Chios Mastiha gave its name to the medieval settlements of Southern Chios, described as Mastihohoria (meaning Mastiha villages).

The foundation of those settlements dates from Byzantine times and despite all kinds of damages and disasters they have gone through for so many centuries, they are still monuments of cultural heritage.

It was during the Genoese Occupation (1346–1566) that the cultivation of Chios Mastiha became systematic and that 24, in all, of the villages were actually founded in Southern Chios.

The target for organizing those villages was to better exploit the exclusive product of Chios Mastiha.

The locations of those villages were invisible from sea and their layout was fortress-like for the protection of villagers from marauders that scourged the Aegean back in Medieval times.

Find More info about the Mastiha Villages in the website of The Chios Mastiha Growers Assocciation : https://gummastic.gr/en/mastihavillages/information

Also you can find info about each one of them here https://gummastic.gr/en/mastihavillages/villages

A Photographic journey to our Villages: