There's no doubt that a good dining experience can upgrade your holiday and make you love the place you've been to. That's why we recommend today an Instagrammer who loves Chios and the good life and can tempt you to have the best and most delicious holiday of your life on the island!

Kato Fana beach is probably the most beautiful sandy beach of Chios and a favorite choice for those seeking peace and tranquility, even during the bustling days of August. Situated in the southwestern part of Chios, 6 km from Pyrgi (on the road to the village Olympi), it is a small bay, well protected from the Aegean winds, an ideal choice for those who want to avoid the waves, even on days when Northern winds wrinkle the other beaches of Chios. For this reason, in ancient times, the bay was used by sailors as a safe anchorage.

For fans of long-distance running, Chios Half Marathon is an experience not to be missed. It has been organized for the last seven years on Chios island, at the area of Kampos, an enchanting traditional settlement of unique natural beauty and impressive architecture.

On August 15^th, Greek Orthodox Church celebrates the Virgin’s Dormition. The Feast of Dormition is also known as “the summer’s Easter”, signifying the importance of the feast and the holiday. At the peak of the summer holidays, this celebration is an opportunity for families and friends to come together and for visitors of the island to experience traditional events and local dishes at the “panigiria” that take place at the villages. At the same time, during August, a lot of cultural events take place, offering many options for fun and entertainment.  

With tales about fairies and elves, a contemporary interactive performance of music theatre based on speed dating and three concerts with a wide range of repertoire, from classical music and famous soundtracks, to traditional polyphonic songs but also covers from the international rock and jazz scene, the Chios Music Festival makes its comeback this summer. Three historical estates of Kampos, Karaviko, Riziko and Spyros Stephanou Estate, the Ottoman school at the Castle, the Amphitheatre of Oinousses and the Courtyard of the Archaeological Museum of Chios will welcome over 50 artists from Greece and abroad, musicians, actors, filmmakers, professionals and amateurs, who will praise in their own way, love life, love for the world, love for each other, love for the arts and music...

The beach of Agia Dynami is a quiet beach near the village of Olympi and it is one of the most beautiful hidden beaches of the island as it is from the places where peace and tranquility meet the natural fascinating beauty.

A double bay that forms two beaches of white sand and fine pebbles, located at 7 km from the mastiha village Olympi. Above the bay there is the picturesque chapel "Agia Dynami" or "Agia Theodossia". In the courtyard of the church there is a shed and built benches where you can rest and enjoy the magnificent view of the exotic beach.

The beach is not organized so you should have your beverages and snacks purchased before. The closest selling point is the Café of Olympi Cave, located 1.7 km from the beach. Note that the cave of Olympi is open to visitors and is a great opportunity to visit it on the way to the beach.

The trees near the beach offer natural shade but in July and August you might not find it free so if you cannot stay long in the sun, you should have an umbrella with you. The crystal clear emerald waters of the beach will fascinate you and the incredible tranquility of the landscape will compensate you for the effort of carrying the necessary for your bath. Anyway we can guarantee that you will leave the beach with the feeling that you are leaving a paradise on earth.

Tip: With a bit more trouble and a five minutes walk on a short trail you will be able to reach the second part of the bay where a small seclusive beach is formed. There you can enjoy even more peace even in the most days of August.

Chios has been characterized “Myrovolos” (fragrant) due to the characteristic scents of the gardens, especially in the area of Kampos. Apart from the wonderful fragrances, the gardens and the yards of Chios offer a unique sight, part of which is the elaborate pebbled flooring, called “votsaloto” by the locals, made by black and white pebbles that create complex patterns and look like luxury carpets.

The construction of a pebbled yard requires craftsmanship and hard work. There must be a design and then skilled workers to work on it. The craftsmen use river and sea pebbles that stand upright next to each other on fresh cement that has been laid on hard ground. In order to complete a square meter, four workers need to work at least three hours, who of course should have worked before in order to collect the pebbles, allocate them according to color and size and prepare the floor. For this reason, the pebbled yards were always considered a luxury. Nowadays it is no longer possible to take pebbles from the beaches and such constructions are made only with industrial materials.

The colors are mainly white and black, the motifs linear, but you will also find patterns such as flowers, pots, birds and animals, boats and anchors. In many courtyards, you will find the date of construction, messages such as "ΧΑΙΡΕΤΕ" (welcome) at the entrance, or even the owner's initials, all written with pebbles.In Chios you will have the chance to admire many beautiful and pebbled yards. In Chios town you can visit the yards of the Cathedral (made in 1895), the Korais Library, the 11th Primary School and the University of the Aegean.

In Vrontados you should visit the yards of the following churches: Panagia Erithiani(1892), Panagia Moutsaina, Agios Isidoros and Agios Kirikos.In Kampos area, most of the mansions and churches have enchanting pebbled yards. While taking a walk around, most of the owners of the mansions and the hostels always have the good will to open their doors to the visitors. The churches of Panagia Syriotissa, Agios Polykarpos and Panagia Agiodektini, are especially worth visiting as well as hostels such as Mavrokordatiko and Perleas and of course the “Citrus Estate”. Finally, in South Chios, visit the Taxiarchis church at Mesta, to admire the oldest courtyard dating back to 1827.

Tip: In the bookstores of Chios you can find the book “The pebbled courtyards of Chios”, a very valuable survey both in Greek and English, written by the chian architect Maria Xyda.

“The countless aspects of Beauty” is a periodic exhibition that took place at the National Archaeological Museum in celebration of its 150 years. A choice of unique antiquities that were presented in the context of this exhibition travelled to the thematic museums of Pireaus’s Group Cultural Foundation. In 2018, the exhibition was presented at Sparti, Ioannina and Tinos. Last Tuesday, it opened at Chios Mastic Museum, where it will remain until September 8, 2019.

Amani, the northwest part of Chios island, is evidence of the dramatic changes in landscape and nature, as well as of the variety of activities that visitors can experience on Chios island. After climbing Aipos mountain and driving across the lunar landscape of Aipos plateau, devoid of greenery and full of white wild rocks, we move on to the mountain range of Amani, which dominates northwest Chios. 

Chios island provides the ideal combination of luxury and class for the perfect wedding. At Kampos grand estates and at the villages of Mastiha, you will find the necessary touch of magic to make your special day unforgettable. Chios offers a unique setting to celebrate your wedding and a variety of activities to create a fun program for your guests.