Chios Town

Chios Town, the island’s capital, with a population of about 29,000, is the administrative, cultural, and commercial center—as well as its main port. Built midway along the east coast, opposite the Asia Minor shores, it maintains a living connection with Ionia. The city was founded by Ionians around 1000 BC, and its history spans over 3,000 years, marked by periods of prosperity and trials, such as the destruction of 1822 and the 1881 earthquake. Today Chios Town is lively and dynamic, with a strong maritime, educational, and cultural life. Highlights include Vounaki Square with the Byzantine Museum, the Municipal Garden, Aplotaria, and the Medieval Castle, which retains the charm of past centuries with narrow lanes and historic buildings, offering a unique journey through Chios’s history.