The Municipality of Chios belongs to the Prefecture of Chios of the North Aegean Region and its present form is due to the consolidation of the former municipalities of Chios, Mastichohori, Ionia, Amani, Kampohoroi, Kardamyla, Homeroupolis and Agios Minas, according to the Kallikrates program.
The Municipality has an area of ​​842,54km2 and a population of 51,390 inhabitants, based on the latest census of 2011.
The seat of the Municipality of Chios is the city of Chios.
Chios is very close to the coasts of Turkey, between Samos and Mytilene.
It is an island known worldwide, due to the peculiarity of the tree, which thrives on many Mediterranean islands, but only in Chios produces the known mastic. The locals believe in an old tradition that says that when the Romans led to the execution of Saint Isidore, he was weeping, his tears ran down to earth, and the mastic was created.
Historically in Chios, found findings prove that the site was first inhabited during the Neolithic Age. According to tradition, one of the possible homelands of Homer is Chios. In the 9th century BC on the island Ionians settled and in the 6th century there was great growth. Chios was one of the 12 cities of Ionia with great growth in commerce, shipping, arts. Growth ceased when the Persians conquered the island. When the Persians were defeated, Chios became a member of the First Athenian Alliance of Delos and followed a second. 336 BC was conquered by the Macedonians, followed by the Romans, the Byzantines. In 1045, under the command of Emperor Constantine III of Monomachus, the famous Nea Moni was built. In 1272 Chios was conquered by the Venetians and after the Genoese, who founded the company Maora exploited Mastiha. In 1566 the Turks came, granting special privileges for the trade of mastic. In 1822 Chios rallied against the Turkish conqueror. This revolution, the island will pay it very expensive. The Turks slaughtered around 40,000 residents and many captured and sold them as slaves. The massacre of Chios had a big impact on Europe. The great French painter Delacroix painted the famous painting and Victor Hugo wrote the poem . The island was liberated in 1912.
Many are the sights of the island, such as the medieval villages of Mesta and Olympus, the traditional village of Pyrgi with its unique decorations on the walls, Nea Moni with unique architecture, since the type of temple is called octagonal because its dome rests on eight niches . This Byzantine monastery also has exceptional mosaics. At a seaside location called Passion Fountain there is a huge carved rock, where according to tradition Homer sat and taught.
Chios has great beaches such as Mavra Voli, Vroulidia, Agia Markella, Tigani, Agia Dynami, Elinda and others.