Kassandra is the western peninsula of the "trident" of Halkidiki. It is connected to the mainland by the beautiful Nea Potidea bridge. The nearest resort town of Kassandra is located about 40 km from Thessaloniki, so it is worth preparing for a long transfer.
The island is named not in honor of the ancient prophetess Kassandra, but in honor of the son-in-law of Alexander the Great - the king Kassandra. This man ruled here BC, founded a large trading port. Legends tell that Kassandra is the land of the Giants, the first one was born here - Alcyoneus, the son of Heaven and Earth.
The peninsula is very narrow - no wider than 15 km, but long - about 50 km. The coast of Kassandra is considered one of the cleanest and most beautiful of the three peninsulas, and many beaches have been awarded Blue Flags. Young people come here to hang out in the bustling resorts of Kallithea, Kriopigi, Hanioti and Pefkohori. There are many tourists with children - they go to the towns of Sani and Nea Moudania.
Kassandra climate and weather
Tourists come to the resorts of Kassandra from April to October. The hottest season is from June to September. Halkidiki is warmer than the rest of the northern part, so they start swimming in May. In June, the sea warms up to 22 ° C.
| In the afternoon | At night | Sea | Season | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | +10 | +3 | +16 | |
| February | +12 | +3 | +15 | |
| March | +14 | +5 | +15 | |
| April | +19 | +9 | +16 | |
| May | +24 | +13 | +19 | Beach |
| June | +29 | +18 | +22 | Beach |
| July | +31 | +19 | +24 | Beach |
| August | +31 | +19 | +25 | Beach |
| September | +27 | +16 | +23 | Beach |
| October | +22 | +12 | +21 | Beach |
| November | +16 | +8 | +20 | |
| December | +12 | +5 | +17 |
Resorts of Kassandra
Popular resorts of Kassandra: Nea Fokea, Nea Potidea, Afitos, Sani, Nea Moudania, Kallithea, Hanioti, Siviri, Pevkohori.
Nea Fokea is a village with a picturesque bay and a Byzantine tower at the very edge of the sea. There is a legend that it was from this tower that the holy Apostle Paul preached. A bay is named after him, from which you can get to an underground source and a chapel. Water is believed to have medicinal properties. Nea Potidea is a small and cozy town with beautiful sandy beaches. The city has preserved the ruins of an ancient fortress.
Afitos village is interesting for its abundance of national style in architecture. In addition, there are a lot of attractions - quarries, springs with healing water, an ethnographic museum, churches. Agia Paraskevi is famous for its medicinal sulfur springs. The town of Sani is famous for the Byzantine fortress of Stavronikita and a large number of shops with affordable prices. Pevkohori, the most remote resort, is a real paradise for lovers of lonely relaxation among the mountains, pine forests and the gentle sea.
Nea Moudania is a modern city with a large port. From here you can go on a boat trip along the coast. In addition, in July, the "Festival of the Sea" is held in the open amphitheater: musicians and actors come here. Siviri also hosts festivals - a new program every summer. Kalithea (sometimes called Kalithea) is famous for its ancient monument - the temple of Zeus-Ambon. Many centuries ago, the temple of Zeus stood here, and orgies were held in the sanctuary of the god of wine and fun, Dionysus. Hanioti is a very green resort town with clean sandy beaches. The infrastructure is well developed here: many bars, restaurants, shops, cafes. The nightlife is very vibrant - discos and parties last until the morning.
Kassandra beaches
The beaches on the peninsula are sandy and very well maintained. The waters off the coast of the Aegean Sea are among the cleanest in the world. The beaches stretch for more than 50 km and are all well equipped. There are several water parks.
The beaches of Nea Fokea are cozy bays where you can enjoy snorkeling. There are many beach bars on the beaches of Afytos. Glarokavos beach has anchorage for boats and yachts - the depth is great. Pevkohori's gold coastline is popular with young people and families with children. In Hanioti, the sand is especially fine, the entrance to the water is gentle. The secluded Mola Beach is known for its nearby pine forest. There are medicinal sulfur springs on the beach of Loutra village.
Attractions of Kassandra
The main attraction on Kassandra is the Temple of Zeus-Amun and the Sanctuary of Dionysus. Be sure to check out these picturesque ruins. Touch history - no one forbids touching stones. Another famous temple is dedicated to Poseidon. It is located near Halandra. A beautiful lighthouse rises on the edge of the cape.
There is a thermal spring in the place of Agia Paraskevi. Doctors confirm that its waters have no analogues and have a unique healing effect on the body. The source is hidden in a pine forest - find it and enjoy the water and views around. Pevkohori is home to the Glarokavos Natural Park and the Monastery of St. John. History lovers are also recommended to visit the Ethnographic Museum.
