Petralona – Potidea

First Stop: Petralona Cave

Petralona Cave is a karst formation, located at an altitude of 300 meters above sea level, on the western slope of Mount Katsikas, about 1 km east of the village of Petralona and 35 km southeast of the city of Thessaloniki, in Chalkidiki. The area became known when a fossilized skull of an ancient man was discovered in 1960. The cave had been discovered by chance just a year earlier (1959), when erosion left cracks in the rock. The cave is “decorated” with impressive stalactites and stalagmites and has a multitude of fossils, which made it attractive to geologists and paleontologists. After decades of excavations, the cave is open to the public and the scientific work is documented and presented in the neighboring Archaeological Museum. The most famous fossil of the cave is the "Petralona Skull", known to paleoanthropologists. The museum exhibits selected objects found in the cave. Since 2011, the Petralona cave and museum have been under the responsibility of the Greek Archaeological Service. Since February 2024, the Petralona Cave has been reopened to the public, following renovations to its infrastructure.

Second Stop: Nea Potidea Beach

Nea Potidea is home to a characteristic canal, where the ruins of ancient walls and a Doric tomb overlook the fishing boats that pass between the Toroneos and Thermaikos gulfs. Parallel coastlines cover both sides of the peninsula, with lively bars and relaxed cafes on the eastern shore and traditional tavernas by the harbor, serving seafood dishes on the western side.