To the north of the city of Chios west of Vrontados, is the road climbing Aepos mountain. It goes through a treeless plateau without meeting any villages. But nearing the end of this route, the view changes. The remains of a thick forest which was burnt down in 1981, is a sad sight. The first village on the way north is Katavassis and the next one is Sidirounda, a small village built on the flat top of a hill overlooking the sea. In the area of Sidirounda is Metochi, a small summer resort with a few cottages by a wonderful clear beach. Nearby are the remains of the Tower of Pahi and the Fana-Church.

Volissos

The road next to Sidirounda, is the one to Volissos, a large village, the centre of the Northern Villages at 40 Km from the city of Chios. Volissos is situated at the foot and the sides of a low hill. It is a very old village, the name of which probably relates to the Minoan times. Short, narrow roads, paved with sea pebbles, are characteristic of the village. On top of the hill stands its Castle, the Tower, as the inhabitants call it, dating back to the Byzantine times still in quite good condition.

The local tradition says that the Castle was built by the Byzantine General Velissarios who settled here after he was blinded.
Homer, too, is said to have lived here, brought by Glafkos, as a tutor to his master' s children. The local people still keep one of the older houses as "Homer's home". The village was also mentioned in Korais foreword of "Iliad" in his "Papatrechas".

The area of Volissos includes some of the most excellent beaches, unknown to many people: Managros, with permanent Scouts Camping facilities, Magemena, Limnos, Lefkathia and Agia Markella.

Agia Markella

Agia Markella

At the latter, there is a church in honour of the Saint who died there, with the traces of her martyrdom still fresh. Thousands of pilgrims come to this place every year on the day of her Commemoration (the 22nd of July), not only from Chios but also from all over Greece and the whole world. The celebration of that day is a holiday for the whole island. Around the church there are small rooms given for a short residence. Limnia bay is the natural port of Volissos.

The road from Volissos to the north - west of the island follows the periphery of Amani mountain, through several small villages - Pirama, Parparia, Trypes and Melanios. These are inhabited by a few farming and cattle breeding people. The last village to the north is Agio Galas, at 66 km from Hora, with about 150 inhabitants. Worth visiting is the byzantine church of Virgin Mary, called by the local people "Panagia Agiogaloussaena" which is built at the entrance of a cave. Its old carved wooden ikonostasis is unique.
The cave of the church is followed by two more, one larger than the other. In the third cave there are numerous stalactites. These natural caves of Agio Galas have not been explored to their full extent yet.
The road along the periphery of Amani turns to the east, through some more small villages (Nenitouria, Kourounia and Egrigoros). At some places along this route, the thick vegetation creates unique sights. Near the next village, Keramos, there are ancient mines of antimony. Its natural port is Agiasmata with hot - water springs of iron - enriched water, which unfortunately have not been exploited enough.
Further on to the south, after the village of Pispilounta one can see the remains of an old castle called "Ta Markou". It included a small village which was deserted after the terrible massacre of 1822 by the Turks. Still further on to the south, the road joins the one to Volissos and ends there.