December 26th, 2011, 04:43 pm
During my stay in the town of Pefkohori, where I arrived from Russia in my car (reports are on my page), I managed to go around almost everything here. The trips were disordered, but I will try to systematize the review when presenting, starting from the point of the peninsula closest to the mainland and then going clockwise.
The focus of the review is not party-club-beach towns, but mostly "wild" places (well, of course, to the extent that can be applied to Cassandra).
The length of the peninsula is ~ 50 km, width is ~ 15 km. Despite the abundance of settlements, the total population is low, approximately 13-14 thousand people. There are many times more tourists during the season.
So, the entrance to Kassandra. Here, in the narrowest part of the isthmus, in the town of Nea Potidea, a canal was dug, a little over a kilometer long, used by small ships and boats. Thus, Kassandra can be called an island connected to the mainland by a bridge.
Nea Potidea is unremarkable, except for the canal, we pass it and drive non-stop to Nea Fokea.
This town is already interesting, here, in addition to the beaches, there are two attractions: the Byzantine tower (aka the tower of St. Paul) and the chapel of the Apostle Paul.
2. Nea Fokea in the rays of the setting sun: 
3. Nea Fokea, evening: 
4. Chapel. Inside there is an underground passage to the cave, very close, there is a source in the cave. According to legend, here the Apostle Paul secretly baptized people. 
5. From the hillock where the tower is located, a good view opens up: 
Let's go further. We skip the unremarkable Afitos (although there is an opinion that this is the last fragment of archaic Greece on Kassandra).
Further stretches a piece of the coast, from those that I call "wild".
6.
7. A little further: 
Kalithea. This is the most famous resort place in Kassandra. There are most of the hotels and, accordingly, tourists. Restaurants, shops, all sorts of agencies, clubs, a lot of signs in Russian. The city is located on a small hill, you have to go down the stairs to the sea. The beach is pretty full. My opinion is that Kallithea is more suitable for those who, in addition to a beach holiday, also need an active nightlife and party.
Further there are towns similar to each other: Kriopigi, Polykhrono, Hanioti, Pefkohori.
I will dwell on Pefkohori in more detail. The town is notable for the fact that it is the last settlement on the north-eastern coast, then there are just beaches (equipped and not) rocks and coves.
8. Pefkohori, view from the hill (this is how most of the towns on Kassandra look like):
9.Pefkohori, local church: 
10. Pefkohori, promenade and city beach: 
11. Pefkohori, city beach: 
12. Pier in Pefkohori, in the distance Sithonia and Turtle Islet are visible. 
Sometimes on this pier they sell fresh fish directly from the boats.
Immediately after Pefkohori, there is a strip of Glarokavos beach, ending in the bay of the same name. The good thing about the beach is that it is long, there is enough space for everyone. But from the point of view of photogenicity - nothing special.
13. But here fragrant flowers grow right on the sand: 
14. And in good weather you can see Mount Athos (beyond Sithonia): 
Further - the so-called Golden Beach. The place is very interesting, beautiful and, unfortunately, more and more habitable. We were here a year ago, and so, the number of people did not even double, but quadrupled. There are many tents, motorhomes, all of this is arranged spontaneously, a lot of rubbish appeared ... And, nevertheless, the place is still attractive, we stopped by here a couple of times a week. The beach is sandy, rests on a rocky promontory, the water is clean. There is also an area equipped with sun loungers and umbrellas with a bar.
15. Golden Beach (last year's photo, now it's impossible to do this):
16. Golden Beach, view to the other side:
17. In the Golden Beach area: 
Next is the Paliouri beach. Here we need to explain a little, a town with that name is located further away, it is not on the sea, but the beach is called the same. There is fine sand, a gently sloping bottom, which is convenient for swimming with children. Several hotels are nearby. There are a lot of people, especially with children. For me personally, such beaches are of no interest, but many people need this.
There is a small pier here; fishermen often sell their catches right here. Prices are almost shop-level, maybe 5-10 percent lower, well, except that freshness is guaranteed here.
For example, fresh garides (shrimps) cost 15-16 euros per kg in the Pefkohori store, here - 13-14.
18. This is how this beach looks from afar: 
A little further there is a wonderful place - Porto Valitsa. It is a narrow bay surrounded by a rocky coast. Here is the hotel of the same name. The beach is very tiny, but there are few people. Around - a very dense forest. Nice place.
19. Porto Valitsa: 
Further along the coast, there is no passage, you need to call in Paliouri, then turn to the sea, drive 5 minutes along the mini-pass, and then we get to a small truly wild beach (however, in August, campers get here too).
20. Wild beach near Paliouri: 
The beach is quite long; in the center there is also an equipped section with a bar.
