ARNEA
Arnea (or
Liarigovi) is the capital of northern Chalkidiki and the seat of the Metropolis
of Ierissos-Mt.Athos and Ardamerion, situated at a distance of 87km from
Thessaloniki and 38km from Poligiros. The city seems to have been a colony
of the Andrians but we do not have any information about its history. During
Byzantine times a small castle was built on the acropolis of which only
some ruins remain today.
Liarigovi
is mentioned for the first time in a document of the late 19th cent., according
to which it was a "metochi" of the Mt.Athos monastery of Kastamonitou.
The village was probably established in the16th cent by the hired hands
of the "metochi", around the spring which still exists in the village square.
In the 18th cent. it was one of the main villages which exploited the mines
of northern Chalkidiki.
In 1821 it
was burnt by the Turks and was deserted for a short time. Today Arnea
is one of the most active villages of Chalkidiki. Its people are energetic,
clever, and fun loving. Most of them are merchants.