"GERMANY" - RESTAURANT & GREEK TAVERNA

Traditional hospitality invites you over

    If you wish to avoid the “ready-made holiday packages” and want a really quiet, authentic Greek experience, then you have come to the right place. The first thing you will obtain is the traditionally impulsive sense of Greek hospitality. You will also experience and our home made traditional cuisine and our excellent service.

SEAFRONT DINING, GREEK TAVERNΑ - RESTAURANT “GERMANY”

    Both hotels are offered with half board. This is because rates are extremely good and it’s the best place to eat in the village! Guests from Liotopi can dine at Germany. In our Greek taverna-restaurant, on the beach, our guests can enjoy a virtual free choice from our large and variety menu including a minimum of 10 starters (a wide variety of Greek homemade starters or salads), 10-20 main dishes (Every day we prepare a big selection of homemade specialties : a reach choice of daily fresh fish and seafood, special meat dishes and typical platters of the Greek traditional cuisine) and 3 desserts (fruit or / and cakes). The food is fresh, often organic (most of the vegetables and salad ingredients are home-grown). We pride our selves on cleanliness and excellent personalised service.

• BREAKFAST:  Hot beverage, bread, butter, jam, cheese, sausage or salami, egg, and juice.
• DINNER:  Three course evening meal with a choice of starters, main dishes and desserts.
• STARTERS:  Free choice between a minimum of 10 starters.
• MAIN DISH:  Free choice between 10 - 20 main dishes.
• DESSERT:  Free choice between 3 kinds (sweet, fruit).
• GARNISH:  Fresh vegetables or special garnish accompany each dish

For guests with half board only the more expensive dishes carry a small surcharge.

In the event of specific dietary requirements, we have the capacity to cater to your needs.

SOME OF OUR SPECIALTIES

• SALADS & COLT STARTERS
• CHORIATIKI  GREEK SALAD : Tomatoes, cucumber, “feta” cheese, onions, peppers, oil and vinegar.
• REGOSSALATA  HERRING SALAD : Potato salad with herring chops.
• DZADZIKI  DZAZIKI : Yogurt with cucumber and garlic chops.
• MELIDZANOSSALATA  AUBERGINE SALAD : Baked aubergines (puree), with yogurt and garlic.
• CHTIPITI  CHEESE SALAD : “Feta” cheese mixed with hot peppers and oil.
• SKORDALIA  GARLIC SALAD : Mashed potatoes with garlic, oil and vinegar.
• FLORINIS  RED PEPPERS SALAD : Baked red sweet peppers, in oil and vinegar.
• TARAMAS  FISH ROE CRÈME : Fish roes mixed with mashed potatoes, oil and lemon juice.
• PIAS  BEANS SALAD : Cooked beans with onions and peppers.
• FETA DADOS  : Local Greek white goat’s cheese, (feta). 
• ALMIRA  : Salted fishes in oil and vinegar.      
• DOLMADES  : Stuffed (with rice) wine leaves.  
• SOUPS & HOT STARTERS
• SACHANAKI  MUSSEL SUP : Mussels cooked with hot peppers, cheese, tomato and lemon .
• FASSOLADA  BEAN SOUP :  Cooked beans with Tomato sauce.
• PSAROSSUPA  FISH SOUP : Greek traditional Fish soup.
• FETA PSITI  : Grilled local Greek white goat’s cheese.
• TIGANITA  : Fried zucchini / aubergines / peppers.
• GIGANDES  : Giant beans baked in the oven with tomato sauce.
• SEA - FOOD  ( Every day fresh fishes and sea-food )
• MIDIA  MUSSELS : Mussels fried, or soup, or cooked with rice.
• FROUTA THALASSIS  FRUIT DES MER : Seafood cocktail cooked with rice.
• KALAMARIA  SQUIDS : Squids fried, or grilled or stuffed with cheese.
• CHTAPODI  OCTOPUS : Octopus grilled, or boiled with oil and vinegar, or fried with garlic.
• CHTAPODI  STIFADO  OCTOPUS  : Octopus stewed with onions and wine sauce.
• SOUPIES  CUTTLEFISH : Cuttlefish grilled or stewed with onions and wine sauce .
• PSARAKIA  LITTLE FISHES : Little fishes Fried, or grilled or stewed.
• GALEOS  TOPE FILLET : Tope fillet Fried, or grilled or stewed.
• PSARI PLAKI  BAKED FISH : Baked fish with onions garlic and tomatoes.
• GAMPARI  LITTLE SHRIMPS : Fried or baked with tomatoes and feta cheese.
• GARIDES  SHRIMPS : Fried, or grilled or baked with tomatoes and feta cheese.
• ASTAKOS  LOBSTER :  Lobster grilled or boiled.
• GRILLED MEAT  ( Done on the coals )
• BIFTEKI  HAMBURGER.
• SOUDZOUKAKIA  MEATBALLS.
• CHIRINI   PORK CHOP.
• MOSCHARISSIA  VEAL CUTLETS.
• SOUVLAKI  SKEWERED PORK MEAT (SHISH KEBAB).
• GIROS  DONER KEBAB (GREEK GIROS).
• KOTA SOUVLAKI   SKEWERED CHICKEN.
• MIXED GRILL   MIXED GRILL.
• TRADITIONAL GREEK CUISINE
• EXOCHIKO  : Roast meat with cheese.
• GIOUVETSI  : Roast meat with pasta, cheese and tomatoes (in clay cooking pot).
• FOLIES  : Roast meat with Spaghetti and yogurt-cheese sauce.
• MOUSSAKA  MOUSSAKA  : Slices of aubergines with minced meat, and Béchamel crème.
• PAPOUTSAKI  Baked aubergines with minced meat, and Béchamel crème.
• IMAM BAILDI  Baked aubergines with tomatoes, onions and garlic.
• GEMISTA KIMA  Stuffed tomatoes and peppers with rice and minced meat.
• KOLOKITHI GEMISTO  Stuffed Zucchini with rice and minced meat.
• SMIRNEIKA  Stewed meatballs with Tomato sauce.

