GENERAL INFO

Chios is one of the Northeastern Aegean Islands. It is just a few miles off the coast of Asia Minor and about midway between the islands of Samos and Lesvos.
Chios is known to have been settled at least by the Early Bronze Age but it only enters the main-stream of the Aegean history when the Ionians settle here from about 1100 BC. These Ionians - who came from mainland Greece - colonized a series of islands and cities along these shores of Asia Minor and soon were taking the lead in advancing Greek culture.
It has been generally accepted that Homer was a native of Chios in the 8th century BC.

The climate in Chios (and the other NA Aegean islands) is a typical Mediterranean climate. The major characteristics are hot, dry summers and cool, relatively short winters. There is plenty of sunshine throughout the year. In fact, Chios is third in Greece in terms of hours of sunshine, while it has more hours of cloudless weather than any other part of the country.

The dominant species in the petrified forest is sequoia, a giant tree reaching 160 m of height, which today grows in California (US). This unique natural formation has been declared "a protected natural monument" and can be visited to a large extent.

BEACHES

The Karfas beach (South):

Located a few kilometers south of the city, this is perhaps the most popular beach on the island. It offers full services and a wide range of water sports since it is next to an area where some of the biggest hotels of the islands are built.Restaurants, bars, shops, hotels and rooms, car rentals are within walk-distance from the beach. The water is very shallow and warm in most of the area of Karfas Bay, and therefore the beach is especially suitable for families with little children. During the high-season time in the mid-summer, the beach can sometimes get a little bit too overcrowded, since it is popular among both locales and tourists.

Komi (South):

Komi is found 4 kms outside the village of Kalamoti and is among the loveliest beaches of Chios, with a fine sand suitable for beach games and relaxing sunbathing. The area has many hotels, apartments, rooms to let, restaurants, tavernas offering fresh seafood, and bars for evening outings. The inhabitants of Komi are mainly occupied with fishing and horticulture. Komi is known for its famous watermelons.

The Lithi beach (West):

The large sandy beach of Lithi has some common features with the Karfas beach, while it lacks the cosmopolitan atmosphere of the second. The beach is near the village of Lithi, 30 km from the city, and there are no big hotels; only a few good taverns serving fresh fish and other specialties. The water is very shallow and warm in the Lithi Bay, and therefore the beach is, like Karfas, especially suitable for families with little children. The village is renowned for its excellent fish; the local population consists mainly of fishermen. Delicious red mullets, huge blackfish, bassfish, doradoes and lobsters can be found in the small local taverns. The sunset at Lithi is truly unforgettable.

The Daskalopetra beach (North):

Located north of the city, next to the Homer's Stone ("Daskalopetra"), the place where Homer tought according to the tradition. The beach has white pebbles and it is quite popular, although not as much as the Karfas beach. A few hundred meters from Daskalopetra is the beach, which is maintained by the local sea-sports club. This beach has sand and it offers some watersports. There are taverns near the beaches where you can enjoy fresh fish and other delicious Greek food.

MASTIC

Chios is the only place in the world where a special type of lentisk resin is produced by the mastic tree. The cultivation of the mastic has been known since ancient times and it has been strongly tied to the island?s history. The importance of this unique product, made the island many times in the past a target for various conquerors. While the island was under Genoese and Turkish control, special privileges and certain freedom were given to the villages in the region where the mastic tree grows.

The harvesting of the resin takes place between July 1st and October 31. For the collection of the raw mastic, small incisions are made on the trunk of the trees and the mastic gum flows in the form of liquid drops which become solid as soon as they come into contact with the air. This procedure is called the "Kentima".
A variety of products is made from the mastic resin, including chewing gum, alcoholic drinks, sweets, spices, perfumes, and various chemicals; while the most important use is by the medical industry all over the world.

PSARA AND OINOUSSES ISLANDS

Psara:

Psara is located 12 miles to the northwest. It can be reached by boat from the city of Chios. The island has been the site for many heroic and tragic episodes. The famous revolutionary admiral, Kanaris was born in Psara, and Psarians were among the first of all Greeks to join in the revolt against the Turks in 1821. In 1824 the Turks attacked the island and massacred more than 15.000 Greeks; only 3.000 managed to escape. The island never recovered from the complete destruction.
Today, the island is inhabited by less than 500 people, which all live in the village of Psara. The visitor can find a few cafes, snack bars and rooms to let, but no other tourist services exist.

Oinousses:

The five islands, two miles off the northeast coast of Chios are known by the name of the largest island, Oinoussa (read e-nousa). In antiquity the island was famous for its wine (Oinos) and it is believed that this is also the origin of the name "Oinousses". During the Greek revolution of 1821, the inhabitants fled from the islands; they came back after 1827. When they returned to the island, the people had to withstand the many difficulties caused by the Turkish occupation. Because of the heavy taxes, most of the men became seafarers. Many of these managed to become ship-owners, and today some of the richest and most famous ship owners worldwide come from this small island. Oinousses has also one of Greece's major maritime schools.

There is a small hotel, a few rooms to let, cafes, taverns, and many pleasant beaches. There a boat with frequent service from the city of Chios to Oinousses and during the summer many travel agencies organize various excursions to the islands. These excursions often include visiting some small coastal villages, making the trips an excellent combination of sea, sun, and greek food.