We go further, our goal is the Church of St. Nicholas on the cape of the same name. Having danced along a winding narrow road among small olive plantations, we leave again to the sea. The beach is not very attractive here, a mixture of pebbles with earthy sand and stones.
21. A narrow strip of land juts out into the sea, on which there is a small house - the Church of St. Nicholas. 
Around - not a soul, the door is closed, a key sticks out of the keyhole. I already knew about this church in advance, you can go here on your own, candles are burning inside, everything is neat, there are icons on the walls.
There are candles, you can throw as much money into the slot as you can, take candles, light them and put them in front of the icon. They say that wishes made here come true ...
We have come here many times, met people from different countries, but never saw those who look after the church, nevertheless, there is always order and tidiness.
Behind the cape there is another beach, quite dull, and behind it the road abuts olive groves, there is no further passage. Probably, it is possible to drive in a jeep, but I did not try to drive a car.
So I never visited the farthest end of the peninsula. Maybe someday I'll try to walk.)
Since there is no further road, we must return to Paliouri and continue to the southwest coast. We go to the sea in the area of \u200b\u200bthe town of Loutra. From afar, the car begins to smell of hydrogen sulfide. The fact is that in Loutra there is a healing thermal spring, there is a spa hotel with a bath. It looks like this:
22. Loutra, SPA center: 
By the way, water has true healing properties, it treats skin diseases and the musculoskeletal system, they say, it also helps to calm the nerves. The cost of a single visit is 6 euros. Timing - 20 minutes. Everything you need is available - shower, changing room, sauna.
Here's a story to tell. Among the staff of the SPA there was a guy who spoke Russian (bad, but you can understand), he gave a short familiarization tour of the complex. And down there, he said, is the source itself, there is a waterfall and a cave with the same water. You can go down there on your own. We went down.
The cave is a hole 2 meters in diameter, an underground lake immediately begins, the water is knee-deep at first, then I did not climb. Smell - well, you can imagine, enclosed space and intensely smelly water. Going down, we met a Russian guy, he said that about 40 minutes ago two Russians climbed into the cave (presumably), there you can actually take a healing bath for free, and they tried to talk to them outside, shouted at them there, but in response there was silence.
We got off with jokes on this topic, below, looking into the cave, we saw a backpack and two pairs of sneakers. We shouted too, but no one answered. Especially not bothering, after taking a couple of photos, went upstairs and drove on. On the way, discussing the situation with the people who climbed into the cave, they agreed that, in addition to the unpleasant smell, people, staying there for more than the recommended time (20 minutes), expose their lives to serious danger, because the smell can also cloud their minds ... Then, later for several days, we ended up in that place again, there was no Russian-speaking guy, we tried to go to the descent, but the staircase was blocked by a door tightly wrapped with wire, and equipped with an inscription that the passage was prohibited. Whether this was the result of some incident with those people - we never found out ...
23. View of Loutra from the SPA center: 
We call in Loutra. There are several beaches here, from small to large, I liked this one:
24.
In general, colored pebbles (or boulders?) Are a trademark of these places.
Further on Loutra, you can drive along a good asphalt road towards the mainland, or you can turn onto a terrible dirt road and go in the opposite direction, where there are no settlements and the places are almost completely wild. This time we are going to the civilized side. The next town is Nea Skioni.
There is a small harbor, fishermen sell fish, prices are already much lower than in stores.
A sandy beach adjoins the harbor. A calm place, but "not mine", the sand is fine, the water immediately becomes cloudy with a little excitement, I must say, this applies to almost the entire southwestern coast ...
Further stretches the village of Mola Kaliva, there is little interesting here ...
If you imagine Cassandra with a boot, nose to the right, then the boot will have a spur on the left. It is a wedge-shaped sandy promontory. The place is called Possidi. A large beach with fine sand, giving suspension in the water, there are a lot of people, in general, not for everybody, we were not interested.
Further - Furka, or rather, Furka Rock. Everything is about the same, only sand mixed with small pebbles.
25. Beach in Fourka, a little excitement (in Possidi it looks about the same):
A little further there are interesting rocks, but they are not quite stone, slightly earthy, when the sea is rough, the sea erodes them, the water again becomes unclear. But with a calm sea, it is quite an interesting place. Further Furki stretches all the same earthy rocks, since it was slightly windy, the sea did not look transparent, I decided to turn back to my side of Cassandra. We cross the peninsula through Kassandrino and leave in the Polichrono area.
By the way, Polychrono is notable for the fact that the so-called Turtle Lake is located nearby.
It is easy to miss the road there, but if you are careful, you will notice the signs and drive towards it. I warn you - the road is very bad, the jeep will pass, but the car will hardly. I drove, but the second time I would not go for sure. From Polychrono, people basically go on foot.
