Chios (city) - Χίος (πόλη)

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Chios (city)

Port of Chios

H Chios is its largest city Chios.

At a glance

Korai Library

The newer city was built with neoclassical buildings, having clear influences from nearby Smyrna. Today's city has the characteristics of every modern city, but retains some characteristics from its past. Among them, the old mosque with the tall minaret, which now houses the Byzantine Museum, the neoclassical high school of Chios (former School of Chios, which operated during the period 1792-1822), the imposing neoclassical Library Korai, etc.

Vounakiou Square - in which during the Ottoman occupation the executions took place and was called by the Turks "Sword Square" (Kilic-meidan) - where the administrative buildings of the Chios Regional Unit and the City Hall, the Ottoman Mosque (Metzi) are located. , which houses the Byzantine Museum of Chios, the large and cool Municipal Garden, is an area that harmoniously combines the present with the past of the place. Near the square, there are the remarkable buildings that have survived from the era of Ottoman rule on the island, the Bairakli Mosque, the Ottoman Mosque, as well as Ottoman fountains.

From the center of the square, Kennedy Street leads to the official gate of the medieval castle of Chios. The construction of the fortress dates back to the end of the 10th century and mainly to the 11th century on the site of the ancient city and in direct relation to the port. The castle, which has been continuously inhabited since the time it was built until today, has the characteristics of the old inhabited fortress, ie narrow streets, many ruins and buildings of various eras.

To the south of the square lies the main street of the city, Aplotaria. The road crosses the core of the old town, still holding most of the commercial traffic, with many shops that make up a remarkable market. In Aplotaria are located most of the buildings of the 19th and early 20th century, old mansions. Towards the end of Aplotaria and to the east, a road leads to the Gymnasium which was founded in 1792, to the Diocese, to the Library of Korai. In this area is the Archaeological Museum, the University of the Aegean, the main stadium of the city, but also the Maritime Museum.

Ideal period of visit

History

the Genoese castle of Chios

Very little is known about the life of the city during the Byzantine times. Gradually the center of the city, but also of the island, becomes the Castle of Chios. During the years of Genoese rule, a settlement began to develop outside the walls and at the end of the 17th century it is mentioned as a rich and pleasant city, reminiscent of Genoa.

In 1822, the Turks slaughtered the population of Chios for fifteen days as punishment for their participation in the Revolution. More than 25,000 people died then, while thousands more were sold in slave markets. The massacre was so massive and inhumane that it upset the peoples of Europe. The French painter Eugene Delacroix painted the painting "The Massacre of Chios", which is on display today at the Louvre Museum. A copy of which was in the Byzantine museum of Chios but was withdrawn in November 2009 as a sign of good neighborliness towards the Turkish people. [1] This massacre completely leveled the city of Chios. From the settlement that impressed the travelers of the 18th century, only a few ruins remain.

How to get there

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What to see

Archaeological Museum. (updated Sep 2015)

Castle of Chios (is located on the north side of the port of the city of Chios). Its strategic position is great, as it is located in the narrowest passage to the northern Aegean. For this reason it was developed very early. Excavations have brought to light findings that testify to the existence of a large prosperous city, as mentioned in Herodotus. It was an Ionian city, with a theater, a huge port for 80 ships, and a large temple dedicated to the goddess Athena. (updated Sep 2015)