Nortwestern Tour Sidirounta - Metoxhi - Volissos Ag.Markela - Agio Galas Starting from the town of Chios, this tour leads us to the northwestern side of the island, behind the Epos mountain. The breath taking view from the top ranges from the plain and the town to the shores of Asia Minor, over the waves of the Aegean. After the mountain range, we reach Katavasi. From there, a road southwards links us to two beautifull villages near to the sea: Sidirounta and Metochi. Another road, continuing northwest, leads us to Volissos, the main community of the northwestern part of the island. Many tales are being related about this place; the most known of them presents Volissos as the place where the poet Homer was born. Visit the medieval castle and the ancient houses! Following the coast north, we reach the villages of Managros, Magemena and Lefkadia, that offer nice sandy beaches. A few kilometers af ter Lefkadia lies the naton-wide famous place of pilgrimage Agia Markella, named after a saint woman called Markella, who was tortured and killed on this beach because of her christian faith. Set far in the northwestern corner of the island, the village Agio Galas has become famous because of the old church Panayia Agiogalousaina, that forms the entrance of a cave where a miracle occures oflce a year: a white liquid named agio galas (holy milk) comes out of the rock.At the north of the island, the hot springs of the village Agiasmata (Holy Waters) are still used to heal rheumatisms. Our way back to Volissos goes through the villages of Potamia and Pispilounda.