Chios Maps

Chios is the fifth-largest Greek island, located in the northeast Aegean Sea just 4 miles from the Turkish coast. The island covers 325 square miles and has a population of approximately 52,000 residents. Chios Town serves as the capital and main port, featuring a mixture of medieval, Ottoman, and modern architecture.

The island is historically famous for its mastic production, a resin obtained from the mastic tree (Pistacia lentiscus) grown exclusively in southern Chios. The Mastichochoria (Mastic Villages) in the south, including Pyrgi, Mesta, and Olympi, feature distinctive medieval architecture with fortified settlements designed to protect mastic production. Pyrgi is particularly known for its unique decorative technique called "xysta," creating geometric patterns on building facades.

Chios was the birthplace of Homer according to one tradition, and was home to a renowned school in antiquity. The Monastery of Nea Moni, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was founded in the 11th century and contains exceptional Byzantine mosaics. The island suffered greatly during the 1822 massacre by Ottoman forces during the Greek War of Independence, an event that shocked Europe and inspired Eugène Delacroix's painting. The village of Volissos in northwest Chios is traditionally associated with Homer. The island maintains an economy based on shipping, mastic production, and agriculture, with tourism playing a growing but still secondary role.

The Facts:
Region: North Aegean.
Regional unit: Chios.
Cities: Chios, Mesta, Pyrgi, Agios Minas, Amani, Ionia, Kampochora, Kardamyla, Mastichochoria, Omiroupoli.
Population: ~ 52,000.
Area: 325 sq mi (842 sq km).