THE KASSANDRA PENINSULA IN CHALKIDIKI OR HALKIDIKI IN GREECE

Kassandra or Kassandria is the westernmost of the three "fingers" in Halkidiki. The peninsula has been separated for some time from the rest of Halkidiki through a channel at Nea Potidaia. Nowadays there are two bridges over this channel. Kassandra is also well equipped for tourists, with many scenic fishing villages and beautiful beaches. In a cave in Petralona on the Kassandra peninsula a skeleton has been unearthed that is among the oldest hominids (a million years old, from one of the ice ages)

A popular resort is the small town of Afytos, Afitos or Athitos (three different spellings / names, not uncommon in Greece) that is situated in the northeast of the Kassandra peninsula. Afitos dates from the early 19th century. On the village square stands the St. Demetrius Church, built in 1858. It is the only domed basilica on the Halkidiki peninsula. On and around the square you will find several bars and restaurants. The village Afitos itself is quite high, and from there you have beautiful views of the bay. The sandy beach of Afitos is about a kilometer from the center of the village. Within walking distance of Afitos you will find the village of Nea Fokea with a well-preserved Byzantine tower and a castle.

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Nea Fokea of Nea Fokaia is a small town in the northeast of the Kassandra peninsula in Halkidiki, a little north of Afitos. The distance to the city of Thessaloniki is about 80 kilometers. The small town / village has a harbor with many colored fishing boats and there is a nice beach. At the seaside in the port of the town of Nea Fokea you find a Byzantine tower dating from 1407 which has remained in fairly good condition. Access to the tower is now apparently closed and you can thus only see it only from the outside. This spot is a nice place to admire the sunset.

Next to the Byzantine tower there is a small old church which is dedicated to the Apostle Paul. The beach at Nea Fokea is a long sandy beach with clear water. North of the village of Nea Fokea and within walking distance of it there are several other beaches.

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Kallithea is a village of about 500 inhabitants which is located in the northeast of the Kassandra peninsula, just south of Afitos. The distance to Thessaloniki is about 90 kilometers. The village was founded in 1922 by refugees from Asia Minor. Kallithea has a nice sandy beach with all facilities. A few large commercial hotels are positioned almost on the beach, and the rest of the village is a little further from the beach, separated by a strip of green with pine trees and a road. Here you can also find some more traditional accommodations. Today Kallithea attracts a lot of visitors because of its beautiful beaches, the ruins of the temples and the small church of Agios Panteleimon with its beautiful murals.

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Sani beach, which is surrounded by olive- and pine trees is a lively resort that is located on the northwest side of the Kassandra peninsula, in the area of Halkidiki. The distance to the airport is about 75 kilometers. Sani beach is a place with a bit of class and you will find a number of luxury resorts, villas and very expensive yachts that are moored in the local harbor. The beach of Sani is a whopping 7 kilometer long golden yellow sandy beach with beautiful blue water and a shallow sea.

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The small and quiet village Siviri with its approximately 50 inhabitants is located on the west side of the Kassandra peninsula in Halkidiki. The distance to Thessaloniki is about 95 kilometers. Around 3 kilometers north lies the even smaller village of Elani. In both villages you can find a lovely sandy beach. In the surroundings there are also a couple of holiday homes for rent. Nice for families or for friends that travel in a group.

Siviri is a place especially for the tourists. The sandy beach of the village is partially equipped with facilities such as sunbeds and umbrellas and there is wide choice of restaurants and accommodations. There are also plenty of tourist shops and supermarkets. The beautiful main beach of the village of Siviri is surrounded by pine trees that provide shade. Behind the main beach are a couple of more secluded caves with sandy beaches with fine sand and some rocks, which are sometimes used by nudists / naturists. Especially in the low season there is a lot of peace and quiet in the village. During the high season and at weekends, when the Greeks themselves are free, it can get a lot busier on Siviri beach.

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Skala Fourkas is a fairly large village which is located on the west coast of the Kassandra peninsula in Halkidiki. The village has about 700 inhabitants and is one of the largest villages in the area of Kassandra. The distance to the capital of the region, Poligiros, is about 60 kilometers. Thessaloniki is at a distance of about 95 kilometers. Near the popular Skala Fourkas, about 2 kilometers away, is the village of Fourka. At the beach are quite a few accommodations for rent for tourists who want to spend their holidays here. There are also several shops and a fast food restaurant. The beach of Skala Fourkas is surrounded by low hills and the area is very green.

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In the southwest of the Kassandra peninsula in Halkidiki you can find the villages of Possidi and Kalandra, which are located right next to a beautiful sandy beach. The distance to the capital Thessaloniki is about 95 kilometers and the distance to the main town of the region, Poligiros, is 70 kilometers. Not far from Possidi are the resorts of Skala Fourkas (in the north) and Mola Kaliva (in the east). The village is nestled amongst the pine trees on a little at a triangular point ending in a pier with sand.

The sandy peninsula of Possidi runs for hundreds of meters into the sea and offers everyone plenty of room to sunbathe and swim in the crystal clear water. Situated in a wooded area the beach of the village of Possidi is organized, and you can rent sunbeds and umbrellas here. At the beach is a varied selection of accommodations and there are several tavernas and beach bars.

