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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.
The village of Nea Skioni ("new Skioni") is named after the ancient city Skioni that was founded by colonists from the Peloponnese in the 4th century BC. They returned from the Trojan War and wanted to spend the winter here. This ancient city was situated two kilometers southeast of the modern Nea Skioni itself and on the spot is now the Panagia Faneromeni church, where a marble icon of the Virgin Mary is kept and where wall paintings from the 16th century can be admired.
According to local tradition, the marble icon has been found floating in the sea. A fisherman in the village saw a light in the sea and thought that pirates had arrived. He quickly went to the village to warn the people. When the light was still there the next day and had come closer, the locals went to look at it and they found the icon with Mary on it.
The residents were so impressed by the floating icon that they asked the Turkish commander to be allowed to build a church. The commander refused, and stamped his foot on the icon. The marble turned soft and the foot of the commander got stuck in it. He apologized, and let the people build a church. The first church was put on a hilltop to be safe against pirates, but every night the church was destroyed and the icon was found next to the sea. Then it was decided that the church was to be built on that spot. In the marble icon the footprint is still visible. It is said that it is the footprint of the Turkish commander, but is more likely that the piece was a marble pedestal for an older statue which was removed. Locals say that the icon weeps every time something bad is about to happen.
Nea Skioni has a nice sandy beach, partially equipped with sunbeds and umbrellas, and a harbor with colorful fishing boats and yachts. The port is one of the largest on the peninsula. For tourists there is ample choice of (mostly small) accommodations and there are plenty of restaurants to choose from. Around the port you particularly find many seafood restaurants. In the first weekend of August, the "sardine festival" is celebrated and lovers of this fish can then indulge themselves. The festival lasts for three days and the wine poured is donated by the municipality and is free.
For all hotels, apartments, studios and villas in Nea Skioni in Halkidiki - click here.
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