Greece/Chios: Anavatos
Anavatos is an ancient mountain village in the heart of Chios, the fortified castle-like houses clinging to the top of a steep outcrop, rising over 500m above the hilly granite terrain of the interior of the island. The name “Anavatos” literally means unassailable. The village was created in the Byzantine times, same time as the nearby Monastery Nea Moni was built. It was abandoned in 1822 after the massacre by the invading Ottomans, and further damaged in 1881 earthquake. Still, quite a lot of the fortress and houses survived. Life is slowly coming back to Anavatos, now a stunning and picturesque tourist attraction.
