Greece/Chios: Chios Town
The town of Chios is the main settlement on the island and by far the largest population center with only about 28k people in it. Locally, the town is referred to as Chora or Kastro, to differentiate it from the island name but also to highlight the castle ruins located in town. Due to a very good natural harbor, a Byzantine fortress was built here in medieval times, further fortified by the Genoese a century later. The medieval fortress was massive and surrounded the entire town. A huge earthquake destroyed most of Chios town in 1881. The waterfront promenade is perhaps the most interesting part of town with many cafes and restaurants right on the water.
