Last updated on December 20, 2023.

Olympi (Ολύμποι) is a 14th century medieval village in Chios, Greece. It has a maze of narrow alleys to wander through.

Olympi, Chios, Greece
Olympi

To me, this village in the southern half of the island is a bit of a combination of two other nearby villages. It has the Medieval castle surrounding the village like Mesta, but also a few buildings decorated with the xysta that was made famous by Pyrgi, which is only six kilometers away.

Olympi, Chios, Greece
A narrow alley through the village
Olympi, Chios, Greece
An arch decorated with xysta

 

Village Gate

An important feature of Olympi is the gate that served as the original entrance to the village. It was the only way in or out during medieval times. As a defensive feature, all of the houses during that era had windows that faced into the village. When an outsider would approach, they would see nothing but a huge fortress with walls rather than a village.

Gate in Olympi, Chios, Greece
Gate to the village

 

Defensive Building

In the center of the village is a large defensive building where villagers used to take refuge in case of an attack. There are a couple of restaurants located there now, making it an interesting and scenic place to have a meal.

Olympi, Chios, Greece
Defensive building (right)
Author

Owner of Paisadventure. World traveler. Chicago sports lover. Living in Colombia.

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