Kassandra, Villa Despina's guide

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Anastasios Panopoulos

Kassandra, Villa Despina's guide

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Where to stay?

A relaxing beach front location in Kassandra, Halkidiki

Image - Villa Despina | Halkidiki, Greece
Place
Villa Despina | Halkidiki, Greece
Anastasios:Villa Despina is a complex of contemporary holiday apartments located in the outskirts of Polichrono village, just a few steps from the beach on the Kassandra peninsula of Halkidiki. There are three different types of accommodation to suit your needs, all with sea view. Surrounded by a 3,000 sqm of olive grove, the villa looks out on a lovely garden that slopes gently down to the beach. The garden is relaxing and cool with a private beach bar, where our guests can relax and enjoy our services in an exclusive environment. In Villa Despina exclusivity means that only our guests have access to our premises and services. In that way, we are creating the absolute environment for your holiday relaxation. URL www.villadespina.gr
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Image - Villa Despina Green Suites
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Villa Despina Green Suites
Anastasios:Villa Despina Green Suites is an environmentally friendly complex of four elegant one-bedroom apartments. It is the second smallest holiday accommodation in Europe certified with the European environmentally friendly sign EcoLabel. It is in the village of Polychrono, in the cosmopolitan Kassandra peninsula of Halkidiki. Although it is not in front of the beach, its guests can enjoy exclusive access to the private beach bar of the sister property, “Villa Despina”.
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What to see?

What is worth visiting in and near Kassandra

Image - Temple of Ammon Zeus
Place
Temple of Ammon Zeus
Anastasios:The temple of Ammon Zeus in Kallithea is an ancient temple complex located next to the beach of Kallithea. It is the best preserved archaeological site in Kassandra Halkidiki, and is worth a visit if you are interested in ancient Greek monuments. Its location right next to the beach means that you can combine your visit with a quick swim in the shallow water of the area.
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Image - Sant Paul's Byzantine Tower
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Sant Paul's Byzantine Tower
Anastasios:Sent Paul’s Byzantine Tower is located in the outskirts of Nea Fokea village on the hill overlooking the fish port. it is one of the two remaining towers in Kassandra, Halkidiki. From there you have a very nice view of the village and the port and Toroneos bay. Next to the tower is a church and an information center for Halkidiki.
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Image - Turtle Lake -Mavrobara
Place
Turtle Lake -Mavrobara
Anastasios:Mavrobara is a small lake located in the hills above Polichrono. The lake shelters two rare species of water turtles in danger of extinction (Emys orbicularis and Mauremys caspica), which find refuge here. It’s an easy 3km hike from the village of Polichrono, or you can rent mountain bikes and take a separate cycling path. Along both tracks, you pass through pine forestry and olive groves and a beautiful stone build small church
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Image - Firewatch Tower
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Firewatch Tower
Anastasios:The Firewatch tower of Kassandra in located at the highest point of the peninsula. From there you have a 360 degree view of the peninsula, and if the weather is clear you can see mount Olympous, Sithonia, Mount Athos, Skiathos and Pilio. By the way, Skiathos is a double word, Skia + Athos, meaning is Greek Shade + Athos the mountain. It too the name Skiathos because at some point through the year the shade of Mount Athos reaches the island.
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Image - Possidi Lighthouse
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Possidi Lighthouse
Anastasios:The lighthouse of Possidi is in one of the most beautiful beaches of Kassandra, Halkidki. This colonial-styled lighthouse built by the French Company of Lighthouses in 1864 is still in use today and has a small flowery garden beside it, adding to its beauty. Once a year, visitors have a unique opportunity to have a tour inside the historic monument as it opens its doors to the public celebrating the International Lighthouse Day.
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Image - Petralona Cave
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Petralona Cave
Anastasios:The cave is in the outskirts of the Petralona village just few kilometers before entering the Kassandra peninsula. Nicknamed “the red-rock cave” because of the color that the bauxite deposits give to the stone, the cave stretches across an area of 10,400m² and consists of a series of stoas, chambers, high ceilings and pools, full of stalactites, stalagmites, curtains and shields, columns and other formations. Its discovery in 1959 opened a window into prehistoric times. Today, it is the most important of Greece’s 12,000 caves, thanks to its wealth of fossils (one of the richest collections in Europe) and to the discovery, around half a century ago, of the oldest human remains ever found in Greece.
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Image - Archaeological Site Olynthos
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Archaeological Site Olynthos
Anastasios:It is said to have taken its name from its founder, Olynthos, brother of the Thracian king Rissos. Others claim the name comes from the hero Olynthos, son of the river god Strymon. Since it is one of the most important archaeological sites in Halkidiki, the excavations began as early as in 1928 and revealed a settlement with over 100 houses with water and sewage systems. Between the sixth and third centuries BC the city was an important economic and military center. In 348 BC the Macedonian Army, under the command of Philip II, conquered it and destroyed it. The town was never again inhabited and its destruction is remembered as one of the darkest moments of the entire ancient world. Today you can see the house foundations, some mosaics and visit an exhibition center.
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Where to swim?

These are just some of the paces you can swim in Kassandra. By no means they are the only ones.

