ESSENTIAL CHIOS: MEDIEVAL VILLAGES, SEASIDE FLAVOURS & FANTASTIC MASTIC

 

Starting from the city of Chios, our first stop will be the Chios Mastic Museum, to discover first-hand the traditional art of mastic cultivation. Here, with the guidance of your destination angel, you will learn about the history and uses of the unique mastic product, its health benefits, therapeutic properties and significance to the island’s economy.

 

Local legend has it that the mastic trees first began crying their precious resin tears when Agios Isidoros was tortured on Chios by the Romans. Next, we will pop into the highly-Instagrammable medieval village of Pyrgi, the largest on the island, and to many, the most interesting in terms of folklore and architecture. Let’s stroll its narrow alleyways, dominated by the architecture of the houses, to admire the pyramid-shaped roofs, the “travaka”, and the striking black and white motifs painted on the facade of the houses, the so-called ‘Xista’. Did you know that Christopher Columbus came to Chios around 1474?

 

Historians say it was to obtain nautical charts for his long voyage and select Chian sailors as members of his crew. In Pyrgi, we will show you the house where he stayed. The next medieval village on our list is Mesta, which is designated as a protected monument and one of the most well-preserved fortified settlements of the Genoese era. Notice that the village has only one entrance and one exit? We’ll walk along its labyrinthine alleys, under arches formed by balconies - an unforgettable experience and a rare journey that conjures the medieval mood of the 14th century.

 

In the main square, you will have the chance to sample authentic mastic liqueur and local delicacies as a taste of the island’s culinary heritage. Next, we will visit a local village producer to participate in a live presentation of the cultivation, collection and cleaning of mastic - before setting out for the coastal settlement of Emporeios. We’re headed for famed “Mavra Volia” beach, where all-black pebbles shade the sea its remarkable deep dark blue, courtesy of a nearby volcanic eruption. Our Chios adventure will conclude on a flavourful note with a traditional meal at a lovely seaside taverna there. Choose from fresh fish, seafood and many other island delicacies.