Anavatos is situated in the center of the island and is16 kms away from the town of Chios. The beginning of its development dates from the 14
th century. The biggest part of the Settlement has been declared an Archaeological Site by the Ministry of Culture and constitutes a unique monument, especially in the area of the Aegean Sea,
as much in terms of its architecture as of its picture of the everyday life of that distant time. In parallel with this, Anavatos is closely connected with the events of the massacre of Chios.
The tour lasts one hour and the Acoustic Guide devices are readily available for use in the Passengers’ Waiting Roomdown the Port of Chios.
“ … our first contact with the fortress is the wall to the right. This is a rare example of a fort within Greece as a whole, due to several of its characteristics. Nature and craftsmen seem to have worked so hard together that they have produced buildings that seem to be a continuation of the rock. The houses, one built tightly next to the other, climb the rock.”
“… the rock to the west, behind the mesochori, is called Amoni. It was from here that the Ottomans launched an unsuccessful attack in 1822. It is 20m from the north side of the fort and it is here one finds the gaping crevice that became the grave of so many helpless souls in the dark hours of the massacre.”