Afitos Halkdiki Peninsula

As we have already mentioned in the article dedicated to its beaches, the wonderful Afitos village or Afythos and finally Afytos, we find it in the Kassandra Peninsula, the first finger of the multifaceted Chalkidiki Peninsula.

On the eastern side to the north, we meet one of the most beautiful villages in the whole area, rich in history and with a charm of lost time. Perched on a hill on the coast with the gaze turned towards the Toroneos Gulf which divides it from the Sithonia Peninsula, Afitos appears. A succession of cobbled streets, with stone houses and typical Macedonian architecture, small squares where you can find traditional taverns with the flavors of ancient recipes, cafes where you can stop for an aperitif, shops where you can find the perfect souvenir for your best friend, all wrapped in a remote atmosphere where despite the progress everything has remained harmonious and blends well with modern times.

Afythos has a long history behind it, the first inhabitants date back to 3000 BC but its importance acquires its importance when it becomes part of the Athenian Alliance, a maritime confederation of city-states born to counter the bloody and deleterious Persian wars.

In 348 BC it was destroyed by the tyrant Philip II father of Alexander the Great and then returned to its splendor in the Roman period when the monument to Ammon Zeus and the temple dedicated to Dionysus were erected. Afitos is however mentioned in the works of Herodotus and Aristotle, the philosophers of Ancient Greece and independently minted its own currency. In 1821, during the period of national liberation, Atifos was abandoned by its inhabitants to take refuge in safer areas and in the meantime it was destroyed by the Turks. Six years later, however, it begins to populate again and rises again in all the beauty that you can still admire today.

Some houses are built in local porous stone.

During your visit or your stay it is certainly worth taking a walk in the town which is full of craft shops, romantic restaurants and where you can taste the delicacies of the place or an aperitif perhaps in the famous Bar Bousoulas which is located right on the top overlooking the sea and offers a panorama that you will hardly be able to forget.

The Church of Saint Dimitrios in the center of the village built in 1858 right above the ruins of an older basilica destroyed in 1821 during the war of liberation. A three-nave monastery with a beautiful and scenic dome, the inevitable bell tower, a vestibule and an internal courtyard. In the central nave you will find the icon of Santa Maria Afytiotissa dating back to the 16th century from Constantinople with carved flowers, paintings and icons from the 19th century by the artist Georgios Athanasiou di Galtatisa on the wall. The construction of the Church of San Dimitrio is the result of the hard work of the artisans of Northern Epirus who, together with the locals, were able to give life to this beautiful and important work. A notable contribution must also be attributed to the monk Philippos of the Monastery of Simons Petras one of the twenty Orthodox monasteries of the sacred mountain of Mount Athos.

The Folklore Museum. It is located in a historic building from 1889 in the main square. Belonged to the Aletras family who then donated the dwelling to culture, it offers popular exhibitions and collects a collection of household utensils, agricultural tools and ceramics with a long tradition, works by the local sculptor Vassilis Pavlis and on the first floor there is a typical traditional house. All of this will give you a complete idea of what life once was like in this magnificent area of Greece. During the summer, interesting cultural events are organized such as art or photographic exhibitions. It is open every day and these are the times: 19.00-23.00 except Tuesdays and Sundays which can be visited from 11.00 to 13.00 and from 19.00 to 23.00. Ticket cost € 2 while children under 5 are free.

For something more modern instead, go and visit the Stone Circle of Afitos, a composition of twelve stone figures sculpted in 2010 by international sculptors.

If you are in Afitos for August 15th, do not miss the feast of Santa Maria, an important celebration in honor of the Virgin Mary where a traditional festival is organized with traditional Greek-Macedonian music and dances and lots of food cooked according to ancient recipes

.During the summer you can participate in many events to become part of the culture such as the Afitos Festival or towards the end of August early September do not miss the Wine Bazaar a festival dedicated to wines where you can taste native nectars and not paying homage to the God Dionysus.

Obviously in Afitos there is no lack of the sea part, here you will find three beaches but in our opinion only one is perfect for a relaxing day under the sun, we are talking about the Varkes beach equipped with deckchairs, parasols and a couple of bars where to find food and drinks, all obviously with an extremely clean and strange sea but actually warmer than in other areas of the Aegean.

Usually you reach the Chalkidiki Peninsula by plane arriving in Thessaloniki. From there go down towards the Kassandra Peninsula following the road signs and you will arrive in Afitos.

For those staying on the Peninsula in another area, there is a public bus service from the main tourist resorts. Always check the timetables.

Finally, what can we tell you more about this little gem, go and discover it and don't forget to put it on the list of things to see in the Halkidiki Peninsula.