Halkidiki is the ‘trident’ with its three distinct peninsulas consisting of Kassandra in the west, Sithonia in the centre and the Agios Oros with Mount Athos, in the east. There are hotel resorts on these two “legs” but Agios Oros is an autonomous state which comprises 20 Christian Orthodox monasteries and churches and has a population of 1400 Orthodox monks. The existence of the community is dated to 883 AD.
Over 50 per cent of the prefecture is covered in forests with oak, pine and beech trees, especially to the east where there is more rainfall with large crops of olive and citrus fruit. Apart from its amazing nature Halkidiki also has a lot to offer in terms of historic sites. To name just a few, it is worthwhile visiting Poligiros, Petralona and Nea Fokea. Poligiros is the capital of Halkidiki, 69 km from Thessaloniki. A town built amphitheatrically on the side of Mount Profitis Elias offering visitors a fascinating view.
The cave of Petralona is just outside the village of the same name, and is a stalactite cave where the 700.000 year old skeleton was found. There is also an archaeological museum which exhibits the findings from the cave. Nea Fokea is a picturesque village by the sea where the Apostle Paul is said to have stayed.