Mesta

Mesta, in south Chios, is the best preserved from the fortified medieval villages of the island, built far from the sea in order to be protected from pirate raids. It was founded in the Byzantine period and took its special form from the Genoese. Its houses are built without empty spaces between them and their external walls create an enclosure, while the narrow alleys are arched and branch off creating a true labyrinth. The oldest monument of the village is the church of Palaios Taxiarchis, with the elaborate wooden carved screen. The customs that the people of the village revive are interesting, like Agas, on Ash Monday.