Image - Possidi Cape
Place
Possidi Cape
Anastasios:Possidi Cape is one of the most photographed places in Kassandra. The beach is huge, so you will always find your spot there. It is better if you have your own umbrella with you. Be careful of the sandy roads, it is better not to try to cross them with your car. In a close distance you will find the lighthouse of Possidi. That beach is also one of the best spots in the peninsula to watch the sunset, with the sun diving behind mount Olympus.
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Image - Glarokavos Beach
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Glarokavos Beach
Anastasios:Glarokavos is a lagoon that is being used as a fish port. That means you can not swim in there any more. Unfortunately, the place is full of beach bars and garbage. But, it is also one of the best places for snorkeling. That is thanks to a rock formation in the south part of the lagoon facing the open sea. The rock creates a 2m deep wall in the sea which makes it ideal for snorkeling.
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Image - Paliouri Beach
Place
Paliouri Beach
Anastasios:Maybe to most beautiful and child friendly beach of the peninsula. For the above reasons also the most grounded. There are some beach bars on the beach, some of them with loud music. Best time to visit, June and September or early in the morning.
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Image - Kriopighi
Place
Kriopighi
Anastasios:The beach of Kriopighi is an organized beach with shallow waters perfect for families. It has sunbeds and umbrellas and a beach bar. Because there is a hill full of pine trees right behind the beach, after 14:00-15:00 the beach is full of shade. If you want to avoid the sun that is the place for you.
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Image - Agios Mamas, Chalkidiki
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Agios Mamas, Chalkidiki
Anastasios:Agios Mamas beach is located at the start of the Kassandra peninsula, right before the bridge of Nea Potidea. It’s a very long beach with beach bars on the side close to Nea Potidea. But if you want to be by yourself you can try the far deserted side, you will need your own umbrella in this case. Behind the beach on that side is the Agios Mamas lake which is protected by the EU NATURA project. In most of its length the waters are shallow. In a part of the beach you can see a rock formation very close to the beach, that is actually part of the harbor of the ancient city of Potidea.
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Image - Vothonas Beach
Place
Vothonas Beach
Anastasios:Vothonas beach is located between the villages of Athitos kai Nea Fokea, right under the Aistotelis beach Hotel. Usually there are not a lot of people on the beach, apart from the times during the day that the children from the nearby children camps are coming for their daily swim. But that is only for one hour per day. It is a very nice spot for snorkeling since there are quite a lot of rocks on both sides of the beach. There is one small beach bar belonging to the hotel at the far side of the beach. It is advised to leave behind your car on the main road and not to try to get it on the beach before you check the condition of the small road leading to the beach.
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Image - Assia's Bay
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Assia's Bay
Anastasios:This is a remote beach located next to Thermal Spa Agia Paraskevi. It consists of 3 small bays and it is ideal for snorkeling. If you want to avoid the crowds, this area is for you. Don’t forget to get an umbrella and at least some water with you.
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Image - Saints Anargyroi Chapel (1850)
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Saints Anargyroi Chapel (1850)
Anastasios:The beach with the small old church next to it is located between Sibiri and Fourka beach. You can access it from the main road through a downhill drift road. The story says the church was built by sailors from the surrounding area. The beach has shallow waters and is ideal for snorkeling. Usually, you will not find many people there.
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Where to eat?

There are a lot of restaurants in the area. But I can only recommend the restaurants that I like and use when I go out for dinner. Following is my personal selection of restaurants.

Image - Nefeli Restaurant
Place
Nefeli Restaurant
Anastasios:Restaurant on the beach front of Polichrono. I know they serve fresh local fish, because my cousin the fisherman sells his fish there every day.
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Image - Flegra
Place
Flegra
Anastasios:One of the most popular restaurant in the beach front of Polichrono. Giannis and Nikos (owners) will make sure you have an amazing meal. Tip: Look for the parrots
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Image - Moustakas Restaurant
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Moustakas Restaurant
Anastasios:If you want a quiet environment for dining with a chance to try local Greek food, look no further. It is no coincidence that most of the clients are Greek :)
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Image - Massalia Restaurant
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Massalia Restaurant
Anastasios:Relatively small restaurant serving Greek cuisine with a modern twist. Everything i had ever tried there was delicious.
Image - Villa Stasa
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Villa Stasa
Anastasios:Located in Loutra, on a rock above sea level, it offers very good food in combination with an amazing view. A big variety of fresh fish. Only 4 or 5 tables can enjoy the amazing view, so it is better to reserved table with a view before you go there.
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Image - Trizoni Fish restaurant
Place
Trizoni Fish restaurant
Anastasios:Dedicated fish restaurant with a variety of fresh fish and shells. You may need a reservation for that one. You should also expect a slightly higher prices.
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Image - Ο Χρόνης (O Hronis - Restaurant)
Place
Ο Χρόνης (O Hronis - Restaurant)
Anastasios:The environment may look slightly outdated, but they serve some of the most tasty meat dishes in the area in very competitive prices. It is a "must-go" for meat lovers.
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Image - Anthoulas restaurant
Place
Anthoulas restaurant
Anastasios:Its location in the picturesque square of Kriopigi promises a very nice dining environment. The food is also very good. Don't expect to find any fish dishes.
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Wonderguide map

  1. Villa Despina | Halkidiki, Greece
  2. Villa Despina Green Suites
  3. Temple of Ammon Zeus
  4. Sant Paul's Byzantine Tower
  5. Turtle Lake -Mavrobara
  6. Firewatch Tower
  7. Possidi Lighthouse
  8. Petralona Cave
  9. Archaeological Site Olynthos
  10. Possidi Cape
  11. Glarokavos Beach
  12. Paliouri Beach
  13. Kriopighi
  14. Agios Mamas, Chalkidiki
  15. Vothonas Beach
  16. Assia's Bay
  17. Saints Anargyroi Chapel (1850)
  18. Nefeli Restaurant
  19. Flegra
  20. Moustakas Restaurant
  21. Massalia Restaurant
  22. Villa Stasa
  23. Trizoni Fish restaurant
  24. Ο Χρόνης (O Hronis - Restaurant)
  25. Anthoulas restaurant

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