Chios

Chios is a kidney-shaped island with a surface of 840 thousand km2 and a terrain divided in east and west by a mountain chain running the whole island from north to south. The main mountains are Pelineon (1.297 m) and Epos (1.188 m) in the north, and Provatas (656 m) in the center.

​

The island, the fifth largest in Greece, is divided into three main regions, namely the central region (Chios, Vrontados, Kampos, Avgonima, Kallimasia, Mirmigki, Anavatos) which is the most densely populated, the south region (Mastichochoria, Armolia, Katarraktis, Limenas) and the north region (Lagkada, Kardamyla, Volissos, Marmaro, Nenita).

​

The Mastichochoria or Mastic Villages are the seven villages of Mesta, Pyrgi, Olympi, Kalamoti, Vessa, Lithi and Elata, all together controlling the production of the mastic gum since the Roman era, built between the 14th and 16th centuries with fortified gates and narrow streets to protect against raids of pirates.