Stagira is an ancient city.
Stagira ( [ stəˈdʒaɪrə ] ) , Stagirus ( [ stəˈdʒaɪrəs ] ) , or Stageira ( Στάγειρα or Στάγειρος ) was an ancient Greek city , located in central Macedonia , near the eastern coast of the peninsula of Chalkidice , and is chiefly known for being the birthplace of Aristotle , who was a Greek philosopher and polymath , a student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great . Stagira was founded in 655 BC by Ionian settlers from Andros . Xerxes I of Persia occupied it in 480 BC . In 348 BC , Philip II of Macedon occupied and destroyed the city .