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Eretria is a nice little coastal town on the western side of the island of Evia about 22 kilometers south of the capital Chalkida. There is a seafront promenade with hotels and there is a beach. In ancient times Eretria was an important city that flourished in the 6th and 5th centuries BC. On the edge of the village (north on the left side as you drive north) along the road are the remains of the old town. There are remains of houses, an acropolis, two palaces, a gymnasium, a number of temples and a theatre. The site is not maintained and most of it was overgrown by weeds and plants. A large part of it (the part with the columns laying on the floor??) was also covered with plastic and not visible.
From the theatre only some stones were sticking out of the ground.
The city of Eretria was probably founded in the 9th century BC, and it is believed to be originally intended as the port of Lefkandi, which is situated 15 kilometers away. Gradually Lefkandi lost its importance and Eretria took over. Eretria is also mentioned as one of the cities that supplied ships for the Trojan war. Eretria had control over areas on Evia and the mainland and also on the islands of Andros, Tinos and Kea and it was the great rival of the city of Chalkida.
At the end of the 8th century BC, Eretria was defeated in a war with Chalkida and the city was destroyed. After that Eretria was rebuilt. In 490 BC the city was burned by the Persians and the population was deported to Mesopotamia. Also the Temple of Apollo, built in 510 BC, was destroyed. Ten decades later the people began rebuilding. Later the city fell into the hands of Macedonia and of Rome.
For hotels, apartments and villas in Eretria on Evia - click here.
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