Southern Chios

Last updated on December 20, 2023.

The part of Chios, Greece, I’m most familiar with is the southern half of the island. The villages in the south are among the most visited places on the island. It’s also the home of the mastic tree and you can find some great tavernas. 

Other than the most popular villages to visit, Mesta and Pyrgi, this entry will cover a few of the random villages and attractions in southern Chios.

Vessa

Vessa (Βέσσα) is a small medieval village that I didn’t visit. I saw it from the road above on my way to Nea Moni.

Lithi

Lithi (Λιθί) is a village I only passed through a few times. The nearby beach is popular and has some good tavernas.

Katarraktis

Katarraktis (Καταρράκτης) is a small fishing village with several little tavernas serving great seafood, sometimes right next to the sea. It’s a wonderful place to walk on the seaside promenade.

Armolia

If you like ceramics, Armolia (Αρμόλια) is worth a stop. The village has a long tradition of ceramic crafts and there are several workshops. There’s also a Genoese fortress, Apolichna Castle, built in 1440. It’s on top of a hill just outside town. A hiking trail leads you up a steep slope to the castle in about 30 to 40 minutes.

Dotia

Dotia (Δότια) has a Genoese defensive tower built in 1410. It’s on the road to Vroulidia Beach.

Kallimasia

The Kallimasia Ethnographic Museum is located at the school in Kallimasia and is usually open by appointment only. If it isn’t open, ask one of the neighbors across the street. It was closed at my time of visit, and there were no neighbors present, so I only got to see the flyer on the door. I was interested in visiting because of a brochure I saw at my hotel and the owners highly recommended it. Admission is €2 (as of August 2023).

Agios Minas Monastery

Agios Minas Monastery is an important monastery located on the road to Kallimasia. It was built between 1572 and 1595. During the 1822 Massacre of Chios, 3,000 villagers who took refuge at the monastery were burned alive in the chapel and in the courtyard. Blood still stains the marble floors of the chapel and the bones of those murdered by the Ottomans are kept in the courtyard. The monastery was closed during my attempted visit.