Here is the beach in the Triangle of Grief.

One of the most successful film directors, Robin Ostlund, earned his second Golden Palm earlier this year with a new movie, “The Triangle of Grief.” A drama about beauty and money, filmed in part on the Greek island of Evia and the beach of Paraía Chiliádou.

Located about 7 miles north of central Athens, Evia is the second largest island in Greece after Crete, but is relatively unknown to most Swedish tourists. The Greeks themselves come mainly here for a holiday. Parallía Chiliádo, where scenes from the “Triangle of Sorrow” were filmed, is found on the east coast of this long narrow island, the beach is named after the small Byzantine church that was built here. Chiliádo means a thousand and, according to tradition, refers to the fact that it was the thousandth church built by Empress Theodora, who lived in the sixth century.

Not far from Parallía Chiliádo is Mourteri Beach, a favorite among wind surfers and kite surfers.

There are plenty of scenic bathing spots in Evia. Here there are both pebbly beaches and beautiful sandy beaches. You can find large beaches that are well-visited with Greeks vacationing and little, secluded spots with a few swimmers. Many of the most beautiful places are located in the northern part of the island.

It is not only the beautiful beaches that attract tourists to Evia. Hot springs in Edipsos have attracted travelers since ancient times. The Roman emperors Hadrian, Constantine the Great, and the Greek philosopher Aristotle all visited the mineral-rich springs. Winston Churchill and Greta Garbo are among the most well-known guests.

Today there are more than 80 thermal springs with temperatures from 28 to 86 ° C. There are many spa hotels in the city. The Thermae Sylla Spa & Wellness Hotel has hot springs, and has been rated as one of the top ten wellness centers in the world by Conde Nast Traveler.

Another water phenomenon can be found in Chalcis, the city whose bridges connect Evia with the mainland.

In Chalcis, stroll along the promenade lined with cafes and restaurants, enjoy fresh fish and seafood dishes – and experience the allure of the moon! The effect of the moon causes the water to change direction in Euripos every six hours. In each shift, the water stops moving for about eight minutes.

This natural phenomenon has captivated the Greeks since ancient times. The philosopher Aristotle was one of those who traveled to Chalcis to try to solve the riddle of the tides.

If you want to exercise during your vacation, Evia has a lot to offer. In addition to water sports, hiking trips are arranged for those who do not want to go alone. There are family-friendly trails in the center of Evia, river walks to waterfalls and tours to Mount Dirfis. Adventurers can opt for excursions into canyons and caves.

There are also many guided routes for those who want to get around by mountain bike.

If you want to spice up your trip with an interesting date, you have plenty to choose from. The port city of Eritrea boasts, among other things, the remains of the temple of Apollo Daphniphorus from the 5th century BC, a theater and a mosaic floor that is more than 2,300 years old.

In the small town of Karystos on the rocks of the south coast, the ruins of Castello Rosso are crowned. The castle was built in the 13th century by the Venetian baron Dalicarchery, over a Byzantine fortress.

But the island’s most unique experience is the dragon houses, Dracospita, which can only be found on Evia. They were built at high altitudes with huge stone blocks and stone slabs, completely without mortar. The houses, dating from the 6th to the 2nd century BC, are about 5 x 10 meters in size. The huge stone above the entrance horizontally weighs several tons. Who built these homes, how they got started – and what they were used for – remains a mystery.

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