Villages west of Kassandra Chalkidiki peninsula.

The Chalkidiki Peninsula which is located exactly south-east of the Balkan region is formed by the famous three "fingers", the first phalanx is called Kassandra and we start right here to make you discover the wonders of this particular part of Greece not yet too well known but which is gaining ground very quickly for the beauty of its beaches, its sea and hidden places to be discovered.

Pine forests and olive groves, white sand bays wedged above a jagged coast with clear sea and gently sloping seabeds perfect for families with children, a remarkable choice of super luxurious hotel and spa hotels, apartments and rooms for rent , international restaurants and typical taverns where you can taste local dishes always based on the freshest products, a lively nightlife and fantastic landscapes, this is Kassandra.

In reality Kassandra is not really a peninsula but an island and is connected to the mainland by the Nea Potidea bridge. The ancient name was Flegra and the myth tells that this strip of land was involved in the struggle between the Gods and the Giants in the famous war called Gigantomachia. Its origins are very ancient dating back to 316 BC when Cassander I proclaimed himself after having defeated Polypercon, strategist of Europe and king of the Macedonian empire. The first city was the current Potidea which also became the stronghold of Arsinoe II. During the period of Venetian domination between 1423 and 1430 it had a very prosperous moment as it became an important naval base. In 1430 it fell into the hands of the Ottomans who remained until 1912 when with the first Balkan war it returned to be part of Greece.

An island or peninsula as you prefer to call it very fascinating, where nature has given inlets with crazy colors that sometimes make you think of the Caribbean but with the true and pure Greek flavor.

There are many villages in the Kassandra peninsula, being able to see them all is almost impossible unless you have decided to invest at least a month for your holidays in Greece, but given that the distances are not so excessive, you can 'however seeing many and those who lack patience, it will mean that you will have one more reason'to come back.

Let's start with the west part of the appendix. The first village you come across is that of Nea Potidea. Its scenic canal bridge built in 1967 connects Kassandra to the mainland and the gulfs of Toroneos and Thermaikos. Don't expect the classic Greek village, here everything is very modern if you can say so. A well-equipped seaside town with many hotels of all categories, bars, restaurants, beach bars and shops. In the western part of the Gulf of Torones there is a tiny fishing port that every morning arrive with fresh fish to be distributed in the many taverns. On the eastern side, on the other hand, there are the beaches that are very organized with sunbeds, umbrellas, kiosks for something to drink and something quick to eat and many water activities to have fun with your family or with old and new friends. The soft sandy beach bathed by transparent waters and a thousand shades of blue, is about two kilometers long. During ancient times it was called the "Gate of Kassandra" and was surrounded by an imposing wall from the Justinian period that served as a barrier to attacks by hostile populations. To visit the majestic cathedral of San Giorgio right in the center of the town built in 1821, the year in which the Greek partisans hid in the Byzantine castle where today there are the remains to visit but which were all brutally slaughtered and only the blood made it completely red the channel . On November 14, Nea Potidea celebrates the anniversary of the massacre called the "Kassandra Holocaust".

We continue with Fourka village. About eighty-seven kilometers from Thessaloniki, the seaside resort of Fourka also has a beautiful beach awarded with the Blue Flag 'which is over two kilometers long and you can enjoy a coastline of soft white sand with a clean and intensely blue sea. , being on the west side, the sunsets are breathtaking with the sky that is colored with red, purple and orange shades. It is very well equipped with beach bars, sun beds, parasols, restaurants and taverns where the culinary specialties will delight your taste buds. Lots of accommodation from hotels to apartments to private villas, a real town full of life during the holidays. The main square is the hub of Fourka and in the evening it fills with people strolling or looking for a particular souvenir to take home. However, the old village of Fourka is located two kilometers from the modern agglomeration and is still traditional in style with its stone houses and small churches. Embraced by olive groves, pines and with the cult of flowers that adorn the windowsills. To visit the Temple of Agios Ioannis where there are finds from the Byzantine era and many small chapels still intact that will make you better understand the ancient origins of the village. A cultural association closely linked to traditions and with the intention of preserving them organizes various events during the summer. Do not miss the feast of Santa Marina on July 17, that of the Prophet Ilia on July 20 and the feast of Agios Paraskevi on July 26. It is much loved by young people as in the nearby village of Possidi we find the student camp of the University of Thessaloniki but also for families.

