Northern Evia
Taking Chalkida as our starting point, we may take the road that leads north to Nea Artaki, Psachna, Prokopi and Mantoudi.
NEA ARTAKI is a fishing town located north of Chalkida in a plain surrounded of mountains.
It is famous for its tourism, notably its beaches.
The fishing port of Nea Artaki has many traditional sea-front snack bars serving local seafood specialities.
PROKOPI is built in a fertile valley with plane trees and cultivated crops.
A short distance away from the village is the monastery of Agios Ioannis Rossos, where the saint’s relic is kept.
The monastery celebrates its festival on 27 May, attracting large numbers of worshippers.
MANTOUDI (8 km. north of Prokopi) is a beautiful village with an abundance of running water and vegetation.
On the Kastri hill can be seen the remains of the ancient city of Kerinthos.
The church of Agios Ioannis Theologos, built in the 19th c., is also of some interest.
On its feast day, 26 September, there is a major festival, with traditional musical instruments and dancing.
Visitors can swim at the beaches of Kymasi and Krya Vrysi.
Northern Evia
The road continues to Kirinthos, Strofilia and Agia Anna.
AGIA ANNA is a traditional village that spreads around the slopes of a hill covered with pine trees. It is located 25 kilometers from Mantoudi and 75 kilometers from the capital.
It has a small Folklore Museum containing local costumes, textiles, a photographic archive, household utensils, framing tools and other objects.
ANGALI on the coast (5 km. to the east) is one of the finest and largest beaches on Evia.
Its crystal clear waters offer great swimming opportunities during the summer months.
In the area you will find hotels, rooms to let and a camping site. In the taverns you can taste fresh fish and seafood.
The road continues north to VASILIKA, a traditional village in the foothills of Mount Xiros, 95 km. to the north of Chalkida.
It has much vegetation and abundant water.
The beach of PSAROPOULI attracts large number of holiday-makers in the summer and has crystal clear sea and fresh fish.
We proceed northwards to ARTEMISION, famous for the naval battle fought here during the Persian Wars.
The famous bronze statue of Poseidon, on display in the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, was founded in the sea of Artemision.
Northern Evia
We next come to PEFKI, a popular tourist resort, where the pine trees come down almost to the sea.
Here, you will find numerous hotels, apartments and rooms to let.
The village attracts a lot of tourists, mainly because of its beach. There are plenty of taverns, restaurants and bars and the night life is quite intense!
After this, the main road leads to ISTIEA, which is built in a fertile plain.
Istiea has a small archaeological and folklore collection.
The church of Agios Nikolaos in this town has some notable paintings, and 6 km. to the east, in a region densely planted with plane trees, is the church of the Panagia Dinious, where there is a festival on 23 August.
On the coast nearby at Kanatadika are the wetlands of MIKRO & MEGALO LIVARI, which attract rare species of wild birds.
The picturesque harbor of OREI attracts many visitors in the summer.
In the local taverns you will enjoy fresh fish and seafood.
On one of two hills here, remains have been found of a Venetian Castle that was built on the foundations of an ancient fortification wall.
We proceed to the villages of NEOS PYRGOS, AGIOKAMPOS, AGIOS, LICHADA, GREGOLIMANO, passing beautiful little bays with lush vegetation and a good tourist infrastructure.
Neos Pyrgos is a popular coastal village built by refuges from Constantinople which attracts a lot of holiday-makers during the summer. You can swim at the village’s beach and at Nisiotissa, a little further to the south.
Northern Evia
EDIPSOS
Some 3 km. south of Agios is the spa-town of EDIPSOS, 117 km. away from Chalkida.
This is one of the largest and most important spas in Greece and the healing qualities of its springs were already known in ancient times.
Today there are hydropathic facilities, a wide range of plentiful accommodation, restaurants, taverns etc.
Edipsos has an archaeological collection with many interesting objects on display.
You can swim at the small beach of the city and at Agios Nikolaos beach.
The road continues southwards towards Rovies and Limni.
ROVIES – LIMNI
ROVIES is one of the finest seaside villages on Evia and attracts large numbers of holiday-makers.
It has clear sea and fine beaches with lush vegetation.
LIMNI spreads around a natural harbor. It has an unequivocally island character, with narrow streets, old traditional houses and picturesque chapels.
The natural setting is also completely enchanting.
The town has an Historical and Folklore Museum (tel. + 30 22270 31335).
Sights worth seeing near Limni include : the church of the Dormition of Virgin, the ruins of a sunken Early Christian basilica that was built above a Roman bath-house, the skete of St. Christodoulos and the Historical Archive of the Municipality of Limni, which contains some important documents.
The nunnery of Agios Nikolaos (Galataki monastery), which was built in the 7th or 8th c., is 10 km. south-east of the town.
Just outside Limni there is a hydrobiology collection, with fossils from the sea-bed and various species of fish and shell-fish.
