Patras is the third most important harbor in Greece, lying on the northeastern coast of the Peloponnese. It has some 115,000 inhabitants and is a busy industrial and commercial center as well as a port, with ferryboats connecting with Italy. A pleasant walk can be made as far as the Upper Town or Psila Alonia,…
To the south of Corfu, near the shores of Epirus, are two small islands called Paxi and Antipaxi only 19 square kilometers in area. They have recently been developed into fascinating tourist resorts with comfortable bungalows and fine sandy beaches below the olive groves. Covered with dense subtropical vegetation, they offer a delightful retreat away…
Edessa, the capital town of the district of Pella, is situated on the foothills of Mount Vermio ( Mountain range in Greece ). It is known for its beautiful waterfalls and lies in a sea of green orchards. According to one legend, the first capital of the ancient Macedonian kings lay in the district of…
KOS The island is best known as the birthplace of Hippocrates, the father of medicine. Like Rhodes, it has a superb climate and beautiful scenery. Antiquity has also left traces of a prosperous past. Notable remains of the Classical and the successive periods lie scattered all over Kos. The monuments and places one should not…
Many of the old customs of Chalkidiki are fortunately still observed to this day. Of these, a good number have been brought by the uprooted Greeks from the Propontis, from Smyrna, and other places in Asia Minor. At Galatista, on January 6th and 7th, the custom of the “camel and the bride” is reenacted. It…
Lamia is situated along the National Road to Thessaloniki ( 214 km from Athens ). It can also be reached from Levadia. It is an important road and rail junction and the starting point for excursions into the mountainous inland regions. Lamia itself is a pleasant town flanked by two pine-clad hills. On the summit…
Thousands of years of Greek history cover the towns and the places of the area around the two roads from Athens to Lamia. Thebes, the once-powerful city-state that fell along with Athens in the battle of Chaeronea in the 4th century B.C., has little to show of its past glory and wealth. The remains of…
Livadeia is a modern commercial town and stop-over for visitors on their way to Delphi. Everywhere in the center of the town are restaurants, cafes, and snack bars serving “souvlaki”, the town’s specialty. Just off the center, at the foot of a hill and next to a cool stream is a tourist pavilion and open-air…
Cephalonia Cephalonia is mountainous, sprawling, and pine-covered. It is the largest of the Ionian Islands. Among its many attractions are the Mycenaean tombs, ancient mosaics, and medieval castles. Tourist centers are located among pine-tree groves and next to sandy beaches, bays, and headlands. Argostoli, the principal town, lies on an inlet deep in Livadi Bay…
Kythira Kythira can be reached from Pireaus, Gythion, or Monemvasia. It is one of the seven Ionian islands, the Eptanissa, but geographically it belongs to the Peloponnese since it lies south of the Laconic Gulf. This mythical island of Aphrodite was a Minoan and then a Phoenician colony before belonging to the Lacedaemonians, in the…
The ruins of this once splendid city lie high up on a hill above the modern town, overlooking both the Corinth and the Saronicos Gulfs. In fact, ancient Corinth owed its power and wealth to this advantageous position between two large harbors, Lechaion in the Gulf of Corinth and Kechreae on the Saronic Gulf. Corinth…
On this second journey, we shall follow the road linking Thessaloniki to the peninsula of Sithonia. After Nea Moudania, a detour in the main road brings us to Aghios Mamas, which is known for its village fête, celebrated in early September, while two kilometers further along another fork in the road leads to Nea Olynthos….
Phaistos Another Minoan palace has been found in the ruins of Phaistos ( 64 km from Heraklion ). It has an imposing entrance with a remarkable enormous flight of steps. Phaestos was a rival city of Gortyna ( 47 km from Heraklion ) where were found many interesting inscriptions and among them the famous “God…
LASSITHI Lassithi Plateau, with its 10,000 windmills leisurely churning the air, lies off the main road to Malia. The road zigzags up the mountain until suddenly the whole plain spreads out below, fertile and cultivated. AGHIOS NIKOLAOS From Malia, a smooth and easy drive will take you to Crete’s tourist showplace – the lovely Gulf…
Southeast of Thessalonike lies the peninsula of Chalkidiki. Its three long “fingers” – Cassandra, Sithonia, and Athos – stretch out across the Aegean.The peninsula has been richly endowed by Nature: along the delicate tracery of the coastline a string of enchanting coves and bays alternate with rocky headlands and beaches of golden sand, while groves…
During this part of our travels, we shall get to know the rolling wooded hills and picturesque villages of inland Chalkidiki. We shall follow the road which links Thessaloniki to the shores of Chalkidiki that are washed by the waters of the Gulf of Ierissos. Before coming to Vassilika, we shall take a detour that…
On our journey along the highways and byways of Chalkidiki, we shall first explore the shores of the Strymonic Bay. As we drive southwards, we shall find ourselves in ancient Stageiros, the birthplace of Aristotle, and we shall end up in Ierissos where flourished in antiquity the city of Acanthos. Here too we shall be…
The visitor can take a boat from Ouranoupolis to Daphne ( journey time 1.30-2 hrs. ). Information on boat schedules from tel.23770/71149, fax.79016, and the Ouranoupolis Harbor Police, tel.23770/71248. Occasional kayaks run from Ierissos to the monasteries of the north-eastern coast. For information, contact Ierissos Harbor Police, tel. 23770/22576. FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE HOLY MOUNTAIN…
