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HISTORY OF MARMARAS AND PARTHENONASMARMARAS
Neos Marmaras was founded after the Turkish uprootment of 1922 by refugees who originated from the island of Marmaras in the Propondithas region of Asia Minor. Up until 1967 many residents from the neighboring town of Parthenona had established themselves in Neos Marmaras. In 1970 when the community of Parthenona was abolished the town was eventually abandoned and the residents were naturalized as residents of Neos Marmaras. With both personal industry and great economic support from their Greek-American compatriots these refugees of Marmaras completed construction efforts ranging from the town's school to the Great Archangel Church founded in 1937. The first regular means of transport with Thessaloniki was conducted in the spring of 1946 by sea. In the spring of 1952 roadwork stretching from Marmara to Nikiti was completed and Neos Marmaras acquired road access to the rest of Chalkidiki and Thessaloniki. In 1959 municipality approval was granted and in 1961 first signed. At that time Neos Marmaras had 1.200 residents. In 1975 the New Aqueduct was built and water was supplied to the greater part of the town. From 1979-80 construction of the New Civic Center was undertaken and eventually completed. In 1985 the Paschalaki Cultural Civic Center was built at the site of the Old Town Hall with the charitable benefaction of American compatriot Artemis Paschalaki. Neos Marmaras High School has operated from that location since 1987. At present the permanent residents of the town roughly number 3000 with their primary means of occupation being that of fishing, agriculture (vineyards, olives, etc.), beekeeping, hunting and, above all, tourism.
The town receives a great deal of
tourist trade from May until October with population surges approaching
that of 20,000. Amongst the town hotels there lies the hotel resort
of Porto Carras. With three hotels, 2,500 beds, modern auditoriums,
convention centers, dance halls, a cinema, various sports activities
(golf, tennis, surfing, sailing, fishing), and organized athletic
events (champion sailing, golf, biking, chess, etc.) it is the largest
hotel resort in the Balkans. At Porto Carras one can also find the
only private marina of Northern Greece and one of the largest and
best-known European vineyards producing world famous wine. It is
in this rather large hotel enterprise that many residents of N.
Marmaras and those of neighboring villages find employment. Within
the town one can also find hundreds of room rentals in the area
and plenty of supermarkets, folk art stores, taverns, restaurants,
cafeterias, bars, clubs, car-rental companies, buses, taxis, hair
salons, pharmacies, medical labs, and dental offices. There are
also three foreign language schools that operate in the town as
well as a school for continuing education, a Tae Kwon Do school,
a scuba diving school, and aerobic exercise gym. As for sports there's
a town soccer team (ΑΕΟ Propontis) and a basketball team for men,
women, teens, and children (ΑΟΚ Neos Marmaras). The Cultural and
Folkloric Association, known as the Proikonisos, is responsible
for hosting events such as the annual "Memories of the Old
Country" festival that includes re-enactments of matchmaking-engagements
and the Joy (of marriage) as was done in the Unforgettable Homeland.
It is also responsible for other fairs such as that of traditional
home arts and crafts, photography, book-writing, orthodox icon painting
and framing, seashell collecting, agricultural tools, dowry and
bridal gifts, etc. For most of the 20-kilometer stretch of beach in this area the pines come down to the waves. Visitors can enjoy the crystal blue and virgin beaches of Paradise, Gregoriatiko, Koutsoupias, and Azapiko as well as the beaches in Ν. Marmaras, which are graced each year with the blue flag of Europe, the cleanliness of the Sea, the lush beaches and the clean environment. All around Marmara there are numerous little harbors and in areas outside of town lie enchanting little private coasts and small island clusters (Spalathronisia). A visitor can tour these beaches by boat or car and enjoy the clean aqua blue sea and golden sun. Of notable interest is the desert island Kelifos, a habitat of wild goats that also contains rich fishing grounds and a splendid sea bottom ideal for deep-sea photographers. Over the course of the summer several day trips are mounted: circumnavigation of Mount Oros, cruise to the Gulf of Toroneo, biking, hiking, bird watching, attending live Greek music performances, and other cultural offerings and folk celebrations. Neos Marmaras is located on Sithonia's highway axis point and is connected via inter-urban transportation with all the peninsula's towns, such as Toroni, Sikia, Sarti, Bourvourou, Nikiti, and Saint Nicholas. There are also daily routes passing Moudania or Poligyro that connect the town with Thessaloniki. Moreover, the town provides public services such as a hospital, banks (National Bank of Greece and Eurobank), the telephone company (OTE), a post office, a postal bank, a customs office, and a harbormaster. PARTHENONAS
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Neos
Marmaras is a coastal town of Sithonia, the middle peninsula of
Chalkidiki, located 125 Kilometers from Thessaloniki - Greece's
second largest city. Situated amphitheatrically on a three-hill
mountain cluster known as the Dragontelis of Itamos it is the largest
mountain region of Sithonia with peak altitudes of 811 meters. Here,
northern precipitation in conjunction with the beautiful blue sea
and luscious green mountainsides give one the impression of being
on an idyllic Greek island. 
Many historical sources, especially Byzantine, speak of Parthenona
as early as the 10th Century A.D. The town is also known as Parthenopolis,
Partheni or Parthenionas. Its place is set always on Loggo, the
peninsula of Sithonia (somewhere near Toroni), without conveying
its exact spot. Contemporary scholars continue to hold the belief
that the old town, the Byzantine Parthenonas, and the present one,
in other words the tourist town, are not found in the same place.
In any case the ancient city Parthenopolis has to be found near
present day town. The rare archeological and developmental makeup
of Parthenona, which altogether retains the look of a past era,
draws the attention of both the high profile tourist and those who
want to remain anonymous. In present day Parthenona there are taverns,
guesthouses, while the center near the church (the old civic center
of Parthenona) is being reconstructed with devotion. In Parthenona
we also encounter the folk museum and "the boiler", where
Greek wine known as tsipouro is produced. In addition, Parthenona
took a new turn in the course of its long existence: its established
and new residents together with those of Neo Marmara closely work
together in the preservation of the authenticity. The old and new
residence together with Neos Marmaras work closely in maintaining
its authenticity from the thoughtless invasion and habits formed
from mass consumption.[PROFILE]
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