Kalamoti does not advertise itself. It has no famous pattern-painted houses, no UNESCO listing, no particular landmark that draws visitors from afar. What it has is something rarer: the unperformed authenticity of a village that has been doing the same things, in the same way, for six hundred years.
Like all the Mastichochoria, Kalamoti was built in the medieval period as a fortified mastic-producing settlement. Its defensive walls have largely been absorbed into the modern village, but the old core survives intact — narrow lanes, stone-vaulted passages, houses built wall-to-wall to form an unbroken perimeter. In August and September, when the mastic harvest is underway, the air around Kalamoti carries the unmistakable resinous scent of mastic — fresh, piney, and slightly medicinal — drifting from the surrounding groves.
The village is a practical base for exploring the southeast coast. Komi beach, one of the island's finest sandy beaches with good facilities and excellent tavernas, is just 4km away. The black pebble beach of Mavra Volia and the secluded cove of Agia Dynami are both within easy reach by car.
What to Do
- Walk the medieval core of the old village
- Visit Komi beach — 4km, sandy and organized
- Buy fresh mastic crystals directly from local producers in August and September
- Drive to Mavra Volia (15km) for the black volcanic beach
Location on Chios
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