In the process of a little wandering among the hills I came across a sheet of paper attached to a tree in a file, where it was written by hand in English (my translation): "There is no fucking turtle lake here !!!" Despite the bad experience that drove people to hysteria, we did not give up and soon found the desired lake. It is difficult to call it a lake, a reservoir of 15x10 meters, with densely overgrown banks and muddy greenish water. At first, we decided - turtles have not been here for a long time, so lifeless it all looked. But suddenly hordes of turtles rushed to us from all sides. They are spoiled here by human attention, they know the connection between people and food, and so they are drawn to the sounds of a human voice. We threw them pieces of bread - they throw themselves, pushing each other away, devouring with visible pleasure.
26. Turtle Lake (Mavrobara): 
27. Ibid: 
Soon a group of Slovaks approached the lake, we talked and found out that walking from Polykhrono took about 30-40 minutes. Looking at their sunburned faces and hands, I can advise those who decide on such a march to wear wide-brimmed hats and stock up on protective cream.
I was still haunted by the stretch of coast to the left of Loutra. My wife discouraged me, but one day, using a trick, I involved her in this adventurous trip. And again, a little digression.
Near Loutra there is an observation deck (view from there - photo # 21), we drove into it, we meet a young couple of Russians, with a small child, it is clear that they are nervous. We spoke to them. It turned out that they took a car for a ride, intended to go to Thessaloniki, but got lost. I can not help but briefly convey our conversation:
I:
- Where are you coming from?
- I don't remember the name of the hotel.
- No, I mean the name of the place, which town?
- I don't remember the city either.
- Hmm ... what is the coast?
- We don't know.
- Well, here you were, which side was the sea?
- In different ways, now on the right, then on the left ...
Here you have to imagine, Loutra is almost the extreme point on the peninsula, opposite to the direction to Thessaloniki. The roads on Kassandra are simpler than a steamed turnip (if we do not take into account the small branches inland), even the name Perimetrica gives an idea of \u200b\u200bthe location of the road. It was about midday. It was still possible to get to Thessaloniki, but there was already little sense in this, from Loutra it was at least two hours to go there. I will present my thoughts. They insisted on Thessaloniki.
- Well, then now go RIGHT, do not turn off anywhere, always move along this road.
- Thank you bye.
With these words, our young acquaintances hurried, got into the car, set off and ... turned LEFT.
We just looked after them longingly ... It became clearer how they could get lost in the primitive road network of Cassandra ... I hope they still got to the hotel.
Well, we drove off the asphalt and went deep into the virgin part of Kassandra. The road is almost impassable for a passenger car, my wife got out twice, I passed a dangerous place alone. However, the terrible sections were short (and later, when we returned there more than once, a grader passed along the road, equalized many obstructions, and even four of us drove through).
But the places there, as it turned out, were worth the effort.
28. Wild places closest to Loutra: 
29. A little further: 
30. And a little further: 
31. Around the same place: 
32. And also in those parts: 
33.
At the very top of the cape you can see a tree leaning towards the sea. I climbed up there, took a picture, taken out to the very beginning (№1). We liked the local places so much that we then came here several times.
On one of my subsequent visits here, I decided to drive even further (my wife flatly refused).
The road, still the same broken dirt road, first moved away from the sea, then zigzagged up the hill and then passed along the sea along the top.
34. Beach absolutely inaccessible from land (there is not even a hint of a path, and the bush is dense and thorny): 
35. Even further I discovered a place that even the majority of the inhabitants of Kassandra do not know about: 
However, these places cannot be called wild, after all there is some kind of road, and sometimes there are even secluded houses, quite well-groomed and residential.
36. The coastline here looks like this: 
Sometimes there are places for camping.
That's pretty much everything I wanted to write about Cassandra. We also visited the town of Sani, this place is considered exquisite and very expensive. But the beach here is fine sandy, and that day there was a decent wind, the wave not only washed away the sand, but even ripped out the algae, the color of the sea was dark brown, in places black from small particles of algae, I didn't really want to shoot this, I didn't shoot.)
To summarize, if you have read this report for a practical purpose, then as a small recommendation when choosing Cassandra for vacation:
If you want to hang out and love crowded, well-equipped beaches, then you better go to Kallithea (but you need to take into account the ascent from the beach by stairs) or other towns - Hanioti, Polykhrono, Kriopigi, Nea Fokea. Sorry, I hardly described these places here.
If you prefer ecological places, then it is better to Pefkohori, where you can rent a car, moped or bicycles and go to the beaches away from the busy parties.
The water is cleaner (in the sense of transparent) on the northeastern coast, this is the Toroneo Bay.
