Photo: Dimitris Tachynakos · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsEvent· Chios· Greece — Dodecanese, Sporades & North Aegean
Rouketopolemos Rocket War (Vrontados, Easter)
38° 25.0′ N · 26° 8.0′ E · approximate
On Orthodox Easter night the rival parishes of Agios Markos and Panagia Erithiani, on hilltops about 400 m apart in Vrontados, fire tens of thousands of homemade rockets at each other's belfries.
Practical
Held on Orthodox (Julian-calendar) Easter, usually later than Western Easter. Churches and nearby buildings are boarded up with metal sheets; spectators should keep well back. Cancelled in 2016 after damage complaints and revived in 2017 under new limits on duration and rocket numbers (Wikipedia). Chios Town harbour fills early that weekend — arrive a day or two ahead. Position approximate: Vrontados town coordinates from Wikipedia.
Best for
A once-in-a-lifetime Easter spectacle
Season
Orthodox Easter Saturday night
Nearby
- Ormos Lo (Vrontados)0.1 NM away
- Vrontados & Daskalopetra (Homer's Stone)0.3 NM away
- Vrontados Harbour (Chios)0.9 NM away
- Vrontados Supermarket (Chara)1.1 NM away
- Chios Marina (Tefas concession)1.8 NM away
- General Hospital of Chios (Skylitsio)2 NM away
- Tampakika Windmills & Ouzeri e Miloi (Chios)2.1 NM away
- Chios Cooking Gas Store2.5 NM away
Place data includes © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).