Mestá: Densely Built Houses, Churches and Souma

Medieval Mestá combines a compact village layout with church art, a carnival tradition and local drinks. Several specific points of interest can help you plan your trip: the houses’ shared architecture, the Taxiarchis churches and the Agas trials. Souma and Mestousiko add two products associated with the village. The wider destination of Chios offers further cultural themes.

Densely packed houses shape the village layout

Mestá’s houses stand without gaps between them; their exterior walls form an enclosure. On Chios, Mestá is described as a medieval village preserved as a monument. Its layout is designed like a castle: the closely built houses form a protective outer wall. Thus, the village’s character is shaped not only by an individual building, but also by the way the houses fit together and form an outer boundary. If you are interested in historic settlement patterns, this enclosed style of construction offers a specific focus for planning your trip.

Churches and woodcarving

The Church of the Old Taxiarchis in Mestá is a 15th-century monument. Its intricately carved wooden iconostasis is characteristic of Chios woodcarving and is one of the oldest surviving on the island. The Taxiarches Church stands in the village square and is also known as the “Big Taxiarches” or the “New Taxiarches.” Thus, the date and woodwork of the Old Taxiarchis sit alongside another specific point of reference in the village: the church in the square and its traditional names.

Agas trials and local drinks

The Agas trials are among Mestá’s traditions as a carnival custom. They are a satirical re-enactment of court proceedings from the period of Turkish rule. When planning a trip around this custom, it is best to check local information for that year’s details.

Souma is a drink associated with Mestá, made by distilling figs and grapes. Mestousiko wine is also associated with Mestá; the village is known for it. The two products therefore differ in their described form: Souma is distilled, while Mestousiko is a wine. These local products complement the village’s architectural and cultural themes.

More cultural themes on Chios

Chios offers cultural points of interest beyond Mestá, too. In Pyrgi, the Xysta are black-and-white geometric decorations on house façades. In Kampos, a settlement and agricultural complex combines a natural landscape with distinctive local architectural elements. The Chios Mastic Museum presents traditional knowledge about mastic cultivation in its permanent exhibition; its outdoor exhibition introduces the public to the mastic plant and its natural habitat. The museum opened to the public in 2016.

Another historical point of interest on Chios is Nea Moni Monastery, built in the 11th century, between 1042 and 1056. Its mosaics are among three surviving collections in Greece from the Middle Byzantine period. These themes broaden the cultural perspective on Chios without equating Mestá’s distinctive features with those of other places.

Discover more destinations: Kallimasia, Lagkada, Vouno, Nenita, Chios, Vessa, Thimianá, Koini Ionia.

Return to the main travel overview: Chios.