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Entering the harbour, one can see the Castle of Chios
on the right, built in the Byzantine times and repaired
during the Genova occupation. It was first built in the
9th century then destroyed during the wars, and, finally
it was rebuilt, quite larger, by the Genovan occupants during
the 15th century
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Their emblem (three towers and an eagle) still exists
in towers and battlements, which are in quite good
condition. The entrance to the Castle is the southern
gate (Porta Maggiore) over the moat which is around
the castle. The entrance leads through an arcade to
the interesting building of the Ioustiniani (15th
century), which has recently been renovated and is
now a permanent exhibition of ancient - christian
mosaics, of Byzantine and post-Byzantine frescos,
icons and woodwork. In the same area one can see the
prison, where the 70 governors of Chios were locked,
before they were hanged in 1822, as well as the tomb
of Kara Alis. Also, along the central road of the
Castle we can visit the church of Saint George and
- to the north - the Turkish Baths. Worth seeing are
also the Kria Vrissi (Cool-water spring) and Koules,
the Turkish Tower.
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Chios
Town Castle |
Outside the Castle, near the central square of the city,
one can see the Tzami, the Turkish Mosque, which, nowadays,
contains Byzantine and Post-Byzantine sculptures as well
as later findings. In this Museum particularly, which is
open daily - except Monday - from 10.00 to 13.00, there
are exhibits from the Stone Age, which were the findings
of excavations in the area, tombstones from Muslim and Arabian
monuments as well as bronze and iron canons. In the front
yard there are remains from ancient Temples of Chios, dating
from the early - Christian to the middle - Byzantine Times.
Also there are parts of Reliefs, which were removed from
Panagia Krina in 1734.
On one side of the same square there is a wonderful marble
fountain, made of materials transported from Asia Minor.
Also, at Martyron Street, there is the "Marble Fountain
of Melek Pasha", another relic of the Turkish occupation,
a sample of Turkish baroque.
From Vounaki square, to the south, starts the shopping centre
along Aplotaria street. At about 250 m. on the left of Aplotaria
a group of buildings forms the religious and cultural centre
of Chios.
One of them is the Cathedral, Agioi Victores, built after
1881, with its admimistrative buildings next to it.
The oldest High School of Chios stands opposite the Cathedral,
in a classical building. It was founded in 1792 and was
run up to1822 under the name "School of Chios".
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The Korais
Library, opposite it, is the third in size and
imprortance one in Greece, containing 150.000 volumes.
Included in them are valuable manuscripts describing
the events of the local history, the collection of
rare books of Adamantios Korais, as well as the unique
collection of documents related to Chios, owned once
by Philipos Argentis. In the same building (a classical
one with columns at the front) there is a small collection
of personal mementos of Ad. Korais and of many other
famous Chians, as well as the Ethnological and Traditional
Museum of the Argentis Association (on the first floor).
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The centre of
the cultural interest is the Omirion
Centre of the Municipality of Chios, which was donated
to the island in 1974 by Michael and Stamatia Xyla.
Numerous cultural events take place there every year,
some of them of national or international importance,
as the facilities it provides are unique for the Greek
islands. |
The Chios Museum is at Mihalon Street and contains very
important findings. Among the inscriptions contained in
it one can admire the "Order to the Chians" by
Alexander the Great in 332 A.D. by which he declares the
establishing of Democracy. One can also see marble parts
from the temple of Apollo at Fana, two archaic female statues
of excellent quality.
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