| In a distance of 5 Km from Avgonyma, following a road full of olives and pine trees, on a craggy rock, at the edge of a cliff is built the
castle village of Anavatos, 21 Km far from the town of Chios.
Even from his name, Anavatos, the hard passable, it reveals the reason for existing there. Its natural position and the fortification, obviously, protected the village from pirates attacks by the west coasts. All the houses are two-floored, oblong, without a roof. The houses are built very close to each other, with little doors, and very small arched windows. |
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There is also attic windows, which were used as observation posts. All these reveal that the houses was well thought, so to keep their inhabitants safe. Up to the stronghold was the church of Taxiarchis, two-aisle with two roofs. But today are saved only its north walls with original figures of arches and a lot of workmanships take place in order to restore the church. |
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The representation of Archangel has been removed in the main entrance of the new church of
Taxiarchis, where there is also kept the sanctuaries which saved from the other old churches of the village. So we have a complete picture of an alive-dead town, which adds more dignity presence to the wild scenery. |
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The few residents of the village
receive with pleasure each visitor who comes to Anavatos, which is the Mystras and
Zalogo of Chios. Before we entry the village, in the first turn, there is the little church of Saint George with frescoes by 16th century really remarkable and before it is the monument of heroes from the battle of 1822 with Turks. |
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