Halkidiki on the map of Greece

Halkidiki map detailed

Chalkidiki Map

Halkidiki is a peninsula on the northeastern coast of the Aegean Sea, nom in northern Greece, in the administrative region of Central Macedonia. The peninsula extends into the sea for 120 kilometers.

The map of Halkidiki draws a peninsula in the shape of a trident. The Greeks themselves call "prongs" - "fingers." The three “fingers” of Chalkidiki are the peninsulas of Kassandra, Sithonia and Mount Athos (Agion Oros). The surface of the peninsula is an elevated plain with peaks reaching heights of up to 2033 meters (Mount Athos). The coastline is about 500 kilometers long. The capital of the peninsula is the city of Poliyiros.

Kassandra is closer than other Halkidiki peninsulas to the northern capital of Greece, Thessaloniki. It is separated from the mainland of the peninsula by the Potidea Canal, passing in the narrowest part of the isthmus and connecting the Gulf of Thermaikos with the Gulf of Kassandra.

The middle finger, the Sithonia peninsula, is washed by the waters of the Toroneos and Siengitiko bays. The coast of Sithonia is indented with picturesque bays.

The Athos Peninsula has a length of 60 kilometers, and its width in different sections varies from 8 to 12 kilometers. In the south-eastern part of the peninsula rises Mount Athos (2033 meters).

Chalkidiki Map with sights   located in the map tab, in the place section. This service will help you navigate the terrain while traveling.

On each of the peninsulas there are many small picturesque towns and villages and resorts. A detailed map of Halkidiki will introduce you to the main resorts and ancient cities with a rich history.

One of the most unusual in form and mysterious in origin Halkidiki peninsula is a real gem of resort Greece. The p / o, protruding into the Aegean Sea, is divided into 3 “fingers”, each of which is a wonderful corner of the paradise tropics, with amazing beaches, cozy bays and healing air saturated with the scent of pine needles. The names of the “fingers” are associated with ancient Greek mythology, which tells of the giant heroes waging a long war with the gods of Mount Olympus. Huge stones served as an instrument for them, which subsequently formed three ledges. We will tell you about the most popular attractions of Halkidiki.

The stone thrown by the giant Athos and falling into the sea formed the mountain range of Athos. The second stone, which formed yet another “finger” protrusion, was called Sithonia; and the third received the name of King Cassander. The legend of earthquakes is associated with the latter - the goddess Athena, fighting with the giants, threw a stone that covered herself with one of the giants Engelados. For many centuries, he has been trying to free himself from the stone, causing earthquakes with his powerful gestures.

Those who visit Halkidiki for the first time, see the local beauties and feel the beneficial effects of the surrounding ecology, will readily believe in the divine origin of these places. All year round you can have a great rest in Halkidiki, combining your stay on the beach and swimming in the azure waters with a visit to unique sights which are many here.

Despite the huge difference in the territories of Greece and China, Greece is the second country after China in terms of the number of limestone caves. One of the largest and most amazing in beauty is the Petralona Cave, located on the slope of Mount Katsika 270 meters above sea level near the village of the same name. It was discovered in 1959 by one of the villagers who examined the mountain for a source of water and stumbled into a deep crevice.

When risky young people who expressed a desire to descend into it found themselves in a spacious dungeon, they were shocked by the peculiar beauty of the cave. The bizarre formations of stalactites and stalagmites, interwoven into fantastic patterns, created a special, uniquely beautiful natural design. Since that time, a serious examination of the unique dungeon began, as a result of which bones and skulls of people and animals that lived in these places hundreds of thousands of years ago were discovered.

Now all these exhibits are displayed in the windows of the cave, being irrefutable evidence of many scientific theories about the development of life on Earth. The dimensions of the cave are impressive: if you add together the length of all its halls and corridors, you get at least 2 thousand km. A tour of the mysterious cave labyrinths - a journey into the world of beauty and mystery. Before descending into the cave, you need to remember that this is a dungeon where the temperature is not summer (17 degrees), and you should dress warmly.

It is very interesting to visit the Anthropological Museum located nearby: its exposition is a visual aid for studying human life.

