Chalcidice

Between Thessaloniki and the Holy Mountain of Athos, the “other” Chalcidice remained until the 1970s an isolated and economically depressed region. Recent development of communications, tourism and holiday resorts has given it new life, to which archeological research has added the impressive presence of ancient –chiefly Classical– civilization.

However, enchanting landscapes, important monuments and human activities which have continued the same for centuries have remained unknown to seasonal visitors. It was this great gap which, some years ago (1990) the Holy Convent of the Annunciation at Ormylia, Chalcidice, a dependency of the Holy Monastery of Simonopetra on Mount Athos, undertook to fill by realizing the idea of bringing this book into being.

Ioakeim Papaggelos, with his unique knowledge of Chalcidice, has led us as pilgrims to the Byzantine and post-Byzantine monuments and to its natural beauties of every kind. The gifted photographer Andreas Smaragdis has given the breath of life to works of art and has made landscapes works of art of. Julia Voskopoulou, in the swansong of her wisdom, changed the picture of the place and of our work…