NEA MONI MONASTERY, AYGONIMA AND MEDIEVAL ANAVATOS

Leaving the town of Chios behind, up the sheep herding fields, we come to the byzantine monastery of Nea Moni, the most notable of the seven monasteries of the island.
Originally, the monastery was founded in the early 11th century by three monks. Later on, in the same century, the Byzantine emperor Constantine Monomachus, had a magnificent monastery build in its place, to distinguish it from the old one, named it Nea Moni (new monastery). The 11th century church is one of the finest examples of Byzantine ecclesiastical architecture in the eastern Mediterranean.

Then we continue to the 11th century village of Avgonima for a break refreshments.
We continue to medieval Anavatos, where the ruins of the historic castle dominate the whole area. You can still admire the ruins of the Anavatos acropolis, the city walls, churches, the reservoir and the houses.