In the popular tourist region of Greece - Thessaly there are phenomenal mountain cliffs, which are located in a vertical mass above Kalambaka. Their almost absolute perpendicularity is surprising, but even more striking is the presence on the tops of these cliffs of monasteries erected by ascetic monks in the 14th century. It remains only to imagine how much effort it took to build Meteora monasteries in such inaccessible places.

"Meteora" in Greek sounds like "soaring in the air." Indeed, it seems that the white-stone buildings under the red roofs soar in the heavenly heights. Of the 24 monasteries, only 6 have survived, one of which is female, now only 4 have preserved monastic status, the rest have become unique museums. Due to the influx of tourists, many monks left their habitats, so as not to tempt themselves with worldly vanity.

Now, at the foot of the holy sites there is a steep asphalt road, which is quite extreme to drive. But the opportunity to plunge into the monastic life, to understand and feel the spirit of the people who performed such a miracle under heaven is worth it. The Transfiguration Monastery - the most majestic and grandiose - is located in a valley located at an altitude of 623 m above sea level. It was founded in the 14th century.

Athanasius began to flourish, thanks to the funds invested in it by the emperor of Serbia, Uros, who decided to change the dignity of the ruler to monastic and donate his treasures to the development of the Great Meteor (another name for the monastery). The entrance to the monasteries has its own requirements: one cannot be bare shoulders and legs here. Long skirts and pants are provided to tourists by the monastery services. There is something to see here: ancient books, manuscripts, manuscripts, household items made by monks - all that takes modern people to the distant past.

The cozy resort town located on Cape Aion Oros is shrouded in numerous legends. The gentle waters of the Aegean Sea, washing the city, beautiful beaches, comfortable climate attract thousands of tourists here. It is no accident that it was here that the city was laid in prehistoric times (315 BC). Only in such a blessed place, according to its founder, philosopher Alexarch, could multilingual people live absolutely equal in rights.

An attempt to unite residents of different languages \u200b\u200bin Uranopolis (the "city of heaven") was unsuccessful, but the legend of this remained. Probably, it cannot be reliably argued that the current resort of Uranopolis is the place where they tried to create a new type of linguistic statehood. But the name was fixed, the city developed, thanks to the proximity of the monastic republic to Mount Athos. There are all conditions for a wonderful relaxing family vacation, providing for different types of beach and cultural activities.

If Mount Olympus is the abode of the gods, then Mount Athos is the world-famous monastic republic, a stronghold of world Orthodoxy, uniting male monks from different countries of the planet under the shadow of holiness. 20 monasteries located at an altitude of 2200 m above sea level, are located on the same name among the fertile subtropical nature. For 15 centuries, Byzantine culture and the highest spirituality have been preserved here, attracting millions of pilgrims here, including great, well-known personalities, royal men (for women, this is a taboo).

Mount Athos is considered to be the abode of the earthly stay of the Mother of God, with which many beliefs and legends telling about how this place was chosen as the Holy Virgin. Here, it seems, the air itself is saturated with the purity of holiness, Orthodox prayers and the sinlessness of thoughts. It is no coincidence that the famous movie and stage stars come here to experience this atmosphere of holy integrity. The monastic republic lives according to the Charter, established in 1924, according to which all monasteries are under the spiritual jurisdiction of the Eastern Orthodox Church.

The western "finger" of Halkidiki - Kassandra bears the name of the king, whose father-in-law was the famous Alexander of Macedon. Active life began here in the IV century BC, as evidenced by the results of archaeological excavations. Truly paradise nature, the proximity of the sea, the purest air, the extraordinary beauty of the surrounding landscapes attracted the first settlers here, who are happily living in enchanting terrain.

Here, in relict caves, drawings on the rocks are found, testifying to the presence of primitive people on Kassandra. The archaeological complex-museum "Olinf" presents exhibits illustrating the antiquities of Kassandra. A fascinating journey can be made through the churches of Kassandra, each of which is associated with the names of the ancient Greek gods and holy righteous: the temple of Zeus-Amon and Poseidon, the Sanctuary of Dionysos, the Acropolis of Antigone, the Church of St. Dmitry and other religious sites.

