THASSOS

General Information

The picturesque island of Thassos decorates with its beauty the northern edge of the Aegean Sea. The affluent vegetation, the crystal blue waters of the seas and the comely beaches, the reclusive bays, the charming villages, the tranquil defiles, as well as the intense night life offer to the visitor the most pleasant and promising vacations. Thassos is the northwesternmost island of the Aegean Sea. Nature here prevails in two ways: the northeast is dominated by the coulees, and in the southwest the farming land ends to a zone of endless beaches. According to mythology, Thassos had been the island of the Sirens. Its population is about 14000 residents, while its extent covers 398 sq.km.

History - Culture

Research has unearthed settlements on the southern part of the island dating as far back as the Neolithic era. The first inhabitants of the island were Thracians, though legend has associated the founding of the ancient city  with the Phoenicians, and the island was reputedly named after Thassos, the brother of the Cadmus of the Phoenician tribe. This tribe had nothing to do with the Phoenicians of Anatolia, but were instead an ancient Greek tribe originating form the highlands of Epirus. The first archaic Greek settlement was founded about 681 BC by Parian settlers, who were attracted by the wealth of the gold and marble mines of the island. Wine of excellent quality was also a major export product. In 494 BC the massive army of the Persians conquered Thassos. Yet, as this army met ignominious defeat by the Greek forces on its march south, it was soon freed, and it eventually became an unwilling member of the Delian League under Athens, against whom it revolted after they had attempted to take over the mines. In 463 BC, the island was defeated and subjugated to the Athenians. About 340 BC, Thassos was occupied by Philip of Macedonia, while in the Roman years it flourished significantly. In fact, it was pro-Roman and this allegiance was rewarded by gaining the status of a free city in 196 BC. However, during the Byzantine years, Thassos suffered many attacks and barbarian raids, mainly by Slavs Avars, which were followed by a series of pirate raids, while in 1642 it came under Turkish domination. Thassos was finally reunited with the Greek nation in 1912.

Sights

The island of Thassos is a popular tourist destination that holds rich rewards for its visitors, offering an abundance of natural beauties and interesting archaeological monuments. The capital town of Thassos -or Limenas- is a picturesque small town situated in a verdant flat area, and visitors arriving here cannot help noticing the sparkling white tiled houses. Most of the main town has been systematically excavated by archaeologists and thus, a discernible plan of the ancient city has been revealed, which proves that ancient Thassos had been covering an extensive area. A tour around the archaeological site should start from the port, which must have been constructed in the 4th century BC. The marketplace lies, as would have been expected, right next to the port. It has a square shape, with each side being 100m long, and comprises of stoas, a complex of storage buildings and warehouses, public-administrative-religious centers, temples, a small theatre of the 2nd century AD, a basilica of the 5th century, and many more structures. Visitors can also admire the remains of the extensive fortifications with a fine touch, as the city gates are ornamented by sculptures. Another early Christian basilica built on the ruins of an ancient temple can be seen in the area of the open harbor. A little further, there is the ancient theatre of Thassos, dating back to the 3rd century BC. From there the road leads to the acropolis of the Byzantine period, then to the cave-temple of Pan, followed by the necropolis and the Roman triumphal arch of Emperor Caracalla. Finally, another large basilica lies further down, yet, outside the town of Limenas visitors will find that there are more monuments and charming villages to be discovered. There are the ruins of the Venetian castle in Limenaria, while in the town of Panagia, the old capital of the island, visitors can admire the old mansions, representative of traditional Macedonian architecture. The Drakotrypa (hole of the dragon) cave lies nearby, its name inspired by one of its stalactites, which resembles the figure of a dragon. In Potamia, there are the churches of Aghios Dimitrios and Aghios Nikolaos, while in the tourist resort of Potos one can visit the ancient marble quarries and the monastery of the Archangel. The traditional mountain villages of Little and Big Prinos are worth visiting, as many churches of the 19th century are found in the area. Visitors can easily tour around the island and discover their own beautiful, reclusive corners and places of interest. The green landscapes, the comely beaches, the fine services and the hospitality of the people attract thousands of visitors to Thassos each year.

Entertainment-Sports-Shopping

The tourist infrastructure of Thassos is remarkable, easily living up to the expectations of any demanding visitor. The capital town offers a wide range of accommodations, entertainment options, shopping and sport facilities. There are hotel units and small inns, rooms-to-let, camping sites, restaurants, taverns, coffee shops, pubs, night clubs and bars, all at the disposal of the visitors. The market has a large variety of goods, of which thyme honey, olives and sweet nuts are specialties, all of excellent quality. Additionally, ample facilities can also be found in the smaller settlements of the island such as in Limenaria, Panagia, Potamia, Potos and Prinos. Local specialties and delicacies are served in taverns, coffee and pastry shops throughout the island, and should definitely be tasted. Among the celebrated local dishes and delicacies are the specially prepared dry octopus, fresh fish, black wine, doughnuts and sweets. As far as sporting activities are concerned, visitors can fully enjoy water sports, as equipment and facilities are provided on almost every beach of the island. Mount Hypsario is suitable for mountain climbing and trekking, activities that can be combined with tours inland, as the interior of this island is, as unlikely as this may seem, just as beautiful as its majestic coastline.

Access

All year round ferries depart from Kavala to Prinos and Limenas while there is a ferryboat service from Keramoti to Limenas.

Connections

See the section CONNECTIONS in the prefecture of Kavala.

Museums

In the capital there is a significant Archaeological Museum while a Folk Art Museum can be visited in the village of Potamia.

Alternative Tourism

Ecclesiastical, spiritual, cultural, archaeology, sporting (water sports, sailing, yachting, windsurfing, mountain climbing, trekking).

Useful Telephone Numbers:

THASSOS AREA CODE:  25930-

POLICE STATION: 25930-22500

TOURIST POLICE: 25930-23111

TELECOMMUNICATIONS ORG.: 25930-22399

POST OFFICE: 25930-22114

PORT POLICE: 25930-22106

MUNICIPALITY: 25930-23118

MEDICAL CENTER: 25930-71100

PHARMACIES: 25930-22688, 22361, 22486