Chalkida
is the capital of the prefecture of Evia and one of the ten largest
by population cities in Greece. It is a modern town today, with
many shops, banks, bars, restaurants and so on. This is also where
the bridge and ferryboats to and from the mainland are.  Here,
you can visit an interesting archaeological museum and see the
ruins of ancient temples, as well as a 15th century fortress.
 Chalkida
is bult on two shores, Evia island and Viotia (prefecture on the
mainland), giving the impression that Euripos strait is a wide
river that runs through the city.
The
capital Chalkida is linked to the mainland by an old-fashioned
swing bridge and a modern suspended bridge, which is part of the
motorway from Athens. The city also hosts the terminal rail station
of the northern suburban train of Attica.
The Evripos Channel in Chalkida is surely Evia’s most noteworthy
sight and boasts a 2500-year pedigree as a tourist attractio,
thanks to the odd combination of land and currents, which make
the tide change eight times a day. Since the building of the first
bridge over the 30-meter wide narrows in the 5th century BC, people
have wondered over the phenomenon. Aristotle is reputed to have
thrown himself into the sea in exasperation at his inability to
explain it.  Signs
of antiquity are not very evident in the modern city and archeology
fans should head to the Archeological Museum, which houses finds
from all over the island.
The
waterfront of Chalkida is very popular among young people for
both day and night entertainment. Nevertheless, in Evia you will
not find much noisy nightlife, apart from some bar and clubs in
and around Chalkida and some other resorts. Evia’s short
distance from Athens attracts mainly week-enders seeking some
relaxation along the beautiful beaches and fresh air in the leafy
mountainside resorts, but above all some peace and quite away
from the city bustle.
Chalkida is the favourite place of those enjoying seafood. The
town is famed for its grilled octopus as well as for the varieties
of shells and fishes, enjoyed better with a good quantity of ouzo.
For a taste of the local artistry in cooking meat visit the mountain
villages of Drifi to the north. Chalkida serves also as the main
commercial centre of the region and it is the best place for shopping
any kind of goods and in particular the locally produced honey,
figs and splendid olive oil.
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