We are very pleased to announce our very first competition!

This special Christmas 2011 competition is open to everyone and has been made possible by our friends at the Seaview Apartments in Nea Potidea.

The prize….

A 3 night stay for 4 people at the Seaview Apartments anytime between the 1st January and the 30th June or anytime after the 25th August 2012.

The Sea View Hotel/Apartments is set within its own spacious grounds just 50 meters away from a sandy beach. The hotel consists of 8 apartments. 1 sleeping 6 people, 6 sleeping 4 people and 1 studio for 2 people. All apartments/studios come complete with living room, shower/wc, kitchen, fridge, A/C, satellite TV, free wireless internet and large balconies. All customers have free use of sunbeds/umbrellas for the beach. Airport transfer is also available.

Visit http://www.halkidiki-seaview.com for full details.

Enter the competition…

To enter the competition, simply answer this question;

The village of Nea Potidea (New Potidea), as it exists today was founded by refugees from Eastern Thrace in what year?

A) 1914
B) 1920
C) 1922
D) 1926

* Hint – the answer isn’t hard…it’s on our main website

Email your answer, either A,B,C or D to competitions@go2halkidiki.net with the subject Christmas Competition

All correct answers will be collated and the winner will be chosen at random.

Closing date for all entries is the 30th December and the winner will be announced on our Facebook page on New Years Eve.

We will notify the winner via the email address given in the entry.

Now, some information on the village…

History;

The history of Potidea, which existed on the spot, goes back to the early 7th century B.C. when it was a Corinthian colony. The place held a strategic position in ancient times.
In 1960, archeologists discovered the bones of a young girl believed to have died almost 700,000 years ago. These are the oldest skeletal remains ever found in Greece.

Notable locations in the area include the remains of the castle in which the rebellious islanders barricaded themselves in 1821. Another important tourist destination is the church of the Taxiarches founded in 1591. The church is dependent on Mount Athos and the Dochiariou monastery. Others come to see the marble statue of Aristotle, built in memory of the philosophers born in the nearby village of Stageira.

Ancient Potidea was founded in 600 BC on the saddle of the Pallini Peninsula. As the name of the city denotes, its patron was Poseidon. During the expedition of Xerxes against Greece in 480 BC, the city was defeated following a siege. However, a year later it gathered forces and resisted the siege of Artavazos. In the same year, it was the only city of Macedonia which, along with other Greek cities, took part in the battle of Platees.

Its history goes back a long way in the depths of the centuries. Potidea was a member of the first Alliance between Athens and Delos. It seceded from the alliance in 432/1 BC with the support of the Corinthians and King Perdikas II. In 431 BC, after the siege by the Athenian general Kallias, it was subjugated and subsequently forced to take in settlers from Athens. When the Peloponnesian war was over, Potidea was freed from the domination of Athens and received a second wave of Athenian settlers in 362/1 BC. In 356 BC, it was ruined by the king of Macedonia, Philip II and was turned over to the Olynthians.

In 349/8 BC the city had the fate of the other cities of Chalkidiki, that is, it became part of the Macedonian Kingdom.

After a period of desertion of about 40 years, in 316 BC, Kassandros built on the site of Potidea a new city, which was named after him, Kassandria. In the following period until the taking of Macedonia by the Romans (168 BC), Kassandria developed into one of the most powerful cities of Macedonia. It was almost certainly during this time that the canal was opened up, which facilitated navigation and boosted trade and economic development.

In 168 BC, the city came under Roman rule and flourished a new. Potidea’s decay is linked to the invasions of the Huns, who invaded Macedonia in 540 AD. Consequently, despite Justinian’s efforts in the 6th century AD, the city was completely deserted, according to historical sources. Its castle, being of great importance for the security of the whole peninsula, was repaired by Ioannis VII, Paleologos, in 1407 and later by the Venetians. In 1430 it came under Turkish domination.

With the Greek Revolution of 1821, the old fortification was repaired and reused, while in the same period the new cutting of the canal was made.

In 1821, the revolting people of Chalkidiki entrenched themselves in the castle. They fought hard until the ”turmoil of Kassandra“, the well-known “holocaust” which is commemorated with big official celebrations every year on its anniversary, November 14.

Why go there?

Nea Potidea is an attractive place for holidays with many tavernas and an important harbor. There are many restaurants, bars, super markets, and several stores. In the village live around 900 inhabitants and it is only 57Km from the airport. Nea Potidea is a very beautiful place and is in a perfect location for exploring the rest of Halkidiki.

The Seaview Apartments are located 50 meters from long and sandy beach and have free use of sunbeds. Optional excursions can be arranged by the owners including a chance go to Scuba Diving!

All in all, this is a perfect prize for anyone wishing to visit Halkidiki, so go on…enter and we might see you here in 2012!!!

Continue to read the terms and conditions…