> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://photos.miltongeorges.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Pyrgi - Chios - Greece 2022 - URL: https://photos.miltongeorges.com/pyrgi-chios-greece-2022/ - Published: 2022-10-09T01:21:32.000Z - Updated: 2022-10-19T16:22:00.000Z - Description: One of the standout moments of Summer '22 was our time in Mastichoria, a southern region in Chios with a collection of medieval villages. - Author: Milton Georges - Tags: Travel, Documentary *All photos taken with the [FujiFilm X100V](https://fujifilm-x.com/global/products/cameras/x100v/?ref=photos.miltongeorges.com)* Of all the wonderfully impressive things that we saw in Greece this past Summer, one of the standout moments of the trip was our time in [Mastichoria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mastichochoria?ref=photos.miltongeorges.com), a southern region in Chios with collection of medieval villages. The villages in this region were known for being cultivators of [Mastic trees](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pistacia%5Flentiscus?ref=photos.miltongeorges.com), which produce a resin called [Mastica](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mastic%5F%28plant%5Fresin%29?ref=photos.miltongeorges.com). The production of mastica is specific to the island of Chios, and has been a claim to fame for the island for thousands of years. ![](https://photos.miltongeorges.com/content/images/2022/10/2022-06-greece-0571.jpg) The Beautifully decorated, windy streets of the town The first Mastic village that we visited was the town of Pyrgi - known as "The Painted Village", renown for its elaborate geometric decorations carved into the stucco of the building façades, via a technique called [Sgraffito](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sgraffito?ref=photos.miltongeorges.com). The aesthetic is quite striking, as there is not a street corner that you can turn into where you do not observe at least one building elaborately decorated in this technique. ![](https://photos.miltongeorges.com/content/images/2022/10/fit_2048-6.jpeg) One of the many beautifully decorated streets of Pyrgi In addition to the sgraffito decoration, some buildings feature bold and bright colors, in shades of light blues, yellows, and pinks. It is incredibly unique for a town in a remote region of Greece, let alone anywhere that I've visited in all of my travels. ![](https://photos.miltongeorges.com/content/images/2022/10/fit_2048-9.jpeg) ![](https://photos.miltongeorges.com/content/images/2022/10/fit_2048-8.jpeg) ![](https://photos.miltongeorges.com/content/images/2022/10/image-21.jpeg) ![](https://photos.miltongeorges.com/content/images/2022/10/fit_2048-7.jpeg) There is also charm to be found in the smallest of details throughout the town, as the residents decorate their porches with various plants, knickknacks, and paintings. Everybody appears to be in on the effort, and you can almost sense a competition amongst the villagers to have the most elaborately styled, and visually striking home. ![](https://photos.miltongeorges.com/content/images/2022/10/fit_2048-10.jpeg) ![](https://photos.miltongeorges.com/content/images/2022/10/fit_2048-1-1.jpeg) ![](https://photos.miltongeorges.com/content/images/2022/10/fit_2048-2-1.jpeg) ![](https://photos.miltongeorges.com/content/images/2022/10/fit_2048-3-1.jpeg) Details to be found on every front door and stoop. In the center of the town - as is tradition with most towns in Greece - is a town plaza and a large Church. Pyrgi is (slightly) unique in that is has two churches; an ancient, Byzantine style church which is opened for special ceremonies and celebrations, and the "new" church, where most residents go to worship on Sundays. I say "slightly unique" because the practice of having an *old* and a "new" church is actually a fairly common in Greece. As the towns grow, the old churches become too small to accommodate for the amount of patrons visiting every week, and a new church is built. ![](https://photos.miltongeorges.com/content/images/2022/10/fit_2048-11.jpeg) ![](https://photos.miltongeorges.com/content/images/2022/10/fit_2048-1-2.jpeg) ![](https://photos.miltongeorges.com/content/images/2022/10/fit_2048-5-1.jpeg) ![](https://photos.miltongeorges.com/content/images/2022/10/fit_2048-2-2.jpeg) ![](https://photos.miltongeorges.com/content/images/2022/10/fit_2048-3-2.jpeg) ![](https://photos.miltongeorges.com/content/images/2022/10/fit_2048-4-1.jpeg) The byzantine church of Agioi Apostoloi In the center of town, of course, is the newer church - magnificent in its own right. It is covered from top to bottom with ornate sgraffito. ![](https://photos.miltongeorges.com/content/images/2022/10/fit_2048-12.jpeg) Eisodia Theotokou Church of Pyrgi Not to be forgotten are all the smaller altars scattered around town, where villagers gather around and gossip during the day, and also escape the sun in the shade of the structure. ![](https://photos.miltongeorges.com/content/images/2022/10/fit_2048-4.jpeg) ![](https://photos.miltongeorges.com/content/images/2022/10/fit_2048-5.jpeg) Various churches, scattered around the village. Pyrgi is a lovely, charming town - Highly recommended that you visit if you're ever visiting the Aegean islands, as Chios does have a lot to see if you have a few days to spare. ![](https://photos.miltongeorges.com/content/images/2022/10/fit_2048-1.jpeg) ![](https://photos.miltongeorges.com/content/images/2022/10/fit_2048-2-3.jpeg) ![](https://photos.miltongeorges.com/content/images/2022/10/fit_2048.jpeg) ![](https://photos.miltongeorges.com/content/images/2022/10/fit_2048-3.jpeg) In my next post, I'll share some pictures of the next village we visted in Masticachoria; the enclosed castle town of Μεστά (Mesta)!