HOTEL CATALOGUE 2014 - page 744

744
See the detailed hotel description on the web-site
HALK I D I K I – MAJEST I C PEN I NSULA
GEOGRAPHY
Halkidiki peninsula occupies the Northeastern part of Greece and
resembles a trident with three prongs jutting out into the Aegean Sea:
Kassandra, Sithonia and Mount Athos (Holy Mountain).
The rugged with many small coves and bays landscape of this pictur-
esque peninsula is of about 500 km with the highest point of the Mount
Athos.
The best known and perhaps most popular prong of Halkidiki trident is
Kassandra with its scenic sandy beaches, pine-tree groves and magnifi-
cent bays. Kassandra peninsula is washed by the Toroneos bay in the
East and by the Thermaikos bay in the West.
The middle prong of Sithonia is hemmed by numerous coves and bays.
Wild green forests, traditional fishing villages and the azure sea turn it
into one of the most noted and charming places of the region.
And finally, the most mysterious and thus maybe most attractive of
the three prongs the Athos peninsula. Civilization as we understand it
little influences this self-governed monastic republic. The picture of the
mount that seems to rise high from the sea (2 033m) and all covered by
wild forests literary fascinates human imagination.
MYTHOLOGY AND HISTORY
Legends say that long time ago Halkidiki was the birthplace of the
giants and at the same time the place of the ferocious battle between
them and the gods of Olympus. Earlier this region was known as Flegra,
“the place of fire”. According to the myth, in Kassandra under the rocks
the giant Egelados is buried alive. And his attempts to struggle out from
the weight of these rocks cause earthquakes. Another story tells that
the fight between the titans Sithon and Athos for the heart of beauti-
ful Pallini (Pallene) caused Poseidon’s fury. So he threw his trident that
turned into three peninsula-“prongs”.
It is a widely acknowledged fact that Halkidiki
(Chalkidiki) is one of the most beautiful corners
of the world with cleanest beaches that each
season attracts loads of tourists and back-
packers. Pine-trees spot the scene around the
beaches and give to the place the unique atmos-
phere of perfection. One may say that, to some
extent, Halkidiki resembles Poseidon’s trident
in the middle of the shimmering waters of the
Aegean Sea. Here the hustle and bustle of a
big cosmopolitan city harmoniously mixes with
peace and tranquility of the evergreen paradise.
H A L K I D I K I - D E S C R I P T I O N
1...,734,735,736,737,738,739,740,741,742,743 745,746,747,748,749,750,751,752,753,754,...817
Powered by FlippingBook