Halki is one of the smallest Dodecanese islands located not far from Rhodos. The area of the island is about 29 km² while its coastline is 34 km. Its nearest neighbour is Rhodes. An everyday ferry boat will take you to Rhodes within an hour.

 

One can get to Halki from the mainland port Piraeus. There is also another way, through Rhodes that can be reached air or by sea as well.

 

The main inhabited settlement and port of the island is called Emborio (Nimborio). It is located in the Southeastern part of Chalki. Small red-titled houses scattered around a picturesque harbourside take the shape of an ancient amphitheater. The paved seafront is home to a good range of tavernas, grill houses, bars and cafes, with a variety of settings and delicacies to appeal to everybody.

 

The well-known beach of Pontamos is located not far from the port. It takes only 15 minutes to reach Ftenagia which is another small rocky beach behind the Chapel of Agia Aekaterini. The beaches Trachia and Areta can be reached only by a taxi boat.

Once a capital of the island today Chorio is a desolate place nestled by the foot of the mountain. People left it for Emporio in the middle of the last century. The landscape of the place is dominated by the Church of Panagia which has wonderful wall-paintings. The church was built within the period of 1400-1600.

 

At a short distance from Chorio there is the Crusader castle Kastro which was built on the remnants of the ancient Acropolis. This castle was founded by the Knights of St. John in the XIV-XV cunturies. Up to date only some fragments of the castle wall ruins of the Church of St. Nicholas have survived.

 

One can also visit the Church of the Archangel Michael – Panormitis, the Monastery of Ai-Yannis Alargas located on the western side of Chalki, ruins of the ancient temple of Apollo in Pefkia. 

Most probably Halki has got its name from the ancient copper (Gr. χάλκος) mines.

 

The findings prove that the island was inhabited from the prehistoric times. According to mythology its first inhabitants were the Titans. Historically Halki follows the same course as Rhodes. In the VII century the island was occupied by the Arabs, until the 825 when it was liberated. In 1204 Venetians landed on its shores. Turks invaded Halki in 1522. From 1912 till 1945 the island was conquered by Italians. Only in 1948 Halki was finally annexed to Greece along with other islands of the Dodecanese.