Thassos Greece

THE ISLAND IN THE NORTHERN AEGEAN

Authentic Greece

Of all the Greek Islands, Thassos is a true authentic. While some of its neighbours have added international elements – like karaoke bars and all-you-can-eat Chinese restaurants – to their offerings over the years, Thassos has remained traditional to a T.

Thassos Town

Life on Thassos can be traced back to the Stone Age. Since then, a number of empires, including the Romans and the Egyptians, have tried to claim the place as their own. As such, the island’s capital, Thassos Town, showcases all sorts of mementos from the past, including an ancient Roman amphitheatre and an acropolis.

Limenaria

Limenaria, on the west coast, picks up where Thassos Town’s history leaves off. The island’s second-largest town was the nucleus of Thassos’ mining industry in the 20th century. You can still see the turreted mining headquarters on the headland overlooking Limenaria Beach, and there’s a mine beneath it, which you can take tours of.

Surrounded by lush greenery and having crystal clear waters, Thassos beaches boast a unique natural landscape. Some of them are organized with umbrellas, sunbeds and water sports facilities, while others are totally unspoiled and private. Paradise, Makriammos, Golden beach Thassos, Alyki, Metalia and Livadi are some of the best beaches in Thassos! Dive into the crystal clear waters of these beaches, laze under the sun and then taste the local delicacies at the seaside taverns. Can you imagine of a more perfect day at the beach?

Thasos or Thassos (Greek: Θάσος, Thásos) is a Greek island, geographically part of the North Aegean Sea, but administratively part of the Kavala regional unit. It is the northernmost major Greek island, and 12th largest by area. Thasos is also the name of the largest town of the island (officially known as Limenas Thasou, “Port of Thasos”), situated at the northern side, opposite the mainland and about 10 kilometres (6 miles) from Keramoti. Thassos island is known from ancient times for its termae making it a climatic and balneoclimateric resort area.

Thasos’s economy relies on timber (it is rich in forests), marble quarries, olive oil and honey. Tourism has also become important since the 1960s, although not to the level of other Greek islands.

Prehistory

Lying close to the coast of Eastern Macedonia, Thasos was inhabited from the Palaeolithic period onwards, but the earliest settlement to have been explored in detail is that at Limenaria, where remains from the Middle and Late Neolithic relate closely to those found at the mainland’s Drama plain. In contrast, Early Bronze Age remains on the island align it with the Aegean culture of the Cyclades and Sporades, to the south; at Skala Sotiros for example, a small settlement was encircled by a strongly built defensive wall. Even earlier activity is demonstrated by the presence of large pieces of ‘megalithic’ anthropomorphic stelai built into these walls, which, so far, have no parallels in the Aegean area.

There is then a gap in the archaeological record until the end of the Bronze Age c 1100 BC, when the first burials took place at the large cemetery of Kastri in the interior of the island. Here built tombs covered with small mound of earth were typical until the end of the Iron Age. In the earliest tombs were a small number of locally imitated Mycenaean pottery vessels, but the majority of the hand-made pottery with incised decoration reflects connections eastwards with Thrace and beyond.

Sights

Archaeological Museum of Thasos and the nearby ancient agora in Thasos town
Acropolis of Thasos and ancient theater near Thasos town
Polygnotos Vagis Municipal Museum in Potamia
Folklore Museum of Limenaria
Archangel Michael’s Monastery
Saint Panteleimon Monastery: it was built in 1843 and became monastery in 1987. According to inhabitants of Thassos, someone wanted to build it in favor of Saint Panteleimon. The workers started the building at a location, but the next day when they wanted to continue with the construction, the part they had built was found destroyed and their tools were missing. The same happened on the following days. One day they saw footprints on the ground and followed them until they found their tools nearby a natural spring. Finally, they built the monastery at that spot.
Monastery of the Assumption
Kastro: its foundation year is unknown. This village must have been created during the years of Frankish domination.
Krambousa Isle: it can be found across the coast of Skala Potamia. The thick vegetation make it impossible to explore all parts of it. It is full with special wild vegetable called “Krambi”. The little church of Saint Daniel is located at the top of the hill. The inhabitants visit this church on the day of the saint every year.
Mount Ypsario (Ipsario) 1,203 meters (3,947 ft)
Artificial Lake in Maries

Source Wikipedia