OLYMPIADA, THE MOST IDEAL PLACE FOR ANYONE WHO WISHES TO HAVE A RELAXED HOLIDAY, AWAY FROM HUSTLE AND BUSTLE.

    Olympiada is a small beautiful seaside village situated above the third peninsula of Mount Athos, on the northeast side of Chalkidiki, built by Greek refugees from Asia Minor (1923), along the beautiful seashore, in the recess of the harbour. Over-wooded mountains and the deep blue seas’ of the Aegean with its enchanting beaches surround it, and that ideal environment is an attractive combination for a large number of visitors, who enjoy swimming in the crystal clear sea or rest themselves on organized sandy beaches under the Greek sun. Considering the historical background, Olympiada is one of the most important archaeological places because of Ancient Stageira, the birthplace of Aristotle. Ancient Stagira is located about 700 m. northeast of Olympiada over the two hills of a small peninsula called “Liotopi”.

HOW TO REACH OLYMPIADA.

    Olympiada is about an hour and a half drive from both Thessaloniki (96 km) and Kavala (105 km). The roads are good, not difficult to drive on. About 80 km from Thessaloniki or 90 km from Kavala there is a turnoff on the major freeway (“Egnatia”) towards Stavros. Driving through Stavros and a further 14 km you will reach Olympiada.

RESIDENCE, WE MAKE YOU FEEL AT HOME AND REALLY COMFORTABLE.

    We are «Sarris-Karakosta family» and we run 2 small, relaxed family hotels, «Germany» and «Liotopi». Both hotels are located at the eastern end of the village – perfectly situated, Germany is right on the seashore (there is no road between the hotel and the beach), Liotopi is set in quiet gardens with a sea and harbour view. You can walk to the village in a minute. Both hotels are child friendly. Each one of the hotels has 17 furnished rooms, with A/C, fridge, TV, WiFi Internet, WC/shower and veranda. Hotel Germany having central heating is open all year.

WHERE THE NEAREST FACILITIES ARE.

    Olympiada has a couple of mini-markets, bakery, cafes, beach bars, tavernas, doctor, pharmacy, internet café and small playground areas. All facilities are just a walking distance.

