Chios is one of the north eastern Aegean Islands, and a great choice for those who are willing to have a relaxing and fun vacation in Greece. This island has a territory of approximately 905 km2 and a population of around 52,300 inhabitants, and its climate is mainly Mediterranean. The best time of the year to visit this island is between May and July or between September and October, since during high season it tends to be crowded and temperatures might be too high to enjoy all the activities it offers.
The capital town of Chios is Chora, and is also considered as the main port town of the island. In this city, tourists would find everything they could need to be comfortable and have a nice vacation as well as they could easily reach any other attractive villages or settlements of the island they might wish to meet.
The island of Chios is famous by its production of mastic, being this the main resource on which its inhabitants count and a major work source. But, besides mastic, Chios is also widely known by its production or growth of a variety of other products, such as, for example, wine, olives, figs, and olive oil, among others.
The history of Chios is full of important moments and changes. This island has been inhabited and controlled by several different groups and rules, such as the Ionians, the Delians, the Persians, the Byzantine Empire, the Latins, the Ottoman Turks, and the Genoeses. One of the main reasons by which this island was so attractive to the eyes of colonizers was the fact that it was the main exporter of wine in all Greece, and therefore very wealthy.
One of the most critical and important moments in the life of Chios, if not the most, took place in the year 1822, when this destination was occupied by the Turkish. In that year, Chios went through what is known as the massacre of the islanders, in which approximately the 85% of the more than 120,000 inhabitants the island had died.