1) Agia Paraskevi Thermal Baths
A serenity adorns the place, harmonized with the waves of the Aegean that musically touch the steep rocks and murmur their endless song in the dark sea cave as they mix with the divine water coming from the bowels of this blessed earth to heal the soul and body.
On the rocks, in a enchanting environment with a view of the Aegean Sea, the ultra-modern hydrotherapy center of Agia Paraskevi was born, and its experienced staff is waiting for you to rejuvenate you.
The Thermal Hot Springs of Agia Paraskevi is a modern hydrotherapy center with a view of the endless blue. The hot springs have unique therapeutic properties where the waters gush from the depths of the earth. Its temperature ranges between 37.5 and 39 degrees Celsius.
2) Athytos or Afytos
Afytos or Athytos is a traditional village which has an amazing view of the Toroneos gulf, as the village is built on a hill above the coast. Most houses are built of stone with an exceptional architecture.
The visitor also has the opportunity to admire the uniquely architectural church of Ag. Dimitrios which was built in 1859 and is located in the central square of the village, mansion houses and also famous sculptures.
In the center of the village you will find the folklore museum which hosts various exhibitions of artists and you will be able to see tools and utensils used in the past by the inhabitants of the area.
3) Sanctuary of Ammon Zeus in Kallithea
One of the most important temples that have been identified in Halkidiki is that of Ammon Zeus in Kallithea.
According to archaeologists, during the 2nd half of the 8th century BC, a sanctuary of Dionysus was founded by Euboean colonists of the city of Aphytis, who was worshiped together with the Nymphs in the cave under the rock, on the southwestern side of the site.
In the northern part of the site, towards the end of the 5th century BC, a sanctuary of the god of Egyptian origin Ammon Zeus was founded, and during the 4th century BC, a peripteral temple of Doric order was built next to the altar, the roof of which was decorated with clay tiles, embossed and colored.
4) Byzantine Tower in Nea Fokea
The coastal village of N. Fokea with its well-preserved Byzantine tower. At the port of the village dominates a Byzantine tower 17 meters high that belonged to a dependency of the monastery of Agios Paul and constituted during the revolution of 1821 the headquarters of the leader of the revolution in Halkidiki, Emmanouil Papas, and is a pole of attraction for holidaymakers.
It is one of the newer villages of Kassandra, because it was founded in 1922 by refugees from Asia Minor. Although it is a new village, it has a long history to display. The area has been inhabited since ancient times. In historical times, two cities flourished: Sani, a colony of the Eretrians, built on the western coast, and Skithai, built on the Toroneos gulf.
Interesting is the feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul on June 29-30. The service is held at the chapel of Agios Pavlos, which is located at the entrance of the village. It is essentially a Macedonian tomb, carved into the rocky formations of the village, which causes awe to visitors, as according to tradition, Apostle Paul took refuge there to escape from his persecutors. Inside, rooms and an underground corridor are formed, which leads to the holy water.
5) The Capital of the Municipality, Kassandreia
Kassandreia, or otherwise Valta, is the administrative center of Kassandra and constitutes at the same time the economic, spiritual and cultural center of the area.
It is a non-coastal village, with a beautiful central square that has a centuries-old plane tree at its center and cobbled alleys to walk and admire the traditional architecture of the buildings that is preserved to this day in the village.
A characteristic sample of traditional architecture is the City Hall building built in 1926 and the churches of the village, the church of the Nativity of the Theotokos and the church of Agios Athanasios which were constructed in 1850.
6) The “Myti” in Possidi
The strange shape, the crystal-green water and the golden sand are proof that Myti beach in Possidi is among the best beaches of Halkidiki. It was blessed by the God Poseidon. Myti is an impressive beach with a unique name. It is a long piece of land entering the sea, while its form changes due to the tides. Due to its shape it is called Myti. It is also known as the Cape of Possidi or Ammoglossa.
There is a golden beach with the famous lighthouse and the green landscape right behind it, standing as the scenery of a work by a great painter. Myti is not the only beach in the area and if we want to be fair, the other two beaches in Possidi are excellent in every aspect – clean waters, beautiful sand, huge size etc.
The most visited beach in the area is Aigeopelagitika beach, which extends on the right side of the lighthouse and near the camping of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
7) Ancient Mende in Kalandra
Ancient Mende, one of the most important colonies of Euboean Eretria, is located in the community of Kalandra. According to excavation findings, its habitation begins in the so-called first Greek colonization (12th – 10th century BC). The city owes its name to the aromatic plant minthe, a type of mint, which still grows in the area.
From Mende originated the ancient classical sculptor Paionios, who sculpted the Nike (Victory) that stood in front of the eastern side of the temple of Zeus in Olympia (an offering of the Messenians and Naupactians for their victory against the Spartans after the battle of Sphacteria in 424 BC) and which is exhibited today in the museum of Olympia.
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8) Panagia Faneromeni (Panagouda) in Skioni
The seaside chapel of Panagia Faneromeni is located in Nea Skioni and dates back to the 16th century.
Built in a unique location right on the seashore, the chapel stands out for its beautiful frescoes and is famous because it hosts the miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary. Many legends are related to this icon, which is painted on an upright marble base of a statue and according to tradition was found floating in the sea.
9) The “Kanistro” in Paliouri
Kanistro beach is located at the south-eastern tip of Kassandra. The route to go down to the beach is very beautiful and passes through a pine forest, while the view from the rocks is magical.
The cape Kanistro is a thin strip of land that divides the sea in two. A nose of land inside the sea in the middle of the bay and on it a white old chapel of Ai Nikolas from 1865 built of ancient stones of “Kanastraios Apollon”, an ancient temple of Ionic order which is witnessed by the materials embedded in the new church such as the large capital.
10) Monastery of Osios Ioannis the Russian in Pefkohori
The Holy Monastery of Osios Ioannis the Russian is located on the ridge of the Kassandra peninsula, in the area of Pefkohori. In the Holy Hesychasterion a part of his body is kept, while a whole incorrupt holy relic of his is kept in his church in Prokopi, Euboea.
11) Mavrobara Lake in Polychrono
At an altitude of 200m, three km above Polychrono, in the heart of the mountain of Kassandra, lies a small lake called Mavrobara which presents great ecological interest. A monument of nature since 1997, it constitutes a wetland of unique beauty, which many tourists visit every year.
Here are found the three rare species of the European water turtle Testudinata (testudo hermanii boetgeri, emys orbicularis & mauremys caspica), which are endangered and find refuge in its calm waters. They are protected by the Bonn Convention N.2719 and the European Union Directive on the conservation of wild flora and fauna.
It constitutes the only lake on the Kassandra Peninsula. The area was named so by the inhabitants of Polychrono. Its creation must be due to landslides of the soil many centuries ago.
In 1995, the hunting association of Kassandra constructed with stone the fountain that always runs cold water, while the Forestry Department of Kassandra placed wooden benches in the cleared space outside the lake. A walk to Mavrobara is worth it, which except for the turtles, has several walking routes, chapels, springs and rare vegetation, and all this just a few kilometers from Polychrono.
Do not hesitate to contact us so you can book a wonderful tour to these magnificent destinations of Kassandra!
Curated by: Dimitris Giakomidis
Texts: Tita Papandreou, Demetra Demεtropoulou
