Old Village - Chorio

Up until the middle of the 19th century, the abandoned settlement of Chorio was the capital of Halki.

Chorio was built on the northern side of St. Nikolas’ hill, on the borders of the Knights’ Castle, with the aim of avoiding possible pirate raids.

Chorio was abandoned in 1970.

Today, the settlement is considered a monument of universal cultural heritage and is protected by UNESCO.

At Chorio, the following are preserved: the chapel of Agioi Anargyroi, the Sotiros church, a number of stone-built, run-down houses with walls made from masonry stones of identical sizes, the old school, and a cemetery with re-used sarcophagi and arched stone graves.

On the circumference of the village we come across the meta-byzantine church of Panagia Horiani, with its enormous cypress-tree, and the small monasteries of Agia Triada and Agios Konstandinos. The doric capital of the latter, dated from the 4th century BC, is of particular interest.