Windmills are thought to have been in existence on Chios since at least the time of the Genoese occupation (1346-1566). The four in the photo above are more recent—they were built in the late 19th century—and have become an icon of the island. You will find their image on numerous tourist websites and brochures as well as on many of the postcards sold here. They are situated about 1.5km north of Chios town.
When I took my photos, I automatically assumed that the mills had been used for producing flour. However, it turns out that they were associated with some tanneries which once stood nearby. I have since educated myself and discovered that tanneries require tree bark, which needs to be ground down into a powder. In all likelihood that is what these mills were used for.
A plaque on one of the mills suggests that they were restored in 2007.
Incidentally, the strip of land you can see in the background of the photo below is the coast of Turkey, which is only around 8km away.
There are other windmills just up the road from here.
We also came across this one on a hillside inland.
It sits next to a forest fire lookout, which has been given a makeover as something more akin to a comfortable garden hut.
