Chalkida is a town on the island of Evia known for its excellent seafood cuisine. There are several beaches in the area, and the ruins of a Byzantine castle can be seen in the city itself.
The city was known in antiquity and is mentioned in the Iliad. However, no major archaeological complexes have survived here, but only single fragments of ruins that can be found among the newer buildings.
The most important monument of the city are the ruins of a Byzantine castle. They stand on a hill, which makes them a good viewpoint over the surrounding area. There is also a small archaeological museum in the castle area.
Since the 19th century, Chalkida has been a popular place for rest and vacation among the people of Athens. Several interesting villas from this period have been preserved here, including the Red House, the seaside residence of the merchant Viasilios Mallios, where the Serbian King Peter lived in 1916.
The seaside part of Chalkida is a mixture of buildings from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries and modern ones. There are many restaurants famous for their seafood and fish dishes. In the evenings, the bars and clubs fill up with customers who party until late hours.
