Events, Arts & Culture

Feasts and Festivals Various feasts and festivals take place in Halkidiki during the summer months. These colorful, musical and culinary Greek nights are not to be missed. During these celebrations and festivities, you can indulge in the Greek specialties and enjoy the musical and artistic performances until the early hours of the morning. Agios Mamas Festival One of the most famous Feastivals in Halkidiki is the Festival of Agios Mamas It takes place every first week of September and is organized by the locals together. Thousands of people (around 1,000 exhibitors and up to 200,000 visitors annually) come to the village to participate in the event. The festival of Agios Mamas has a strong economic and cultural interest. Sani Festival The Sani Festival takes place annually during the summer months on the hill around the Tower of Sani and is one of the most popular arts festivals in Greece. The festival aims to become the bridge between tourism and the Greek culture. More information about the Sani Festival can be found on the website. www.sanifestival.gr. Festival of Sea In Nea Moudania, an important cultural event takes annually in its own amphitheater overlooking the sea. In the summer nights, locals and visitors are able to attend high quality theater performances and enjoy traditional music along with spectaculare sea views. This festival is the highlight of Moudania. Festival of sardines During the second week of July is held the Festival of Sardines, it is organized by the Municipality of Moudania and the Faros’ Cultural club . The festival lasts for a whole week and on the last day of the festival visitors can try for free traditional grilled sardines and white wine. Kassandra Festival The Kassandra Festival is one of the most remarkable and well-known festivals across the country and is held annually in the Theater of Siviri. A colorful mix of art and culture, from music, dance, cinema to theatrical perfomances is presented with participants from Greece and abroad. Olive Festival The olive festival is organised in Olinthos by the Local Council and the Cultural Association in the last three days of July in order to present the Olives, the most important product of the region of Chalkidiki. The visitors are introduced to the history of the ancient city of Olynthos. At the last day a music concert takes place where everyone can enjoy Tsipouro (Greek traditional alcohol drink) and olives for free. Afitos / Athitou Festival Somewhere between July and August this festival takes place in Afitos. Visitors can enjoy many events of street art, traditional music Greek bands and dance groups, but also classical and modern music concerts. Byzantine Tower Festival This festival is organized every year by the residents of Nea Fokea and takes place between July and August around the Byzantine Tower. Visitors are able to enjoy art exhibitions, concerts, theater performances, but also many Greek dance groups during the festival. Varvara Festival The Varvara Festival takes place in the Varvara region in northern Halkidiki. Well-known Greek artists support this local cultural movement, big names of the Greek music scene, such as Socrates Malamas, Thanasis Papakonstantinou Mikroutsikos Thanos or Christos Theban, to name just a few. Agia Marina Festival Every 17th of July, the residents of Fourka celebrate the feast of St. Marina. It takes place In the village square where locals and visitors celebrate with traditional Greek music and dances. Museums / Exhibitions Folklore Museum, Afytos Highlight from the lives of people in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The opening times are irregular and depend on the season. Free entry. Folklore exhibition, Arnea Exhibition about people's lives over the past two centuries. The opening times are irregular and depend on the season. Free entry. Information in the Hotel Mitsiou. Archaeological Museum, Polygyros The only archaeological museum in the region. There you can see in display archaological findings from ancient cities of the Chalkidiki region. Open every day except Monday between 8.30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Archaeological Museum, Thessaloniki The museum has in display objects from different eras of the region. It is open daily between 8.30 a.m. and 3 p.m. (Mondays from 10.30 a.m.). It is located in Saloniki, Platia Chanth, very close to the TV tower. Byzantine Museum, Thessaloniki An impressive exhibition of artifacts from early Christian times. The museum is open daily between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. (in winter every day except Tuesdays 8.30 a.m. to 3 p.m.). It is next to the archaeological museum near the TV tower. Archaeological sites: Temple of Ammon Zeus, Kallithea The exposed foundations of a temple from the 4th century BC Can be admired ringht on the beach of Kallithea. You can find the excavations if you walk past the beach hotel "Ammon Zeus" along the beach. Early Christian cemetery, Sani An early Christian cemetery is gradually being uncovered, which