Korais Library

In the Korais Library you can visit the Folklore Museum and the Art Gallery. There are items that formerly belonged to Philip Argenti. In 1932 he founded the Argenti Association. His goal was to preserve and promote the historical and folklore treasures of Chios Island.

Thirty years later new rooms were added to the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Chios. After Philip Argenti's death in 1974, his son Pantdely was continuing an extensive library and museum.
Especially important for the Chios' residents should be the entrance of  the library. Along the staircase and the corridors of the upper floor you see the folklore collection, historical and topographical paintings of the island.

You can also find there the busts of the library’s benefactors Adamantios Koraes and Philip Argenti. Next to them are a coat of arms of Chios’ most noble families and additionally many medals, stones, fossils and books.
On the higher levels of this building there are 5 halls available for the visitors.
Historical events are mainly represented on the pictures in the hallway of Hall A.

Some of the most interesting ones are four copper engravings representing the sea fight of the Russian admiral Orlof against the Turks at Cesme in 1770.
In Hall B you can see the portraits of the members of some great families of Chios and busts.
Hall C offers you the knowledge about the costumes of the Chian culture and you can see the paintings exhibited  the dresses of the villagers between the 16th and the 20th century all around the island.
The local folk art works is contained in the Halls D and E, for examples embroidery, textiles, a great variety of traditional dresses and woodcuts that present mostly pastoral topics.