A HISTORIC VILLAGE

VESSA is one of the famous mastichochoria and along with others have the best-preserved fortified settlements of the island . It was built between the 14th and the 16th centuries in order to control and protect the inhabitants and their valuable product which was the mastic resin.

It is really so historical, and picturesque and I was amazed seeing that many of the original houses out here still survive.
Vessa preserves its medieval character and this is the reason I am here to see all this.
The people are really friendly, and I walked throughout the village where I found women in beautiful small gardens chatting with friends. I sat with them and told them that they are lucky that they live in such a beautiful place.
They however told me that they got tired of these houses they live in, and wished they had more modern houses instead. I believe they are so wrong, and because of these very old houses their little town is so unique and beautiful.

Upon reaching the centre of the village you come to a big square with sycamore trees.
The old school now houses a coffee shop . The lady there is called Lemonia.
She runs this small business and is renting the building from the Municipality.
We had lunch and dinner there the 2 days we spent in this village.
The restaurant and coffee shop offers free internet service to its guests - pleasantly surprised when Lemonia told me that I can use my laptop and work from there.

 Vessa is a medieval village that lies in the center of a big agricultural basin and it has a main gate, which is in a very good condition. The area has a well laid-out streets and high narrow buildings that look like towers. Although the fortified surrounding wall has been split, the whole village stone houses remain in a very good condition but many of them are dilapidated and empty. There are many big and wealthy houses in the area that were built by prosperous emigrants. Among the village churches is Panagia, Agios Dimitrios and Panagia Petrousena, which is considered to be the most ancient church of Chios, according to the locals .

I have some very beautiful pictures from our 2 day stay here.
I had the chance to meet Vassilis, a local who is so passionate with his village. We were lucky to meet him because he showed us a lot around, proud of the work he does in Vessa to promote and make the village more attractive.

You see, we had all the lights of the mansion lit and when he saw all those lights he thought his friend the owner of the hotel had come, so the following morning he knocks on the door planning to meet him. To our good luck he met us instead.
I told Vassilis that I am writing a guide on the island and he was pleased to help me. We had dinner together in the evening. After 10.00 pm when dinner was over Vassilis offered to show us around and with much passion and love for his village we followed him. We saw part of his work, and what Vassilis wants is to get resorces from the governemnt and put more lights in the narrow streets of the village to make it even more lively and beautiful.


See the next entry with photos only! It is interesting I think.(80 photos)