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The village of Mola Kalyva is located in the southwest of the Kassandra peninsula in Halkidiki, a few contain kilometers east of Possidi and Kalandra. The distance to the airport of Thessaloniki is approximately 100 kilometers. You can find two peaceful sandy and pebbly beaches Mola Kalyva and the sea water is clear. Both beaches are suitable for families with small children. In Mola Kalyva there are some accommodations for tourists and there are supermarkets, shops, taverns and a bakery. There is also an ATM and a gas station nearby. In the area there are a number of villas, some of which are owned by Greek TV personalities.

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Kriopigi is an old village situated in the hills in the northeast of the Kassandra peninsula, just south of Kallithea. The village has about 500 inhabitants and the distance to the airport is about 85 kilometers. The biggest attraction of the village is the beautiful beach which is surrounded by olive groves and woodland. There is also a source of cold water, from which the village takes its name (krio = cold, pigi = source). In the area there are more water sources and so the nature around Kriopige is very lush. There are many fruit trees and lots of olive oil is produced here, but tourism is also a source of income for the village of Kriopigi.

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Polychrono or Polykhrono is a touristy, but compared to other villages such as for example Kallithea and Pefkochori, fairly quiet resort which is located in the southeast of the Kassandra peninsula, between the villages of Kriopigi and Chaniotis. The village has just over 1,000 inhabitants. In high season it attracts a lot of tourists and it can get quite busy. The distance to the capital of the peninsula, Poligiros, which lies north of Polychrono, is about 60 kilometers. The city of Thessaloniki is about 90 km from Polychrono.

The one-kilometer long beach of the village of Polychrono is located on the Gulf of Toroneos and has fine white sand and clear water in which it is good snorkeling. In some places of the beach you can also find some pebbles. The sea is shallow, making it also suitable for families with small children. Polychrono beach has been awarded a Blue Flag because it is clean and safe for swimming. On a part of the beach there are sunbeds and umbrellas for rent. Around the beach you will find most of the taverns and bars. However night life is not abundant in Polychrono, but more limited to cozy late dinners and drinks at one of the cafes on the beach. Those who want to make it really late better seek refuge in Kallithea, where there are several clubs are and international DJ's play their music during the summer months.

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Chaniotis or Hanioti is a tourist resort on the southeast side of the Kassandra peninsula in Halkidiki. The village lies between Polychrono in the north (4 km away) and Pefkochori in the south (3 km away). The distance to the capital, Thessaloniki is approximately 100 kilometers. The village Chaniotis has about 1000 inhabitants and is a major tourist attraction for thousands of visitors during the summer months. According to tradition the village was named after its first occupant, who came from the city of Chania on Crete, and settled at about 2.5 kilometers south of the current Chaniotis.

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Pefkochori or Pefkohori is a fairly large resort in the southeast of the Kassandra peninsula in Halkidiki. It is located 3 kilometers southeast of Chaniotios and it has around 1,700 inhabitants. The distance to Thessaloniki is about 105 kilometers. The place is named after the pine forests that surround the village. Pefko in Greek means "pine" and Chori or Hori means "village". In front of the village of Pefkohori is a long stretched beach with white sand and some small pebbles, and in the area within walking distance there are more and quieter bays with beaches. The beach of Pefkohori is lively and there are all kinds of facilities. Around the beach are many cafes and restaurants and you can rent sunbeds and umbrellas. Around the beach there are pine trees that provide shade. There is also on the beach of Pefkohori the opportunity to practice water sports.

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At the southernmost tip of the Kassandra peninsula in the area of Halkidiki on Cape Paliouri, at 112 kilometers ditance from the town of Thessaloniki, lies the village of Paliouri. Here you will find mainly traditional stone houses and narrow streets. The village of Paliouri itself is located on low hills at about 2.5 kilometers from the coast, but in the area there are beautiful beaches where a limited number of accommodations are available, including luxury villas with private pool. The distance to the village of Pefkochori is 7 kilometers. Also in the village Paliouri itself is a fairly large hotel complex. There are no high-rise buildings such as in Kallithea, which makes the place very picturesque. The most famous beach in this part of Kassandra is called Chrouso or Chrousso beach.

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The village of Loutra is located in the southwest of the Kassandra peninsula in Halkidiki. The distance to Thessaloniki is about 130 kilometer. With this town there is a bus connection (about 3 buses a day). Sometimes the village of Loutra is called "Loutra Agias Paraskevi" to distinguish it from other villages that are also called Loutra, and there are quite a few. Agias Paraskevi is an ancient village which is 5 kilometers away from Loutra. It is named after an old church which stands just outside the village. The people of Agias Paraskevi live mainly from the olive groves and from the making of honey. In Agias Paraskevi are a few tavernas serving simple traditional meals. In Loutra and Agias Paraskevi together live about 375 people.

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Nea Skioni is a coastal resort which is located in the southwest of the Kassandra peninsula in the area of Halkidiki. Nea Skioni has about 750 inhabitants and is located 7 kilometers southwest of the village of Chaniotis. Nea Skioni is surrounded by a pine forest suitable for making nice walks. The distance to Thessaloniki is about 110 kilometers. Nea Skioni is a tourist place which is not that old. The village dates from around 1918 when mountain people from the region went to the coast and settled here, and began to build fishing huts. Most residents came from the mountain village of Tsaprani which was completely abandoned in 1930. The remains of the abandoned village Tsaprani can still be visited.

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