Tour of Halki Island
Halki is one of the smallest Dodecanese islands and it is well known through out the world as the “Center of Peace and Friendship”.
It is a small paradise with many natural beauties and clear beaches, ideal for quiet and peaceful holidays.
On the island there are traditional hotels, villas, apartments and rooms to let.
Tour of Halki Island
HALKI or Niborio is the graphic capital and the island’s port and the only settlement of the island.
It is a small genteel town with traditional two and three-storey houses with tile roofs, spreading around the harbor.
The stone clock-tower rises before the neoclassical town-hall building and a short distance away is the church of Agios Nikolaos (1861) with its characteristic bell tower and finely carved wooden icons.
The port of Nimborio has a good selection of taverns, bars, local coffee shops and gift shops.
On the main road, you can see the bust of Alexandros Diakos, born on Halki.
To the west of Halki town is Chorio, the old capital of the island, now uninhabited, whose stone houses are built around the hill with the castle.
The monastery of the Taxiarchis Michail, which has a valuable icon of the saint, is 5 kilometers north-west of Chorio, while at the west end of the island is the monastery of Ai-Gianni Alarga, which is approached mainly on foot and, nearby, the monasteries of the Agia Triada and Stavrou Xylou.
The island has two caves.
The first is situated in the location Kellia and the second is in Amiglai location known as Kameno Cave.
There, during the 17th century the Venetian admiral Morozini burnt the island’s residents to revenge them because they had informed Rhodes about his coming.
So he didn’t manage to conquer the island.
Tour of Halki Island
BEACHES
The beaches of the island are famous for their natural beauties and their crystal clear waters.
Some of them can approach by foot and some other by small boat.
The most popular are: Pondamos, Kania, Giali, Trahia and Ftenagia.
Pondamos the only sandy beach of the island is a 10 minute walk from the village.
Near the beach you will find a tavern and a canteen.
Sunbeds and sun umbrellas are available.
The pebbly beach of Ftenagia is just beyond the rocky coves around the bay of Emborio, about 15 minutes walk.
There is a tavern, with some sun beds and umbrellas available.
The beach of Kania stands on the north of the village of Halki.
Giali beach is a small beach with white pebbles and clear waters.
Other nice beaches where you can go only by boat are Areta and Trahia.
NEARBY ISLANDS
The uninhabited islet of Alimia to the north-east of Halki, has the ruins of a defence work by the Knights of St. John.
It can be visited by small boat. It is full of pine trees and has beautiful beaches.
TRADITION – EVENTS
The festivals of the island are celebrated in the traditional manner.
The most popular of them are those of Saint John in 29th August and of Virgin Mary in 15thAugust.
Halki has been declared as the “Island of Peace and Friendship”.
In the summer there is a meeting of young people from all over the world on the island and organize a range of cultural events.
LOCAL PRODUCTS – CUISINE
The most famous local foods from the Halkiot cuisine are ofto (lamb with rice and kidneys baked in a traditional wood fire oven), macaroni, koulia and the sweets xerotigana.