There is a spa at Loutra Aghias Paraskevis in Cassandra, 85 km., south of Polygyros. Water temp.: 39° C. The installations consist of a hydrotherapy center with two common baths for the treatment of skin diseases, gynecological diseases, rheumatic ailments, arthropathy. Information from tel/fax no. 23740/61439.Information from the marina: 2310/444598, 444594-5, and the Port Authority:…
Before we begin our travels around the varied and beautiful region of Chalkidiki, we should become acquainted, if only briefly, with the city of Thessaloniki itself, the second city in size and importance in Greece and, so to speak, the gateway to Chalkidiki. Thessaloniki is the capital of northern Greece and its largest urban, cultural,…
This part of mainland Greece is one of the largest in the country, extending from the Aegean Sea in the east to the Ionian Sea in the west. In the south, it embraces the Saronic and the Corinth Gulfs and reaches northwards as far as Thessaly ( For Attica see pages 18-37 ). Central Greece…
Climate and Temperature Crete is the largest of the Greek islands. It is blessed with a turquoise blue sea and a wonderful climate. The geographical location of Crete and the climate have created an amazing diversity of flowers, plants, wildlife, and trees. The climate of Crete is a mild Mediterranean climate with temperatures around 12 C…
Archaeological Museum, XANO ( YMCA of Thessalonike ) Square, is on 6 Manoli Andronikou Street.Among its exhibits are architectural fragments from the Archaic temple of Therme, finds from the excavation at Sindos, the amazing and unique treasures from the royal tombs of Vergina, and finds from the tombs at Derveni and the areas around Thessaloniki,…
HOW TO GET TO THESSALONIKI By air Several flights operate daily throughout the year between Thessaloniki ( “Macedonia Airport”, 16 km. from the city ) and Athens ( West/Olympic Airways Airport ). Thessaloniki is also linked by air to Rhodes, Corfu, Ioannina, Herakleion, Chania, Lemnos, Myti-lene, Samos, Chios and Kavala, and in summer to Mykonos…
Macedonia, the largest and northernmost of the 9 Greek Provinces, is bounded on the north by Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, and Albania. It possesses great fertile plains, many large rivers like the Nestos, the Aliakmon, the Strymon, and the Axios, and several lakes. While the climate along the coast in the Mediterranean, further inland it is continental….
The grandeur of Delphi has to be seen to be believed. Nature and ancient ruins blend in an extraordinary way enhancing the beauty of one another against a set of mountains, terraces, and trees. Situated at a height of 700 meters and a distance of 164 km from Athens, Delphi is impressive in all seasons….
Salamina ( ancient Salamis ) lies nearest to the coast of Attica and can be reached by the motor launch in about 20 minutes from Piraeus. The narrow strait which separates the island from the mainland marks the site of the celebrated Battle of Salamis ( 480 B.C. ) when the combined Greek fleets defeated…
This large peninsula technically forms an island in southern Greece and resembles a huge mulberry leaf. For this reason, it was called in the Middle Ages Moreas ( from the Greek word for mulberry ). Its ancient name was Peloponnese or Peloponnissos ( the island of Pelops, the mythical King of Phrygia, who later ruled…
The apparent simplicity and design of the Parthenon, a building famous the world over for architectural beauty and harmony, is the temple of the virgin ( in Greek “parthena” ) Athena. It Is built of Pendelic marble in the Doric Style on the same site as two previous temples. It took 15 years to build…
ATTICA Attica is the Greek area upon which ancient Athens nurtured philosophy and democracy. In this little corner of the earth, the vitality of the Greeks found expression in all creative fields, and their thoughts helped to transform the whole outlook of Western man by the immortal and splendid Attic Civilization. First inhabited in the…
Traditional Greek Popular art, examples of which a visitor may come across in each of his steps, has to offer a unique sense of form and color. From his dress to the decoration of his home and items of daily use, the Greek can be distinguished for his good taste. The artisan expresses himself with…
AN OUTLINE OF ANCIENT GREEK SCULPTURE AND PAINTING Greek art developed over a period of 600 years and produced a national genius, a pure, classical school which was to inspire sculptors, painters, and architects up to the present day, and perhaps for all time. As early as the 7th century B.C., men and animals and…
Thessaly has the largest plain in Greece, a densely cultivated area ringed round by the Pindus, Othrys, Pelion, Ossa, Olympus, and Agrapha mountain ranges. The River Penios meanders across the plain, and to the north, it falls through the celebrated Tempi gorge, a narrow pass above which tower the steep slopes of Mt Olympus and…
Volos is a pleasant provincial town at the head of the Gulf of Pagassae ( Pagassitikos ). It has two main Interests. On the one hand, it is a thriving industrial center and a commercial port, especially concerned with fruit, and on the other, it is a popular holiday resort with safe bathing and excellent…
Arta Arta is situated on the River Arachthos and its plain is fertile and intensively cultivated. As early as the 13th century it was the capital of the Despotate of Epirus, a Byzantine principality. Overlooking the town is a medieval fortress. Of interest in Arta is the 18th-century bridge which spans the river and the…
IOANNINA Ioannina ( or Yiannena ) is situated 459 km from Athens ( via Rion-Antirrion ) and some 100 km from Igoumenitsa on the shore of the legendary Lake Parrivotis. It is an important commercial and cultural center. Ioannina was founded by Emperor Justinian in the 6th century A.D. It rose slowly in statue and…