Chidira

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G. Jakobides, The Children's Concert (1894). Oil on canvas, 176 εκ. x 250 εκ. National Gallery of Greece

Chidira (pop. 488/2001) is a village on the Greek island of Lesvos (or Lesbos), located at its western part and belonging to the municipality of Eresos-Antissa. Chidira borders with the villages Agra, Mesotopos, Eresos, Antissa, Revma, Pterounda and Vatousa.

The village is the birthplace of Georgios Jakobides or Iakovidis, one of the most important Greek painters.

A prehistoric site is on top of the hill Koirania, right above the village. The site has not been excavated yet, but the dating of artifacts found there, including a stone phallus exhibited at Methymneos Winery (see below), indicate that it dates back to the beginning of the 5th millennium B.C.

[edit] Environment

The crater of the volcano which formed the Petrified Forest of Lesbos is located in the area. The soil is therefore very acidic and contains a lot of minerals, including sulfur and copper sulphate. Vegetation consists of Mediterranean shrubs, oak-trees and several species of waterplants at the banks of the numerous streams. The area harbors the only European colony of the plant "Rhododendron luteum", favored by the acidic soil. Furthermore the region of Chidira is a wildlife sanctuary and a nature reserve, owing to its abundant fauna and its distinct geological features and flora.

[edit] Chidira as a wine-making area

The only commercial winery of the island is located in Chidira. Owned by the Lambrou family, the winery produces Methymneos[1], a wine made with organic grapes of the revived ancient Lesvos Grape Variety, which is to be found only in the region of Chidira. The acidic, sulphoric soil of the area gives the produced wine a strong minerality and prevents the diseases of the vines, thus favoring organic farming. Methymneos is the only current bottled represantative of the renowned ancient "Lesbian wine". Visits at the winery during the months of July, August and September are free of charge and tours are guided by the producer himself, Ioannis Lambrou. Wine-tasting seminars also take place at the winery.