Mestá: Closed Houses and Church Art

In Mestá, the houses stand without gaps between them; their exterior walls form an enclosure. This enclosed building style defines the village and makes its architecture a particular focus when planning a trip. Also on offer are church art, a carnival custom and local products. If you are looking for a holiday apartment, you can decide whether Mestá’s village layout should be the main focus of your stay, or whether other cultural and landscape themes on Chios are of greater interest.

Houses, Churches and Customs in Mestá

The Church of the Old Taxiarchis in Mestá is a 15th-century monument. It has an intricately carved wooden iconostasis, characteristic of Chios woodcarving and among the oldest surviving iconostases on the island. The term refers to the carved screen of images in a church; here, it connects a particular craft with the history of the building. The Church of Taxiarches in the village square is also part of the local landscape. It is known as both the “Big Taxiarches” and the “New Taxiarches.”

Mestá’s carnival custom includes the Agas trials, which satirically reenact court proceedings from the period of Turkish occupation. If you would like to plan your trip around this custom, check local information for the relevant year.

Drinks associated with Mestá also give the village a distinct culinary theme. Souma is made by distilling figs and grapes; Mestá is also known for the wine “Mestousiko.” Souma and Mestousiko thus represent two different local drinks: a spirit and a wine.

More Cultural and Landscape Themes on Chios

Elsewhere on the island of Chios, other places offer a broader perspective on architecture and history. Nea Moni Monastery was built between 1042 and 1056 and is considered an undisputed masterpiece of Byzantine art. Its mosaics are part of one of three collections from the Middle Byzantine period preserved in Greece. Alongside Mestá’s enclosed village architecture, Chios therefore offers another, very different focal point: the monastery’s art and architectural history.

In Pyrgi, the permanent exhibition at the Chios Mastic Museum presents traditional knowledge about mastic cultivation. The outdoor exhibition brings visitors into contact with the mastic plant and its natural habitat. Also in Pyrgi, the “Xysta” define the appearance of house façades: these black-and-white geometric decorations offer another form of local architecture. The Temple of Agioi Apostoloi is a well-preserved 14th-century Byzantine monument there.

Kampos on Chios offers a different example of architecture in its surroundings. This settlement and agricultural complex brings together a distinctive natural landscape and local architectural features. Narrow streets run between citrus groves and estates enclosed by high stone walls, making them ideal for walks.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Karfás, Kallimasia, Chios, Vouno, Volissos, Vrontados, Kambochora, Neochori.

For the main travel overview: Chios.