Southeast of the city of Thessaloniki (Greece's second largest city), lies the Halkidiki peninsula, birthplace of the famous Aristotle. Its particular shape reminds of three fingers pointing the Aegean Sea or Poseidon's trident. Those three peninsulas are called Cassandra, Sithonia and Mt. Athos. The peninsula of Halkidiki is a real paradise, endowed by nature with enchanting coves and bays, rocky headlands, beaches with golden sand and crystalline waters; olive and pine forest complete the amazing picture of Halkidiki holiday. Of the three "fingers" of the peninsula, only the middle and the western one (Sithonia and Cassandra) are welcoming tourism with incredible natural beauty and developed touristy facilities. The Cassandra is ideal for all-night party and bustling beaches; Sithonia is the perfect place for nature lovers, quietness and deserted beaches.
With over 300 superb beaches and coves lapped by the clear warm waters of the Aegean sea, breathtaking scenery and an abundance of interesting places to visit, Halkidiki is a holidaymakers paradise. Kassandra, the most westerly of Halkidiki's three peninsulas, is renowned for its beautiful beaches often surrounded by thick pinewoods. Near the village of Petralona, there is an extensive cave complex whose corridors extend for over 1,900 metres and contain particularly fine examples of stalactites and stalagmites.
The fishing villages of Nea Skioni, Possidi and Siviri are famous for their seafood specialties prepared in the numerous seaside tavernas which also serve the excellent locally produced wine. Athos the furthest eastern of the peninsulas forms one of the most beautiful parts of Greece. The landscape is varied with gentle valleys, deep gorges, thickly wooded mountains, interspersed with bare precipitous rocks. To the north of the peninsula lies Ouranopolis, gateway to the Holy Mountain of Athos. Here you can relax in the peaceful tranquillity of the Eagles Palace Hotel or soak up the sun on the long sandy beach. No holiday to Athos would be complete without a visit to Mount Athos. Located within an independent Monastic State, Mount Athos is a community of monks who for more than a thousand years have lived the daily life and followed the religious practices of the Byzantines. All this takes place in a setting dating back to the 10th century, unfortunately women are not permitted inside the monastery itself, but can still see the magnificent building from the tour boat.
The eastern most prong belongs to the monastic community of Athos, the Holy Mountain. Visitation to it is strictly regulated: men must ask for a permit six months in advance and women are not allowed.
Halkidiki has interesting villages, outstanding beauty and amongst the best and most beautiful beaches of the entire Greece. famous for their crystalline waters and their pure white sand.
Holidays in Halkidiki are ideal for everyone, with quietness and deserted beaches on Sithonia and full of night life on Cassandra.
The capital of Halkidiki is Poligiros, which is situated in the centre of the peninsula, 69 kilometres from Thessaloniki.
Population: 10.668.400 Languages: Greek 99% (official), English, French Currency: euro Currency code: EUR Local Times: Greece - Athens
Country Dialling Code: +30 Voltage: 220V 50Hz Electrical plugs:
Greece appeals to different types of tourist, and very few could fail to find somewhere to suit their taste. From bustling Athens to blindingly bright islands, ancient fragments abound - the belly button of the cosmos at Delphi, fallen columns galore on the sacred island of Delos, frescoed Minoan palaces on Crete and even, quite possibly, the remnants of Atlantis at Santorini. Greeks are fierce guardians of tradition, but that doesn't mean they don't know how to have fun. In addition, hot sun and limpid seas conspire to make Greece a perfect place to relax. Whether you're supping in a beachside taverna , sipping coffee in a shady plateia or disco-dancing till dawn.
The Olympic Games were spawned in ancient classical Greece, along with democracy and the fundamentals of philosophy, science and mathematics. Modern Greece is better known as a great place to vacation rather than a centre of learning and culture. Today the country attracts by offering simple pleasures: delicious food at reasonable prices, local wine, beautiful beaches, sunshine, quaint villages, a seemingly endless lacework of coastline and little islands full of scenic surprises.
The country exudes traditional charm, particularly on its ever-popular islands, which cling to their stereotypical architecture and way of life despite being often over-run by tourists. Black-clad women still deliver vegetables to island tavernas on panniered donkeys, while bronzed, lined fishermen sit in the sun, drink thick coffee, and play dominoes or dice. The tourist infrastructure has intruded in many respects, but the timeless aspect of whitewashed buildings clustered on hillsides around narrow pebbled alleys has been retained. The myriad islands in the Aegean Sea are easily accessible from Piraeus, the historic harbour of Greece's mainland capital, Athens, by ferry or hydrofoil, offering a unique chance for 'island-hopping'. Many of the larger islands also have airports with connections to Athens or seasonally with major European cities.
On the mainland the city of Athens in the south is sprawling, overcrowded and polluted but nevertheless enthralls visitors, while Thessaloniki in the north is vibrant and modern with a Byzantine flavour. Athens is dominated by its major landmark, the Parthenon: the remains of other wonders of the ancient Greek classical world are to be found mainly on the Peloponnese Peninsula, south of Corinth, the gateway to a veritable treasure trove of history.
Greece and Greeks welcome with open arms the thousands of visitors that flock to admire their national assets every year - no-one leaves without having been warmed, both by the sun and the hospitality.
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