• ACTIVITIES  : Swimming, diving (without oxygen tanks ), fishing, beach-volley, basketball.
• ENTERTAINMENT : Beach bars, cafes, pick-nick, Greek music night …
• FREE OF CHARGE : Sun beds and umbrellas.
• DISCOUNT CARD for your shopping and your entertainment.
• EXCURSIONS : We provide any information about places you want to visit. RENT A CAR : Ask at the hotels for details.
• COMMUNICATION : Post box, Fax, WiFi Internet.
• NEAREST BANK WITH ATM MACHINE : In Stavros (13 km), Arnea (32 km) and Ierissos (34 km).
• SPECIAL NIGHTS ON REQUEST WITH : Greek music, traditional Greek cuisine, seafood, BBQ e.t.c.
• FIRST AID : A Doctor is on call every day within Olympiada’s medical practice. A medical center is located in Nea Madytos, 25 km drive along the national road to Thessaloniki. Hospitals are located in Poligiros (90 km) and Thessaloniki (96 km)

WHAT TO DO NEARBY

• TAKE A WALK TO ANCIENT STAGIRA the birthplace of Aristotle. This is a 10 minute walk from the hotel. Grate views and really evocative. Information and a map are freely given by our hotels.
• TAKE A WALK AROUND OLYMPIADA. The village is surrounded by dense woodland with breath taking scenery. Lovely walks and spectacular water-falls. Four  marked trails from Olympiada have been created for walkers and cyclists. Mountain bike hire is also offered. Information and a map are freely given by our hotels for cyclists and walkers.
• TO THE ALPINE-LIKE VILLAGE OF ARNEA AND THE ARISTOTLE’S PARK. Thanks to a recent E.U. grant, the majority of the houses have been restored. Admire the trip through the natural dense woodland mountain. A stroll through the old town will captivate your imagination. The town also offers a range of nice shops to wander around. On the edge of new village of Stagira there is a park dedicated to Aristotle, which illustrates some of his philosophical theories with working models. Very interactive and entertaining.
• WANDER ROUND THE MARKET AT NEARBY NEIGHBOURING VILLAGE OF ANO STAVROS. Shopping for fresh herbs, fabrics & textiles. AMPHIPOLΙ - PHILIPPI - KAVALA (via the fast east-west motorway just to the north)
• PELLA Capital of ancient Macedonia where Alexander the Great was born.
• LEFKADIA Where Aristotle taught Alexander the Great – lush, fertile countryside, evocative of Greece.
• DION Ancient archaeological site.
• VERGINA The tomb of Philip of Macedonia is situated there.
• ROUND TRIP OF SITHONIA PENINSULA (Central peninsula of Chalkidiki).
• DAILY TRIP TO THESSALONIKI (96 km)
• DAILY TRIP TO METEORA ( 280 km)
• BOAT-TRIP TO THE ISLET OF KAFKANAS. By boat from Stavros (13 km) or from Olympiada for swimming, diving and picnic.
• CRUISE FROM OURANOUPOLI ALONG MOUNT ATHOS to view the monasteries from the sea. Excursion by boat operates daily from Ouranoupoli. 45-60 minutes drive from Olympiada.

    With this letter we make an effort to establish a closer contact with you. It will be a great honour and pleasure for us if you could visit us to take a closer look at Olympiada and of our family business.

If you need any further information please contact us.

Yours sincerely

Dimitris A. Sarris

General Manager

ANCIENT STAGEIRA, BIRTHPLACE OF ARISTOTLE

THE SITE

    Ancient Stageira are located about 700 m. northeast of the village of Olympiada, over the two hills (and the defile between them) of a beautiful peninsula called “Liotopi”. The ancient city is widely known as the birthplace of Aristotle and it is easily identified with Liotopi by the references of ancient writers and the studies of modern scholars. The ancient references are very clear. They refer to the distance between Stageira and the ancient city of Acanthos to the south, they describe it as a city built by the sea, and – they mention a small island just opposite o Stageira, named “Kapros” (meaning “boar”. The same name was given to the harbour, which is probably identified with the gulf o Olympiada. In addition, the coins of Stageira carried the representation of o boar). The only island in the neighbourhood is modern “Kaukauna’s”, located 1,5 miles opposite the ruins of the ancient city. Uninhabited and a refuge for the gulls today, the tiny island carries the ruins of an older inhabitation, which lasted from classical to the middle Byzantine times. The most characteristic of these ruins are two large cisterns and a Byzantine building, all located at the western end of the island.     

