Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
north en route to Pyrgadhíkia, below the inland village of Áyios Nikólaos, whose square
is a traffic-free haven for diners and drinkers. The only real reason to stop at Órmos
would be to catch one of the excursion boats that sail around Athos from here, but these
are better value from Ouranoúpoli (see p.303).
Vourvouroú
VOURVOUROÚ
, 8km down the coast from Órmos Panayías, is not a typical resort, since
it stands on land expropriated from Vatopedhíou monastery on Athos. Islets astride the
mouth of the bay make for a fine setting, but the beach, while sandy, is extremely
narrow, and Vourvouroú is really more of a yachters' haven.
Onwards to Sárti
Some of Sithonía's best
beaches
lie of the 30km of corniche road between Vourvouroú
and the busy tourist resort of
SÁRTI
: five signposted sandy coves, each with a
campsite
and little else. The names of the bays, such as Koutloumousíou or Zográfou, reflect the
fact that most of the land here belonged to various Athonite monasteries until
confiscated by the Greek government to resettle Anatolian refugees. A short way
beyond
Armenistis
, a dirt track leads down to a pair of idyllic coves, almost tropical in
appearance. Sárti itself may not ooze charm but does offer a good choice of facilities
and one of the widest beaches in a major enclave.
Paralía Sykiás
PARALÍA SYKIÁS
, 8km past Sárti, is a well-appointed beach, with just a few tavernas
well back from the sea along 2km of coastal highway. The best strategy here is to follow
the side road at the south end of the beach towards the more scenic coves and
smattering of restaurants at
Pigadháki
or
Paleó Fánaro
. For a
post office
and shops head
for
SYKIÁ
, 2km inland, hemmed in by a bowl of rocky hills.
4
Kalamítsi
KALAMÍTSI
, another 8km south of Paralía Sykiás, consists of a beautiful double bay,
now rather spoilt by development. The small strand at the sheltered north bay of Pórto
can get cramped in summer, at which time you can easily swim out to the main islet
for less company or head over the rocks to the north, where there's an informal nudist
beach.
Pórto Koufó
The forest cover gets progressively thinner the further south you go from Sárti, until
you reach the recently replanted tip of the peninsula, where the hills spill into the sea
to create a handful of deep bays.
PÓRTO KOUFÓ
, just northwest of the cape, is the
most dramatic of these, almost completely cut of from the open sea by high cliffs.
The name Koufó (“deaf ” in Greek) is said to come from one's inability to hear the sea
within the confines of this inlet, which served as an Axis submarine shelter during
World War II. There are a few fine
stretches of sand
around the bay, especially where
the road drops down from the east. The north end of the inlet, 1km from the beach
area, is a picturesque yacht and fishing harbour. Overall this area is one of the star
attractions on the whole peninsula as a place to base oneself.
Toróni and Tristiníka
TORÓNI
, 3km north of Pórto Koufó, is an exposed, 2km-long crescent of sand with
wooded hills behind. It makes another plausible base and for a little stimulation there
is a minimal
archeological
site
on the southern cape, sporting the remains of a
Byzantine fortress, while nearby is an early Christian basilica. Just 2km north is the
turning for less-developed
TRISTINÍKA
, with another outstanding 2km beach.
