Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
INOUSSES ΟΙΝΟΥΣΣΕΣ
POP 375 / AREA 14 SQ KM
Just northwest of Chios, placid Inousses is the ancestral home to nearly a third of
Greece's shipping barons (the
arhontes
), whose wealthy descendents return here annu-
ally for summer vacations from their homes in London, Paris or New York.
Inousses was settled in 1750 by ship-owning families from Kardamyla in northeastern
Chios, and some amassed huge fortunes during the 19th and early 20th centuries; traces
of this history linger in Inousses' grand mansions and ornate family mausoleums high
above the sea.
Although Inousses is little-visited, it does get lively in high season, with an open-air
cinema, cafes and night-time beach parties. Nevertheless, it has retained its serenity and
remains an escapist destination, with only a few rooms and studios for rent.
The island's port attests to its seafaring identity. Arriving by ferry, you'll see a small,
green sculpted mermaid watching over the harbour - this is the Mitera Inoussiotissa
(Mother of Inoussa), protector of mariners. Inousses also boasts a merchant marine
academy.
Sights & Activities
Inousses has numerous hill-walking opportunities and pristine beaches. Just a 10-minute
walk from the port, you'll find pretty and swimmable
Kakopetria Beach
. Another five to
10 minutes will bring you to
Bilali Beach
, set on a tranquil bay with a not-quite-tranquil
beach cantina that buzzes all night in summer.
Orthodox pilgrims visit the
Evangelismou Theotokou Monastery
at the western end
of the island.
Nautical Museum
MUSEUM
( 22710 44139; Stefanou Tsouri 20; admission €1.50; 10am-2pm)
Created in 1965, this
little museum showcases the collection of local shipping magnate Antonis Lemos. Many
of the models on display (some half-completed, then set flush against a mirror so that
you 'see' the whole vessel) were made by French prisoners-of-war around the time of the
Napoleonic Wars. There's also a swashbuckling collection of 18th-century muskets and
sabres, a WWII-era US Navy diving helmet, a hand-cranked lighthouse made in 1864
and paintings of Nazi submarines attacking Greek sailing vessels.
Mausoleum of Inousses
CEMETERY
