Avgonima — Restored in Stone

Avgonima was nearly a ghost village. By the mid-20th century, like many remote Chian settlements, it had been largely abandoned as young people left for Chios Town, Athens, and the merchant navy. What remained were empty stone houses slowly losing their roofs, lanes filling with weeds, a village fading back into the hillside.

Then came the restoration. Over several decades, residents who had left returned, bought back family properties, and rebuilt them with careful attention to traditional materials and methods. Today Avgonima is one of the most handsomely maintained villages on the island — grey stone walls, terracotta roofs, cobbled lanes, and arched doorways fitted with new wooden doors.

The village clings to a steep hillside about 15km west of Chios Town, with views down through the hills to the Aegean below. Several houses have been converted into guesthouses, making it a superb base for exploring the west coast. Elinta beach — one of the finest and most secluded on the island — is just a few kilometres down the road through the hills.

What to Do

• Walk the restored lanes and admire the traditional stone architecture
• Drive down to Elinta beach (4km) for a morning swim
• Explore Trachili and Tigani beaches further along the west coast
• Stay overnight in one of the village guesthouses and watch the sunset over the Aegean