Home of the man who influenced 2000 years of human history – Aristotle.
On a lonely bluff jutting out into the Aegean you’ll find impressive ruins of the walls of ancient Stagira. Grown over and abandoned for centuries, this home of one of the world’s most influential men finally saw the light of day when it was excavated in the 1990’s.
Stagira – it’s worth the trip!
If you are a history buff, then Stagira is well worth making the effort to see. Aristotle was born here, but left to study in Athens. Philip the Macedon, father of Alexander the Great razed Stagira to the ground, but later had the city rebuilt in honor of Aristotle since he was the teacher of his son Alexander. Stagira was completely abandoned by the 1st century AD. The ruins show the foundations to be from this early era, but the walls and other ruins show evidence of the Byzantines having built here. Check out our Self-guided Aristotle Tour.
What to do in Stagira
Try to get here in the morning as the afternoon sun will make your wandering through the ruins a little oppressive. Don’t forget to bring a hat and sunscreen. The entrance is free. There are two entrances, one from the main road and the other when you come from Olympiada. You will see the fortification wall – really quite impressive, some foundations of classical houses, the agora, a citadel and the tower remains with its mosaic floor. A camera will come in handy as you can get some great shots.
Stagira recommendations
Bring along your swim suit and towel. There is a popular little beach just south of the gate and a larger beach with a beach-bar just a little further south. After a hard couple of hours with the kids exploring the ruins, reward yourselves with a cool dip in the clear and refreshing Aegean. If you are looking for accommodation in this area, Olympiada is a close base to start.
