Afytos

Enthroned on an imposing hill, it ends at the edge of a rock, many meters above the sea, offering an uninterrupted view of the long, sandy beach, the Sithonia peninsula, and the crystal-clear, blue seas of the Toroneos Gulf.

A place of incomparable beauty with a centuries-old heritage that dates back to antiquity, Afytos (or Athytos, as it was known in the past) is a traditional village with its own identity and charm, capable of enchanting its visitors no matter what season they happen to be in.

The village is situated on the eastern side of the Kassandra Peninsula in Halkidiki, approximately 83 kilometers from Thessaloniki, following the Potidaia isthmus, and between Nea Fokaia and Kallithea.

Walking through its cobbled streets, with its stone mansions and picturesque squares, you will feel its unique aura and the hospitality of its people. And when your walk ends at the cliff, you will be impressed by the natural balcony with the overwhelming and irresistible view.

Below is its extensive sandy beach, while your gaze will be lost in the blue of the gulf of Kassandra, with Sithonia, directly opposite, emerging from the sea. And yet, Afytos looks like an island, which came ashore to tell us its beautiful story.

You will experience this while strolling through its charming tiny streets, indulging in food and coffee, taking a bath, and, most importantly, allowing your eyes to wander through the mesmerizing dusk.

The stone mansions, the unique architecture and the church of Agios Dimitrios

Afytos is a real gem for Halkidiki, worth discovering bit by bit. Everything is well-kept, spotlessly clean, and attentive to the smallest detail. The traditional settlement stands out for its stone-built houses with tiled roofs and mansions with excellent architecture.

Its buildings, which blend more contemporary and traditional design features in harmony with the surrounding terrain, give it a unique appearance. Together with the charming cobblestones and little squares, the pubs and coffee shops “tie” harmoniously into the whole scene, creating a surreal atmosphere.

The typical old stone-built tufa stone cottages with their original stone carvings and inscriptions are quite interesting. One of these, the Aletras House (1889), is located in the center square and serves as a folklore museum where you can view tools and utensils that the locals used in the past.

The church of Agios Dimitrios is the village’s crown treasure. It was erected in 1859 as a three-aisled basilica with a dome and a wooden roof. The peculiar architecture of the church, with the old icons and stone carvings on the outside of the south wall will inspire you. In Afitos, you can also see chapels, such as those of St. George (1867), the Assumption of the Virgin (1885), Agios Athanasios, and St. Nicholas (Liosi).

The entire Afytos is an open-air exhibition

Afytos never ceases to amaze us, both because of its unique setting and its inhabitants. With the help of volunteers from Afytos and the inspiration of sculptor and visual artist Vassilis Pavlis, the town has been transformed into an outdoor gallery.

He and the volunteers carried out significant projects that enhanced their standing throughout Greece. They are the ones who turned simple cheese tins into real works of art, and gave color and beautiful images to Afitos. The flowered tins scattered all over the area feature designs and images inspired by summer landscapes, everyday life, the great personalities of Greece, etc.

Another excellent action was when 70 artists created the old doors of the houses, giving them a new life. Your attention will also be drawn by the colorful benches, where you can rest, and even the handmade signs of the shops.

Top destination with plenty of options for good food, coffee, drink and entertainment

Afytos, among others, is also a hot summer destination for holidays, fun, and swimming. It is no coincidence that in the warm months, it is “overflowed” by tourists, Greeks, and foreigners. It offers a wide variety of options, covering even the most demanding. All through the village, you will find guesthouses and hotels for your stay, award-winning restaurants, traditional taverns, cafes and bars as well as souvenir shops. Of course, the historic center, which you walk through, as well as the point along the cliff, where the wonderful natural balcony is, are fulfilled with life.

Afytos is a complete destination, where of course, you can also enjoy your cool summer dives. Its beach is long and sandy, but there are stones in places that need attention. Essentially, it is divided into two parts… On the left, is the “Varkes” beach, as the locals call it, while on the right is the “Liosi” beach. Most of it is organized, with beach bars and beautiful tavernas, while there are also some spots where you can swim freely!

A place with a long history

The area of ​​Afytos has been inhabited since Prehistoric times. The settlement, which bore the name Afytis, was colonized by Eretrians in the 8th century BC. The city experienced development and became a member of the Athenian Alliance while contributing during the Persian Wars with its own ships. Indeed, it is mentioned by the ancient writers, Herodotus, Thucydides, Xenophon, Aristotle, Pausanias, Strabo, etc.

The sanctuary of Dionysus (8th century BC) and the temple of Ammon Zeus (4th century BC) contributed substantially to the consolidation of its reputation during antiquity. During the archaic and classical times it was a prosperous city, in fact, it minted its own coin that bore the head of its patron Ammon Zeus. In 348 BC destroyed by Philip B’ and repopulated.

As evidenced by ancient philological sources and archaeological finds, Aphytos survived until the Roman era and in the imperial years even belonged to the territory of the Roman colony of Cassandria.

We do not know anything about Afitos and the next sources are from the 14th century, in documents from Mount Athos. It is certain that the village is mentioned in Greek sources as early as the beginning of the 17th century. During the Turkish occupation, like all the other villages of the peninsula, it belonged to the waqf of Gazanfer Agha for tax purposes, while administratively it belonged to the nahiye of Kalamaria.

During the Revolution of 1821, many fighters and commanders, non-commissioned officers and officers originating from the village were protagonists in the Struggle, such as Dimitris Karavasilis, Triantafyllos Garoufallou, Georgios Panagiotou, Anastasios Kyriazis, Garifallos Grigoriou and others. During the Macedonian War, the Afitians distinguished themselves in offering, with the most important Macedonian fighters, the chieftains Theoharis Sarikas (captain Zarkadas) and Andreas Karatassos. Around 1827, with the return of the fugitives, Athytos was for many years the capital of Kassandra. It showed intense building activity from the middle of the 19th century.