Here the beach is in the “triangle of sadness”.

One of the film’s most successful directors, Robin Ostlund, received his second Golden Palm earlier this year with his new film Triangle of Sorrow. A drama about beauty and money, partly filmed on the Greek island of Evia and the beach of Paralía Chiliádou.

Located about 7 miles north of central Athens, Evia is the second largest island in Greece after Crete, but relatively unknown to most Swedish tourists. Mostly the Greeks themselves come here on vacation. Paralía 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 Paralía Chiliádo is Mourteri Beach, a favorite with wind and kite surfers.

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

It’s not just the beautiful beaches that attract tourists to Evia. The hot springs of Edipsos have attracted travelers since ancient times. Roman emperors Hadrian, Constantine the Great and Greek philosopher Aristotle visited the mineral-rich springs. Winston Churchill and Greta Garbo are among the more famous guests.

Today there are more than 80 thermal springs with temperatures ranging from 28 to 86 degrees Celsius. There are many spa hotels in the city. Thermae Sylla Spa & Wellness Hotel has hot springs and was named 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 to the mainland.

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

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

If you feel like exercising during your vacation, Evia has a lot to offer. In addition to water sports, hiking excursions are arranged for those who don’t want to go it alone. There are family-friendly trails in the center of Evia, river walks to waterfalls and tours to Dirfis mountain. Adventurers can opt for trekking into canyons and caves.

There are also many guided trails for those who want to get around on a 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 a fifth-century BC temple of Apollo Daphnephorus, a theater, and a mosaic floor over 2,300 years old.

In the small town of Karystos on the rock of the south coast, the ruins of Castello Rosso are crowned. The castle was built in the 13th century by the Venetian Baron Dalicarcheri, on top of a Byzantine fortress.

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

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