Halki is a beautiful small island in the southeast Aegean. Designated by UNESCO as the Island of Peace and Friendship , it stands out for its peaceful atmosphere, dreamy beaches, picturesque harbor with impressive architecture, and wonderful natural landscapes .
The most famous settlement on the island is Niborio. There, in the port, you will see the picturesque and light-bathed houses that look like paintings. You will see the islanders in the windows and yards and you will browse the alleys of the settlement. With just one walk in Niborio, you immediately feel your heart overcome by calmness, peace and happiness. The mansions and restored houses have colors taken from a painter’s palette. They make the scenery magical.
The scenery is completed by the fishing boats rocking on the sea, the clock on the towering stone tower and the Town Hall building. Also an old mansion with neoclassical architecture and the church of Agios Nikolaos, with its magnificent bell tower.
This is a settlement which has been classified as strictly preserved. All renovations and restorations of buildings are done without deviations from the local architectural elements of Halki.
ARCHITECTURE
Port of Nibori: Built at the foot of the mountain, it is today the only inhabited area of Chalki. The houses of “Italian” architectural style but also neoclassical, two-story and tiled roofs, with 5 windows, a large door per floor and a gable with “of” almos, reach to the sea creating an image of island nobility.
Bell tower of Agios Nikolaos (Niborios): Supported on an arch with embedded ancient marbles from the temple of Apollo.
Clock: Donation of the Chalkites from abroad, in front of the Town Hall, a building of exceptional architecture with twin side staircases and rich decoration.
Post Office: Built in the well-known architectural style that the Italians imposed on all the Dodecanese, with curved lines and a geometric mood.
Kefes: Old corrals, made of large stones with a second layer of outer wall, scattered throughout Chalki.
Embedded in the walls of houses and in the bell tower of Agios Nikolaos one finds ancient inscribed architectural members.
What you should not miss in Chalki, the paradise of the Dodecanese
- The famous castle on top of the hill of Ai-Nicolas, above the old village, built by the knights of Ag. John in the 14th-15th century
- The mill of Katsias, located in an area inhabited since the Prehistoric Period.
- The monastery with the miraculous icon of St. John the Forerunner, which celebrates on August 29, when the famous festival takes place