Battlefields in Chalkidiki

Chalkidiki is today a popular summer tourist destination, due to the perfect combination of that distinctive Greek light, unspoiled landscapes, colors and smells. However, in the ancient times it has been the landscape of war and battles. Two of the most prominent sieges are those of Potidaea and Olynthus. Potidaea, located 70 km from Thessaloniki, was a Corinthian colony revolted against Athenians in 432 BC and it was besieged at the beginning of the Peloponnesian War and

taken in the Battle of Potidaea after three years. Olynthus, some 15 km north of Potidaea was an important city and Philipp II besieged it in 348 BC and he eventually gained possession of the city. The Xerxes Canal was a navigable canal through the base of the Mount Athos peninsula, near the village Nea Roda, built by king Xerxes I of Persia in 483-480 BC. It was an engineering feat, 2 km in length and 30m wide.