The island of Thassos is located in the north of the Aegean Sea and is a territory of Greece. Thassos has many natural and cultural attractions, thanks to its beautiful Mediterranean climate and a history that dates back to Antiquity.
Top 10 Sights of Thassos
The beautiful and very healthy climate of Thassos was praised in his works by Hippocrates himself. Many great men of the world, exiled here: the tyrant Simmachus, Constantinople patriarch Methodius, Metropolitan Euthymius and others, spent their lives on the island.
In the 15th century the island of Thassos was conquered by the Ottomans, but not colonized. At the beginning of the 20th century it passed under Greek sovereignty. During World War II, Nazi Germany gave the island to its satellite Bulgaria, but then it returned to Greece.
Limenaria
It is a wonderful Mediterranean resort, the second largest on the island. It is located on the southwest coast of Thassos, just 40 km from the island’s capital. The history of this town begins at the end of the 19th century.
At that time, the German company Speidel was developing minerals here. Her office, as a landmark, can still be seen today near the Limenaria. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Turks built many buildings and structures here.
Today the city has many five-star hotels, boutiques, stores, cafes and restaurants with good local food. In high season thousands of tourists come here, boats and yachts arrive for recreational walks along the coast.
Michael the Archangel Monastery
Not far from the village of Aliki there is a functioning nunnery. Residents of the island believe that it was founded in the 8th century by a monk named Luke, although it was first mentioned in the 13th century. Today the monastery is administratively part of Athos.
Originally it was a fortress protecting the coast. Today in its place you can see the monastery church, two chapels, the cells where the sisters live, as well as rooms for guests. In the local workshops, the sisters are engaged in sewing, embroidery, and icon painting.
The main relic of this monastery is considered to be the piece of nail that was driven into the body of Jesus Christ during his crucifixion on Calvary. Thousands of pilgrims come to Thassos every year to see this relic.
Aliki
It is a small village located on the southeast coast of the island. It is located on a promontory overgrown with century-old pines and olive trees, which is considered one of the most beautiful places on Thassos, extremely popular with tourists.
Alyki has a well-developed infrastructure: beautiful hotels, clean and comfortable beaches, cafes, bars, a lot of entertainment, etc. Nearby is a landmark – an ancient quarry where the Thassos marble was extracted.
At Cape Aliki, archaeologists discovered the ruins of ancient temples from Ancient Greece. In a small cave near the promontory is an early Christian chapel. That is why the entire cape is now recognized as an archaeological monument.
Potos
It is another resort town located on the south shore of Thassos, one of the most visited local resorts. Especially like Potos young people who come here en masse to hang out in nightclubs.
Not long ago it was a simple fishing village, but today it has become a significant tourist center with an excellent modern infrastructure. But even the crowds of tourists have not managed to destroy the magical ancient atmosphere in Potos.
Be sure to visit the local promenade, where there are many excellent restaurants, appreciate the sandy beach, climb the mountains and explore the village of Theologos, it is also a cultural and historical monument on the island.
Kinira
It is a resort village located on the eastern shore of Thassos, its middle name is Loutrou. Those who do not like noise, bustle and a large influx of people come here to relax. Here you can wander in the mountains and taste water from local springs.
In ancient times, gold was mined under Kinira, and later there appeared early Christian churches, and then the Byzantine baths. The ruins of all these creations of human hands can be seen near the resort.
Kinira is famous for its restaurants with excellent fresh fish and seafood dishes, as well as traditional cuisine. Surely you will also like the pebble beach of the resort, and a little further is the beach with golden sand Paradis.
The Rock of Potamias
It is an excellent port and tourist town, located in the bay, on the northeast coast of the island. Here you can find comfortable accommodation for the vacations, but to avoid problems, try to book it in advance.
Around the waterfront, the center of any resort, there are many wonderful cafes, street taverns and restaurants with delicious Greek cuisine. Lovers of wild nightlife will find nightclubs, bars and discos here.
You will love the local sandy beach over 2 km long. Nearby is another beach that you’ll love, which is Hristi Akti. It has a fine, soft snow-white sand and clear blue water. It has a Blue Flag.
Castro
It is the oldest settlement of Thassos, located at an altitude of about 500 meters above sea level. Its name means “fortress” in Greek. The Castro was founded by the Genoese in the early 15th century as protection against pirates.
But at the end of the 19th century the fortress and the settlement around it fell into disrepair. People from there went down to the fertile soil, since. the pirate threat is over. Thus began the development of Limenaria and other modern resorts on the island of Thassos.
In the center of the desolate Castro, which has retained its medieval atmosphere, today you can see the Church of St. Peter. The church of St. Athanasius, erected in the early 19th century. Today, many old houses are restored, in which tourists spend time resting, open tavern.
The Monastery of St. John the Baptist. Panteleimon
This convent is another great attraction of Thassos. In the mid-19th century, a local resident decided to finance the construction of a temple in honor of Panteleimon, a healer known to Eastern Christians.
The church stands near the cave where, according to legend, the healer himself lived for a long time. In this cave there is a healing spring, to which thousands of pilgrims come every year to be cured of many diseases.
In the 1980s, the church became a monastery. In June of each year St. Panteleimon’s Day is celebrated here. From all over Greece and other Orthodox countries come many believers.
Antique Thasos
Near the old port of Limenos, the capital of the island, there are ancient ancient ruins of a city, a monument of archaeology and history. This ancient city was founded in the 7th century B.C., it has long prospered thanks to the availability of resources.
The city was a great trading center, minted its own coinage, had a significant commercial and military fleet, and was a serious center of confrontation with ancient Greece. Antique Thassos had a military history, but once fell and was destroyed.
The first serious archaeological excavations on Thassos were conducted in the early 20th century. There are few artifacts left, but they allow you to see the greatness of this ancient civilization. The fortress walls of marble, the ruins of ancient sanctuaries, the theater, etc.
Theologos
This village is located on a mountain plateau, a few kilometers from Potos. It has a history of many centuries and its original architecture. Theologos received its present name in the Byzantine era, i.e. Early Middle Ages.
This settlement was of major political importance on the island until the beginning of the 20th century. The island government during Turkish and Egyptian rule was located here. In the 1970s, Greece named Theologos the cultural capital of the island.
The settlement became a local cultural monument, and the construction of new houses and buildings on its territory was limited. In this way many architectural values were preserved: the old houses of the 16th century, churches, paved streets, etc.
A video tour of Tasos
Thassos Island Sightseeing Map
