Anavatos is a deserted settlement, amphitheatrically extended on harsh ground over the edge of a cleft. It flourished during the last
centuries of the Turkish occupation, but was seriously buffeted in
1822 and 1881 by the slaughter of Chios and the devastating
earthquake respectfully. It was the place the women of Chios fled to
throw themselves from the rocks, in order to avoid their Turkish
persecutors.
At the site today one can see the remains of several deserted fortresses from former times. The natural fortification and the location of the area reveal that it was originally built for defensive purposes, for controlling the western coasts of Chios, during the years of piracy.
The Argentis Museum, containing ethnological and folk art, is housed in the building of the public library, in the centre of the capital. It has a representative collection of local costumes (its town had its own distinct dress), embroidery, woven fabrics, tools, utensils, wood-carved objects, copper engravings, topographical and historical maps and so on.
But what draws the attention of the visitor is the extremely
attentive arrangement of the exhibits, which give a vivid representation of former everyday life.
The Folk Art Museum, which lies in Pirgi, was established by the cultural society "Korais". It has a rich collection of rural and
agricultural tools, handicraft objects, as well as photographic and local press files.
Korais Library, in Chios, is one of the most significant in Greece, since it contains 95,000 volumes. A large amount of manuscripts on the island's history are kept in a separate hall in the library. In the same hall, the rare book collection of Adamandios Korais and the personal library of Philippos Argentis are also kept.
Nea Moni is the most significant monument on Chios as well as one of the most important and beautiful Byzantine monuments in Greece. It lies 15 km west of the capital, in the region of Karies. The
monastery was founded in the middle of the 11th century by the
emperor Constantine the Dueller (Monomachos) and is dedicated to the Dormition of the Virgin.
Its katholikon (of octagonal type) is decorated with marble
revetments and mosaics, which are among the finest examples of Byzantine art.
The refectory, a side chapel, an underground cistern and a bastion on the west side have survived, as well as a few deserted cells and ruined buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries.
The Museum of "Philoproodos Omilos" lies in Vrondados. This significant collection contains folk art objects, portable icons,
ecclesiastical liturgical objects, local costumes, old printed
matter and books, as well as objects from the Museum of Natural History.
The Castle lies north of the island's
capital. It played an
important role in the medieval and modern history of Chios, being the centre of its political and military
goverment. The castle was first
built by the Byzantines, then enlarged by the Genoans in medieval
times. It assumed its present shape after a series of additions, amplifications and repairs starting from
the beginning of the 14th
century till the years of the Greek Revolution in 1821. Inside, is
the mausoleum of the Turkish admiral, Kara Ali, who ordered the 1822 massacre and was punished by
Kanaris when he blew up his flagship.
One of the most beautiful samples of the insular variation on the octagonal style is the church of the Virgin of Krina, built in 1287,
at the village Vavili, near Thimiana.
Its interior has been decorated with three layers of Wall-
paintings. The most recent layer is the work of Michael Chomatzis,
one of the last artists of the Cretan School of the 18th century.
Also in the vicinity is the Genovese settlement of Sklavia
where there are remains of medieval houses and churches.
The monastery of Agios Minas lies near Neohori. It was founded in the 16th century and it is associated with the 300 women and children that were slaughtered after the failure of the revolution of Lykourgos Logothetis. It was repaired in 1881 and again in 1950.
The Monastery of Panagias Mersinidiou lies four kilometres north of Vrondados. It was founded by the archimandrite, Christophoros Seremezis, in 1887. Its "katholikon" (lodger) was built between 1897 and 1900. The holy vestments of the patriarch, Gregorios the Fifth, are kept here.
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