Some excerpts from the website of Alexandrou Traditional Inn that might be useful
3 DAYS PROGRAMME FILOXENIA at OIKIES ALEXANDROU TRADITIONAL INN Arnea Halkidiki Greece. First Day :Greek gastronomie-day We pick you up on your arrival at international Thessaloniki
airport ( Macedonia ) and drive you to Oikies Alexandrou Traditional Innin Arnea (55 minutes away). Welcome aperitiv-Ouzo with greek specialities cooked by Lida at the Inn. Sightseeing and getting to know the traditional area of Arnea. Visit St. Stephan church,the Historical and Folklore Museum of Arnea, the enchanting wood and country chapel of St. Paraskevi and taste feta cheese and sheep yoghurt at the local cheese factory. In the afternoon we visit the famous Claudia Papayanni winery, taste the local wine and have a wine produktion experience. Dining at Alexandrou Traditional Inn. Walking day We drive up Holomontas mountain and walk (hike) through the famous pine-chestnuttree forest for a picknick. Visit to central square, tasting and buying local traditional products (honey, tsipouro, mountovina). In the evening cooking session with Lida at Inn. 3 rd Day : Aristotles birthplace and the monasteries of Mount. Athos by boat In the morning we drive to Ouranoupoli and cruise around the monasteries of Agion Oros ( Mount Athos ). We have greek
lunch (cheesepies, sandwiches, olives,season fruits - all prepared at the Inn) on boat. In the afternoon we visit the ancient site of Stagira, the birthplace of Aristotle and the womens association of Varvara and taste their local traditional products(Greek spoon sweets, jams and pasta). In the evening relaxing in the hotels
spa area which is equipped with a
jacuzzi,
sauna, hammam and a small
gym. The price of the FILOXENIA programme includes: Three ( 3 ) nights accommodation in our fantastic ALEXANDROU TRADITIONAL INN. Four ( 4 )
breakfasts, n othing feels like waking up in the superior warmth of a down
duvet, knowing that the best homemade
breakfast you have ever tasted waits for you. Typical local products (honey, feta, yoghurt), homemade pies and jams, pancakes, fritters, cakes and fruit juices are served in the
breakfast hall for the start of a wonderful day! Three ( 3 )
lunches, with one picknick. la Greek, one at Inn with greek specialities and another
lunch outside during the visit of the local villages. Three ( 3 )
dinners, a table set with fine porcelain, serving steaming hot local traditional dishes is ready to refresh you before the grand night.A ll is homemade, with local and fresh vegetables of the season purchased at the local producers. The visits of the first day with Dimitris. One afternoon cooking session (second day) with Lida, at our Inn. One hiking-day with us (second day). One day
tour with us (third day). The use of the hotels
spa area for one time. All the transportation during the all stay with our car, by
Taxi or by local Bus, from the rendez-vous point in international Thessaloniki
airport on the 1rst morning, back to the same point on the 4th morning. And of course, friendliness and authenticity which have no price. The
drinks and the
tickets for the Mount Athos excursion are the only things extra. DISTANCES FROM ARNEA. 1) Ouranoupoli 50 km- 40 min by car (the cruise around the Monasteries lasts for about 3 hours) 2) Olympiada(Ancient Stagira) 35 km- 35 min by car 3) Holomondas 20km- 25 min by car. The Total Price of the FILOXENIA programme is: 770,00 euro /couple - 420,00 euro/person. (minimum 1 group ( 4 persons )/ / maximum 2 groups ( 8 persons ) or 3 groups (12 persons ). Looking forward to welcoming you.Cordially DIMITRIS - VASSILIS LIDA ALEXANDROU
OVERVIEW: Characterized by the Ministry of Culture as a rich historical location, the beautiful and picturesque village of ARNEA, that dates back to Ancient Greece and also maintains very important samples of traditional Macedonian architecture, lies on the foot of Mount Holomonda, and is approximately 70 km from the city
center of Thessaloniki. This is where one will find Alexandrou Traditional Inn, a unique, historical two storey building that was built in 1812 whose restoration and renovation began in 1998 and was completed in 2000 and another 2- storey traditional building whose restoration and renovation began in 2005 and was completed in 2006. Alexandrou Traditional Inn is reminiscent of a bygone era, a past rich in Greek history and will certainly leave its guest with memories of a wonderful vacation. RECREATION: With Arnea as a starting point, Alexandrou Traditional Inn offers its guest a variety of activities. A daily
trip to Ouranoupolis and also a cruise around Monasteries of Mount Athos is no doubt an experience not to be missed. Visit the ancient town of Stagira, the birthplace of Aristotle. Nature lovers can enjoy bush walking, mountain climbing, fishing or you can simply choose to go swimming and enjoy the sun and the crystal clear waters of Chalkidikis magical beaches. DINING: A traditional caf
restaurant at Alexandrou Traditional Inn offers its guest not only a rich, scrumptious
breakfast but deliciously prepared home cooked meals as well. FEATURES: Every corner at Alexandrou Traditional Inn has been furnished and decorated with antiques, carefully chosen by its owners. All
rooms are fitted with
bathroom,
telephone,
TV. This exquisite mansion features the following: Ground Floor: Large reception area, sitting
room with fireplace,
TV, traditional caf
restaurant for
breakfast,
drinks,
coffee and meals. 1st Floor: Large central
lounge room with
balcony,
4 triple rooms and
2 double rooms. Max capacity : 16 beds. Basemant: There is a common used
room with installations of Hammam,
Sauna, Hydro
massage, Treadmill and Excersise
Bike Ground Floor: A small sitting
room,
kitchen and
2 double rooms 1st Floor:
2 suites with
two rooms, for 4 persons eachone There is also an independent half- openaired space with fireplace and old oven, for sitting
room use. Max capacity : 12 beds. TOTAL CAPACITY: 28 BEDS
When you are welcomed into this lovely guesthouse, you will encounter the large reception hall with open fireplace, which sets an elegant scene for the rest of the house. There you can enjoy a memorable
breakfast with delicious homemade jams, marmalade and sweets. The hosts are keen cooks who take pride in serving the best ingredients in a variety of tasty ways. In the same area guests can enjoy delicious suppers in the evening, taste wines from the excellent wine list, read, listen to music or just relax a while in the separate residents
lounge. (This
room can entertain up to 30 people.) In the first floor, there is a central
lounge room with immediate access to the
balcony, which can accommodate
meetings of 15 people. The interior is decorated with antique
furniture, lamps and objects, while there are also fine wooden ceilings with elaborate square decoration in every
room. In the outer eastern side of the guesthouse there is a properly shaped yard filled with fragrant roses, pink camellias,
gardenias and many other beautiful flowers. In the basement there is a common used
room with installations of Hammam,
Sauna, Hydro
massage, Threadmill and Excersise
Bike. On the ground floor there is a small sitting
room,
kitchen and
2 double rooms. There is also an independent half-open air space with fireplace and old oven, for sitting
room use.
