The beauty of the landscape, the sea breeze and the well-preserved neoclassical manor houses of Edipsos and Limni give the north of Euboea its own distinct flavor. Emperors, as well as Roman and Byzantine generals have all stayed here for health reasons or recreational purposes, building theaters and guest houses in an effort to make their stay as pleasant as possible. This area has been famous since the days of Homer for the fruitful valley of Istiea. The combination of sea and mountains, the island-tinged flavor of the place and the fantastic climate make Euboea a magical destination, attracting tourist crowds that seem to be getting larger by the year.