Simantro Resort is highlighted by its stunning natural beauty, the richness of Greek heritage, and a culture shaped by centuries of history and beloved Greek traditions.
Location
Halkidiki is one of the six regions of Central Macedonia. The three peninsulas of Mount Athos, Sithonia, and Kassandra constitute the southern part of the region and are indeed Greece’s secret paradises. Hundreds of kilometers of endless sandy beaches, azure waters, pine forests, picturesque villages with archaeological treasures make Halkidiki the best destination to combine business with pleasure.
Brief History of Halkidiki
According to mythology, Halkidiki was the location of a huge battle between Zeus and the other Olympian Gods against the Giants, children of Gaia and Uranus. Enceladus, the leader of the Giants, was buried alive in Kassandra. The area of Kassandra took its name from Cassander, the king of Macedonia. Sithonia took its name from Sithon, the son of the sea god, Poseidon. Athos was a colossal giant who threw a huge rock at Zeus but missed. Excavations in the Petralona Cave as well as in other parts of the region have proved the existence of human life in Halkidiki for at least 700,000 years.
In the 8th century BC, colonists from Chalkis and Eretria arrived in Halkidiki and founded important cities. These cities, in the 5th century BC, would form the “League of Halcidians”, which was dissolved in 379 BC by the Spartans. Established organized societies flourished in central Halkidiki around the 4th century BC, among which Olynthus was the most significant.
During the 5th century, Halkidiki participated in the Persian Wars, leading to the siege of Olynthus, during which all residents were killed by the Persians. After the Greeks’ victory at Salamina in 480 BC, the inhabitants of the two largest cities, Olynthus and Potidaea, rebelled against the Persians and expelled them from their cities.
In 348 BC, Halkidiki became part of the Macedonian Kingdom under Philip and Alexander the Great. New cities were founded, such as Kassandreia, Ouranoupolis, and Antigonia, north of present-day Nea Kallikratia. In the subsequent centuries, particularly in 168 BC, Halkidiki was conquered by the Romans, marking the decline of its cities. It later came under Byzantine rule, during which the region faced several invasions by Goths, Huns, Catalans, and others.
In the 9th century, the monastic state of Mount Athos was established, while in 1430, Halkidiki fell into Turkish hands, remaining so despite uprisings until 1912 when it achieved long-awaited liberation and union with Greece. In 1922, with the settlement of thousands of refugees from Asia Minor, a new period began in Halkidiki. The coexistence of locals and refugees contributed to the cultural and economic development of Halkidiki, which continues to this day.
Historical Area of Sani
Sani is a beautiful location just before Nea Fokaia, which was an ancient colony of the Eretrians. It is located 83 km away from Thessaloniki.
During ancient times, the area was home to the acropolis of ancient Sani, a city that flourished in the region until the Roman Empire period. Over the following centuries, Sani became the site of estates owned by the monasteries of Mount Athos.
In 1089, the region of Megali Kypsa became an estate (ktima) of the Athonite Monastery of Xenophontos, remaining in its possession until the 1920s. By the 14th century, there were many Athonite estates in the area, from which the monasteries primarily obtained cereals, wine, dairy products, fish, and salt from the coastal estates, processed metals, and timber. These Athonite estates also served as spiritual beacons for the areas where they were established and operated. Many churches from these estates still exist today. The lands and buildings of the Xenophontos estate were handed over to the state in 1931. The shortest access to the Aegean, the Balkans, and Southern Europe is found in the Kassandra Peninsula in Halkidiki, just 45 minutes away from Thessaloniki International Airport and 45 nautical miles from the port.
Simantro Resort, located in the area of Megali Kypsa, is an ideal choice for nature lovers, as it is just a few steps away from the sea and surrounded by pine trees. The uniqueness of the hotel lies in its architecture, which mimics that of the monasteries of Mount Athos. The unit is characterized by Byzantine elements and details made of wood and stone, giving it its unique character.
Roman Villa Rustica
On the western coast of the Kassandra Peninsula, in the area of Megali Kypsa, in the broader region of Sani, and right next to Simantro Resort, lies a unique archaeological treasure, which, when discovered, illuminated unknown aspects of the history of Halkidiki for at least five centuries!
In the area identified in 1971, the archaeological excavation led by Dr. Archaeologist Ioakim Papangelou in 2008 unearthed a Roman Villa Rustica, which seems to have been established around the late 3rd century AD and continued to exist in use until the 8th century AD. It is a large architectural complex, occupying an area of 10 acres. It consists of residential areas, wine and olive oil storage rooms, an olive oil and wine production complex, and includes in its courtyard many ceramic kilns.
At the center of the complex is the atrium, surrounded by a colonnade of ground and first-floor columns with 42 columns. Attached to the eastern side of the atrium is an idiosyncratic tri-apsed basilica, which, according to excavation data, was not a space of Christian worship but appears to have been a “triclinium,” i.e., a space for official receptions.
In the 6th century AD, the triclinium with its mosaic floor was destroyed, and in the middle aisle, a Christian church was built, which seems to have functioned until the 8th century AD. The find is considered unique for the region of Macedonia and gives archaeologists, for the first time, the opportunity to comprehensively study such a site in the area. The basilica that operated within the villa reveals the relationship of ecclesiastical architecture of provincial early Christian basilica-type churches with corresponding secular buildings of the Roman era.
Settlement of Agricultural Estates of
Xenophon Megalis Kypsa Halkidiki
Source: https://kassandria.gr/index.html
A small treasure of nature next to Simantro Resort
We would love to share with you our little treasure with the terrapins. Next to our hotel and by the stream that flows into the sea, there is a colony of terrapins that offer a unique spectacle from the distinctive fauna of our area.
The Stripe-necked Terrapin (scientifically Mauremys Rivulata) is one of the 2 common turtle species that live in Greece and the Eastern Mediterranean. It has a dark green to black color with light-colored stripes on the neck and limbs. We find them in wetlands, including marshes, rivers, and small lakes with continuous presence of water and abundant vegetation on the banks. They feed on small fish, frogs, tadpoles, and plants. There are no large populations of the species, and it is strictly protected by the European Directive 92/43/EC.
These creatures generously allow us to share their daily lives, but they require our utmost respect. They are timid and shy animals that easily get frightened. To protect their health and tranquility, we kindly ask that when you visit the area, do not approach them too closely and do not feed them with bread or any other human food, as their metabolism cannot easily assimilate it and it may harm them.
Olympos Beach Tavern
A fresh addition to the culinary scenery of Simantro
Located right next to the beach, Olympos offers heavenly good food and the option to enjoy it from the morning until late in the afternoon. There is a wide collection of fresh fish you can taste while gazing at the Aegean sea. You can choose from the buffet or try the a la carte menu.
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