Leper Colony in Kofinas

There is one historic place on the Chios island - the Leper Colony in Kofinas. This mysterious area called Leprokomeio is situated about five kilometers south from the port. Surrounded by trees, time seems to have stopped in this place.

In front of the main door one will notice the number 1378 - the date in which the leper colony was built. It was founded by the Genoese conquerors and the first institution of this kind in Greece, probably even the first in all Europe. Since the Leper sickness was irremediable back in this time, the people who were infected were exiled from the community and sent to certain places, in which they could live among other, also affected people. This colony was one of these places.

Once pass the gates, sprayed walls await the visitor, from which he can discern graffiti messages of the patients, wishing them hope. The ruins that are left of the ancient building, the result of acts of vandalism, make this place look like a scene from a movie thriller.

Abandoned clothes, instruments, pills and even notebooks of children who learned English here are still in the cupboards. Visiting this place is like going back in history. The place is confusing, as it takes one back in time with the thrill of experiencing history, while on the other hand one is full of sadness because of the many leper people who lost their lives in this place.