The Idyllic City of Chalkida



Chalkida is a cosmopolitan city centre of about 90 .000 inhabitants and it is the capital of the prefecture of Evia. It is the hometown of Iseos, Lykofron, Skalkotas, Skaribas, Kriezotis, Mytaras, and many other famous Greeks.Aristoteles lived for several years here and in his time he developed significant spiritual activity. This beautiful city is full of theatres, temples and monuments adorned by sculptures and paintings. The word 'chalkis' actually comes from the Greek word (chalkos) meaning copper and is derived from the copper mines that were mined in Ancient times.



It has two ports in Euripus and it was the most prosperous and progressive city of Ancient times. Of course with all this prosperity the city was attacked by several invaders and from 1205 to 1470 the whole of Evia and not only Chalkida were under the jurisdiction of the Venetians who built remarkable fortifications. Later on in 1470 it was occupied by the Turks for 3 centuries. It was liberated in 1830.



The most important characteristic of the city of Chalkida or Chalkis as you can also find it written in different guides is the unique tidal phenomenon where the water changes direction every six hours after a pose of one hour . Visitors who come here are stunned when they observe the change of the water's direction. It flows at times from the north Evian Gulf to the south, and at times in the reversed direction, thus confirming the existence of the miraculous physical rules that operate in the frame of nature’s cause and effect.

The bridge connecting the two parts of this idyllic city is combined with the stone-laid, wide and long pedestrian street along the seaside and the place is full of coffee shops, bars and Sea food restaurants. Many Athenians and weekenders visit Chalkida frequently as it is just one hour’s drive from Athens.



The city is built on both sides of the Strait of Euripus with one part on Evia and the other on the mainland of Greece. It is actually an island.