Leptopoda, Chios

Leptopoda is a small village in northern Chios, about 55 km from the city of Chios. It is one of the northernmost villages of the island. Today it belongs to the homonymous local community of the Municipal Unit of Amani of the Municipality of Chios. The average altitude of the village is 260 meters above sea level. Leptopoda is built between the northeastern slopes of Mount Amanis and the northern slopes of the highest mountain on the island, Pelinaios. The nearest settlements are the villages of Agiasmata (coastal settlement, to the north) and Keramos (to the southwest).

Despite the existence of the old and common form Leftopoda, the name of the village is etymologized by "Leptopedes" = "thin fields", ie small and shallow soil plains.

Architecturally, the houses of the village are built very close to each other, so that an external wall is formed, as in the "castle villages" of southern Chios (eg Mesta, Elata). Around and higher than the village the landscape is darkened by a dense pine forest. The slopes in the area are covered in many parts of sparta, which bloom every May and flood them with bright yellow color. In the area of ​​the village is the site of "the Patriarch", where ruins of an old building are preserved, and "Paliopyrgos", probably an old hermitage according to local tradition.
Population and economy

The evolution of the population of Leptopods in the official censuses is shown in the table.

Population of Leptopods
`Year of census Residents
1951 199
1961 141
1971 63
1981 33
1991 81
2001 85
2011 34

The parish church (the "village church") of Leptopodes is dedicated to the Genesis of the Virgin Mary and celebrates on September 8. There are also old temples, such as Agios Petros, Mesopentikosti, Agios Ioannis Chrysostomos, Profitis Ilias, Agios Nikolaos and Agios Isidoros. The village belongs ecclesiastically to the hierarchical supervision (committee) of Kourounia of the Holy Metropolis of Chios, Psara and Oinousses.

The postcode of Leptopods is 82103.
External link

Short description with image

Sources

Georgiou I. Zolotas: History of Chios, volume A ("Historical Topography and Genealogy"). Types of P.D. Sakellariou, Athens 1921, p. 638.
Costa Choreanthi: Tourist guide of Chios, published by "Chios-diary", Chios 1970, p. 85

See also: Chios (island)