Ierissos: Shipbuilding, Culture and Ancient Traces

Ierissos brings together a shipbuilding craft passed down from generation to generation, local culture and archaeological sites in the surrounding area. The cultural centre houses a stereoscopic 3D projection theatre; on the hills of the ancient city of Akanthos, a walk passes a Byzantine-paved road and an ancient house with an inner courtyard. Other highlights include Kruna Tower, a local tradition observed near Ierissos every year on the third day of Easter, and the town beach. For planning your trip, these different cultural and historical interests come together here.

Shipbuilding as a tradition

Shipbuilding is part of a tradition in Ierissos that has been passed down from generation to generation. The historic shipyards built large wooden ships that could accommodate up to 250 people. This figure conveys the scale of the ships; it indicates a maximum capacity, not a uniform size for all the ships built. Not all the shipyard facilities are in operation. The contrast between the large historic ships and the craft passed down through generations makes this a multifaceted subject for anyone interested in culture.

A 3D theatre in the cultural centre

Ierissos's cultural centre houses a stereoscopic 3D projection theatre. “Stereoscopic” means that images appear three-dimensional; the term clarifies the format. The theatre thus provides a visual highlight alongside the town's craft and historical themes. Compared with the shipbuilding tradition, the theatre's distinctive feature is its three-dimensional imagery, while the tradition's is the passing down of a craft. This gives you different ways to organise your cultural interests in the town.

Akanthos and Kruna Tower

On the three hills of the ancient city of Akanthos, a walk passes a Byzantine-paved road and an ancient house with an inner courtyard. Akanthos lies about 600 metres southeast of Ierissos. Kruna Tower is another historical landmark. It is estimated to have been built in the 15th century; it lies about one kilometre northwest of Ierissos and can only be viewed from the outside. The locations place the two historical sites on different sides of Ierissos: Akanthos to the southeast, the tower to the northwest.

Local tradition and the beach

The local tradition at the so-called Μαύρο Αλώνι, also known as Του Μαύρου Νιου το Αλώνι, takes place every year on the third day of Easter at a location near Ierissos. If you would like to include it in your trip plans, check the Easter date for the relevant year. Ierissos beach has been awarded three Blue Flags for the quality of its water and facilities.

Plan your trip around your interests

When choosing a holiday apartment, you can group these themes by their relevance to your plans: the cultural centre and shipbuilding relate to interests in Ierissos itself, while the archaeological traces are historical sites near the town. The local tradition adds a connection to the Easter date.

Discover more destinations: Nea Roda, Kriopigi, Chaniotis, Agios Georgios, Sozopoli, Gerakini, Polygyros, Foúrka

For the broader travel overview: Chalkidiki.