Culture of Evvoia Island. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

First of all, you should take a walk around Chalkida, the capital of the island. It was built on a place of a more ancient, antique settlement, and you can still find the remains of the buildings here and there. The architecture from the times of Turkish and Venetian ruling here can be noticed in Kastro district. The best view on the city you can catch from the Karababa Castle, which was built in the beginning of the 17th century and had been protecting the island from the attacks from the sea for two centuries. Here you should walk along an ancient aqueduct and don’t forget to visit Archeological and Ethnographical Museums, which expositions will tell you a lot about the history of the city, island, and the whole Greece. The fans of painting should visit Central Art Gallery.

The diversity of historically valuable cult buildings of different religions in Chalkida is very interesting. Christian Church of Agia Paraskevi in the shape of a big-sized basilica was built in the 13th century and absorbed all popular European architectural styles of those times. Emir Zade Mosque was constructed in the 15th century and it still pleases all visitors not only with the beauty of indoor and outdoor décor, but also with an amazing marble fountain. The 19th –century synagogue is also a great architectural example of that complicated time.

Definitely visit Eritrea, located a little more than 20 kilometers from Chalkida. Since the times of Ancient Greece here you can see the fronton of the Temple of Apollo Daphnephoros, a gymnasium and a theatre, which was located near the sanctuary, dedicated to Dyonisus, the remains of the Acropolis and Agora, the market square. In the local museum you can see a magnificent collection of Ancient Greece vases. However, Eritrea is not only famous for the ruins of old constructions. For a long time this was the place, where retired captains lived, and now everybody can enjoy the views of their villas. By the way, if you want to feel yourself as a character from a Homer’s poem, visit Navagio Bay. It is believed, this is where the Greece army gathered before going to Troja. The signs of ancient settlements can also be found in Messaria. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

In Karystos city you may found a Venetian tower, which was built in the 13th century and called Bourtzi, and Venetian fort, called Castello Rosso. Mysterious Dragon-houses are also located here. These are ancient constructions, which origin and purpose still remain a secret for the historians. Huge 15-meters-high boards are perfectly adhere to each other without any solution, but we still don’t know who did it and why. In Elimnion region you can find St. Paraskevi Church and the 19th-century iconostasis of St. Nicholas Church. There is also a beautiful Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul. According to the legend, Zeus and Gera got married in Limni city.

In the North of the island there are the relics of St. John The Russian. Until today thousands of Christian pilgrims come to Prokopi village to honor the memory of a simple soldier, who was kept by the Turkish and thanks to the power of his belief hadn’t surrender under torture for decades. According to the legend, when his body was thrown into the fire, it had not burn as it had not smolder in the ground. In 1926, his relics were brought to Evvoia. There are 16 acting monasteries in Evvoia, so anyone, who is interested in visiting the monks’ convent, should visit at least one of them.

Do you like neo-classicism? Then visit Kimi city, which is located 70 kilometers from Chalkida. For a couple of centuries they sell silk here. A collection of marvelous silk embroidery you can see in the local ethnographical museum. Paleontology enthusiasts should visit Kerasia city and see a great collection of fossil animals, who had lived on the territory of the island more than 6 million years ago. In Glyfada village, you will find the constructions from the Neolithic period.