Nea Fokea is a large settlement and headquarters of the homonymous Municipal Department in the Municipality of Kassandra in the Prefecture of Chalkidiki. The beautiful seaside village of Nea Fokea with the well-preserved Byzantine tower of Saint Pavlos, the picturesque harbor, the beautiful beaches and the clear sea is a pole of attraction for holidaymakers of all ages.
It has 1,500 permanent residents, which in the summer exceed 10,000 and is 78 km away from Thessaloniki. It is one of the newer villages of Cassandra, because it was founded in 1922 by refugees from Asia Minor. Although it is a new village, it has a long history. The area has been inhabited since ancient times. Historically, two cities flourished. Sani’s Colony of Eretrieon, built on the western beach and Skitha built on the Toroneos Bay.
Interesting is the feast of Apostles Peter and Paul on 29-30 June. The celebration takes place in the chapel of Saint Pavlos, at the entrance of the village. It is essentially carved on the rocky rocks of the village, a Macedonian tomb, which provokes the awe of visitors, since according to the tradition there apostle Paul resorted to escape from his persecutors. Inside there are rooms and an underground corridor leading to the holy water.
In 1407 Ioannis Palaiologos granted the area of the present village to the monastery of Saint Pavlos of Mount Athos. Then it seems that the Byzantine Tower, which is still preserved, has been built. It is believed to be connected secretly and underground with the tower of Sani (dating back to 1543) according to the standards of the Byzantine architects who were thinking of ensuring either escape routes for emperors or facilitating their meetings. When the enemies came by sea, the guards of the two towers exchanged messages with fires so the inhabitants could hide.
In 1821, the head of the Revolution in Chalkidiki, Emmanuel Pappas, was installed in Pyrgos. In 1996, an excavation was excavated inside the tower and a layer of fire found in the basement, attributed to the destruction of 1821.
The Tower is the only tower of Chalkidiki that is maintained until the battlements. It is one of the small towers of the kind with a 7 x 7 foot plan and a height of 17 meters. It is built with materials of ancient buildings. In the area of Pyrgos, during the summer, cultural events are held, which are part of the Cassandra Festival.
