Northern Chios offers to the visitor a completely different view than the rest of the island. Small villages on top of high mountains, deserted settlements; it often gives the feeling of a place forgotten in time. The Northwest villages (Langada, Pantoukios) and the town of Kardamyla have been modernized and most of the people are seafarers and ship owners. However, in the Northeast, around the mountains Pelineon and Amani, primitive agriculture is the main source of income, and even today the sight of a tourist is not so common. The best way to explore this part of the island is by renting a car.
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The town of Kardamyla
Kardamyla is the third largest populated area on Chios (after the City of Chios and Vrontados). The name of the settlement has survived from antiquity, though the present form of it is more recent. It has a port, Marmaro, built at the head of the large natural harbor. The majority of the population is engaged in seafaring. In recent years, schools and public buildings have been built with donations given by the local ship owners to their birthplace, but the widespread urban renewal means that almost nothing of the old traditional houses has survived. The remains of a medieval defence-work can be seen on the Gria hill. The remains of a Hellenistic wall show that the site was defended in antiquity. Five kilometers from Kardamyla to the north is the beach of Nagos and next to that, the beach of Giossonas.
AVI video from Kardamyla: Low Quality 1,73 MB or Medium Quality 3,09 MB
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The village of Volissos
Volissos, with a population of approx. 500, is the most important village in the Northwest area of the island. It extends over the lower slopes of a hill, and has retained much of its original character. The crest of the hill is dominated by the medieval fortress, which has six round towers and is quite well preserved. The harbor of Volissos is Limnia and there are long sandy beaches in this area of outstanding natural beauty.
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Other interesting sites
On the road to Kardamyla, is the village of Langada. There are many taverns next to the sea, serving fresh fish, and a few cafes next to them, making Langada an ideal place to stop and relax when the night falls, after an exhausting excursion to the Northern Chios.
AVI video from Langada: Low Quality 2,18 MB or Medium Quality 2,18 MB
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On the most distant point from the city of Chios is the village of Agio Galas, built on top of a hill. Of great interest is the Byzantine church of Panagia Agiogalousena, built below the village in the entrance to a cave. A second small church is built further into the cave, which suggests that this was the retreat of monks during the Byzantine period. The cave with the churches connects with two other caves in which there are chambers containing stalactites. Excavations have produced a large quantity of neolithic findings, demonstrating the existence of human life in this area during the Stone Age.