Mesta, Chios

  

During the weekend I uploaded three pages on Mesta, Chios.

Streets of Mesta

Church of Taxiarches

Old Taxiarch' Church and Village Gate

In this photo is the iconostase of the Old Taxiarch's Church (it is so called because there is also a new one). It was curved out from wood, and was made by only one person; unique example of the Greek religious art. We were told that it was made from only one tree, but we remained a bit uncredulous. The monk who made it is said to have lost sight after tens of years of work.

I still have some other photos from Chios, but this week I want to start uploading some pages on Naxos where we visted in 2003.

Pyrgi, Chios

In this weekend I added three pages on Pyrgi (or Pirgi), Chios Island.

The village is so beautiful with buildings decorated with geometric patters. It is even more colourful at the end of summer when the locals start to make sun-dried tomatoes (as you see in the photo).

http://www.mesogeia.net/trip/xios/pirgi_en.html

http://www.mesogeia.net/trip/xios/pirgiagapostoli_en.html

http://www.mesogeia.net/trip/xios/pirgivari_en.html


The village is in Mastichochoria (southern part of Chios where the mastic is produced), and its prosperity derives undoubltedly from this local and exclusive produce. Although there are quite a lot of tourists, it does not lost its charm of small village with merry local inhabitants.

The village has also a Byzantine church with splendid fresco paintings.

Anavatos and Food in Chios, and Piraeus

Finally I added some pages first time in this year.

First, 2 pages on Anavatos, Chios; famous medieval ghost-town.
http://www.mesogeia.net/trip/xios/anavatos_en.html
http://www.mesogeia.net/trip/xios/anavatos2_en.html

Next, a page on food we had in Chios; we enjoyed it very much.
http://www.mesogeia.net/trip/xios/xiostaverna_en.html

Last, a page on the area around the station of Piraeus (Pireas, or Piraias).
http://www.mesogeia.net/athens/pireas/station_en.html
This is most interesting area of Piraias; there still remains the feel of old port town.

Avogonyma, Chios

I added two pages on Avgonyma of Chios Island with 14 photos.

http://www.mesogeia.net/trip/xios/avgonyma_en.html

http://www.mesogeia.net/trip/xios/avgonyma2_en.html

It is not the most touristic of the Chian towns or villages, but is actually quite attractive. We ate quite well here, too.

I also translated some pages of the Theatre of Dionysos, Odeion of Herodes Atticus, and the Stoa of Eumenes in Athens. I took new photos in the last summer, and I will add them soon.

http://www.mesogeia.net/athens/places/theatredionysos/theatredionysostop_en.html

Nea Moni (Chios)

This weekend I uploaded 3 pages of the Nea Moni (New Monastery) of Chios.

http://www.mesogeia.net/trip/xios/neamoni1_en.html

http://www.mesogeia.net/trip/xios/neamoni2_en.html

http://www.mesogeia.net/trip/xios/neamoni3_en.html



Very much to my regret, we could not see almost anything of the Katholikon (the most important church in a monastery), because it was under restauration (details in my website). I just took it for granted it was open, but I was wrong; I should have called the Tourist Information before we decided to go to Chios (although the whole travel was enjoyable enough).

If any of you are planning to go there next summer and if one of your main purposes is to visit the monastery, check it beforehand.

Fortification of Chios and Karfas Beach

Over the weekend I added two new pages to the Chios section

1) The fortification of Chios (Byzantine- Crusader Period)

http://www.mesogeia.net/trip/xios/xioscastle_en.html

This time we did not really have time to investigate inside the old town (which is inside the fortification). There must remain some buildings of the Crusader era and some Ottoman monuments.






2) Karfas Beach

http://www.mesogeia.net/trip/xios/karfas_en.html

We asked at the Hotel where was the nearest beach from the town, and we were told this is it. Nothing exciting about it. It seemed to me a resort for wealthy European tourists.


And I added some hotel contacts to the Hotel page
http://www.mesogeia.net/trip/xios/xiosfiloxenia_en.html

4 Pages of Chios Town

I added 4 new pages to the section of Chios Town, also known as Chora (as many other central towns of the Greek islands).

It was a marvellous island where we would love to return. When we will have a chance to go to Lesvos, we will definitely stop again at Chios and see the rest of it that we did not see.


Various Photos of the Chios Town
http://www.mesogeia.net/trip/xios/xiostownvar_en.html

Mosque (now closed)
http://www.mesogeia.net/trip/xios/xiosmosque_en.html

Archaeological Museum
http://www.mesogeia.net/trip/xios/xiosarchmus_en.html

Hotels
http://www.mesogeia.net/trip/xios/xiosfiloxenia_en.html