(Aghia Irini, Palia Frangia, Frangochori, Speleo Skouklas) |
| Loutra |
Map of the area (click to enlarge)
The historian George Zolotas characterizes
the area around Parpanta as an archaeological site, for its "variety
of ancient ruins".
Specifically, Loutra derives its name from ancient Roman spas (loutra in
Greek) which existed in the area southeast of the harbor of Parpanta. Between
that and the little bay of Vroulidia, plaques, blocks and jugs were found
as well as inscriptions dating to the 4th century BC with forbidden orders
such as that of the one at Nagos.
" ....." mentions G. Zolotas.
" In the area named by the people as Loutra, we find small relics of
an ancient cistern, of which most likely come from a spa, a villager found
here a small marble statue which was hidden..." mentions Karl Krumbaher
in 1884.
The area is rich in vegetation with many orchards and well-built waterwells.
On a low hill the Church of Aghia Irini of Loutra is found. It is
an old quaint church with a traditional festival on May 5. G. Zolotas mentions
the existence of an "old floor" at the Church of Aghia Irini
which does not survive. From here, one can marvel at the verdant area full
of pines, while above that one's eye arrives at the sea, where the island
of Oinousses appears.
| Palia (Old) Frangia or Frangochori |
In this area, the rich-with-orchards and pine-filled Palia (Old) Frangia
exists. G. Zolotas mentions the existence of a tower, a temple, a cistern
and old cells here as well as the Church of Aghia Paraskevi.
The area today is almost deserted but one can visit it for its natural beauty.
The name "palia" presumes a "new" Frangia, which Zolotas
identifies as the so-called Fragochori. He mentions testimonies of abundant
relics which depict an older and a newer establishment of Genoans, most
likely for the guarding of the two ports of the northern part of Kardamyla
and Lagada.
Palia Fragia, as all areas of Kardamyla, received the catastrophic madness of pirate invaders in spite of the extensive watch with the system of vigles (watchtowers) which were spread along the entire stretch of the southeastern coast of Chios, from Delphini to Megali Vigla and the cape Oura at the edge of Amades.
| Speleo (cave) Skoukla |
This speleo (cave) has been characterized by the Hellenic Society for the Study of Caves as a tourist attraction of local interest which is a difficult status to achieve for caves in Greece.
The speleologist A. Petrochilou in her observations says:
"The cave, in spite of its limited dimensions, has been characterized as a tourist site of local interest, because of the impressive ornamentation on its walls of high levels, its picturesque location in a notable position, where each visitor can enjoy the view of Oinousses and the most beautiful trip through a pine forest. This is another worthy modern tourist fact to be added to so many for the area."
The area extends from southwest to northeast with a length of 52 meters, its greatest depth being 25 meters, its greatest height 12 meters, with a total area covering 350 square meters. Its walls are covered with impressive red and multicolored shapes that look like waterfalls. towards its left wall at a height of approximately 10 meters, a hallow opens with enough clear water deriving from the flow of drops. In the summer, at its deepest point, the temperature is 16 degrees C with humidity of 85%. A draft has also been observed.
This cave housed for hundreds of years the forefathers of Kardamyla. There, those that didn't escape with the Kavo Melanios to Psara, sought refuge from the Massacre of 1922. From those survivors hidden in this cave, Kardamyla's life began again.
The cave Skoukla was generally a refuge for all those persecuted by the Turks or pirates. It appears that it was "sacred" or a "sacred asylum" because there are no stories passed down about treason or slaughter or arrests inside the cave, as opposed to other areas of Kardamyla such as Fonopetra, Pyrghari, Kalymas and others.