Vrontados

The town of Chios, called “Chora” is the largest town of the island with a population of 29.000. It is the administrative, cultural, educational and commercial centre of the island, as well as its most important port.

It is built in the middle of the east coast, from where the Asia Minor coastline is visible. The town’s location indicates its close relationship with Ionia. Archaeological evidence indicates that the island has been inhabited since 6.000 B.C. The town of Chios was built by the Ionians a little before 1.000 B.C. During its 3.000 – year history the town has been through periods of prosperity as well as decline.

Nowadays Chios is a vivid town with various economic, maritime and commercial activities. It is also the island’s cultural center, as most schools and libraries and the Homerion Cultural Center are situated there. Despite its transformations due to the 1822 catastrophe, the 1881 earthquake and extensive post-war rebuilding, the town has a lot of sites of architectural interest not only in the center but also in several of the neighbourhoods.Read more