Thassos - North-Eastern Aegean Islands (Greece)

The round of Thassos

When you make a tour around the island, you will discover a lot of nice villages. A term you'll hear often on Thassos is the prefix "Skala", which literally means "stage". There are the villages Skala Rachonis, Skala Prinos, Skala Maries, Skala Potamias and Skala Panagias. These are all coastal villages that have a similar commitment with generally a mountain village or village in the interior; so in addition to the Skala villages also the villages of Rachoni, Prinos, Maries, Potamia and Panagia. The big difference between these villages is often the architectural style, where the mountain villages have a more traditional style, the villages on the coast are more focused on tourism.

Thassos has many quaint seaside towns and mountain villages such as Theologos, the old capital of the island. A number of popular resorts are located in the south of the island  like Limenaria, Potos and Alyki. On the eastern coast are the famous Golden Beach and Paradise beach where you can imagine yourself in the Caribbean Sea.! Thassos is definitely an island where you undoubtedly will enjoy a fantastic holiday.

History of Thassos

Thassos is an island that is inhabited since prehistoric times. According to old writings of literary men, Thracians and barbarians lived here before the 8th century BC. In the 7th century BC colonists from Paros came to settle here. As a result,the island developed economically, the "Parians" after all, were good in trading with other Greek states, even to the Black Sea.

In the 4th century BC, the island was annexed by Macedonia and the Macedonian King Philippos the 2nd. During the Roman and Byzantine era, Thassos  started to flourish again.

In the 7th century, the island was attacked by several Slavic and Arabic tribes. Thassos was indeed always an interesting island for conquerors because it was rich in metals (gold, bronze, lead, iron) and stones (marble). It was also known because of its wine.

Afters the Slavic and Arab people, came the Byzantines, Venetians, Genoese. Finally, in 1459 the island fell into the hands of the Ottomans. From 1913 the island belonged to Greece again.
 

Sights and tips Thassos

- The many picturesque mountain villages where the houses are designed in Macedonian architecture, set amid beautiful green countryside.
- The gorgeous coastal villages with their beautiful beaches.
- The ruins and monuments around Thassos town.
- The Archaeological Museum of Thassos town.
- Remnants of shrines and temples of antiquity.
- The old and the new port of Thassos town
- Several monasteries on the island, like the monastery of Archangel Michail.

Beaches on Thassos

Thassos is an island with many beautiful beaches and hardly ever windy in contrast with the beaches of other Greek islands. The sea is mostly shallow. Most beaches are accessible by car. Famous beaches of Thassos are Golden Beach (Chrissi Akti) in Skala Panagias, Paradise Beach (Paradisos) at Kynira, Makryammos, Chrissi Akti in Skala Potamias, the beach of Potos, the beach of Alyki, the beach of Limenaria, the beach Psili Ammos beach of Astris, beach Trypiti, the beach at Skala Maries, beach Skala Kalirachis, the beach of Skala Sotiros, the beach of Skala Rachonis, the beach of Skala Prinos, the beach Glyfoneri, beach Pachis etc.
 

Culinary specialties and products from Thassos

- Kourbani, a dish of boiled beef
- Honey of Thassos, which is among the top in Greece.
- Yogurt with honey
- Throumbes, a kind of olives
- All kinds of delicious wines
- Tsipouro, a type of gin made ​​from grapes.
 

Campsites on Thassos

• Camping Chrissi Ammoudia, Skala Panagias, Thassos, 02593-61207
• