Chios: Castle, City History and Maritime Collection

In the city of Chios, also known as Chora, maritime themes meet medieval fortifications and historic buildings. Chios is the island’s largest city. Those interested in urban history and architecture will find traces of different periods here, from the ancient settlement of the castle area to townhouses from the 19th and 20th centuries.

Maritime Collection and Squares in the City Centre

The Chios Maritime Museum is housed in a traditional residence built in the early 20th century. It features elements of the island’s neoclassical architectural style and painted ceilings. The collection also brings the maritime theme to life, with ship models and other nautical objects. The history of the house and its nautical exhibits thus provide two distinct points of interest for a visit.

The offices of the Regional Unit of Chios and the Town Hall are located on the central Plateia Vounakiou. Around the square are the former Ottoman Mecidiye Camii, now the Chios Byzantine Museum, and the city park. The museum’s permanent exhibition is housed in Mecidiye Camii, built in the mid-19th century. The square therefore brings together civic institutions, a park and a historic building now serving as a museum.

Castle, Old Town and Historic Streets

Chios Castle dates back to the 10th century. It was built on the site of the ancient city, with a direct connection to the harbour, and has formed the city’s walled core since the Genoese period. Settlement in the castle area dates back at least to the Hellenistic period. At the southern end of the castle is Porta Maggiore, its main entrance, built by the Venetians in 1694. These periods give the castle its own chronology, from early settlement and the medieval city centre to an entrance dating from the Venetian era.

Historic architecture can also be found outside the castle. Aplotaria Street is lined with numerous townhouses from the 19th and 20th centuries. The historic High School of Chios was founded in 1792. The Archaeological Museum is in the southern part of Chios. These places complement the castle with other themes: urban architectural history, the history of education and archaeology.

More to Explore on the Island of Chios

Beyond the city, the island of Chios has its own cultural and landscape highlights. Nea Moni is considered an undisputed masterpiece of Byzantine art. The monastery was built between 1042 and 1056; its mosaics are among three surviving collections in Greece from the Middle Byzantine period. The permanent exhibition at the Chios Mastic Museum presents traditional knowledge about mastic cultivation. An outdoor exhibition introduces visitors to the mastic plant and its natural habitat.

The cultural landscape of Kampos offers another perspective: this settlement and agricultural complex combines a distinctive natural setting with local architectural features. Narrow streets wind between citrus orchards and estates enclosed by high stone walls, making the area ideal for walks. In Mesta, closely packed houses form a protective outer wall around the medieval village, which is preserved as a monument. Pyrgi, in turn, is known for its black-and-white geometric façade decorations, called “Xysta”; it is also home to the well-preserved 14th-century Church of Agioi Apostoloi.

Choose the Right Focus for Your Search

Mastic culture, cultural landscapes, villages and Nea Moni broaden the picture of the island of Chios.

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Return to the main travel guide: Chios.