Page 128 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Greek Islands

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MASTIC VILLAGES

ΜΑΣΤΙΧΟΧΏΡΙΑ

⌂ 28 km (17 miles) SW of Híos town @ Mestá
EXPERIENCE The Northeast Aegean Islands resin, which formed the basis of paints, cosmetics and medicine.
The mastic villages, 20 remarkable settlements situated in southern
Híos, were founded by Genovese occupiers in the 14th and 15th
centuries to protect the immensely lucrative production of mastic

Situated well inland to protect against pirate
attack, the mastic villages are almost fortress-
like in their unique defensive features, made
all the more necessary by Híos’s proximity to
Turkey. Key defensive features were perim eter
walls with guarded fortification towers, flat
roofs to facilitate escape and deliberately
confusing streets designed to an intricate grid.
Though they were the only villages to be
spared in the 1822 massacre (p126), most have
had their architecture compromised by ill-
advised modernization and
earthquake damage. The
most photogenic of
the villages is Pyrgi,
with its distinctive Locals outside a taverna in Olýmbi,
decorated houses. part of continuing traditional life here

TOP TOP FIVE
5 MASTIC
VILLAGES

Olýmbi
Locals winnow mastic
at the well-preserved
central tower.
Vávili
The 13th-century
Byzantine church of
Panagía Krína here is
famed for its frescoes.
Mestá
The best-preserved
village, Mestá still has
all its perimeter towers.
Pyrgí
Renowned for houses
decorated with xystá,
a geometric pattern.
Armólia
A smaller village known
The church of Taxiárhis in the village of for its pottery.
Mesta, with its glittering chandelier (inset)
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