 The
Fortress of Chios lies to the north of the modern city centre. When
it was built it enclosed the whole city of Chios, but soon the town expanded
outside the precinct of its walls. It is entered through the Central Gate
(Porta Maggiore) at the south end, which was reconstructed by the Venetians
in 1694. In the enclosed area, near the gate, stands the two-storeyed building
known as the Giustiniani Palace. Two of the most important structures inside
the castle are the Krya Vryse (Cold Fountain), a semi-subterranean water
cistern, built during the Genoese occupation, and the massive tower known
as "Kulas". The castle was surrounded by a wide moat, which has now been
filled in.
Days-hours:
From
November 1st to March 31: Daily: 08:30 - 15:00, Monday: closed
From
July 1st to October 31: Daily: 08.30 - 15.00, Monday: closed
Church
of Panaghia Krena
 The
church belongs to the insular octagonal architectural type, and in a small
degree reproduces the catholicon (main church) of Nea Moni. It comprises
a domed naos, an esonarthex and an exonarthex, today completely ruined.
The domed naos and the esonarthex were built at the end of the 12th century
while the exonarthex is a much later addition, constructed in the 18th
century. The greatest part of the interior is covered with wall paintings
dated to the 12th century. The church was constructed at the end of the
12th century. It was donated by Eustathios Codratos and his wife, Eirene
Doucaina Pagomeni, both belonging to the imperial court of Constantinople.
The donors decorated the church with wall paintings but five more layers
of murals are preserved inside the building. During the catastrophic earthquake
of 1881, the hemispherical part of the dome collapsed, along with the smaller
dome of the narthex, which was reconstructed shortly thereafter. |