In the southwest there are more spacious sandy beaches.
In any case, the sea on the beaches of Kassandra is always clean.
The Kassandra Peninsula is the western tip of Halkidiki in Greece, connected to mainland Greece by a bridge. It is currently one of the best places in Europe for archaeological tourism and beach recreation.
This peninsula was named by the ancient Greeks in honor of the father of Alexander the Great Caesar Cassander. He ruled here even before the new era and became the founder of a large trading harbor. Ancient Greek legends say that Kassandra is the birthplace of the Giants.
Tourism on Kassandra
Halkidiki is the northeastern part of Greece. Kassandra, as a small part of Chalkidiki, is about 50 km long and no more than 15 km wide. The Kassandra coastline is one of the cleanest in Europe, and many local beaches have Blue Flags.
This is a great place for a stormy youth holiday at discos and bars, as well as for parents with children on the beaches and playgrounds. There is a suitable place for every guest of Kassandra.
Climate and weather
The high season in Kassandra lasts from April to October. And the best time to relax is all summer. Due to the proximity of the sea, the climate is maritime, thalassotherapy is widely practiced.
In winter, the air temperature during the day fluctuates around + 16C. Sea water temperature - + 3C. In summer, the air temperature is about + 22C - + 25C, and the sea water heats up to + 23C and above.
Resorts of Kassandra
It is a small resort village on the shores of Thermaikos Gulf and has a picturesque bay. An ancient Byzantine tower stands on the shore of the bay near the village. According to legend, St. the apostle Paul.
The tower and the bay are named after this saint. Not far from it there is an underground source with healing water and an old chapel. Nea Fokea is a great place for newlyweds and married couples with babies.
Nea Potidea
It is a very comfortable and calm town with magnificent sandy beaches with Blue flags. There are ruins of an ancient fortress as an attraction. A great place for beach lovers.
Most of the rural houses are built in this village in the traditional Greek architectural style. There is also a museum of ethnography, ancient quarries, a healing spring, several Orthodox churches.
Ayia Paraskevi
This village is famous throughout Europe for its sulfur springs. People come here to take hydrogen sulfide baths, which have a beneficial effect on the human body.
This town is famous for its Byzantine fortress Stavronikita. After relaxing on the excellent local beaches, it will be interesting to wander among the ruins. There are also many shops with goods at democratic prices.
Pevkohori
This resort seems to be created for lovers of solitude. Here tourists will be delighted by low mountains, pine forests and sea beaches. You can fully enjoy nature and the absence of a noisy crowd.
Nea Moudania
It is a modern town with a port from where you can go for a walk in the Aegean Sea. In the middle of summer, the Sea Festival is held in Nea Moudania; actors and musicians from many countries of the world come.
This resort is famous for its ancient monument - the Temple of Zeus. It was erected on the Kassandra peninsula for the third millennium. And next to it is the sanctuary of Dionysius, where drunken orgies are held to this day.
This resort town is full of greenery and sandy beaches. The tourist infrastructure is well developed: many restaurants, bars, cafes, shops, shops. Disco nights with cool DJs. A great place for youth recreation.
Sandy beaches on this peninsula are famous for their cleanliness and well-groomed. Their total length is more than 50 km, they have all the necessary beach infrastructure. It is known that the waters of the Aegean Sea are one of the cleanest and most transparent in Europe.
On the beaches of Nea Fokea there are small bays with warm water, where it will be comfortable and safe for young children to swim. Deeper adults can go in for the now fashionable snorkeling.
There are many bars on the beaches of Afytos. This is entertainment for adults, as well as young people who like to spend time at night discos in search of extreme entertainment.
On the beach of Glarokavos there is parking for boats and yachts. From here you can always take a boat trip around the Kassandra Peninsula, exploring the surroundings, or go sailing with a coach, etc.
The golden beaches of Pevkohori are popular with young people and couples with children. It has very fine, soft sand and a gentle entrance to the sea. The beaches are well equipped, like all the others in Kassandra.
Attractions of Kassandra
In ancient times, the inhabitants of Kalithea worshiped the Egyptian sun god Amun and the ancient Greek sky god Zeus. These gods were closely intertwined in their minds. Scientists became aware of this from the results of archaeological excavations.
I look at the map of the Halkidiki peninsula. There is a direct road from Thessaloniki to Nea Patedea. Well, where can you wander here for more than 2 hours? However, we got there with.
There are several capes on the Halkidiki peninsula. The first on the left, west, is Kassandra. It is divided by the Potidean Canal, built in the 5th century BC. The canal is navigable and connects the Aegean and Ionian Seas. There is a bridge across it, over which the highway passes. Here, beyond the bridge, begins Nea Potidea... A place with an ancient and troubled history.
