Halkidiki

Kassandra, Sithonia and Athos are the three peninsulas that make up Halkidiki.
Land and sea. Tranquility and eternity.

Forests of beeches, chestnuts, willows, cypresses, plane trees. 
Beaches and beguiling coves. Golden sand. Picturesque villages. Potidea, Olinthos, Stagira, Aristotle's birthplace.

Each town has its own history and its own ancestral glory Mt. Athos, the Holy Mountain of Orthodoxy.

More about the three peninsulas

Poligiros

Halkidiki's charming capital (69 km. from Thessaloniki), built like an amphitheater up the foothills of Mt. Holomodas (Holomon). There's an archaeological museum here containing sculptures and pottery, as well as a few neighborhoods little changed from the past century.

Kassandra

The westernmost of the three peninsulas, it is blessed with long stretches of beach and pine forest, and dotted with pretty little villages.

At Petralona, the cave - photo - (800 m. outside the village) is well worth a visit. It is situated at the foot of Mount Katsika at an altitude of 250 metres, this cave is one of the most important in terms of paleontological interest.

It was here in 1960 that Europe's oldest human skeleton was found; its discoverer, Aris Poulianos, named it Archanthropus Europaeus Petraloniensis.

Archanthropus lived in the eleventh layer of the during one of the most severe Ice Ages, which Poulianos called the Kreneia Ice Age.

Archanthropus made his home there some 700.000 years ago and more; he was part of the earliest Stone Age known on the European continent. The most spectacular find unearthed in the cave was traces of fire dating back well over a million years, the earliest traces of fire yet found on this earth.

All the finds from the cave are on display in the Anthropological Museum founded and laid out by the Anthropological Society next to it (tel.: 0396/31.300, open from 09.00-17.00 every day). The cave is stunningly decorated with stalactites and stalagmites in all sorts of shapes and forms.

From Petralona, the road passes through lush valleys before arriving at Nea Moudania. Nearby there are two traditional hamlets, Dionissiou and Zografou, with low stone cottages, peaked roofs and unusual chimneys. Next, after a lovely drive along beautiful beaches, you come to Nea Potidea, built upon the ruins of the ancient Corinthian colony of the same name.

Beyond it, more sea, more beautiful beaches and quaint fishing villages Nea Fokea with its Byzantine tower lapped by the waves. the tiny traditional hamlet of Afitos, Kalithea with its ruins of the sanctuary of Zeus Ammon. Kriopigi, Polihrono, Haniotis, Pefkohori, with its lush vegetation and marvelous sands. At Paliouri on the coast, travellers will find a place to rest and relax at the camping site run by the GNTO. And they will be delighted by the picturesque charm of the village. Sweet-smelling vines and flowers in pots embellish the old Macedonian balconies and courtyards. The paved road continues on after the western coast, crossing the villages of Agia Paraskevi, Agios Nikolaos, Nea Skioni and Kalandra.

The fishing villages, Nea Skioni, Possidi and Siviri, not only offer a necklace of inviting beaches, but also the freshest of seafood served in abundance with good wine at their small seaside taverns in a friendly atmosphere.

Then, having seen Kassandria, which boasts the best preserved windmill in the area. you'll wind up at Sani beach, enclosed by a dense pine wood.

The whole peninsula caters to tourism, whether your taste runs to one of the many capacious hotels or to the organized camping sites set amongst its woods or along the sea.

Sithonia

The middle finger of Halkidiki, Sithonia is rimmed with charming little ports, long, sandy beaches, thickly wooded areas and villages by the sea

Starting out from Nea Moudania, the paved road leads to Olinthos, long ago an Athenian colony of which some ruins remain.

Not far off, Gerakini has a wonderful sandy beach, translucent waters and all the amenities of a contemporary tourist resort. A detour will take you toOrmilia (26 km, from Poligiros) with its characteristic local architecture and churches.

The villages of Metamorfossi and Nikitas follow, their superb beaches lined with pines

From the beach at Nikitas, you can glimpse the chimneys and red roofs of the old houses protruding from the slopes of a pine-covered hill. while just 2.5 kilometres away there is a restored Early Christian basilica erected in the 5th century.

Our fleeting guide to the beauties of Sithonia continues, proceeding on to Agios Nikolaos with its old houses made of wood and stone, Pirgadikia, looking as though it belonged on an island, Vourvourou and Ormos Panagias, with its enchanting coves and fishing caiques at anchor.

And the parade of villages still hasn't stopped. Next come Sarti, Sikia, Porto Koufo, Neos Marmaras, Porto Carras.

Everywhere you will find natural mini-harbours, lovely scenery, small boats, caiques and fishing nets spread out to dry.

On the south side of Porto Koufo - at the site of ancient Toroni - you can still see the ruins of the old fortifications dating back to antiquity and continually augmented up until Byzantine times, as well as the ruins of Early Christian basilicas.