Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Chrysanthi Apartments
Olýmbi
T
22710 76196,
W
chrysanthi.gr.
Three units suitable for two to five
persons near the central platía - nicely furnished with
smart kitchen
s - r
etaining many original features such as
stone alcoves.
€55
Ì
Medieval Castle Suites
Mestá
T
22710 76345,
W
mcsuites.gr.
Superbly refurbished medieval mansion on
a lane just of the main square, with much of the original
stone exterior, yet lavishly furnished
and
equipped with all
modern facilities inside. Easter-Oct.
€80
Ì
Mesaionas (Kyra Dhespina)
Mestá
T
22710
76050.
Excellent home-cooked dishes, such as stewed
octopus, moussaka and various veg in sauces for well under
€10 each, served on the square. The welcoming owner can
put you in touch with places offering rooms.
Daily
11am-midnight.
9
The mastic coast
The most popular
beaches
at the southern end of Híos are in the vicinity of
Emboriós
,
tucked in the southeast corner. Over on the southwest coast, the closest good,
protected beach to Mestá lies 4.7km southwest at
Apothíka
. Others, east of ugly but
functional
Liménas Mestón
port, include
Dhídhyma
, 4km away, a double cove guarded
by an islet;
Potámi
, with a namesake stream feeding it; and less scenic
Ayía Iríni
, 8km
distant, with a reliably open taverna.
Emboriós
EMBORIÓS
, an almost landlocked harbour, is 6km southeast of Pyrgí. Ancient
Emboreios
, on the hill to the northeast, has been rehabilitated as an “archeological
park” (summer daily 8.30am-3pm, winter closed Mon; €2). Down in modern
Emboriós a cruciform early Christian
baptistry
is signposted in a field just inland; it's
protected by a later, round structure, which remains locked but everything's visible
through the grating.
Beaches around Emboriós
For
swimming
, follow the road a short way south from Emboriós to an oversubscribed
car park and the beach of
Mávros Yialós
, better known as Mávra Vólia, then continue
by flagstoned walkway over the headland to more dramatic
Fóki
. Twice as long and
backed by impressive cliffs, this pebble strip of purple-grey volcanic stones is part
nudist. If you want sand (and amenities) go to
Kómi
, 3km northeast of Emboriós,
which is the main (albeit low-key) resort for the area.
ACCOMMODATION AND EATING
THE MASTIC COAST
Bella Mare
Kómi
T
22710 71228.
Classic beach taverna-
cum-rooms-combo
towards the southern end of the beach,
which offers a fair selection of seafood and meat as
mezédhes
or main dishes, as well as simple
sea-v
iew
accommodation.
Restaurant May-Oct 9am-2am.
€30
Nostalgia
Kómi
T
22710 70070.
Good all-round taverna
behind the northern end of the beach, specializing in
grilled fish and meat but also offering a line in veg dishes
and some decent barrelled wine.
April to mid-Oct daily
noon-2am.
Porto Emborios
Emboriós
T
22710 71306.
The best of
the four tavernas clustered around the harbour offers good
seafood at fair prices, a range of salads and dips, plus
home-made desserts.
March-Oct daily 10am-1am.
Central Híos
The inland portion of Híos extending west and southwest from Híos Town matches the south
in terms of interesting
monuments
, and good roads make touring under your own steam an
easy matter. The flat
Kámbos
leads to more mountainous terrain to the west and north.
The Kámbos
he
Kámbos
, a vast fertile plain carpeted with citrus groves, extends southwest from
Híos Town almost as far as the village of Halkió. The district was originally settled by
the Genoese during the fourteenth century, and remained a preserve of the local
aristocracy until 1822. Exploring by two-wheeler may be less frustrating than going by
