Mastichochoria

Mastichochoria Μαστιχοχώρια
House covered with sgraffito in the village of Pyrgi
Location
Mastichochoria
Coordinates	38°15′N 25°59′E / 38.25°N 25.983°E / 38.25; 25.983Coordinates: 38°15′N 25°59′E / 38.25°N 25.983°E / 38.25; 25.983
Location within the peripheral unit
Government
Country:	Greece
Region:	North Aegean
Regional unit:	Chios
Municipality:	Chios
Population statistics (as of 2001)
Municipal unit
- Population:	4,744
- Area:	211.7 km2 (82 sq mi)
- Density:	22 /km2 (58 /sq mi)
Other
Time zone:	EET/EEST (UTC+2/3)
Auto:	ΧΙ

Mastichochoria (Μαστιχοχώρια "the mastic villages" in Greek) is a former municipality on the island of Chios, North Aegean, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Chios, of which it is a municipal unit.^[1] It is located in the southwestern and extreme southern part of the island. It is the largest municipal unit in land area on Chios at 211.687 km². Its population was 4,744 at the 2001 census. The seat of the municipality was Pyrgi (pop. 1,044). The next largest towns are Kalamotí (718), Armólia (611), Mestá (501), and Lithío (455).

Mastic chios tears from Mastichochoria

This area is well known for the production of mastic, from which it derives its name. Mastic is the hardened resin of the mastic shrub and is only harvested on Chios, being a major part of the local economy. In the village of Pyrgi, there is even a small Museum of Mastic.

In the Chios Massacre of 1822, during the Ottoman rule of Chios, the people of Mastichochoria were spared so that they could continue serve the Sultan by providing him and his harem with mastic.

References

1. ^ Kallikratis law Greece Ministry of Interior (Greek)

External links

• Mastichochoria - official website
• pictures from Mastichochoria in Panoramio website