Psara Guide

The Greek island of Psara lies in the Aegean Sea and is around 80 km to the north west of Chios and 150 km to the north east of Athens, the Greek capital. The island's landscape is characterised with hills and mountains, with Prophitis Ilias, at 640 meters above sea level, being the island's highest point. The island only has one small village which is also home to the island's harbour. Most of the island's residents work is linked to the sea, especially given that the island's interior is very mountainous and that tourism on the island is not particularly well established. However, popular sites on the island include the Archaeological Museum, the monastery of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and its library and the Church of Aghios Nikolaos.

Psara and the East Aegean Islands in general are connected to the port of Piraeus. From Psara you can also visit the nearby Cycladic islands of Syros, Tinos, Mykonos, Andros etc.

Mesta Guide

Mesta is a town that is located on the Greek island of Chios that lies in the north east Aegean Sea and is the fifth largest Greek island with a coastline of around 120 km and a population of roughly 54,000. The island is only 3.5 nautical miles off the Turkish coast. Although it is not universally agreed, the island is thought to be one of the likely birth places of Homer and of the ancient mathematicians Hippocrates and Enopides. One of the most picturesque villages on the island is the medieval village of Mesta which has been preserved as a monument. The village has been built like a castle and dates back to the Byzantine period. In order to fortify the village, its houses were built close together in order to form a protective ring around it and the village's current residents still maintain the traditions of a 14th century village. The most important custom that takes place in the village is where the "Agas" trials, a satirical replica of the trials that used to take place under the occupation of Turkey, are presented.