Modern Kassandra is a territory of resort towns and villages, with a well-developed hotel chain, beach infrastructure, comfortable climate and unbelievably beautiful views. Among them, Neo-Moudania, Nea Potidea, Kalifea, Pefkohori, Afitos are very popular. Healing sea air, clean beaches, amazing landscapes of the peninsula make it the most attractive place for recreation and tourism.

The nature of Halkidiki is immensely generous and rich, it endowed the inhabitants with real treasures, one of which is the natural spa resort of Loutra Pozar. It is located in a cozy place, under the reliable protection of two mountain peaks, blocking the way to cold winds. You need to come here for health: hot thermal springs, mountain air infused with aromas of mountain herbs, calm serenity of nature, natural products, without exaggeration, will be cured of many diseases.

Bathing water has a beneficial effect on the healing of the respiratory, nervous and circulatory systems, bones and joints, and skin. Drinking water helps in the treatment of gastrointestinal problems, dissolves excess salts in the body, improves kidney function. You can take water treatments here all year round. In Loutra Pozar there are many comfortable hotels, apartments with relatively low prices. Staying at this resort will give you maximum pleasure from water treatment, from walking through amazingly picturesque mountain landscapes, hospitality of local residents and delicious dishes of local cuisine made from the freshest natural products.

If you want to visit ancient Hellas in reality, you need to go to the traditional Greek village of Afytos (early name Afitis). Here you can see rare historical monuments of the Neolithic era. In ancient times, Afitis was an independent settlement, which had its own currency, which is confirmed by excavations of the temple of Zeus and the Sanctuary of Dionysus. Locals called Afitos "a stone balcony" for its location on a steep rocky slope, crashing into the Aegean Sea.

Already sailing to the village from the bay, you can once and for all be fascinated by the fantastic view of the original houses made of white stone, buried in emerald tropical greenery, interspersed with bright spots of flower beds and lawns; the white sands of beaches and the azure coast. For those who are tired of the frantic rhythms of city life, here is a real Eden, where measured calm and the magical beauty of nature are adjacent.

Fans of antiquities can explore the ruins of the temple of Zeus, the sanctuary of Dionysus, an ancient city of the Neolithic era. The main modern attractions of Afitos are the Church of St. Dmitry, the Ethnographic Museum, the House of the Parali artist, the Katsanis mansion and other interesting objects.

Halkidiki has long been the birthplace of vineyards and olive plantations, as narrated by ancient manuscripts mentioning the names of the first winegrowers and winemakers. On the slopes of Mount Meliton, they grew grapes and produced wine. In the 60s of the last century, Janis Karras decided to revive the ancient traditions, and soon the wild vegetation gave way to vineyards.

Now the entire western slope of Meliton right up to the Gulf of Toronei is covered with the richest vineyards (400 ha) of the best wine varieties of white and red grapes. Karras Winery produces branded wines under the brand name “Slopes of Meliton”, the taste of which is highly appreciated by wine connoisseurs around the world.

The famous mountain, or rather, the mountain range is the highest point in the north-eastern part of Greece. Olympus has been familiar to everyone since childhood as the abode of omnipotent ancient Greek gods, who chose an unattainable place for themselves under the clouds. How many myths are folded about their life, how many stories were invented for movies and cartoons about the amazing, mysterious Olympus!

The top of the mountain consists of 6 high peaks that have their own name: Mitikas (the highest - 2917 m), Skolio, Stefani, Skala, Agios Antonios, Profitas Ilias (Ilya the Prophet - the lowest - 2803 m). Surrounded by the mythical snow-capped peaks of the Muses Plateau and beautiful alpine meadows located just below. According to legend, people from ancient times tried to climb Olympus in order to be closer to the gods, although mere mortals were strictly forbidden. The gatekeepers of the ory (the goddess of the seasons) vigilantly guarded the approaches to the mountain.

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Sunny Greece is famous for its amazing and memorable resort areas. One of these areas is the Halkidiki Peninsula. On the map of Greece, it looks rather unusual: as if three fingers, or as the Greeks themselves call “legs”, stretch 120 kilometers into the Aegean Sea. In fact, these are three thin elongated peninsulas - Kassandra, Sithonia and Athos (Aion Oros).

