Poligiros

The capital of Halkidiki is built amphitheatrically at the foot of Cholomontas, at an altitude of 530 m. It is 587 km from Athens and 67 km from Thessaloniki. References to Polygyros have been made since the Byzantine years. Many historians identify it with Apollonia, while others place Apollonia at various locations around the city. One of its possible locations is Palaiporta where fortification foundations are preserved. Cholomontas, the mountain of the prefecture, has great mineral wealth and its mines were known from antiquity.
It’s worth visiting the Church of Saint Nicholas (1836) and the chapels of Our Lady – with magnificent panoramic views of Tsoukalas – and of Prophet Elias, on the hill behind the city, the Archaeological Museum, which houses some of the area’s finds – more are in the Thessaloniki Archaeological Museum – and the Lambropoulos Private Archaeological Collection.
To the north of Polygyros lies a beautiful oak forest, to the south the large olive grove and to the coast are the settlements of Kalyves and Gerakini. It is worth visiting the beautiful village of Brasta or Brastama, with its picturesque alleys and traditional houses. It is one of the oldest in the area, with references as early as the 9th century. BC
Polygyros has all the amenities to serve and entertain guests. A great feast takes place on the last Sunday of Carnival, where the customary “sit amaka” revives, meaning free food for all. May 17th, the date of the start of the Halkidiki Revolution, is a local national holiday. The festival is held on July 20, by Prophet Elias.