Chalkida is the capital ofthe chameleonic Evia island also called Eubea and in the past bythe Venetians Negroponte. We find it just eighty kilometers fromAthens, so much so that it is the Athenian’s favorite destination fora weekend away from the metropolis.

A cultures crossroads and ideas and a rich booty for foreign conquerors in thepast, today it presents itself as a modern cosmopolitan city as wellas the administrative and commercial Evia center. It is separatedfrom the mainland by the Evripos channel, where you can admire theunique tidal phenomenon that repeats itself every six hours when thecurrents swell and magically change direction after the water stopsmoving for eight minutes and remains motionless. Even today there isno specific explanation for this strange event, it is assumed that itis due in part to the gravitational attraction of the moon and inpart to the difference in height between the sea in the northern partand the southern part of the gulf but in fact nothing has yet beenconfirmed. This curious fact is best seen from the old bridge (builtin 1962) which has now become famous among the tourists who gather toadmire this natural miracle.

The Evia island isconnected to Mainland Greece with a beautiful bridge built in 1993. atrue technological marvel with a length of 695 meters of which athird is suspended at a height of 36 meters, an amazing sight. Eventhe old bridge is still in use if you like, but the new one makestraffic much smoother and easier.

Needless to say, itsorigins are very ancient, the first trace of Chalkida is found in theIliad and is also mentioned in the period of the Trojan War when theships gathered in Aulis on the opposite side of the city beforeleaving for the long conflict. It was well known for its miningproducts, metalworking skills, purple and ceramics which wereexported throughout the Mediterranean. In perennial struggle with the Eretria city south of Chalkida against which it had the upper handthus becoming the capital, its prosperous period ended with thedisastrous war with the Athenians who took possession of the islandand expelled the entire dominant aristocracy putting the clergy asruler. During the Hellenistic period, it became the fortress wherethe Macedonian kings managed to control Central Greece. Under Romanrule, it prospered again thanks to trade with the northern half ofGreece. In the Byzantine era it took the name of Euripos and thenchanged to Negroponte with the Venetians arrival in 1209, theyear in which it was conquered. As with all of Greece the Ottomansbecame  Euboea masters in 1470 the rest is history. At thebeginning of the 20th century Chalkida was divided in two, theancient city on the bridge where some Turkish families and a largeJewish community until the Second World War, and the most modernsuburb outside the walls occupied by the Greeks.

A lively and moderntown where you can find all the comforts with many things to see suchas the 17th century Venetian Karababa castle on the Kanithos hill on the Boeotian coast called Phourka where you can enjoy a wonderfulview of the strait. With a typically Venetian shape, it has a wallwith an elongated plan with a bastion to the north of reinforcementand a large tower. On the battlements are two 19th century Russiancannons. The peculiarity of the Karababa castle is the access tothe tower from a labyrinthine corridor.

Worth seeing is theArchaeological Museum built between 1901 and 1902 which collectscollections of finds from the first Helladic settlement and from theManika cemetery from the 3rd century BC, bronze figurines andceramics, Mycenaean statuettes, Hellenistic coins from Chalkis,Eretria and Karystos and sculptures of the Roman era. The highlightis the Antinous statue where the young man is crowned with ivyleaves and dressed in a leopard skin with a stick in his left handwith the sacred ivy Dionysus symbol.

The Red House, abeautiful historic building built in 1884 by the French architectFleigs owned by the Mallu family, and still the House with theStatues built by the Eubean studies company in 1891, theBaroque style Town Hall and the Kriezoti villa a national hero whoserved as a leader during the Independence Greek War.

Of the eleven mosquesthat once stood in Chalkida only one has survived the events, the Emir Zade mosque (Turkish for son of Emir) on Kotsou Street builtby the Turks in the 15th century. Rectangular in shape, it is coveredby a hemispherical dome on the outside while it is octagonal inside.On the west side a gallery of columns and the revak (portico). To thesouthwest is the minaret which is no longer there today. Internallyit preserves a Byzantine collection of sculptures and ceramics. Inthe Kastro district instead we find the Agia Paraskeki medieval church the patron saint of Chalkida celebrated on July 26 andAugust 2 with great celebrations. It dates back to the 14th centuryand was built by the Venetians in the Byzantine temple style.

And finally, for relaxation,its promenade where you can meet fishermen, street artists, vendorsand many cafés where you can have a good coffee and enjoy awell deserved rest. As for the gastronomic offer, do not worry youwill only be spoiled for choice among typical taverns offeringexcellent seafood and freshly caught fish as well as local delicaciesand classic Greek cuisine. After dinner let yourself be swept up inthe city lights and linger late at a waterside music bar.

Ah if you want you canalso spend a day in one of the beautiful beaches of the capital, suchas Souvala beach or Asteria beach or Crystal beach, but honestly theyare not among the most beautiful, better to get lost in the city insearch of hidden corners.