The Secret Paradise of Greece - Halkidiki

Halkidiki is a peninsula, southeast of the city of Thessaloniki (Greece's second largest city). With its characteristic three peninsulas (Kassandra, Sithonia, Athos), it resembles a trident piercing the Aegean. Sunny, golden sandy beaches, deep and picturesque gulfs, traditional villages and modern tourist resorts, small islands and sheltered bays, pine-clad hills descending to the sea, Mediterranean climate and magnificent natural beauty compose the picture of today's Halkidiki. The capital of Halkidiki is Poligiros, located in the center of Halkidiki (69 km from Thessaloniki). Transportation is made mainly by car or by bus and the closest airport is "Airport Macedonia", near the city of Thessaloniki.



History
Inhabited approximately 700,000 years ago, as revealed by the foundings from the prehistoric area of Petralona. Neolithic villages and villages from the Copper Period were located in the west and central Halkidiki, many cities flourished, among which "Olynthos" was the most popular one (archaeological sites of Olynthos, Potidea, Stagira, Toroni).
In 384 BC Aristotle, the great philosopher and Alexander the Great's teacher, was born in Stagira. Halkidiki took its name from city of Chalkis, located in Euboa, that colonized it in the 8th and 7th century BC. Kassandra took its name from Kassandros (King of Macedonia) , Sithonia from Sithon, a son of God Poseidon and Athos was named after a giant called Athos. In the 9th century the first monastic communities were established in Athos. Today, the monastic state of Athos (also called "Holly Mountain"), is a shelter of Byzantine monasteries, caves, monks, prayers, a "mountain-church" for the thousand-years Christian Orthodox religion.


No matter where you go, Halkidiki cannot fail to please you. Throughout, an effort has been made to develop tourist facilities that are in keeping with the natural surroundings. Most of the hotels and private homes in the area are built in the traditional Macedonian style, designed to enhance rather then detract from the environment. In planning for tourism, the people of Halkidiki have tried to make their resorts as appealing and as ecologically sound as possible.