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Mesta Chios - Live a Beautiful Fairytale Adventure
On the south-west part of Chios forgotten by time lays the medieval picturesque town of Mesta one of the world renowned "Masticochoria" - the only villages in the world where the fragrant mastic trees grow. Mesta is a magnificent magical town untouched by the passage of conquerors, a beautiful page right out of a fairytale.
An ancient fortress built to protect against the savage raids of pirates, Mesta is an assortment of two and three story stone houses connected by cobble stone lanes and interconnecting arches. The handsome gray-black dwellings are build side-by-side tightly joined together, within the thick castle wall forming an elaborate series of burrows and leaving only two entrances to the village. Walk along the thin, winding streets that lead to the central square and its ornate church, Old Taxiarchis. Some traces of old frescoes are still visible and the iconostasis of the church is wood carved and an excellent example of local woodwork.
The streets are very narrow, and most of them are covered with arches and vaults adorned by thousands of red peppers and other farm produce hung to sun dry. Mesta has been planned and built as a maze, in order to protect against the ancient conquerors. Walk on and reach one of the most beautiful points of the castle with successive domes where the armored soldiers used to patrol and safeguard the town. It is where the villagers came out in order to chat and young lovers met to steal a kiss and profess undying love to each other under the moonlight.
The gateway of the castle a remarkable iron door standing between monoliths is still in excellent condition and named by the natives as "door of the captain". Also preserved are three of the castle towers. Further into the castle you will find two of the most ancient churches of the village. The first one is that of Aghios Georgios and the second one is that of Aghia Paraskevi. Along the route several side-roads lead to dead-ends. These side-roads, although seem random, they were very cautiously designed to protect against ancient intruders. The road on the left of Aghia Paraskevi leads to the village square. The villagers call it "Livadi" and it is an absolute safe haven where you can rest and dine, have a drink or coffee after strolling through the stone lanes. The square is where friends meet, where the news spreads round, where the villagers have their morning coffee or their afternoon ouzo. It is a calm and quiet place that turns to the centre of all festivities during the days the villagers have a feast.
Although time seems to fly by when exploring Mesta if you decide to take a swim or spend the day by the sea, some of the most beautiful beaches on the island are a short drive from Mesta. The two bay pebbly beach of Trahilia, the small cove with crystal clear calm water in Avlonia, the quiet secluded beach of Apothika, Merkounta a sandy shore as far as the eye can see, the more cosmopolitan Limenas lined with restaurants and hotels and the obscure "twin" coves at Didyma.
Mesta is a remarkable site to visit or stay. It is a destination beyond vacation, a journey back in time, back to childhood daydreaming and fairytales of knights in shining armor and fair maidens with rose buds in their hair.
About the Author Learn more about the village of Mesta Chios . For reservations on Chios Hotels you might want to consider Medieval Castle Suites Chios Hotel which offers all modern facilities with the experience of living in a 14th Century village.
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