Around Mesta
Things to do
The sea, the Mastic Villages, and centuries of history — all just a short drive away.
The sea
Our neighbourhood beaches
The southwestern coast of Chios is dotted with secluded coves and beautiful beaches, where crystal-clear waters invite you to unwind. Many are just a short drive from Mesta, waiting to be discovered.
Mesta harbour
about 4 km
The closest point to the sea. Fish tavernas right by the boats and small stretches of shore for a quick swim.
Merikounta
about 4 km · pebbles
An open beach west of the village, with nothing but horizon ahead. The best seat in the area for watching the sun sink into the sea.
Apothika
about 5–6 km · pebbles
A small cove with calm, crystal-clear water and a long-time favourite of the locals.
Avlonia
about 5–6 km · pebbles
A closed bay, naturally sheltered from the wind, with a quiet sea on hot days.
Didyma
about 6 km · white pebbles
Two almost identical coves side by side, with white pebbles and water in shades of green.
Mavra Volia
Emporios, beyond Pyrgi
Black volcanic pebbles and deep blue water at the southern tip of the island, close to the archaeological site of Emporios.
Many beaches in the area are not organised, so bring water and something for shade. Distances are approximate.
Tradition
The mastic villages
Pyrgi
About 10 km from Mesta. Its houses are dressed in “xysta”, black-and-white geometric patterns scratched into the plaster, found nowhere else in Greece. Near the square, the Byzantine church of the Holy Apostles (13th–14th century) is decorated with frescoes painted in 1665.
Olympi
On the road between Mesta and Pyrgi, another castle village: the outer houses form a wall and a defensive tower of about 20 metres rises in the middle.
Chios Mastic Museum
At Tepeki, near Pyrgi, this museum of the Piraeus Bank Group Cultural Foundation explains how mastic is grown, how it shaped the landscape of southern Chios and where it is used today. In its garden you can see the mastic tree up close.
Explore
Sights worth the drive
Olympi Cave
About 3 km from Olympi, near Sykia. A pothole cave around 55 metres deep, with stalactites, stalagmites and rare eccentric formations that grow in every direction. Inside, the temperature stays at 18 °C all year round.
Nea Moni
For a day trip to the centre of the island: the monastery was built in the 11th century and, together with Daphni and Hosios Loukas, is protected by UNESCO as a monument of world importance, famous for its Byzantine mosaics.
Come back to the stone in the evening
After a day at the sea or in the villages, your house in Mesta is waiting for you, cool and quiet.