    Ionian colonists from the island of Andros first founded the city in 655 b.C. A little later, more colonists came from the city of Chalkis in Euboea. After the Persian Wars Stageira became a member of the first Athenian League and one of the contributors of the common Treasury. During the Peloponnesian War however, in 424 b.C. the city revolted against Athens and made an alliance with Sparta. This led the angry Athenians to besiege the city, but the effort was in vain. Later on Stageira became a member of the Chalkidian League (the alliance of the cities of Chalkidiki, with Olynthos as centre). In 349 b.C. Stageira was besieged and destroyed by king Philip B’ of Macedonia. It was he however, who refounded Stageira some years later to honour Aristotle. Nevertheless, it seems that the destruction by Philip was the beginning of the decline of the city. Strabo the Geographer, who lived at the time of Christ, informs us that at his time Stageira were already in ruins. About a thousand years later, a small medieval settlement is referred at the same site, named “Livasdias” and later “Lipsasda”. A few buildings at the top of the Northern Hill most probably belong to that medieval settlement, as well as the Byzantine walls closing the entry to the same hill. According to one of the traditions, classical Stageira were also called “Orthagoria”. This information however is probably wrong, mainly because there was another city with this name near Maroneia, in Thrace. 

    Before the excavation started, the only ruins to bee seen in Stageira were those of the medieval settlement on the Northern Hill, mainly the Byzantine party wall. Only a few sings of the ancient city could be traced in the overgrown forest of the Liotopi peninsula. It should be here added – to honour the community councils of Olympiada – that they tried for many years to convince the Archaeological Service of the need of excavating the homeland of Aristotle. The director of the Museum of Thessaloniki, Dr. Ph. Petsas, carried out a small and short excavational effort in 1968. Two areas outside the city walls were investigated : the small gulf of Sykia, where retaining classical walls found, and “Vina” (a site 1,5 Km southeast of ancient Stageira) where a round tower was revealed. Excavations had then started as the result of the discovery of a half-worked statue of a “kouros” (young naked man) found by a driver in the small gulf of Liotopi. More than 20 years had to pass for the next excavational effort to begin in Stageira, this time however in a more systematic way. At first, the author started with trial excavational trenches. Since the results were very encouraging and in favour of a bigger excavational campaign, systematic work started afterwards and continues until today.      

    He was born in Stageira in the year 384 b.C. . His father was Nikomachos, a doctor of Macedonian king Amyntas B’, and his mother was called Phaistis or Phaistias. His parents died early, and Proxenos brought up young Aristotle, a relative from the Mysian city of Atarnea is Asia Minor. When he was 18 years old he went to Athens to study in Plato’s Academy for 20 whole years, until the death of Plato in 347 b.C.. A little earlier, Aristotle had founded a school in the city of Assos in the Troad, as a department of the Academy. He married the Pythias from Atarnea and stayed in the Troad for 3 years. Afterwards, he went to Lesbos where he became friends with Theophrastos the philosopher, whom he later left as his successor in his school in Athens. He stayed in Lesbos for 2 years, until 343 b.C.. He was then called to Pella by Philip B’, to be the teacher of his son Alexander. Alexander’s tutoring lasted for 3 years, until 340 b.C.. He then withdrawed to Stageira where he married again, with his compatriot Herphyllis (or Erpyllis). He returned to Athens in 335 b.C. and founded his own school, the “Lyceum”, later renamed “Peripatos” (Walk). He remained the director of this school for 12 years, during which all his admirable work was accomplished. When Alexander died his (Aristotle’s) enemies accused him “of impiety”. He took refuge in Chalkis where he owned an estate by inheritance from his mother. After a year he died in Chalkis, in the year 322 b.C., at the age of 63. He had two children, Pythias and Nikomachos.

    According to a later tradition, one year after his death in Chalkis, the Stageiritans carried him home in celebrity and buried him inside their own city. A grand ceremony took place, a great altar was founded over the philosopher’s tomb and an annual festival, called “Aristoteleia”, was then established to honour the philosopher.

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