Sithonia

Sithonia (Greek: Σιθωνία), also known as Longos, is a peninsula of Chalkidiki, which itself is located on a larger peninsula within Greece. The Kassandra Peninsula lies to the west of Sithonia and the Mount Athos peninsula to the east. Sithonia is also a municipality, covering the Sithonia peninsula. The seat of the municipality is the town Nikiti.

Geography

Gulfs that surround the peninsula are the Singitic Gulf to the east and the Toronean Gulf to the west. 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 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. The beaches of Azapiko, Tristinika, Korakas, Marathias, Kalamitsi, and Kriaritsi are in the area. 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, is the 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:

• Sithonia
• Toroni

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
• Neos Marmaras
• Nikiti
• Ormos Panagias
• Partenonas
• Platanitsi
• Porto Carras Grand Resort
• Porto Koufos or Porto Koufo
• Pyrgaditika or Pyrgadikia
• Salonikiou
• Sarti
• Sykia
• Toroni
• Vourvourou

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sithonia