Bronze, the little lady

OR Halki is a small island of the Dodecanese located very near Rose, just 11 nm. the area Rhodes Kamiros Skala. The capital and only settlement, it's the Emporio or Niborio or Imporeio. Located in TO. end, the cape bed and is built amphitheatrically above the port.

Halki got its name from the copper mines that exist on the island or from the Phoenician word "Calhoun», purple shell that abounded in the island and the Phoenicians traded. It was an important center of commerce, the sponge and shipping (20^th ). Today the inhabitants are mainly engaged in farming and fishing. In Halki APPO operates aquaculture unit. The island is mountainous with rocky terrain and few beaches mainly in the SE side.

Cars are prohibited from moving on the road in front of the port. In fact the car is not necessary as in most beaches you can walk, the local minibus or by boat. Halki has been declared "International Peace Center and Youth Friendship".

SIGHTS

Niborio, the only settlement on the island, full of rich mansions, in neoclassical architecture 19^th century. Walk on the pedestrian street in front of the harbor, The "rank" for the locals and the narrow streets. You will see the impressive red building was the center of the sponge, Today hotel "Aretanassa" and the parish church of St. Nicholas (1861), with the pebbled courtyard and impressive belfry. Inside singles wooden screen and the small church Sacristy (tel. : 22460 45210). The Tower of the Clock, front of City Hall, They are donated Chalkiades from America. The Post Office building and the Port Authority are representative examples of Italian architecture. The school of the island, called 'Socrates Fanourakis ", by the great benefactor of the island and is housed in the historic building of the Girls (1914). summers, in the schoolyard performed musical events. The Cultural Center "Socrates Fanourakis", in collaboration with Captain to Diogenes Foundation Fanouraki (Chalkitis, 1913 – 1944) performs various cultural events, as reports, speeches etc.. Behind City Hall, Lyceum of Greek Women in the hall you will see a small Folk Museum and Windmills, to the cemetery.

Castle, 2.200 sq.m. built on the ancient acropolis, hilltop Paleokastro or St. Nicholas. The Knights chose Halki as a feud family Assanti from Ischia, which used it as their residence (1366). The castle was damaged during the Venetians and restored by the Grand Master, Pierre d 'Aubousson (1476-1530), that's why there is the coat of arms in the north of. In the area of the castle there is a single-nave church St. Nicholas (13^th c.) with frescoes 15^th and 17^th century. You will get following the road that leads to the beach Pontamos.
Ancient settlement Village (4^th century. B.C.), the slope of the hill of St. Nicholas, just below the castle. He was the first inhabited settlement on the island and you will see houses with simple construction method and the Byzantine church.
Lady villagers. After the end of piracy (1830) and the flourishing commerce residents abandoned mountain village and began to settle in the harbor, the Niborios (is about 2 km).
thrones Zeus and Hecate, located near the walls of the medieval castle. You will see a rock with two carved thrones or altars, Hellenistic Period, the inscription Zeus and Hecate(th).
Monastery St. John of 'Far away» (1835), "Alarcon" by the locals means away, as the monastery is built 7 km away from the village, NW. Nimborios, in altitude 386 m. The church celebrates on Beheading the Head of John the Baptist, at 29 August. You will arrive at the Monastery following the road to the Castle and the Village, where the road ends.
Remains 3 ancient temples dedicated to the worship of Apollo, the location Pefkia.
"Kyfes", very old agrikies, boulders, which served as residences for farmers. They are found mainly in the Cape Head, in D.. the island but unfortunately there is no road and access is extremely difficult.

CHALKI CUSTOMS – FESTIVALS

29 August in Beheading the Head of John the Baptist. It is the monastery of Ag. John «Far away"And it is the biggest festival of the island, with music by local musicians and traditional chorous.To festival begins on the eve 28 August where after celebrating Mass, in the courtyard of the church offered free food, lamb with potatoes or spaghetti and the party lasts until morning. On the day of the celebration is a procession of the image at the port and offered Lenten pastries.
15 August in Assumption of Mary. It is the church Mary villagers, in the Village. The celebration begins on the eve 14 August where, after vespers, locals to the accompaniment of the lyre, wine and food begin teasing each other with satirical couplets.
14 September, in the Cross church.
If you find yourself in Easter Island namely M. Friday, you will experience the following custom. After the Cross church closes and opens at dawn Saturday. Then after the praise of M.. Friday is a procession of Epitaphios from one end of the port at the other. Children go from house to house , knocking doors and windows with stones and shout "Lift for Epitaph». At the end of the behavior becomes'bakatikiasma» a kind of auction Epitaph. OR Resurrection it is like in the rest of Greece, midnight but the dawn of M. Saturday, arround 3-4 in the morning. During the second Resurrection, under the cypress located in the courtyard of the church Nimborios, hang and burn "Franc», symbolizing Judas.

CHALKI - BEACHES

Pontamos, It is the largest beach of the island but you get the feeling that you are somewhat cramped. it is sandy, organized with umbrellas and sun beds and has a canteen and restaurant. Located behind the "Aretanassa Hotel", in the southern part of the island. The road is asphalt, but you can walk from the harbor (10 minutes), by car or bus.
Trachea, located after Pontamos, below a medieval castle. They are essentially the 2 small beaches formed by a piece of land protruding into the sea. The access is done only by boat.

