Although Halkidiki’s turquoise waters and Mount Athos usually steal the spotlight, the peninsula’ North is an unexplored treasure of extraordinary beauty and rich history. Holomontas Mountain dominates the area.

The mountain is home to one of Greece’s most important birdlife areas as an important predator birds’ habitat, with large populations of eagles, falcons and condors. The area was granted international protection status under the EU Natura 2000 programme.

With a landscape of valleys, gulches and canyons, Holomontas is ideal for trekking and mountain biking. But a car trip is equally enchanting, as numerous driving routes across the mountain afford the visitor breathtaking views and a chance to visit traditional villages and landmark sites.

Travellers’ favourites include the picturesque village of Agios Prodromos, a meat lover’s cult for Northern Greeks and the mountain town of Taxiarchis, home to Byzantine monasteries. But the area’s top destination is Stageira, birthplace of philosopher Aristotle and important city of the Classical period. The archaeological site features an acropolis, some fortification remains, an ancient temple and Classical and Hellenistic house remnants, while legend has it that ancient Stageirians transferred the philosopher’s relics to the city.