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THYMIANA

The seat of Agios Minas Municipality is Thymiana, an old inland town with a rich history that goes back to ancient times.  It spreads along the base of two hills, where the lush valley meets the rocky mounds of Agios Dimitris (Saint Dimitri) and Profiti Elias (the Prophet Elias).  The town is the result of the combination of three settlements from the Middle Ages -Vrana (in the area of Agios Nikolas), Anntrikiana (at Maroulou, Fakas, Frangovouni) and Patrikia.  Until 1954, the town was called Efimiana, for "famous place" (fimi meaning fame).

It was an area of numerous quarries which produced the renowned Thymiana stone, a porous stone of vivid reddish -brown colors, which abounded here.  It was used to build and embellish the homes, mansions and churches not only of Chios but of the neighboring islands and the Asia Minor shores across the way.

One can admire this unique building stone in the Thymiana church of Agios Efstratios, which was built in 1890.  It is one of the largest on the island in the neo -byzantine style and was built entirely of Thymiana stone.  Next to the church is the Public Elementary School and across the road is the Town Park where the Municipal building is located.  On the park grounds stands the imposing statue of the town's hero, Yianis Fatouros, who fell heroically during the Turkish massacre of Chios on that bloodied Easter Sunday of 1822.

Further down, approximately 100 meters, the visitor reaches the former Community Building and the shopping district of the town.  One can find food, crafts and small articles, sundries, newspapers and postcards here.  To the left is the gate to the old town of Thymiana during the Middle Ages, with what is left of Vrana today.  It is on this road, the center of town, where the most famous carnival of Chios takes place - the Mostra, a tradition kept alive to this day.  Further down is the Karouli, the well, where all the villagers once filled their water jugs.  Behind it is the Polish Station and the Town Square, which contains a children's playground. The southern area of Maroulou is protected by the hilly mount called Mili (Windmills) on which stand the ruins of two windmills and a third, undamaged.  From the former community building the road continues uphill past a windmill of Aegean architecture and leads to the monastery of Agioi Anargiri (the Saints Anargiri).

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