Wood oven of Apostolis in Pityos

The most vibrant attraction of the beautiful, but lost inland Chios settlement PitiosIs the wood-fired oven of Giannis Apostoli.

The wood oven is located 30 meters from the village square and is one of the measured fingers that work in the traditional way, ie in oven fired by fire using local flours from Chian and Lemnos wheat, supplied by the Haziri flour mill in the Common in the South of Chios.

Traditional is also the baker ο Sun-John, a Levantine man, who has many life experiences but also from the history of his village.

The wood-fired oven first operated professionally in 2000 in a historic building from 1880, when it was a traditional olive press.

We visited the bakery inside the vaulted elongated building and among the flours, the freshly baked loaves and the smell of the matches, Mr. Giannis moved like a theatrical figure, made the bread, watched the kneading and riveted his guests who with a "one euro ticket", the value of the loaf, that is, enjoyed a unique performance.

«I was born in the village in 1949 and when I was 15 I barricaded myself illegally, due to my age. Two years later with my salary, I was supporting my family and my 4 brothers. I then lived in America and worked in my brother's restaurant. I made a bead. Later in 1983-2000 I had a skewer in the city of Chios and in 2000 I decided to live a new life in my village».

People come in and out of the bakery, say good morning and no young people in the village - after all, the news is few in a place of 150 inhabitants, most of whom are retired.

«My life here is a recycling", Says Mr. Giannis with a smile.

«I have an orchard with fruit trees. I take the fruit and when I prune the trees, I give the branches to the goats that eat the leaves and the tender shoots. I use everything else to feed the oven in winter and summer. I use the ashes as fertilizer, the flour and the powder from the baking, but also my leftovers, I throw them to my hens. Bread, rusks, fruits, vegetables, milk, eggs, meat, what else does a good person want? ».