Activities
Ouranoupolis is the “threshold” of Athos. It is the last secular place where the visitor intending to visit the monastic state arrives to. Settled on the borderline between the human and the divine, Ouranoupolis is a magical place, a treasured holiday destination of mystical beauty and elegance.
Velia Ouranoupolis Seaside Apartments reflect peace and serenity. Here luxury meets comfort, giving the feeling that everything is familiar to you …just like home!
The apartments offer magnificent sea and mountain views along with high-quality accommodation services, inviting the quest to have a splendid, relaxed and rejuvenating time. Join Velia and indulge into the incredibly romantic sunset with stunning views of the magnificent waters of the Aegean…
In a distance of 120 km. from Thessaloniki, Ouranoupolis amply rewards each visitor with its natural beauty. A waterfront location at the foot of Mount Athos with historic and architectural grandeur that also provides many opportunities for rest and serenity.
Beaches
Ouranoupolis Beach
On the north side of the imposing Prosforiou Tower, the full service (with umbrellas & sunbeds) beaches of Ouranoupolis are consecutively unfolding. You may also visit the corresponding beaches alongside the coastline all the way to Tripiti.
Drenia
The complex islets of Drenia (or Gaidouronisia) is east of Ammouliani. Drenia is the largest islet and Feti, Penna, Artemi etc are the smaller ones. Only residents of Ammouliani used to go to Drenia to celebrate Clean Monday. At present day, it is an organized tourist destination with umbrellas, sun loungers, tavern-refreshment stand etc. You can go there by boat from Ouranoupolis or rent a private boat to explore every islet and its beaches one by one.
Xiropotami (Xiropotamo)
The extended and famous beach of the homonymous settlement, with blonde sand and shallow waters is ideal for families and kids. It offers view to Siggitikos bay and is located between Tripiti and Kastri/Develiki. It is 8 km away from Ierissos and 4 km away from Develiki via a dirt road.
Pyrgos
The asphalt road starts from the center of Gomati village and ends -following the left branch- at the beach. The organized pebbly beach has also a beach bar.
Komitsa
The northern border to the Holly Mountain -at Skopos position- marks the end of the busy Komitsa beach. It is one of the longest in the Municipality of Aristotle. You will find umbrellas and sun loungers at some points. It is located just 5 km from Nea Roda and approximately 8 km from Ouranoupoli.
Voulitsa
After the picturesque fishing village of Nea Roda, behind the romantic chapel of Agioi Theodoroi, you will discover one of the best sandy beaches of the Akanthios Bay: Voulitsa beach, which stretches between two lush hills – just like all the other stunning beaches of this area!
Sightseeing
The tower of Prosforio
The birds flying around and the fishermen fixing their nets near the pier perfectly match the picture of the lonely, high tower located on the sand. The symbol of Ouranoupoli, the last “postcard” everyone boarding the ship to Mount Athos takes with him, seems to exist there since the 12th century and is the largest and best preserved tower in Halkidiki. The complex consists of the byzantine tower, the small, fortified yard called “barbakas” and the “arsanas” (port) of 1865.
Zygou monastery
It is an old Athonite monastery that was founded in the early 10th century and was destroyed just before 1198. It is located approximately 2km east of Ouranoupoli, just outside the limits of Mount Athos, in a position known as Fragokastro (just 40m outside the borders of Mount Athos). According to data, it seems to be one of the oldest monastic institutions on the Athonite peninsula. It was discovered by a 1984 excavation that took place by archaeologists headed by Joachim Papaggelos. The 10th Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquities is responsible for the archaeological research.
Aristotle’s Park
The Aristotle’s Park, a unique theme park of Halkidiki, is located at an altitude of about 500 meters, in the historical village of Stagira, beside the remains of Machalas, the capital of Mademochoria. It is worth visiting for its interesting instruments and the great view to the gulf of Ierissos. The park preexisted and the wonderful location was chosen in 1956 to host the statue of Aristotle, made by sculptor Nicholas, in honor of the great philosopher who was born in Ancient Stagira.
Ancient Akanthos
Ancient Akanthos stretched in three hills of the Stratoniko mountain, in an 560 acre area, approximately 600m southeast from the Ierissos settlement. The walled city of Akanthos was named after the many thorns of the region or after the thorn-formed shape of the fortification. A systematic excavation has yet to be done. Some of the travelers of the previous century report the existence of an ancient pier in the port of the city. Indeed, present evidence regarding the city start from the beach of Ierissos, where ruins of a platform of the ancient port are preserved.
Canal of Xerxes
It is the largest technical project that took place in Halkidiki during the ancient era. According to Herodotus, in 480 B.C., during the Median wars, Xerxes, the king of Persians, wanted to lead his huge fleet from Akanthos to Thermi (the name of Thessaloniki then) avoiding the danger of the Athonite circumnavigation and avoid having the same fate Mardonios had a decade ago. So, he ordered the opening of a canal that extended from today’s Nea Roda to Tripiti and connected the gulf of Ierrisos to Siggitikos bay where the cities Assa, Piloros, Siggos and Sarti, that had been already subjugated to Persians, were located.
Sailing across the Mount Athos
This excellent thematic trip takes you on a journey into the past, on a tour of the architecture and lifestyle of Byzantium. All the monasteries on the western shore of Mount Athos magically appear one after the other, alternating with a natural landscape of unimaginable beauty, with bold changes between dark green and endless blue, as Mount Athos too is protected by the Natura 2000 European Convention.
The peninsula is inhabited only by monks (2,200 monks) and has twenty (20) monasteries of Byzantine architecture, twelve (12) cloisters and eight hundred (800) cells. Each year, about one million (1,000,000) visitors admire the cradle of Orthodoxy, which has been living according to the rules of life and religiosity of the Byzantines for more than 1,000 years.
Drenia islands by boat
Located at the southeastern end of Ammouliani while just 1,500 meters from the shores of Ouranoupoli.
Well worth a trip up here by excursion boat starting from Ouranoupolis or even better by boat you hire (no license required) to have the option to go to secluded beaches.
There are magnificent beaches, while there are a tavern and a café with sunbeds on the largest islet.
Visit Zigou Monastery
The Zigou monastery is an old Mount Athos monastery founded in the mid of 10th century and was destroyed shortly before 1198. It is located about 2 km. East of Ouranoupoli, just outside the borders of Mount Athos, in a place known as Fragokastro (just 40 meters away from the current border of Mount Athos).