At first we wanted not only to Nea Potidea, but also to Athos - an independent theocratic republic, and to the Petralona cave. But women cannot go to Athos. A male monastery is not a place for tourist-minded ladies. We grieved a little and calmed down - the feelings of the monks must be respected.
The Petralona Cave is an amazing place. First, she is fabulously beautiful. There is a forest of stalactites and stalagmites in it. Secondly, the remains of a petralon were found here - a homo erectus who lived in these places about 700 thousand years ago. You can also see the fossilized remains of prehistoric animals in the cave museum.
For a long time we did not dare to exclude from the cave. But on reflection, we realized: we'd better come again and from here we go on a trip to the islands of Greece. And there will still be a cave with stalactites and stalagmites in our route: the cave is the entrance to.
Hesiod, an ancient Greek poet, claimed that the first man, a protantropus, came out of the earth. And it was on Cassandra. I believe Hesiod. It's so good here, why doesn't the first person show up here? I would appear here again, with great pleasure.
The place is not only beautiful, but also geographically convenient. The first city on Kassandra was built by the Corinthians. Now in its place is Nea Potidea. The city was captured, destroyed, rebuilt anew until it was completely erased. The Athenians visited here. They held the city under siege, then drove out the local residents and settled with their own. Among the heroes of the siege, Socrates, the future philosopher, distinguished himself for his courage.
By the way, another philosopher was born on Kassandra, without whom European culture, and ours too, is unthinkable. This is Aristotle. After the Athenians, Kassandra was visited by: Macedonians, Romans (where can we go without them), Goths, Huns, Catalans, Venetians, Turks.
In 316, the Macedonian king Kassander rebuilt his new city on the ruins of the conquered city and gave it the name Kassandria. Since then, the name has been preserved - the gate of Kassandra.
Modern Nea Potidea
The current settlement of Nea Potidea, i.e. New Potidea, has existed on Kassandra since 1922. It was founded by Greeks refugees from Eastern Thrace and Turks. The city is developing a tourist destination.
We were lying by the sea, listening to how it grinds stones in its big warm palms and watched the Greeks. There were only Greeks on the beach behind our hotel, which made us incredibly happy - if the locals are resting here, then the place is worthwhile. As it turned out, further along the coastline, where hotels and houses were lined up, mostly Greeks who came here, like us, for peace, sea and clean air, walked.
Small shops offered the usual seaside assortment. And the assortment included: vegetables and fruits, meat and sausages, beer-retsina ... At first we did not notice retsina.
We wanted to try this folk Greek wine with a hot half-day flavor, needles and pine resin, but we looked at it in liquor stores. In vain. Retsina is often sold at regular grocery stores and is kept in the same refrigerators as beer. In small bottles. Or in these:
But we got goat cheeses, tomatoes, all kinds of arugula and olive oil. We were going to the tavern to find out the taste of the famous: musakas, pastizio, souvlaki and paidakya.
Eyes ran up where to start - from the type of dishes, from our minimum program, drooling. But, since these dishes are being prepared for a long time, we could not resist and started with salads from goat cheese and fresh vegetables. It was wonderful!
Walk around the resort
You probably already understood: in Nea Potidea we had everything for a happy holiday: the sea, sun, peace, silence, taverns, shops, a wonderful liquor store with collection wines, good people and a friendly dog \u200b\u200bneighbor.
There is a health resort for those suffering from rheumatism and skin diseases, in large hotels - exercise machines, fitness and all the things, but we were great in our little cozy house by the sea. In the morning, we drank coffee and ate salads on the balcony. We examined the sea and the neighboring mansion - in the style of a castle. Gadali - a house or a mini-hotel. It is difficult to understand - neither the right nor the left people were visible - peace and quiet.
Then swim and walk, wander around the shops and try Greek cuisine in taverns. There is a long journey ahead.
In the place where we walked in the direction of shops and taverns, there was an asphalt walking path. There were benches along it. Everything is like ours. But here's what is interesting: the benches are not directed inward - towards the road, but outward - so that the people sitting on the bench look not at the people walking by, but at the sea. In the evenings on these benches we found middle-aged married couples. They didn't speak. We just sat and watched the sunset over the sea. This is their prime time series. I envy.
We also noticed that Greeks, unlike Italians, love to spend their free time, especially evenings, on the balcony. In Italy, houses have balconies, but you won't see people there. But the Greeks like to sit in a group or family around a table on the balcony and conduct quiet conversations. A funny picture - a hotel and a family sitting on each balcony. Except for those couples in love who contemplate the sunset at sea.
