Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
generations this islet, first settled around 1750 by Hiot shepherds, provided Greece
with many of her wealthiest shipping families: various members of the Livanos, Lemos
and Pateras clans were born here.
9
Inoússes town
Two church-tipped, privately owned islets guard the unusually well-protected harbour
of
Inoússes town
, which is surprisingly large, draped over hillsides enclosing a ravine.
Its illustrious maritime connections help explain the presence of large villas and visiting
summer gin-palaces in an otherwise sleepy Greek backwater. Near the quay, the island's
only specific sight, the impressive
Marine Museum
(daily 10am-1pm; €2), also has a
nautical theme and was endowed by various shipping magnates. At the west end of the
quay, the bigwigs have also funded a nautical academy, which trains future members of
the merchant navy.
Around the island
The southern slope of this tranquil island is surprisingly green and well tended; there
are no springs, so water comes from a mix of fresh and brackish wells, as well as a
reservoir. The sea is extremely clean and calm on the sheltered southerly shore;
among its beaches, choose from
Zepága
,
Biláli
or
Kástro
, respectively five, twenty and
thirty minutes' walk west of the port. More secluded
Fourkeró
(or Farkeró) lies 25
minutes east.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
INOÚSSES
By ferry
Inoússes can be reached from Híos Town either on
a day-trip (see box, p.622) or on the daily ferry (30min),
which usually departs from Híos in the afternoon and
returns in the morning.
ACCOMMODATION, EATING AND DRINKING
Naftikos Omilos
T
22710 55596.
This yachtie near the
jetty hangout provides a steady stream of coffee and snacks
during the day before morphing into a fairly lively bar by
night, as the music volume ramps up.
May-Sept daily
9am-2am.
Oinousses Studios
T
22710 55255,
E
oinousses
studios@gmail.com.
Smart modern apartments
overlooking the harbour with fully equip
ped k
itchens and
large balconies facing the sea. May-Sept.
€35
Pateronisso
T
22710 55311.
At the base of the
disembarkation jetty, this is the best of the small bunch of
tavernas dotted on or around the seafront. All the usual
fish, meat and salad staples are available at average prices.
June-Sept daily 8am-midnight.
Thalassoporos
T
22710 55475.
This modest
establishment, on the main easterly hillside lane in town, is
the island's only bona fide hotel, with
bas
ic clean rooms,
mostly affording sea views. May-Sept.
€45
Psará
Remote
Psará
lies a good 20km west of the northwest tip of Híos and is too far
from it to be visited on a day-trip. The birthplace of revolutionary war hero Admiral
Konstandinos Kanaris, the island devoted its merchant fleets - the third largest in
1820s Greece - to the cause of independence, and paid dearly for it. Vexed beyond
endurance, the Turks landed overwhelming forces in 1824 to stamp out this nest of
resistance. Perhaps 3000 of the 30,000 inhabitants escaped in small boats to be
rescued by a French fleet, but the majority retreated to a hilltop powder magazine,
blowing it and themselves up rather than surrender. Today, it's a sad, bleak place
fully living up to its name (“the mottled things” in ancient Greek), never really
having recovered from the holocaust. The official population now barely exceeds
four hundred, and, despite some revitalization since the 1980s, it has never seen a
tourist boom.
