{"id":3307,"date":"2024-12-11T21:55:32","date_gmt":"2024-12-11T19:55:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/myvoltes.gr\/mesta\/"},"modified":"2026-02-25T23:30:47","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T21:30:47","slug":"mesta","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/myvoltes.gr\/en\/mesta\/","title":{"rendered":"Mesta"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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VOLTES RESIDENCES<\/span><\/span>Mesta: Chios's Best-Preserved Medieval Mastic Village<\/span><\/span><\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Discover Mesta: The Historic Mastic Village of Southern Chios<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chios is the only place in the world where the mastic tree thrives and produces mastic, a treasure with a history of thousands of years. . From ancient times to the present day, mastic has been valued for its taste, medicinal properties, and unique aromatic intensity. From the feasts of the Romans to the workshops of Arab doctors and Ottoman harems, mastic traveled across the world, winning over kings and common folk alike.<\/p>\n

In the medieval Mastic Villages, such as Mesta, Pyrgi, and Olympos, the tradition of mastic has remained unchanged for 2,500 years. Its cultivation requires skill and patience: from the carving of the bark to the collection of its precious tears. This process, protected by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage, remains unaltered, passed down from generation to generation. Visit the Mastic Villages, walk along their cobblestone streets, and discover the history, culture, and aroma of the authentic mastic of Chios!<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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The Historic Churches of Mesta<\/span><\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The largest and most important church in the village is the Church of the New Taxiarchis, <\/b> which was built in 1868, precisely on the site of the old circular tower of the castle. It is located near the central square of the village, where locals and visitors gather to enjoy food, coffee, and local sweets. .<\/p>\n

One of the village\u2019s most important “treasures” is the Church of the Old Taxiarchis, <\/b> which is one of the oldest Christian churches in Greece. It is located in the central square of the village and is believed to have been built around 1412 AD. In the church, you will be impressed by the frescoes that have been uncovered and the carved iconostasis from 1833, depicting scenes from the Old and New Testaments, showcasing the high craftsmanship of local woodworking.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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A Stroll Through the Narrow Alleys of Mesta<\/span><\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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After soaking in the history of the village\u2019s ancient churches, take a leisurely stroll through the cobbled streets<\/b> of Mesta. There\u2019s something almost magical in the air \u2013 the narrow alleyways seem to whisper stories from the past, inviting you to lose yourself in their charm. <\/p>\n

As you wander, the flavors of Chios<\/b> await around every corner. Sip on local souma, <\/b> a fig-based spirit that carries the essence of the island. Sample the savory \u201cdates\u201d \u2013 a unique variety of local olives \u2013 and bite into sun-kissed tsampies tomatoes, <\/b>often seen hanging in clusters outside village doors. <\/p>\n

And then there\u2019s the unmistakable scent of mastiha<\/b> \u2013 the island\u2019s signature aromatic resin<\/b> \u2013 weaving itself into every experience. It\u2019s not just a flavor; it\u2019s a feeling. One that lingers long after the last taste and makes you feel, quite simply, at home. In Mesta, the warmth isn\u2019t just in the sun \u2013 it\u2019s in the smiles, the stories, and the sense that you\u2019ve found a place you\u2019ll never want to leave. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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A Hidden Gem for Every Kind of Traveler<\/span><\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Mesta is more than just a destination \u2013 it\u2019s an experience tailored for everyone. Families<\/b> will love the peace of mind that comes with car-free streets, <\/b>where little ones can roam safely and freely through the village\u2019s charming alleys. Couples<\/b> seeking a quiet escape will find the slow pace and timeless beauty utterly romantic. And for solo wanderers or groups of friends, Mesta offers the perfect blend of tranquility and connection. <\/p>\n

As night falls, the village square comes alive \u2013 lined with cozy tavernas and lively caf\u00e9s, it becomes the heart of the evening. In Mesta, nights aren\u2019t just spent \u2013 they\u2019re shared, as the whole village feels like one big, joyful gathering. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Photos<\/span><\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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VOLTES RESIDENCESMesta: Chios’s Best-Preserved Medieval Mastic Village Discover Mesta: The Historic Mastic Village of Southern Chios Chios is the only place in the world where the mastic tree thrives and produces mastic, a treasure with a history of thousands of years. . From ancient times to the present day, mastic has been valued for its […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3126,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"full-width.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3307","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/myvoltes.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3307","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/myvoltes.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/myvoltes.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myvoltes.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myvoltes.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3307"}],"version-history":[{"count":28,"href":"https:\/\/myvoltes.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3307\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5222,"href":"https:\/\/myvoltes.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3307\/revisions\/5222"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myvoltes.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3126"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/myvoltes.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3307"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}