Vourvouroy

On the neck of a peninsula west of Vourvourou in Chalkidiki, north of the settlement Galini, stands the scant remnant of a small medieval fortification known locally as Mega Teichos, or Great Wall. Its date is undetermined, though it is classed as Byzantine, and its purpose was evidently to seal off the elevated tip of the peninsula from attack. The wall was never continuous: in places the hill's own massive rocks did the defensive work. Today a section some 20 metres long survives on the northwestern side of the narrowest point, with its full course traceable over 50 metres; originally it would have run nearly 160 metres across the peninsula. Part has been lost to villa development. The remaining stretch, built of coarse local granite without mortar, reaches a maximum height of 2.50 metres and a thickness of about 2.20 metres. Only traces remain, but enough to suggest a sturdy, workmanlike barrier.