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Ouranoupoli |
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 At the borders of Agio Oros, the breathtaking Ouranoupolis dominates in a totally impressing and romantic seaside area.
At the roots of the imposing mountain Athos, you will find an area of excellent beauty, with rich vegetation and clean sea. Ouranoupolis is considered to be one of the most popular destinations of North Chalkidiki.
Ouranoupoli has a lot accommodation businesses (hotels, rooms to let, guesthouses, studios,
pensions, apartments, campings etc.) and restaurants and transforms your stay to a pleasant experience. During the summer monthscruses are realized from the port at the west side of Athos. Thus, you are given the opportunity to see even from a distance the monasteries that are found there. Besides your swimming to its clean beaches, you can also visit the islands Drenia, the area called Serviko and the Monastery of Zygos.
One of the most enjoyable experiences during your stay there is the excursions that take place with the small ships to the opposite uninhabited islands. Exotic beaches that will enchant you and clean waters to enjoy your swim.
The visitor of Ouranoupolis should visit the Byzantine castle, (access map), in a wing of which there is an exhibition of Byzantine antiquities and pictures.
He can still perambulate in the shops of popular art where he will find the famous carpets decorated with Byzantine patterns and carpets made by goat hair. He can still find specimens of Byzantine holy painting and jewelry made by natural materials.
At the shops with local traditional products it's worth supplying excellent products of biological cultivation as oil, wine, honey, tsipouro, oregano, several kinds of teas etc.
For his entertainment the vacationer will taste fresh fish at the traditional fish taverns, he will enjoy his coffee or drink at the cafes or the entertainment centers and finally he will attend the cultural manifestations of the area, if the time of his stay keeps pace with the time of the manifestations.
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 Ouranoupoli was named after the Alexandrian town that was established in 315 B.C. by Alexarchos. Coins that have been found have the inscription "Ouranias poleos" while others "Ouranidon Poleon" and a representation of heavenly (ourania) Aphrodite.
The first monasteries start to establish in the peninsula of Athos during the 10th century, while in 1926 the first houses of the village were built by a German company, some of which are preserved up to now. Thereafter, the habitants start to build a church, the school and a community starts to get organized, which is called "Prosforion" and afterwards "Pyrgos" and around 1960 it takes its final name "Ouranoupoli".
Today, Ouranoupoli is considered to be one of the most important resorts of north Chalkidiki.
The Byzantine castle that is found at the margin of the village was built at the beginnings of 14th century by the Monastery of Vatopedio, having as a purpose to protect the glebe. it is the biggest and best preserved one in Chalkidiki. The earthquake of the 19th century has left its signs heavily, since the last floor broke down, still resulting to its repair and its final shape. Furthermore, the accompanying buildings were also built, one of which houses today the office of the apartment.
Cultural manifestations
Among the most important cultural manifestations that take place in the area and that you can attend or even participate are the athletic and cultural manifestations on May 21st, the custom of "Klidonas" and "fire jumping" on June 23rd, the cultural manifestations "Ouranopolitika" at the end of July and in August the manifestation that is dedicated to the august moon at the area under the Byzantine castle.
How to get there
The access to Ouranoupoli is very easy through the facile existing road network, by your own conveyance or by taking the interurban buses of KTEL of Chalkidiki, with often routes. It is 120 km away from the airport of Thessaloniki and 17 km away from Ierissos.
KTEL of Chalkidiki 2310.924.444
Useful telephones
Agion Oros lines. Reservation tel. 23770.71.149
Port station of Ouranoupoli tel.:23770.71.248
Agio Oros- Pilgrims' office tel.: 23770.71.422
Municipal apartment of Ouranoupoli tel.: 23770.71.216
Police guard house of of Ouranoupoli tel.: 23770.71.203 |
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Accommodation proposals, entertainment and shopping in Ouranoupoli |
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Exploration
