Sithonia ( el, Σιθωνία), also known as Longos, is a peninsula of

Chalkidiki Chalkidiki (; el, Χαλκιδική , also spelled Halkidiki, is a peninsula and regional unit of Greece, part of the region of Central Macedonia, in the geographic region of Macedonia in Northern Greece. The autonomous Mount Athos region co ...

, which itself is located on a larger peninsula within

Greece Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders with ...

. The

Kassandra Peninsula Kassandra () or Kassandra Peninsula () is a peninsula and a municipality in Chalkidiki, Macedonia, Greece. The seat of the municipality is in Kassandreia. Municipality The municipality Kassandra was formed at the 2011 local government reform by ...

lies to the west of Sithonia and the

Mount Athos Mount Athos (; el, Ἄθως, ) is a mountain in the distal part of the eponymous Athos peninsula and site of an important centre of Eastern Orthodox monasticism in northeastern Greece. The mountain along with the respective part of the penins ...

peninsula to the east. Sithonia is also a municipality, covering the Sithonia peninsula. The seat of the municipality is the town

Nikiti Nikiti ( el, Νικήτη) is a village located 100 kilometers south-east of Thessaloniki on the Chalkidiki peninsula in Macedonia, Greece. It is the seat of both the municipal unit and municipality of Sithonia. The town has a preserved old part ...

Geography

Gulfs that surround the peninsula are the

Singitic Gulf The Singitic Gulf (), also known as the Mount Athos Gulf or the Holy Mountain Gulf () is a gulf of the Thracian Sea, part of the northern Aegean Sea, in Chalkidiki, Greece. It is bounded by Sithonia in the west, and Mount Athos in the east. The is ...

to the east and the

Toronean Gulf The Toronean Gulf or Toroneos Gulf () and Toronaic Gulf (), also known as the Kassandra Gulf (), is a gulf of the Thracian Sea, part of the northern Aegean Sea, in Chalkidiki, Greece. It lies between the Kassandra peninsula in the west, and Sit ...

to the west. The peaks of

Itamos Itamos ( el, Ίταμος) is a former municipality in the Karditsa regional unit, Thessaly, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Karditsa Karditsa ( el, Καρδίτσα ) is a city in western Thessaly ...

and Dragoudelis are in the center of the peninsula. The landscape is covered with vineyards, forests, grasslands, shrubland and mountains. Amongst the many historic places in Sithonia is the ancient city, the castle and the church of Agios Athanasios in

Toroni Toroni ( grc, Τορώνη, ''Toróne'', modern pronunciation ''Toróni'') is an ancient Greek city and a former municipality in the southwest edge of Sithonia peninsula in Chalkidiki, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of ...

, the windmills in Sykia and the 16th century church in

. In the northern part of the peninsula are the popular beaches of Ai Giannis, Kalogria,

Elia Elia is a name which may be a variant of the names Elias, Elijah, Eli or Eliahu, and may refer to: People * Aelia (gens) or Elia, a ''gens'' of Ancient Rome Mononymic * Elia or Elijah, a biblical prophet * Elia, a pen-name of Charles Lamb First ...

and Lagomandra on the west coast and Livrochios, Karidi, Kavourotripes and Platanitsi on the east coast. The beaches in the southern part include Azapiko, Tristinika, Kalamitsi and Kriaritsi.

Porto Koufo Porto Koufo ( el, Πόρτο Κουφό) is the largest natural harbour in Greece (in depth). The harbour was mentioned by the historian Thucydides. German submarines used it during World War II because of its geographical location and direct ac ...

, is the largest natural harbor in

, which is mentioned by

Thucydides Thucydides (; grc, , }; BC) was an Athenian historian and general. His ''History of the Peloponnesian War'' recounts the fifth-century BC war between Sparta and Athens until the year 411 BC. Thucydides has been dubbed the father of "scientifi ...

as "hollow harbor"; it appears to be the fishing spot in the area. South, from the harbour's exit there is Kartalia, the most southern part of Sithonia, a very impressive area which puts its visitors under a spell with its rocky secluded beaches. The main villages in the peninsula are

Neos Marmaras Neos Marmaras ( el, Νέος Μαρμαράς, ''Néos Marmarás'', , "New Marmara") is a town on the Sithonia peninsula, in the Chalkidiki peninsula, Greece. In 2011, Neos Marmaras had 3,352 permanent residents; however, the summer-time populat ...

, Parthenonas,

Sarti The Italian language surname Sarti is derived from the occupation of tailor. Notable people with the surname include: *Adolfo Sarti (1928–1992), Italian Christian Democrat politician *Alessio Sarti (born 1979), Italian football (soccer) goalkee ...

, Sykia, Vourvourou and Agios Nikolaos. In the middle of Sithonia peninsula, near the village of Neos Marmaras, is the holiday resort of

Porto Carras Porto Carras (Greek: Πόρτο Καρράς), known as Porto Carras Grand Resort, is one of northern Greece's largest and most famous hotels and holiday resorts. It is located on Sithonia, Chalkidiki peninsula in Macedonia, Greece. It is about 120 ...

; the place of the 2003

European Union The European Union (EU) is a supranational political and economic union of member states that are located primarily in Europe. The union has a total area of and an estimated total population of about 447million. The EU has often been des ...

leaders Summit. In summer the waterfront areas of Neos Maramaras, Nikiti and Sarti are especially busy.

Municipality

The municipality Sithonia was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 2 former municipalities, that became municipal units: *Sithonia *

The municipality has an area of 516.848 km², the municipal unit 322.875 km².

Places

* Agios Nikolaos * Armenistis (camping) * Elia Akti or Elia, or Olive Beach * Kalamitsi *

Metamorfosi Metamorfosi ( el, Μεταμόρφωση, Metamórfosi, transfiguration; before 1957: Koukouvaounes ( el, link=no, Κουκουβάουνες, Koukouváounes) is a suburb in the northern part of the Athens agglomeration, Greece, and a municipalit ...

* Ormos Panagias * Partenonas * Platanitsi *

(popular resort town) * Porto Koufos or Porto Koufo * Pyrgaditika or Pyrgadikia * Salonikiou *

* Sykia *

* Vourvourou

References

External links

Visit SithoniaSithonia GuideSithonia in ChalkidikiSithonia Greece travel guide and informationVisitor guide of Sithonia
{{Sithonia div Peninsulas of Greece Municipalities of Central Macedonia Populated places in Chalkidiki Geography of ancient Chalcidice

Geography

Municipality

Places

See also

References

External links