For their unusual shape, Halkidiki is also called the "Poseidon Trident."

Interestingly, the names of the peninsulas that form the “fingers” are associated with ancient myths.

For example, the Athos peninsula was formed as a result of a long battle of the powerful giants and the numerous gods of Olympus. As you know, Halkidiki was the birthplace of giants. And they waged a war with the gods of Olympus from here, throwing huge stones at each other. And one such stone, thrown by the giant Athos, fell into the sea, forming a mountain "finger" - Athos.
And the peninsula of Sithonia is named after the son of Poseidon - Sithon.
On the third peninsula, “finger”, named in honor of King Kassander, who formed Thessaloniki, according to legend, a giant Engelados is under a stone thrown by Athena, who still does not abandon attempts to get out of the trap, creating earthquakes.

Greece Halkidiki - where on a map

The peninsula itself is located in the northern Aegean Sea in the north-east of modern Greece and is the main part of the province of Halkidiki. It is surrounded by greenery even at the peak of the summer heat, it has clean beaches with a total length of about 550 kilometers, many of which are marked with the “blue flag”, and is universally recognized as the pearl of Greece.

History

The first settlements on the peninsula appeared around the 6th century BC. These were the Thracians and Pelasgians who settled in Olinth, Akant and Stagira.
And the first mention of Halkidiki is found in the descriptions of the Persian wars, at the end of which the large cities of the peninsula became part of the Athenian Union.

The dawn of the peninsula and the emergence of new cities, such as Thessaloniki, Kassandria, Ouranoupolis and Antigonia, occur in 348 BC, when Halkidiki became part of the Macedonian kingdom.
In 168 BC the peninsula along with Macedonia was captured by the Romans. And after the division of the Roman Empire into Western and Eastern (Byzantine) in 395, Greece, together with the capital in Constantinople, became part of the Eastern (Byzantine) Roman Empire. The Byzantines at that time built many temples and monasteries, as well as defensive structures, but even this did not help. In 1430, the peninsula passed to the Turks.
At the beginning of the XX century, local residents entered the struggle for the freedom of Greece, and in 1912 Halkidiki was liberated from the Turks and became part of the Greek province of Macedonia.
And now the peninsula is a popular resort for many tourists.

Climate

Due to the fact that the mountains reliably shelter Halkidiki from the winds, it is dry and hot in the summer. The climate of the peninsula is subtropical. The air temperature in the summer season averages + 28 ° C, sometimes it can reach + 33 ° C, and the water in the sea warms up to + 25 ° C ... + 27 ° C.
The tourist season lasts from May to mid-October. Precipitation is not numerous, but it is sometimes diluted with sunny and dry days. In winter they fall much more often. This time is usually used by lovers of historical excursions to explore the many ruins left over from structures of various eras.

sights

Each of the three peninsulas of Halkidiki has its own unique places, man-made and natural creations, a heritage of history.
The main attractions of Halkidiki are:

- the cave of Petralon, with amazing stalactites and stalagmites, where the remains of the presence of the first people living in Greece were found;
- the sacred Mount Athos with many temples and monasteries, where alas, not all can get: for women, the passage is closed.
- Meteora monasteries that are located on the tops of giant cliffs, bizarre shapes hanging over the city of Kalambaka.
- Ancient traditional Greek village of Afitos.
- Ruins of the ancient city of Toroni
- Ancient Stagira - the birthplace of Aristotle.
- Vineyards of Porto Carras
- Spa resort LoutraPozar.

And many other great places to visit are on Halkidiki.

How to get there

There is no airport on the peninsula. Therefore, you have to fly by plane to Thessaloniki, and from there get by bus or taxi to Halkidiki. The distance between Thessaloniki and the cities and regions of the peninsula is 60-150 km. By bus, the travel time, depending on the selected region, will be one and a half to three and a half hours. But for the price, this is the cheapest option. A taxi will cost more, while it will be a little faster in time - only two and a half hours along the longest route.

Halkidiki is truly an amazing place, visiting which you will fall in love with him forever.