A bit further than halfway down the east coast of Kassandra, and about 100km from Thessaloniki, Polychrono (pop. 1,100), like a number of other villages on Kassandra, began life as a colony of Eretria, the city-state on the Island of Evia, about 50km north of Athens.
It was called Neapoli, and it was founded during the 7th century, BC. Almost from its founding, it was subject to frequent attacks. During the Roman period the settlement shifted to a more defensible site nearby, where objects from the period have been unearthed. The Huns finally put an end to Neapoli in the 6th century.
By the 11th century mostly farmers and livestock herders lived in the area. A settlement arose, "Polychro," meaning "colorful," because of the variety of wildflowers in the area that would bloom in the spring. The Turks destroyed the settlement during their 400-year occupation which began in the mid-1400's. Later, some people returned and rebuilt the village from scratch, and the name changed to "Polychrono" due to a slight verbal corruption in the pronunciation. "Polychrono," though very similar to "Polychro," actually means "much time."
The modern village has several kilometers of beautiful beachfront, and a brick-paved promenade with many cafes sitting on top of a retaining wall just above the sand. There are a lot of small shops to buy beach supplies, snacks, meals, and drinks. There are a number of water sports you can do, such as pedal boats and jet skiing. The water is absolutely beautiful, and as clean and transparent as an aquamarine sheet of glass.
Hotels in Polychrono
Ideal choice for family holidays as well as couples searching for all inclusive deals or half board packages in Kassandra Halkidiki
The award-winning Akrogiali Exclusive Hotel is one of the highest-ranking in its category, small hotels of Greece
The renovated Alkionides offers boutique accommodation with its 4 apartments and 4 rooms at the heart of Polichrono Beach Road, Halkidiki
The long beach is a very popular summer destination, and on any given day you can see hundreds, or thousands, playing, sunbathing, swimming, reading, and relaxing along its length. Polychrono has its share of beach bars and clubs for those in the mood for a little partying.
There's a lot of history here with excavations continuing over recent years. The ancient acropolis, atop a pine-forested hill, contains an ancient cemetery, and a very old, Byzantine-era church. Polychrono has a folk museum with exhibits showing how life was lived in the area in the 1800's and before. The village itself is classically traditional, with its small platias, and its old men sitting in the shade, playing with their komboloi (worry beads), and its narrow streets and traditional village architecture of its houses.
Three kilometers from the village is a nature preserve, and the small Lake Mavrobara, which is home to a unique species of turtle. It's the only freshwater lake in Kassandra. There are plenty of well-marked bicycle and walking trails in the area. The lake is at a high enough elevation to give you a great panoramic view of the village, the sea, and the surrounding countryside.
