Afytos - paradise in Halkidiki
I love Greece very much and, if possible, I try to choose it as the place of my vacation and trips. There are a lot of mysteries and beauties in it, not yet solved and not open to me.
This time we rested with a friend and decided to visit the resort village of Afytos on Kassandra (Chalkidiki) in northern Greece. We chose according to the criterion that it was beautiful, cozy, not noisy, but with a variety of opportunities and entertainment, that there was good service, clear sea and interesting sights (I'm interested in art history), in the end we got it all, plus it was heavenly beautiful!
The village is located on a rocky coast with a stunning view of the sea, as if you are watching from the amphitheater. The Greeks themselves call it a “stone balcony”.
And speaking of architecture, it is worth noting that in the village it is one of the characteristic features. Renovated buildings of the 19th century, which were created from local stone. I took an interest in historical information and found out that during the war with the Turks in 1821 the village was destroyed, and the inhabitants were forced to leave it, but after 6 years the village began to be rebuilt, and then original buildings and houses appeared that were not typical for the rest villages and other regions of Greece.
In general, the history and mythology of the village and its surroundings is very rich and extremely interesting. According to the myths, Afytos is the birthplace of the first titans, and the place
their decisive battle with the gods. And from more historical facts it is known that in the Neolithic period settlements began to be created here, and in the era of antiquity, it was a policy with its own coin, which participated in the Athenian competitions.
It is very pleasant to walk along the small streets with bright spots of flowers,
There are many homely organized small hotels. The choice of where to stay is rich: you can rent an apartment or a house. In any case, you will appreciate the high level of service and comfort, and guests are welcome here all year round, not only in the summer season. We stayed at the "Blue Bay Hotel" - a small hotel built from that very special stone, with a beautiful panoramic view of the sea and a swimming pool. We were also recommended and we looked into the “Petrino Suites Hotel” - a boutique hotel created with chic and delicate taste. There are maisonette-style duplex rooms with a fireplace, and around the garden and swimming pool. It's just a heavenly holiday format, so next time I would like to stay there and not rush anywhere at all.
But this time we still wanted to see and experience as many features of Afytos as possible and explore the area around, try more local dishes and swim.
To have a leisurely lunch or dinner, you can choose a tavern or restaurant, depending on your mood and amount. Restaurants can still vary significantly in prices. We had dinner at “Moudounou Fish Restaurant”, right on the beach, great design and service. We tried different appetizers, salads and seafood (octopus, mussels and shrimps), they also have their signature BBQ with baked fish and vegetables. It's also the perfect place for a romantic dinner (plans for the next visit are already looming). For two we paid 80 euros.
To feel the atmosphere of the tavern, we went to "Thea Thalassa" (salassa - Greek for sea) - a charming view of the Gulf of Toronei and Sithonia, and friendly service. We tried local ouzo and appetizers, squid and local fish. Lunch cost us 25 euros per person.
To see the local assortment in stores and to please our loved ones and friends with gifts, we went shopping. “MELIA Greek traditional products” has a huge selection of natural products and cosmetics. I chose for home and friends several types of olive oil and olives, mountain tea, honey and “mastiha” liqueur with an original taste (sweet with a slightly tart flavor of the resin of special types of shrubs from the island of Chios). In the "Penny's shop" among the many souvenirs we found interesting hand-made gizmos made of ceramics. And in the jewelry stores "Faidra" and "Silver" - beautiful products with a design of olive leaves.
After shopping, it's time to go swimming. Emerald and clear water, snow-white and golden sand, you can find many secluded coves and creeks. It is noteworthy that there is almost no bad weather here, so when we were going on vacation, we did not worry that the forecast could ruin our plans.
We rented a car from “Space Rental” to see the surroundings and other attractions of the region, and also to feel more comfortable getting to the beaches, as the slopes are quite steep. Very close to Afytos is the resort village of Kallithea, which is rightfully considered the main center of nightlife in all Halkidiki, and besides this, there is something to see from archaeological sites: the excavations of the temple of Zeus, the sanctuary of Dionysus and Roman baths. We spent a wonderful day in Kallithea, and in the evening we visited the famous Ahoy club, danced and listened to DJ novelties.
In our already native Afytos, a rich cultural program was still waiting for us - the Church of St. Demetrius with the works of the Greek artist Paraly and the sculptor Pavlis and the ethnographic museum. We left the last one for the next time, so I definitely plan to return : )