Nea Potidea is located at the narrowest point of Cape Kassandra. If you wish, you can swim in the Aegean Sea, and after half an hour of walking you can swim again, but already in the Kassandra Gulf or Toroneos colpos in Greek. Where else is this possible?
Nea Potidea on the map
For ourselves, we decided that the Halkidiki peninsula is worth visiting again. We liked.
It is no exaggeration to say that for many years Greece has been one of the favorite countries of Russian tourists. The Halkidiki peninsula is perhaps one of the Mediterranean. It is important that this is an environmentally friendly area.
The trident-shaped peninsula of Chalkidiki is an evergreen paradise. Here, the liveliness and bustle of a large settlement is surprisingly combined with tranquility and silence. Magnificent Greece - Halkidiki, Kassandra in particular, will be the topic of our conversation today.
Myths and legends
According to myths and legends, the territory that we today call the Halkidiki peninsula, consisting of such parts as Kassandra, Sithonia and Athos, was inhabited by titans. Once there was a battle between them and the gods. In the old days this land was called Flegra, which means "place of fire."
Legend has it that the titan Enceladus is buried alive under one of the rocks. Sometimes he wants to free himself, a terrible crash is heard, the earth shakes under his powerful blows. And then what modern man calls an earthquake happens.
Locals claim that in ancient times the titans Athos and Seaton quarreled over the beautiful mermaid Pallini. This made Poseidon angry. He threw his trident, and a peninsula with three "fingers" -peninsulas appeared.
Geographical position
Halkidiki is located in the northeast of Greece. It is often called "Poseidon's trident". The most popular and most visited "toe-toe" is the Kassandra Peninsula. The beaches of Chalkidiki in general and Kassandra in particular, covered with white sand, beautiful bays, luxurious pine groves will not leave anyone indifferent.
The middle finger of Halkidiki is Sithonia. It is bordered by many bays and charming coves. Fishing villages, wild green forests, blue sea have made this peninsula the most picturesque of the three "brothers".
The most mysterious and practically untouched by civilization is the Athos peninsula, inhabited mainly by monks. The beauty of this place is impressive. The holy mountain that rises on it is covered with dense forests.
A fairly large peninsula possessed by Greece, Halkidiki (Kassandra, Sithonia, Athos), occupies an area of \u200b\u200btwo thousand nine hundred and eighteen square kilometers. The coastline is five hundred kilometers long.
Population
The latest census data indicate that the peninsula is home to one hundred and five thousand nine hundred and fifty people.
Capital
The main town of the peninsula is Polygyros, which is located on a plateau, surrounded by hills and forests. It is built in the form of an amphitheater at the foot of Mount Holomontas. It offers a simply stunning view of the endless sea and the peninsula itself.
Halkidiki beaches
This amazing peninsula has many well-developed coastal locations. But perhaps the most popular and most visited are the beaches of Kassandra.
Nea Moudania is a resort located fifty-seven kilometers from the city of Thessaloniki. Six thousand five hundred people live here. It is a very green area with an abundance of apricot, citrus and olive orchards. The sandy beach of Nea Moudania is well equipped and has everything you need for a variety of water sports.
The next resort is located sixty kilometers from Thessaloniki. This is Nea Potidea. The settlement appeared in one thousand nine hundred and twenty-two. The population is only one and a half thousand people. The beach is sand and pebble, has the necessary equipment for a comfortable stay.
On the site of an ancient settlement, ninety kilometers from the city of Thessaloniki, there is Sani resort - one of the most famous in the country. It is often called “Monte Carlo of Greece”.
In the summer, expensive yachts come to the harbor of this resort and bring their owners to Halkidiki. Tours to the peninsula are becoming more and more popular every year.
Afitos is considered by many vacationers to be the most beautiful resort in Kassandra. An ancient village with cobbled streets sits above a wonderful bay with white sand. Two sandy beaches are fenced off by low cliffs and bays, where you can safely spend your vacation, resting from the bustle of the city.
Weather
The most favorable season for recreation on the peninsula is summer. At this time, there is simply magnificent Halkidiki, Kassandra in particular, in many ways this attracts tourists from all over the world to their beaches. The best months for rest are July and August. At this time on the peninsula it is always clear and calm. Rains during these months are extremely rare. Evenings and nights are very warm, which contributes to the scope of the club life in Kallithea - the capital of Kassandra. Only in October do the rains begin and cold winds are felt.
Features of resorts
You should be aware that the beach season on the Halkidiki peninsulas is somewhat shorter than in other resorts in Greece. It ends in September. However, this disadvantage is more than compensated for by an obvious advantage: despite the fact that in summer the air temperature can rise above thirty-five degrees, it is very dry here, which is why the heat is almost not felt. The mountains reliably close the peninsula from the piercing and cold winds. The sea water is always warm and calm, so it is very comfortable to relax here with children.
