Chios – Mesta: The secrets of a unique castle in Greece

There is a small, enchanting castle town in Greece whose labyrinthine form transforms winter travel into a medieval, slightly gothic fairy tale adventure. Chios Island and Mesta are waiting for you. Welcome! The medieval castle villages offer a unique and magical winter holiday experience. In Chios, the rich architecture of the city, with its neoclassical buildings and mansions, always makes it an interesting destination. While Mesta may be your ultimate destination, the journey there and your explorations within the city will reveal Byzantine churches, monasteries, and the solemn holiday atmosphere.

Anavatos: A Castle town in Chios with its legends and the pirates

Chios – Mesta: The Wonderful Medieval Village

Mesta is located 35 km southwest of Chios town and is one of the Mastichochoria (villages that produce Mastic). In summary, Mesta is an exceptionally preserved medieval village, recognized as a listed monument, an impressive blend of East and West, combining Genoese and Greek culture, unlike any other in the Aegean.

Mesta dominates a small valley and was built in Byzantine times, in a pentagonal and closed quadrilateral shape with labyrinthine inner streets. Walking through these narrow alleys, under the arches of the distant balconies, you’ll feel like you’re in an old fairy tale. The entire village is built like a castle. The houses, small and stone-built, are close together, forming a strong protective wall on the perimeter of the settlement.

This is why the houses had no windows facing outside. The Genoese improved the village’s fortifications, which were often raided by pirates. In the outer corners of the village, there are still small circular towers, while the houses are connected by very narrow covered passages, the domes. Many buildings have been restored with respect to tradition, keeping their architectural elements intact.

The most important attraction in the village is the church of Palios Taxiarchis, one of the oldest Christian churches in Greece. Its exact construction date is unknown but estimated around 1412 A.D. Originally a small, vaulted, single-aisled temple, it was expanded into a two-aisled one with a single roof and cross-vaults in the north aisle to meet the worship needs of the entire village.

Inside the church, note the remarkable frescoes uncovered and the wood-carved iconostasis, with many representations from the Old and New Testaments. The iconostasis, a work from 1833, is a fine example of high local woodcarving art. The village also has many small churches, distinguished by their limited height and roof compared to the houses.

Chios – Mesta: A “secret” for good food

Next to this church is the village square, the “meadow” as locals call it. Here, locals and visitors gather for food, coffee, and sweets. You can taste the local cuisine of Chios and some of the island’s most famous traditional products. These are not only found in the square but throughout the castle, offering a variety of choices from traditional taverns and atmospheric cocktail bars to small cafes with renewed and elegant aesthetics. Our advice? Enjoy a meal at the seaside tavern “Limenas Mesta” at the eponymous spot, known for its classic Chian cuisine and fresh fish (weather permitting). The port of Mesta is the second busiest port on the island.

A small taste experience in the village includes the spooned sweets made and served here. From the well-known submarine to donuts with Chios honey, citrus jams, and syrupy sweets, some flavored with mastic.

Chios – Mesta: Stops not to be missed

• Do not miss a walk in the market of Chios, known for its quality products and beauty.
• If you love adventure, put on your schedule an excursion to the unknown cave of the Dragon with its magnificent view and difficult access.
• Explore Ta Markou, a Greek village with a strange name and no inhabitants, to learn its history.

• Visit the Koraes Library, one of Greece’s largest and most remarkable libraries, gathering the spirit of spiritual Chios. Located in the city center, in a neoclassical building of unparalleled beauty, it’s public and one of Greece’s most important libraries, founded in 1792. Its rich history includes functioning as a branch of the Great School of Chios and serving as a sort of “University” by the standards of the time.
• Do not forget to taste the traditional flavors of southern Chios at any stop – from mastic in Turkish delights, pies, liqueurs, and many other products, to soumada (a type of ouzo produced by distilling figs, powerful drink, and clean, without preservatives), and cherry tomatoes hanging in bunches outside every door. Chios is unique in the Mediterranean for cultivating the variety Pistacia lentiscus var. Chia produces the world-famous and exquisite mastic.

Whether you’re in the city of Chora or the surrounding villages during the Christmas celebrations, you’ll hear carols with traditional instruments in the neighborhoods.

Therefore, a visit to the Chios Mastic Museum in the mastic villages is a must. The main exhibition highlights the productive history of mastic cultivation and processing, recognized as a natural medicine in 2015. This modern museum experience includes multimedia applications, models, original machines in operation, and documentary films, complemented by an outdoor exhibition showcasing the plant and its natural environment.

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Read Also:

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