We continue with the hamlet of Possidi. It is located in the southwestern part of the Kassandra Peninsula surrounded by high hills and lush vegetation. A small village where nothing is missing, from classic taverns overlooking the sea, a supermarket with a well-stocked bakery inside, cafes where you can relax in front of a classic Greek milkshake, a fantastic promenade where you can stroll in the evening and the wonderful beach. A long, narrow and shallow sandy coast, a paradise for families with children, with a few rows of umbrellas and then one of the most beautiful beaches of the peninsula, the beach of Egeopelagitika where a sandbar cuts the sea (it is also called Possidi Cape). You can get there with a half-hour walk, but it is of overwhelming beauty and the effort will be amply rewarded. The promontory is divided into two parts and has an almost exotic aspect, a white beach and an intense, clean and always calm turquoise sea, a real Eden. Behind the beach bar with deck chairs and umbrellas. This area is particularly suitable for diving enthusiasts. An ancient nineteenth century lighthouse dominates the hill and still the remains of a temple dedicated to the God Poseidon, a much loved deity since the birth of the village. Needless to say, the sunset here is phenomenal but it comes later than in other places. We also find the Aigeopelagitika beach perfect for families with children, very quiet and ideal for a relaxing day. Here too there is no shortage of accommodation facilities ranging from large hotels, apartments to simple guest houses.

We then arrive at Nea Skioni, a fishing village where modernity has not really taken over, thus giving way to the traditional spirit. A quiet location especially suitable for families with a picturesque marina and a beautiful paved promenade where you can take a stroll after eating among the moored boats. The beach, also awarded the Blue Flag, has a sandy coastline with the sea gradually descending. One part is well organized with games for the little ones and a beautiful park with benches where you can get lost watching the sea and the magnificent sunset. Entering the village, restaurants, taverns with traditional cuisine and fish (it is said that here the best seafood and fresh fish of Kassandra are eaten), grocery stores and souvenir shops. Here 'the nightlife does not exist, everything is very relaxed but if you want a crazy evening just eight kilometers away is the lively Hanioti village where you can give yourself crazy joy. Same thing if you are looking for more characteristic beaches, a few minutes by car are Egeopelagitika beach and Mola Kaliva beach. To visit about two kilometers away, a beautiful Orthodox church of the sixteenth century.

We finish our tour among the villages of the West part of Kassandra with Paliouri. Its curious name derives from a kind of bushes that the inhabitants used to surround their homes. Unlike the other villages, Paliouri is not on the coast but moved a little inland, surrounded by woods and pine trees. The village with its nineteenth century architecture, has narrow alleys to be explored. Here too nothing is missing, there are relaxing spas where you can indulge in a pampering even if you are on vacation, hotels and hotels of all categories, taverns and taverns where you can taste traditional local dishes based on meat and fish always of excellent quality . The area is very famous in the Chalkidiki Peninsula and throughout Greece for the production of honey and olive oil. About two kilometers away, also very easy on foot, is the wonderful Chrouso beach enclosed in a beautiful bay (which means golden coast). Golden sand, clear, crystalline and blue-toned waters with flourishing surrounding vegetation. It is quite equipped and offers water sports and sports activities such as beach volleyball. Here during the summer parties are organized to have fun directly on the sea. However, for lovers of total relaxation, there are delightful, almost hidden coves where you can retreat for a day in complete privacy. According to Herodotus right here stood  city Thermavos city forced by force to help Xerxes the cruel Persian King who set Greece on fire and flames in 480 BC by digging a canal from Mount Athos to the Gulf of Toronaico to allow the passage of ships and forcefully enter Hellenic land.

A very interesting tour both from the historical point of view and from the fantastic landscapes where you can savor the atmosphere of a Greece not yet so well known but that will equally conquer you. Plan your things to do in Kassandra and visit these beautiful villages.