EUBEA

Euboea or Evia (from Greek Εὔβοια), renamed Negroponte by the Venetians, is an island in the Aegean Sea that, at its capital Halkida, is only 40 meters from the mainland. By area, it is the second largest Greek island after Crete. In fact, it is sometimes considered a peninsula because it is connected to the mainland by a couple of bridges. It can therefore be reached both by land and by sea but does not have an airport.

It has an area of 3684 km² and about 200,000 inhabitants.

A mountain range runs along its length, and the highest mountain, Dirfis, reaches 1745 meters. The island is very fertile and offers varied and very beautiful landscapes. In the mountainous areas, there are forests of chestnuts, pines, and linden trees, while in the cultivated areas there are olive trees, figs, vineyards, and cereals. The northern area is humid and green, while the south is more arid and barren.

In the subsoil, there are various minerals (particularly magnesium), marble, and even thermal springs.

As for the coasts, the western ones are more suitable for swimming, while the eastern ones are steep and rocky.

Euboea is quite neglected by foreign tourism, while it is very popular among Greeks who find both sea and mountains here without even having to take a ferry to reach it.

The capital is Halkida and its main port is Kymi, on the opposite side of Euboea towards the Sporades. Other minor ports are located towards the mainland coasts.

The roads that run through the island, apart from the southern one, are often winding but very scenic. The island is served by a bus line, but there are also car and scooter rentals available.