EVIA & THE t e n a l 643 P y l e n o L

© Atsitsa Kalamakia Kastro National Marine Park of Tsougriaki Loutra Edipsou AREA: 4167 SQ KM 

Σποράδες kastro

Picking out your out your Picking & Οι Listening to one of ’s to one of Greece’s Listening Midnight Music the best bouzouki players above ) p658 Town ( overlooking Scuba Diving Exploring an underwater islet, 30m down off Tsougriaki reef ( p654 ), on Skopelos Hiking through groves and Island Walks Hiking groves olive through ) p659 across pristine meadows on Skopelos ( the sunset Catching Romantic Meditation ), on p669 Bay ( wine from Atsitsa over favourite from the fresh catch at Kalamakia from the fresh favourite ( p663 ), on Alonnisos Soaking in the therapeutic thermal waters at Loutra Edipsou ( p647 ), on Evia ), on Evia p647 Spa Bathing Soaking at Loutra Edipsou ( in the therapeutic thermal waters Dinner on the Dock Watching for dolphins Watching for dolphins Adventure Aegean only national while cruising around Greece’s ) p661 marine park at Alonnisos (

POPULATION: 228,750 228,750 POPULATION:        HIGHLIGHTS HIGHLIGHTS

Only two hours from , both Halkida and nearby are destinations for car loads destinations for both Halkida are Only two hours from Athens, and nearby Eretria

 rogues and pirates – something that the good-natured residents are proud to mention. are residents – something that the good-natured rogues and pirates and ceramics, folk traditions that date from Byzantine times when these islands were home to from Byzantine times when these islands were and ceramics, folk traditions that date retains a good deal of local character, and is well known for its unique cuisine, woodworking and is well known character, a good deal of local retains is a model for ecological awareness throughout Greece. Skyros, the southernmost of the chain, Skyros, the southernmost throughout Greece. awareness is a model for ecological the National Marine Park of Alonnisos – established to protect the – and the Mediterranean of Alonnisos – established to protect the National Marine Park forest meadows threaded with walking trails. Alonnisos, the most remote of the group, anchors with walking Alonnisos, the most remote meadows threaded trails. forest kicks back with a relaxed and postcard-worthykicks of pristine bays, and harbour and a good number back with a relaxed sandiest beaches in the Aegean, along with several prime scuba-diving spots. Low-key Skopelos prime scuba-diving spots. along with several Aegean, sandiest beaches in the fact, in prehistoric times they were joined. Skiathos, for northern claims the times they were a haven Europeans, fact, in prehistoric Sporades (in Greek, ‘scattered ones’) seem like an extension of the forested Pelion Peninsula. In Peninsula. Pelion ones’) seem like of the forested an extension ‘scattered Sporades (in Greek, of them with crystal-clear bays that elsewhere would be lined with matching umbrellas. The would be lined with matching umbrellas. bays that elsewhere of them with crystal-clear and stare at passing cars. Small beaches await on the north, at passing cars. west and southeast coasts, many and stare dotted by hilltop monasteries, small farms and vineyards. Goats stand in the middle of the road Goats stand in the small farms and vineyards. monasteries, by hilltop dotted of weekend visitors. Across the island, though, the pace slows as the landscape stretches out, the pace slows as the landscape stretches Across the island, though, of weekend visitors. the mainland by a short drawbridge at Halkida, gulf. which spans a narrow more Greeks than most and consequently retain a good deal of local colour. Evia is joined to Evia a good deal of local colour. and consequently retain than most Greeks more Εύβοια path, but attract off the beaten largely remain islands known as the Sporades and the four Evia Evia & the Sporades Sporades & the Evia EVIA & THE SPORADES E75 reverses direction timesdaily, about seven Halkida. Thecurrent inthenarrowchannel the narrowEvripos of Channeltothe capital along withashort slidingdrawbridge over coast. Ferries linktheislandtomainland, from thegentler andresort-friendlycliffs west south, dividingtheisland’sprecipitous eastern beaches. spine runsnorth– Amountainous archaeological findsandmostlyuncrowded roads,challengingous mountain treks, major foreign tourists.Itsattractionsincludeglori- tination forGreeks, remains lesscharted by island after andaprimeholidaydes- 644 va ( Evia EVIA Livadia Corinth Gulf of (55km) To Larisa (51km) To Delphi (46km) To Lamia EVIA &THESPORADES Konstantinos Agios VA • etn hr wy There &Away ••Getting EVIA Lihada Glyfa eh ELLADA STEREA Pagasitikos -vih-ah), Greece’s second-largest ΕΥΒΟΙΑ Peloponnese Gulf Alkyonides Oreï Gulf Arkitsa (20km) To the Agiokambos Edipsos Loutra Edipsou E75 Kamatadika Camping Rovies Pefki Peninsula Istiea Pelion Artemisio Platanias Megara Agia Anna Gulf of Strofylia Skiathos (p650) Evia Artemisio Cape (Thebes) Thiva Limni (85km) To Skiathos E94 Town Vasilika (Eleusis) Elefsina (Glossa Port) Kotsikia Angeli Politika Loutraki Prokopi Nea Artaki Halkida Pilio Skopelos

(p656) Lefkandi Psahna

Oropou Bay Town Skopelos Skala Eretria Alonnisos ATHENS Mt (p660) (1743m) Camping Katheni Hpig (p750). Hopping Island see Alonnisos andSkopelos; fordetails fromEviaare regular toSkyros, ferry services €26/33, 5½/4½hours, six/fourdaily).There Halkida (normal/ICexpress and Thessaloniki hour, hourly/fourdaily),and between Halkida andAthens(normal,€5,1½/one between There isalsoaregular trainservice (€36,6hours,Thessaloniki twicedaily). hourly), Ioannina(€35.50,onedaily) and Halkida andAthens(€6.20,1¼hours, half- There between are regular busservices Getting There&Away observers since Aristotle. fullexplanationhaseluded whose an event Hiliadou Evia Paralia Steni Amarynthos Agia Marina Dio Adelphi Rafina Gulf of Evia Avlonari Neohori Kymi SPORADES Dhistos Ohthonia Lepoura Petalia Lake Gulf Paralia Kymis Platana Boufalo Porto Krieza Petali Kalamos Styra Nea Agia Apostoli Marmari 12miles 20km 0 0 Dimosari Gorge Zarakes Styra Kallianos Lenosei A EGN Karystos S EA lonelyplanet.com Bay Skyros Town Myli (1398m) Platanistos Mt Ohi Skyros (p665) Cape Kafireas (Cavo D'Oro) Linaria Epanohori Potami