Cycladia Travel Guides

Located outside today’s town of Thassos, the Acropolis is a structure of the Byzantine Era which was enhanced and further developed during the Venetian rule. Comprising of three levels in a scale the middle one hosts a sanctum to God Athena while the third one, despite being the simplest one, was the worshipping place of Pan, one of God Dionysus most loyal followers. An embossed portrait of him playing his syrinx adorns the spot which is the favorite among visitors. You should definitely visit the Acropolis just to enjoy the views and breathe its historical air.

Right next to Thassos town lay the remnants of Thassos ancient settlement which had two ports, the military one, closed to public and ships other than military ships, and the commercial one, used for the town’s commercial activities. The Agora, the cornerstone of politics, administration and economic activities is among the most important findings on the island. The findings number various statues, sculptures and inscriptions of great value most of which are exhibited today at the Museum of Louvre as the excavations that brought them to light was conducted in 1911 by the Archeological Faculty of France. The ancient Odeon and the ancient theatre, the sanctuary of Zeus and Artemis are also among the principal parts of the site.

The remnants of an ancient settlement and an ancient sanctum is found here dating back to the 7th century B.C. the settlement is believed to have been very prosperous due to the marble mining activities and the Christians that moved here during the Byzantine times built two big Basilicas churches in the place of a necropolis. A marble pathway used to connect Aliki with anciente Thassos, parts of which are still visible in Dermata and Petradi areas. Also, a half sank mining site is still visible there as marble mining was interrupted abruptly due to a sudden event, most probably an earthquake some time either during the 4th or the 16th century A.D..

A marvel of ancient architecture, Thassos ancient theatre still lays right next to the Thassos town exuding the grandeur of the past cultural activities. The theatre dates back to the 5th century B.C. and it was even during Roman times for various cultural events, such as plays and musical performances. On some seats inscribed names are obvious even today, which proves that people used to reserve their seat in order to watch an event. Parts of the theatre were adorned with Thassian marble, still visible.

Right outside the settlement of Skala Prinos is located this newly established and pretty interesting museum, paying a tribute to the miraculous products of olive trees! An initiative of a local bio-oil business, the museum hosts a space where a representation of oil production takes place, a photography exhibition space, a part where all types of oils are exhibited (around 40 from the 130 different types that are known up today), a projections’ space and finally the olive products exhibition, where you will be able to taste and buy anything you like!

Among the 3 folklore museums on the island, the Theologos museum is the most important one. The other two are located in Limenaria and Kalirachi. The museum hosts exhibits of traditional arts, everyday utensils and representations of traditional houses interiors and exteriors. The building that hosts the museum is an historical landmark, as it used to be the mansion house of Hatzigeorgis, the fighter that incited the resistance of the island’s inhabitants against the Turks in 1821.

Located at Potamia this museum is dedicated to the worldwide known Greek artist and sculptor, Polignotos Vagis, who was distinguished in America. Vagis occupied himself with sculpture on various rocks ands stones and the museum is full of pieces of his great work.

Kalogeriko is a historical building standing out from all the other buildings at the centre of the ancient port of Thassos. Is was built at the end of the 19th century and nowadays it hosts various cultural exhibitions and galleries of Greek and foreign artists. You should absolutely visit it and admire its architecture.

Built right6 in the centre of the island’s capital, Limenas, the museum hosts exhibitions of various findings from the Paleolithic Era up to the Roman Times. As soon as you enter the museum, you will be astonished with the huge Kouros which was aimed to be sued for the God Apollo sanctuary. You will be amazed by the way of life of the island’s inhabitants and admire various ancient findings such as everyday objects and jewelries.

Thassos, just like almost all the places and islands in Greece, boasts about its beautiful, traditional villages, traveling the visitor to past times and forgotten ways of living.

We present you below the most scenic Thassos villages; the ones you should not miss!

A small traditional village located on the eastern part of the island, very near Panagia and Chrisi Akti. Potamia is built on the foot of Mountain Ypsarion and it consists in beautiful small houses with stone walls and wooden roofs. Potamia is ideal for hiking as here exist various paths that enter the mountain in a scenery of lush vegetation and total serenity.

Theologos was the main village of the island till the past century, boasting great history as an ancient settlement and a necropolis was found here. Even nowadays the village if full with life though being a small mountainous village and the prosperity of its residents is apparent in the buildings: large, imposing buildings made of stone that have declared as traditional houses by the Greek state. The scenery maybe rough due to the lack of vegetation caused by a fire that burnt almost every plant and tree here but the area is full with running waters so there is hope of nature being reborn!

The Small and Large Kazaviti (Small and Large Prinos) villages are found in the north central part of the island and are, without a doubt, among the most beautiful and picturesque villages of the island. Small and narrow stone paved alleys, stone built houses with wooden terraces and balconies and painted ceilings, the scenery here will definitely take you back in time. Though both of the villages have seen very glorious times in the past, when the inhabitants stayed and worked here, protected by the pirates that raged the lowland and seaside settlements, nowadays are rather abandoned. Still standing here are the remnants of an old school that contributed greatly to the island’s history, the old mansion houses and churches. The perfect place to relax in the sound of nature and running waters and have a lunch or coffee at the Large Kazaviti’s central square.

On one of the tops of mount Ypsarion, right in the heart of the island, lies the oldest settlement of the island, Kastro (meaning “castle” in Greek). Its inhabitants were here protected from the pirates till most of them left the village to work to the mines of a foreign company and transferred their settlement at Limenaria. The village used to be the place where they spent their holidays but during the recent years many attempts to restore the village have taken place with remarkable results!

We could keep on describing the island’s magnificent villages but it would be better for you to explore them in person making sure you will not leave aside Panagia, Kinira, Astris and Themonia.