Volissos is the village with the highest population (500 residents) in north-western Chios, the capital of the municipality of Amani and is 40 kilometers far from the city. Volissos is a village with great history: according to Thucydides it was an old Aeolian city and is said that Homer was born here. On the top of village you can see the village’s castle, a defensive fortress that was built during the Middle Ages from Belisarius, the general of Houstonian. The castle has a trapezoid shape and had internal buildings, tanks and churches, and a tunnel built along the castle that connected it with the coast. Today the spotlights, during the night give it a color of mystery and rendering it to an imposing presence. Volissos has characteristic narrow alleys, old houses, stone mansions that give a graphic sense to the village. The village also has windmills (and ruins of some) and Byzantine churches (temple dedicated to the “Metamorphosis of The Savior” and a church dedicated to Holy Mary). Volissos has expanded its tourist’s development and the village has taverns, rooms to let, a bakery (that is famous for its traditional bread), a drugstore, ATM etc. Volissos olive groves are a vital element for the island, as they offer the ¼ of the total oil production.
The route to Volissos is: