metochi, a small summer resort with a crystal water beach, and the remains of the Tower of Pahi and the Fana-Church.

From Sidirounda, you can take another road that goes to Volissos, the central village of the northern area, well known because of its Byzantine Castle. About this castle the local people say that it was built by the Byzantine General Velissarios, who settled here after being blinded. Homer also seems to be part of the history of Volissos, since it is said that he lived here brought by Glafkos; one of the houses is still kept at his house, and the village was mentioned in Korais foreword of “Iliad”.

Besides, around Volissos you will also find plenty of lonely amazing beaches, such as Managros, Magemena, Limnos, Lefkathia and Agia Markella. In this last one there is a church in honour of this saint and, during its festivity at the ends of July, its shore becomes alive with a colourful crowd of pilgrims and Greeks from all over the country and other parts of the world. Volissos has also a natural port, the bay of Limnia.

From Volissos, towards the northwest of the island, the road surrounds the Amani mountain, passing by several small farmer villages such as Pirama, Parparia, Trypes, Melanios and Agio Galas. In this last  village ruined and desolated stands at the side of Amani Mountain among the rivers. It offers the visitor images of unsurpassed beauty. The Agios Galas  stands the Byzantine church of Panagia Agiogaloussaena, built at the entrance of a cave and decorated with a unique old carved wooden ikonostasis. Behind this cave there are two more caves, which have not yet been explored to their full extent. Altogether, the caves and the church really pay a visit to this town.

If we keep following the road around the mountain and then turn east, we will encounter some other small villages among the thick, impressively beautiful vegetation; they are Nenitouria, Kourounia, Egrigoros and Keramos. Next to this last one there are the ancient mines of antimony, and in Agiasmata, its natural port, the hot water springs of iron-enriched water.

Finally, further on to the south, after the village of Pispilounta and before getting to the end of the road, stands the old castle of Ta Markou where a small village used to be before the massacre of 1822 turned it into a deserted pile of rocks.