Genoese, Byzantine, Ottoman
History
Why this plan
The castle, the museums and Nea Moni: the layers of the island read in one day without leaving the centre and the mountain above it.
The day, hour by hour
What time do you land?
09:30Chios Castle
Immediately behind the quay. The Genoese and Ottoman town inside the walls, the Giustiniani Palace and the small dark prison of the 1822 hostages.
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Immediately behind the quay. The Genoese and Ottoman town inside the walls, the Giustiniani Palace and the small dark prison of the 1822 hostages.
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11:15Byzantine Museum
Housed in the former Mecidiye mosque on the main square: carved marble, Genoese heraldry and Ottoman stones in one room.
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Housed in the former Mecidiye mosque on the main square: carved marble, Genoese heraldry and Ottoman stones in one room.
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12:30Koraes Library and Argenti Museum
One of the great provincial libraries of Greece, with the Argenti folk collection above it. Check hours before relying on it.
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One of the great provincial libraries of Greece, with the Argenti folk collection above it. Check hours before relying on it.
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13:45Nea Moni
The mosaics, the cistern and the ossuary of 1822. The single most important monument on the island.
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The mosaics, the cistern and the ossuary of 1822. The single most important monument on the island.
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15:30Back to the port
Down through Karyes and back to the quay.
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Down through Karyes and back to the quay.
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Back on the quay by 15:30
That leaves the last hour before a sailing at 16:30 for passport control and boarding.
That leaves the last hour before a sailing at 16:30 for passport control and boarding.
Before you plan around it
Museum and monastery hours are short, seasonal and often mornings only. Confirm opening on the day before you commit — several of these close in the early afternoon.
Be back at the quay a clear hour before the return sailing. Passport control, ticket collection and the queue for boarding all take longer than the walk suggests, and the boat does not wait.
Museum and monastery hours are short, seasonal and often mornings only. Confirm opening on the day before you commit — several of these close in the early afternoon.
Be back at the quay a clear hour before the return sailing. Passport control, ticket collection and the queue for boarding all take longer than the walk suggests, and the boat does not wait.