Chalkida - the shape of water
A beautiful one-hour ride to reach the charming and culturally diverse city of Chalkida.
Either thanks to its ever-changing waters and the old sliding Negroponte Bridge or the long strolls along the promenade and the meandering around streets packed with history, Chalkida is undoubtedly one of the places you always say goodbye to with a promise to come back.
The city, owing its name to the copper mines located in the wider region, expands on both sides of Evripos Straits, one part standing on the island of Evia and the other on the coast of Central Greece. If you find yourself on the old bridge at around 11:00 a.m., you will have the opportunity to see it rise for the ships to pass.
If you choose to take a relaxing walk on the waterfront, you will eventually come to the three-storey neoclassical Kotsika Mansion, with its characteristic domes that house the Town Hall of Chalkida, but also the famous "Red House" on the north side of the waterfront and the "House with the Statues", which is the family house of poet and composer Nikos Skalkotas. An exploration with a focus on history would start with a panoramic view of the Euboean coast from the Venetian Castle of Karababas –where a very interesting Archaeological Exhibition is hosted in the western bastion– and continue in the historic quarter of Kastro, as the site around the church of Agia Paraskevi was previously called. Once fortified with walls, the area used to be the old town of Chalkida. While sauntering in its narrow alleys you are bound to discover precious gems, like the last surviving section of the Castle that currently houses the Folklore Museum.
Going downhill, you will see the 15th-century Emir Zade Turkish Mosque with its impressive dome, the Early Christian church of Agia Paraskevi and a little further down, on Kotsou Street, the Jewish Synagogue. This place of worship bears special significance for the city, as the Jews in Chalkida have a history of 2,500 years. Small and yet excellent is the Archaeological Museum with precious finds from all over Euboea dating back to the Paleolithic era and up to the 3rd century AD.
Did you know?
The current of Evripos Straits can change direction even 14 times within 24 hours.
Boasting about its unique architectural features, the Railway Station of Chalkida was built in 1905 and in 2000 it was declared a listed monument.
INFO
The Athens-Chalkida rail service runs regularly every two hours.
Find out about promotions and discounts on initial prices by booking your ticket in time on our website.
