Grand and solitary, rich in architecture and flora, but tinged with a note of tragedy that lingers from the events of its long and complex history, Chios is, more than any island in the Aegean, a world in itself.

This is a chapter from Blue Guide Greece the Aegean Islands: what to see, where to stay and eat, history, archaeology, art, culture, leisure. With superb, award-winning maps. Written and edited by a team of three experts: historian, art historian and archaeologist, two of whom lead cultural tours in Greece. "Blue Guides still hold the cultural high ground" Sunday Times.