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Tourist Guide of Chalki |
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Chalki is one of the Dodecanese Islands, to the west of Rhodes. It is long and narrow in shape, of a length of 10 kms (east-west) and a width of 3 kms (north-south). The "physiology" is marked by the mountains and the imposing rocks combined with sandy and pebble beaches.
IMBOREIOS
The settlement of Chalki -the only one inhabited today- is Imboreios. This is a village in the traditional style, standing in the shape of an amphitheatre on the natural shore-line of its attractive harbour. The bay of its natural harbour, the houses and the colours are well matched in a dream landscape.
The houses -mostly renovated- are tasteful, built of stone, with tiled roofs and mosaics of pebbles on the balconies and in their courtyards. An imposing sight is formed by the bell-tower of the Church of Agios Nikolaos, an exceptional piece of architecture, in which marble memebers from the ancient temple at Pefkia have been incorporated. The village streets are paved and free of motor vehicles. Thus it is possible to sit at one of the many little taverns, coffe-shops, patisseries or bars, which in summer bustle with life, and enjoy the peace and quiet.
CHORIO
Chorio lies on the mountain slope, below the Castle. It is reached by following the road which crosses Imboreios, in about 50 minutes on foot. Chorio was abandoned in the mid twentieth century, when life was transposed to Imporeios, but it remains alive in people's memories. It stands on ancient foundations and is built with carved stone and pieces of column capitals which date from before the second century AD.
KASTRO
Kastro is reached by a ten-minute climb from Chorio. It dominates the mountain top, and was built by the Knights of St. John during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries on the site of the ancient acropolis of Chorio.
PANORMITIS
Panormitis, the Chapel of the Archangel Michael, is ten-minutes' walk beyond Chorio and attracts all the residents of Chalki on its feast day, 8 November. It was built in the nineteenth century by sponge-fishers, next to a chapel of the tenth or eleventh century. From here it is possible to admire the view of almost the whole of eastern Chalki, Imboreios, the coast, Pontamos, a small archipelago of rocky islets (Krevati, Nisos, Praousa, Kolophonas, Attrakousa) and, in the far distance, Rhodes.
AGIOS IOANNIS ALARGAS
In the western part of the island is the Monastery of Agios Ioannis Alargas, which is adorned with huge cypreess-tree. Recently, small cells have been built for the accommodation of pilgrims. The route to this point takes about an hour and a half to cover, passing through what is at one and the same time a barren but also imposing landscape, dotted with occasional dry stone-walling, fig-trees and cactuses, while sage, rosemary and other herbs give off their fragrances all around.
BEACHES
Chalki is ringed round with many attractive beaches, some accessible on foot and others which can be reached by boat. The easiest to reach is Pentamos (sandy, 10 minutes from the port), Ftenagia (small, rocky beach, behind the Chapel of Agia Katerini, 15 minutes on foot), Kania (25 minutes on foot, in the north of the island), Yali (pebble beach, on the south of the island), Trachia (double beach beyond Pontamos, can be reached only by boat) and Areta (on the northern side of the island, also reached by boat).
FAIRS
Chalki has fairs which are well-known for their merrymaking, to the sound of the lyre and with competitions in impromptu song composition. The best known is that of Agios Ioannis on 29 August, celebrated at the Monastery of Agios Ioannis Alargas. |
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