also included a settlement. The finds are believed to date from the 4th to 6th centuries AD. Tower of Sani The landmark of the region is the Sani Tower (also called "Tower of St. George" and "Stavronikata Tower"). The tower was built in 1543 in oder to protect the Stavronikata monastery. Gerani In Gerani you can visit the ruins of the ancient colonial settlement from Eretria. The settlement had specialized in the extraction of sea salt. an excursion to Gerani combines the beauty of the seascape with archaeological discovery. Kypsa Megali Near Kassandria you can admire the impressive ruins of an ancient Roman estate. You can still see the foundation walls and columns of an acient estate and remains of floor mosaic and local pottery. City wall, Potidea At the western end of the Kassandra Canal remains of the old city wall of Potidea have been preserved and are visible. The city wall, which dates back to the 6th century AD, was almost 1200 meters long and protected the island from uninvited guests. Early Christian basilicas in Agios Georgios The foundation walls of two early Christian basilicas from the 5th century AD and some columns are visible in Agios Georgios Church. Drive towards Marmaras take a right turn at the Nikitas intersection and follow the signs to "Camping Nikiti". In about 1.5 km you will reach the chapel, which today stands above the historic basilica. Olynthos - archaeological excavation site Ancient Olynthus built mostly on two flat-topped hills, North Hill and South Hill, and is one of the great sights in Chalkidiki's region. It is located at Nea Olythos and is about 8 km from Nea Moudania. Stageira - ancient excavations site, birthplace of Aristotle Stageira is an ancient greek city on the east coast of Chalkidiki on the Liotopi peninsula and dates back to 655 BC. Was founded by Ionian colonists. This city is considered the birthplace of the philosopher Aristotle. Destroyed by the Macedonian king Philip II. The remains can be seen on the south beach near Olympiada Castle of Rentina Castle - well-preserved medieval fortress Rentina Castle, built by the Romans from the 4th century AD, at a strategically important location. On the top of a hill in a very beautifull landscape. Today you can still marvel at the remains of a settlement and the walls of the great fortress and enjoy the beautiful view over the valleys. It is located on a very busy street near Rentina. Akanthos – picturesque town with ancient roots on a ridge The ancient city of Akanthos is located near the town of Lerissos on the east coast of Chalkidiki. It was one of the most important cities in all of Macedonia. Today only the remains of the ancient city can be seen. Churches and monasteries Chapel on Panaghia PhaneromeniThis beautiful chapel (16th century AD) with light white walls is located on the beach on the way to Nea Skioni. Legend has it that the beachfront church was built by the villagers because they found a large marble with the inscription of the Virgin Mary on the surface of the sea. Although the church was originally supposed to be built on a hill, the church was destroyed and the marble icon was in Churches on Sithonia / Nikiti In the village of Nikiti in Sithonia at 2nd finger of Chalkidikis, you will find many very beautiful churches, some ruins, but also very well-kept and restored places of worship. A special attraction in Sithonia is the Sofronios Basilica, an archaeological site from 1600 AD. St. Paul's Cave Church One of the many legends surrounding the cave church says that it was used by Apostle Saint Paul as a hiding place during his missionary trip. It is also said to have been used for baptisms. You can find the entrance to this cave church across from the small port of Nea Fokea. The cave-church at the enty is marked with an archway right next to a beautifull old olive tree Panagia Korifini Church (Nea Moudania) Worth mentioning the impressive Ecclesia Panagia Korifini church in downtown Nea Moudania. Worth a visit when touring the city. Metérora - Monasteries - UNESCO World Heritage Center, near Kalambaka (300 km, highlight) The breathtaking view, the beautiful medieval monasteries on the mountain range and the landscape invite you to stay a few days in Kalambaka to take a closer look at everything and enjoy it. Some specific monasteries on the individual rocks can be visited by tourists. Most of the monasteries are still inhabited by nuns and monks. Many tour operators offer day trips from Chalkididi to this location. Mount Athos There are 20 large monasteries on the peninsula of Athos that have been declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO. More than 2000 monks live there. However, these monasteries can only be visited from the water, as the Mount Athos region is closed to most tourists and locals and It is governed as an Autonomous Monastic Republic. You can admire these monasteries, which are often built on rocks, and the holy Mount Athos with a full-day boat trip. The boat trip can be booked from one of the surrounding small ports such as Neo Mamaras.