OR Thassos It is not just a summer destination, it is a place that carries a rich story, the unparalleled natural beauty and the great cultural heritage, but without losing its authenticity. In the northeast Aegean, opposite Kavala, Thassos still maintains a calm and almost unaffected character by the mass tourist flows from the southern Balkans and Central Europe. In recent years, the island has been one of the most popular tourist destinations for the Romanians, and then for the Bulgarians. However, many northern Europeans (Germans, English, Dutch and Swedes) choose the island for their holidays every summer through organized tourist packages.
It is certain that everyone finds something attractive to this island land that fascinates him -and not unjustly. Maybe because, all of these travelers, in addition to the ease of reaching the island (by car through Egnatia to Kavala and then Feribot or Charter flights), are looking for a true summer experience, full of time and withstanding images.
The island has been known since antiquity for its rich natural resources, from gold and marble mines to endless forests. Archaeological excavations reveal a life full of commercial and cultural exchanges that testify to Thassos’ position as an important crossroads between mainland Greece and Thrace.
The natural beauty of Thassos is multidimensional. Despite the devastating fires of the past, it still maintains pine forests that touch the coasts creating a rare sense of harmony and tranquility. Mount Higario, with the highest point of 1,204 meters, offers unique views of the Aegean and landscapes that look unexplored. Hiking trails cross the island, covering areas with wild vegetation and springs used by locals for hundreds of years.
The best time to visit the island to be able to explore it and enjoy the wonderful beaches that spread along the coastline is early in the summer or after August 20th. Then the movement is limited. The island impresses the visitor with the tourist development it has in recent years: large hotel units, modern accommodation, renowned restaurants and a popular bar by the sea, which collect a large number of bathers. All of this is ideally combined with tradition, which locals still keep alive in many manifestations of their lives. However, it is mathematically accurate that in the coming years with this rate of tourism development, Thassos will have a significant infrastructure problem if it does not already.
A story lost in the depths of centuries
The ancient theater that dominates the slope of a hill from the 4th century BC. Behind the Kalogeriko in the port is the new acquisition of the island, as it opened again after twelve years that was closed, in order to do extensive maintenance and restoration work. The result is impressive. The energy of this monumental theater is unique. It is worth visiting in the afternoon, as the sun sets, to admire the hollow soil one of the most beautiful Aegean sunsets.
A short distance, is the Archaeological Museum. A visit is imperative to see closely the impressive Kouros with a height of 3.5m, the imposing statue of Andrianos and many remarkable sculptures made of the famous white marble mined in the quarries of the island.
The capital of the island is the port. A small, graphic community, with low houses and tile roofs. The port awakens memories from another era, since the ancient city coexists with the modern one. Everywhere in the settlement there are scattered archaeological finds. The visitor as he strolls on the narrow streets discovers unique beauty images.
The round of the island, a unique experience
Visitors who want to tour the island by road have two possibilities. The first is to start from the port, following the road west, heading to Limenaria. The second, to start from the port and moving east, to reach the drink and the theologian. In any case, it is one of the few islands that you can literally make it round. Along the way, there is no missing beaches with endless sandy beaches and lush forests that embrace the slopes of the mountains. Rachoni, Prinos, Sotiras, Kallirachi, Maries, Pefkari are villages and settlements either with beaches or stairs, which are filled in summer.
In the “grasped” Kazaviti
Following the uphill road that starts from Prinos (or Kalyvia for the locals), the visitor arrives at the small and large Kazaviti. Probably the most picturesque and greener (before the devastating fire of 2016) village of Thassos, built on the slopes of a hill.
The small and large Kazaviti was really an earthly paradise that has unfortunately been “taken” by the great devastating fire in September 2016. The small traditional café under the centuries -old plane tree in the uphill paved square, which is bakes Greek coffee.
The cosmopolitan porches
It is a large village that developed at the end of the 19th century. The port of the ports began to become commercial, since 1903, when they began to load minerals that took advantage of a large foreign company. The company’s headquarters are a large impressive building, known as “Palataki”, dominating over the picturesque harbor. However, the development of the village is mainly due to tourism.
The white gold
Thassos’s renowned white marble is famous around the world. It is no coincidence, however, that most exports are made to Middle Eastern and Northern European countries. With white marble Thassos is the most important Muslim pilgrimage, Mecca. Also, with white marble the hollow of the ancient theater was dressed after the restoration work. It is said, however, that the long -standing and in some cases reckless extraction of this natural wealth has “hurt” the island.
The mansion long
It is a beautiful picturesque beach located east of the port. It is a beautiful, picturesque, quiet bay near the village, with crystal clear waters, surrounded by pine trees. The coast is sandy and organized, ideal for endless hours of bath and sunbathing. On the beach, there is a modern tourist unit with bungalow, one of the first to be created in the country in the late 1960s. Small picturesque houses, sown in the foliage of the trees, are an ideal place for a relaxing holiday.
From Our Lady to the Golden Beach and to the Vagi Museum
Mountain village and popular destination for many tourists, Our Lady is distinguished for the big plane trees in the square, the many running waters and picturesque cafes where Greek coffee and traditional sweet spoon is served. Visit the homonymous historical church of Our Lady, which is directly linked to the social and economic life of the village.
In Panagia is one of the most famous beaches on the island. The golden sandy beach, a really long beach, with fine sand and clear waters, impressing those who visit it.
Ten minutes from the Virgin Mary is the equally picturesque Potamia. A stop in the village will give you the opportunity to visit the Museum of Polygenos Vagi, one of the most important Greek sculptors from Thassos, who lived in America and was internationally distinguished. Today, his works are exhibited at the Brooklyn Museum, the Museum of American Art in New York, the Toledo Museum of Art, Kavala and Thassos. The museum in Potamia is housed in a beautiful two -storey stone building in the center of the village.
The sea meets the story in Alyki
One of the most beautiful locations in Thassos is Alyki. Throughout the Greek, Roman and Byzantine Empire, the area was uninterrupted as a transfer and shopping center, a reference point for marble and its products. Continuous quarrying resulted in a large part of the peninsula almost up to the surface of the sea. When the level goes down, the salt remains in the dents created by the carving of the marble tumors. These natural saltwater also gave the name Alyki. The clear waters of the vagina are an unparalleled natural pool, between pine trees, olive trees and abandoned marble volumes.
The tourist drink and the traditional theologian
Potos is one of the most famous tourist resorts on the island. Five hotels and rooms to let rooms serve the large number of visitors.
In contrast, the mountainous graphic community of the Theologian. The history of the village begins in prehistoric times and is lost in the depths of centuries. Abundant and clear waters, the dense vegetation and relief of the area win the visitor. The settlement is built amphitheatrically. The houses follow Macedonian architecture and are built parallel to the slope of the soil. The roofs of most houses are made of local stone. One of the most interesting attractions is the Folklore Museum of the Cultural Association housed in the mansion of the president and chieftain Hatzigiorgis Metaxas.
Traditional recipes in sweets and fish
In Thassos, the visitor can taste fresh fish. The locals prefer the “liocapto”, a fish baked in the sun, the mackerel in the middle and cooked on the charcoal, while the sunny octopus is particularly favorite. From traditional foods, peeled with tomato, onion and oil are distinguished.
Traditional products on the island are delicious Thassian olives, excellent virgin olive oil, pure honey. Also, two of the most renowned traditional spoon sweets, the nut and the Sokalaki, as well as the Thassiko Zaragli.
Thassos is aimed at those who want to combine natural beauty, history and authentic Greek hospitality without feeling on a tourist machine. It is ideal for families, couples and lonely travelers who appreciate quality and serenity.