The available
rooms are:
3 Double rooms (
room No 1, Nu; 10, No 11).
1 Twin room (
room No 4).
2 Triple rooms with 1 double and 1 single bed (
room No
2, room No 6).
2 Triple rooms with 1 double and 1 single bed, with the possibility to add 1 more single bed (
room No
3, room No5). 2 Fourbed
suites (
room No. 12 -
13, room No. 14 - 15). Each
room is provided with en
suite WC-
shower,
telephone,
TV,
hair dryer, full
central heating, quality linen and towels. All
rooms are furnished with antiques, original paintings, as well as interesting family possessions and ornaments. All
rooms are of different colour, individually decorated with fine wooden ceilings and painted square decorations. Luxury all-cotton linen is provided with lace and velvety
duvets.
The history of Arnea. The village of Arnea is already known from ancient times as (Arne or Avge). Remnants of the old town have been found on the hill of Prophet Ilias, 3 km northeast of the settlement, while today there is a significant archeological excavation in progress with important finds. In the late 15 th century a large settlement was established in the area, which was called Liarigovi or Liarigova (a name that was preserved up to 1928) and consisted one of the 12 communities that comprised the Mantemohoria (cast
iron villages), during the pre-revolutionary period. In 1821 it was totally destroyed by the Turks. After the destruction, the inhabitants returned, rebuilt the village and lived there again. In 2 November 1912 it was liberated from the Turkish rule. Around 1932 Arnea was the biggest village in northern Halkidiki with 3000 residents. Their main occupation was agriculture, cattle-raising, logging, beekeeping, carpet weaving, mining, shoe making as well as timber and cattle trade. According to legend, the settlement wasn't found on a pre-existing organized area. The first clusters of houses were built around the central square bazaar, the square choir and kari bazaar, on the exact spots where they are today. The central road was, and still remains, the one that connects bazaar square with choir. Of great significance are the samples of Traditional Macedonian Architecture, such as the old school (today the town hall), the temple of St. Stephan with the old bell tower, the Katsaggelos mansion (today the folklore museum of Arnea) the chapel of St. Paraskevi and a large number of houses. Today, Arnea is one of the most important municipalities of Halkidiki and perhaps one the most picturesque villages in the area. Built at the foot of the luxuriant massif of Holomondas, it is surrounded by a beautiful and emotive landscape. It lies on the main road to Mt. Athos, 70 km away from Thessaloniki and 38 km away from Polygyros, the capital of the prefecture. Its population is about 2500 people. Having preserved its traditional features and the natural environment unalterable until today, Arnea has been characterized by the Ministry of Culture as a rich historical location. The traditional settlement, the manners and customs of the locals, the authentic produce (honey, yogurt, feta, textiles), the magnificent scenery as well as the hospitable people of Arnea, form a valuable reference point and a strong
centre of attraction for its visitors. The guest has a variety of fascinating possibilities of coming in contact with the local folklore, the natural
beauty and the simple, welcoming people. One can enjoy pleasant walks in the traditional area, with the old houses, the narrow paths and little alleys. They can learn about the history and culture of the area by visiting the folklore museum of Arnea, feel the religious devoutness in the old churches of St. Stephan and St. Anargyroi or in the exquisite, secluded chapels. Through a net of delightful sightseeing
tours, picturesque paths and recreation areas, the visitor can approach and savour the unspoiled landscape and its un-polluted produce, as well as taste delicious homemade food. Besides they can enjoy themselves immensely. With Arnea as a starting point there are some particularly preferential options for daily
trips. They can make a fascinating excursion-pilgrimage to Mt. Athos, visit the ancient Stageira (the birthplace of Aristotle), the Byzantine castle Nepossi, which is very close, go swimming or fishing to the enchanting and spotless beaches of Halkidiki, or go hiking and climbing on the beautiful slopes of Holomontas inside the forest.