Sithonia

Sithonia
Σιθωνία

View from Neos Marmaras.
Sithonia

Coordinates: 40°13′N 23°41′E / 40.217°N 23.683°E / 40.217; 23.683Coordinates: 40°13′N 23°41′E / 40.217°N 23.683°E / 40.217; 23.683
Country Greece
Administrative region Central Macedonia
Area
 • Municipality 514.7 km2 (198.7 sq mi)
Population (2011)[1]
 • Municipality 12,394
 • Municipality density 24/km2 (62/sq mi)
 • Municipal unit 8,841
Time zone EET (UTC+2)
 • Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)
Vehicle registration ΧΚ

Sithonia (Greek: Σιθωνία), also known as Longos, is a peninsula located south of the central part of Chalkidiki which is also in the south-central part of the Chalkidiki peninsula. The Kassandra Peninsula lies to the west and the Mount Athos peninsula at the east. Sithonia is also a municipality, covering the Sithonia peninsula. The seat of the municipality is the town Nikiti.[2]

Geography

Sithonia, beach of Kalamitsi.
Panorama of Nikiti.
Elia Beach
Ormos Panagias.
Sunrise in Vourvourou

Gulfs that surround the peninsula are the Singitic Gulf to the west and the Toronean Gulf to the east. The mountain Itamos or Dragoudelis is in the center of the peninsula. Amongst the many places in Sithonia is the ancient city, the castle and the church of Agios Athanasios in Toroni, the windmills in Sikia and the 16th century church in Nikiti. Porto Koufo, is the largest and safest natural harbor in Greece, which is mentioned by Thucydides as "hollow harbor"; it appears to be the fishing spot in the area.

South, from the harbors 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. Known for their natural beauty are the beaches Azapiko, Tristinika, Korakas, Marathias, Kalamitsi, Kriaritsi. All the villages cover the peninsula mainly in the central and the southern portions.

In the middle of Sithonia peninsula, near the village of Neos Marmaras, there is the famous holiday resort of Porto Carras; the place of the 2003 European Union leaders' Summit. The landscape is covered with vineyards, forests, grasslands, shrubland and mountains.

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:[2]

Places

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sithonia.

References

  1. ↑ "Απογραφή Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2011. ΜΟΝΙΜΟΣ Πληθυσμός" (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority.
  2. 1 2 Kallikratis law Greece Ministry of Interior (Greek)
  3. ↑ http://www.armenistis.com.gr/
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 4/1/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.