Chios: Olympi Chios

The Tower at the center of the village is 20 meters high and was used as a watchtower to defend the village in case of an attack. The whole tower was actually built for the defense of the village against the enemies and the pirates.

The church of Agia Paraskevi, with its wooden iconostasis and valuable icons, offers visitors a remarkable sight, as does the ‘Trapeza’ of Olympi, a two-storied medieval building. Another marvelous sight is the Cave of Olympi, located 3 kilometers to the south-west, close to Sykia village. It dates back almost 200,000 years and the cave has magnificent stalactites and stalagmites formations.

The neighbouring villages of Pyrghi and Mesta are also captivating. Mesta is a scenic village with vaulted archways. The Church of Taxiarches in Mesta portrays scenes from the Old Testament. Pyrghi is the largest of the medieval villages of Chios. On a hill near Phana beach, there lie the remains of the temple of Phaneou Apollo. It is said that the statue of Apollo, that once stood there and hasn’t been found till today, was made of silver and gold. If you are a trekking enthusiast, you could wander along the old Olympi – Mesta trail.

Tourist facilities such as traditional apartments are situated within Olympi village. Some of the old traditional houses have been renovated and turned into guesthouses, to give visitors a feel of the traditional charm.

The area around Olympi is also abundant in mastic trees. These trees constitute the trademark of Chios island and are an important financial source for the island. These trees have an aromatic resin that is used in varnishes, adhesives, astringents and condiments.