Ftenagia, small rocky beach with some sand. The access is a bit difficult as the road is not asphalted. If you go away, from the port and to the side of "Aretanassa 'hotel, follow the dirt road behind the church of St. Catherine. Then go down the rocks, from the back and get to the beach (15 minutes). If the road passes beneath the windmills you want to go by car. The beach has umbrellas and taverna.
Kania , located north of the port. It is a small beach, sandy, with clear waters, organized with umbrellas and beach chairs and beach bar – restaurant, very good food. August attracts many people and not suitable for those who want silence. It is ideal for diving so it operates a diving center Chalki Dive Center (information tel. : 6943 117220, chalkidive.com). H accessed by local bus, as the road is asphalt, but you can easily go on foot. From Niborio, after school, in the 2^The strait will turn right and continue to the beach (25 minutes).

Giali, Stan. the island to the old village, Village. It is a small beach, full of white pebbles, quite isolated, so it must be obtained from food and water before. You can arrive by car to the village and then walk, go down the road or go by boat.
The small rocky beach in front of the hotel "Aretanassa»Considered« must ». You can sit in the cafeteria that features the hotel or lounge chairs and dive in the crystal waters. There is a ladder in order to get off safely.

CHALKI - NEARBY ESCAPES

Islet Alimia or Alimnia Halki, between the island of Halki - Rhodes.

The island is uninhabited but has a great beach in the bay of St. George. You can arrive with your own boat or boat ride from Nimborio running day trips. On the way from Halki would see many dolphins. The Alimia, like the islet Bed, belonging to the Network "Nature 2000», as a Special Protection Area (SPA). There is a small lake with salt water, NW. Island's, known as Salty pond Alimnia, which is one of the 37 Dodecanese natural wetlands. The islet Alimia, is known internationally as here have been filming the reality game «The Island».

CHALKI – ACCOMMODATION

Aretanassa Hotel (tel.: +30 22460 70927 , +30 6983 198718)

The characteristic red building in Niborio, once there is storage of sponges. He was named by the queen of Halki, Aretanassa, who lived on the island. The exiled in Karpathos, where he committed suicide when he learned about the death of her husband. Halki there are many villas that are rented by their owners. Indicatively we report the following :

Cohili Villas (tel: 22410 22163, 22440 48022, 6973 375162)
VILLA VILLA EVI and FTENAGIA (tel. : 22460 45321, 6948 084235 & 6977 482823
VILLA ROSALIA (tel. : 697 986 7319)
VILLA heartrending, Ftenagia beach (tel: 22410 25 179, 210 7756694, 6977 086972)
VILLA LIVANIOS (te:+30 22460 45231, +30 22460 45245, 6942 624 072
Room settings (tel. : 697 9657968 & 6978838091)
Marina Castellana Resort (tel. : 69372 80955)
Admiral’s House (tel. : 69371 81225)
VILLA Muscovy ( tel. : 6944 616560)
Villa Dolphins (tel: 22410 36754, 6979 670544)
Villa Kalypso (tel.: 693 6128308)
VILLA ANTONIS (tel. : 695 5147001)
CASSANDRA VILLA (tel. : 694 6585137)
AEGEAN VIEW VILLAS (tel. : 6939 529516)
CAPTAIN’S HOUSE ROOMS (tel: 22460 45 201, 210 72 31 919)
hypate VILLA (tel. : 693 6676667)

WHAT TO EAT IN CHALKI

Fresh fish and fish soup, "Makarouni" and "cool" that traditionally Chalkiti spaghetti, local lamb or goat, fakoryzo and cheese made by farmers on the island. In the taverns you can taste and fish, as bream, from aquaculture operated on the island, at a very affordable price. For dessert try xerotigana and donuts with local honey.

ACCESS TO CHALKI

Rhodes – Halki

From the main port of Rhodes, Sea gate "Column" ferry company Anek Lines (3 times a week, distance 35 nm. and lasts about 2 hours 10 minutes).

From the main port of Rhodes, Sea gate "Column", with the company's catamaran Dodekanisos Seaways (2 times a week, duration 1 hour 15 minutes, Price € 18 per person). During the summer months, Departures return the same day, every Tuesday (Rhodes – Halki 08:30-09:45 and Halki – Rhodes 17:00-18:20) Thursday (Rhodes – Halki 08:30-09:45, Halki – Rhodes 17:00-18:20)

Kameiros Skala Rhodes - Halki

From Kamiros Skala Rhodes, a small port in D.. Rhodes where you can go from Rhodes town by local bus.

From Kamiros Skala Rhodes, the boat 'ISLE CHALKI " (tel. : 6947 811176- 6959 259733) and "NICK EXPRESS» (tel. : 6946 826905) (duration 1 time 15 minutes, Price € 5 per person) ), depart every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, from Camiros 14:40 and Halki 6:00 or speedboat «FAIDON» (tel. : 6942 799487), departs every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from Camiros 14:40 and Halki 6:00 (length about 45 minutes, Price € 5 per person)

From Kamiros Skala Rhodes with the water taxi "Stelios Kazantzidis" by (length about 40 minutes (tel: 6944 434429, daily departures)

Piraeus - Chalki

From Piraeus to the company ships Aegean Sea (Anek LINES) performing route Piraeus, milo, Santorini, Anafi, Heraklion, Sitia, Kasos, Karpathos (wells), Carpathians (Diafani), Halki, Rhodes (2 times a week, length about 22 hours)

Symi, Tilos, Nisyros, Halki, Kastelorizo, Kos, Kalymnos, Smudgy, Patmos, Lipsi, Agathonisi,Arki, Samos (Pythagorean), Icaria (Ag.Kirykas), ovens with the company Dodekanisos Seaways (2 times a week, duration 35 minutes).

The Halki island has no airport can be reached by air to Rhodes and from there a boat to spend Halki. Kamiros Skala is Rhodes International Airport "Diagoras" Rhodes, 35 km.

useful information