For many tourists, the most desirable destination for their next vacation is Greece. Halkidiki, Kassandra, Sithonia - peninsulas that can make everyone's dream of a perfect vacation come true. I must say that the rest on them is different. For example, the atmosphere in Sithonia is more peaceful and calm than in Kassandra. Therefore, lovers of a quiet family vacation should choose Sithonia.
The beaches of Chalkidia throughout the peninsula are well equipped with sun loungers and parasols. Alternatively, you can rent snorkeling equipment.
Sights of Halkidiki: Kassandra
If you think that you can only relax on the beach on this wonderful peninsula, then you are deeply mistaken. There are many sights to see in Kassandra.
This peninsula is the pearl of Halkidiki. Kassandra (the map of Greece will tell you) is located between Thermaikos and Toroneos canals. It is connected to the land by the Potidea Canal. The beaches of the peninsula stretch for fifty kilometers. The recreation area is very picturesque and well equipped. Sights of Halkidiki (Kassandra in this sense is no exception) are numerous historical and cultural monuments. Not far from the peninsula there is a natural monument of the peninsula - the legendary Mount Olympus, on which the gods lived.
Not everyone knows that the birthplace of the great Aristotle is the village of Stagira in Halkidiki. And the karst one has become world famous. The monuments of ancient times in Athens, the capital of Greece, are unusually interesting. The Afitis village makes no less impression on travelers. It has well preserved the architectural style typical of Ancient Greece with its narrow streets and small restaurants offering their guests dishes of national cuisine.
The village of Kalandra is famous for its well-preserved temple of Poseidon.
Communication and communications
There is Internet and Wi-Fi in almost the entire territory of Kassandra. Cellular communication is working properly. If necessary, you can use international and intercity communication.
Hotels
Experienced travelers know how comfortable Kassandra is in particular, they have adopted the best experience in this direction. Here you can choose a hotel in full accordance with your financial capabilities. You can stay in a modest room in a 2 * hotel or in a luxurious apartment in a five-star hotel. We want to warn you right away that the quality of service in them does not depend on the category: in Greece it is always at the highest level.
The best hotels are located by the sea. Almost all of them have their own beaches with free umbrellas and sun loungers. If you come on vacation with a child, then when choosing a hotel, you need to pay attention to the availability of baby food, a club for kids, animation. Children will be delighted to stay in a hotel with a water park or water slides located on its territory. Before the trip, carefully study the ratings of hotels, reviews of vacationers. You can book a hotel in Kassandra online. It is better to do this a few months before the planned trip. This will not only save you money, but will also give you a 100% guarantee that at the right time a free room in the selected hotel will be provided to you, even in the midst of the beach season.
Kassandra Palace 5 *
Magnificent hotel located on the Kassandra Peninsula. The building is surrounded by a lush garden, which is based on tropical trees. Those who have already been to this hotel, note the unsurpassed service, a courteous and respectful attitude to the wishes of guests, a friendly and warm atmosphere.
The hotel welcomes guests from early May to late October. There are many good hotels on the Halkidiki peninsula. "Cassandra Palace" is rightfully recognized as the best. It has two hundred and eighty rooms, has its own sand and pebble beach.
All hotel rooms are well equipped with technical equipment. There is a refrigerator, safe, TV, satellite TV, telephone. Each room has a balcony or terrace overlooking the emerald sea or the magnificent garden. The hotel has a well-developed infrastructure. There is a magnificent spacious restaurant serving Greek and European cuisine. You can visit a stylish bar located in the hotel lobby, a pool bar, a Greek tavern.
For younger guests, there is a cot, a swimming pool, a playground, a toddler club. Individual babysitting services can be ordered if required.
Those wishing to spend their vacation can actively visit the outdoor pool, basketball and volleyball courts, tennis court. You can work out in the well-equipped gym.
Many hotels on the peninsula use the now popular All Inclusive system. These are usually four star hotels. By booking a room in them, you will receive all services for free. These are food, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, gym classes, etc.
Kitchen
As you know, in any corner of sunny Greece, including the Kassandra Peninsula, preference is given (meat and fish dishes, a large number of vegetables and fruits). Athonite monastery cuisine, which is based exclusively on natural products, must be distinguished separately.
Sunny Greece is always glad to guests. Halkidiki (Kassandra) is suitable for families, children, as well as those who appreciate good beaches, pristine nature, professionalism and friendliness of the staff.
Many will be pleased with the resorts on the Halkidiki peninsula. Kassandra (you can see the photo in this article) offers interesting and informative excursions, a great vacation on the beach, original cuisine, luxurious nature, unique historical monuments, comfortable hotels.
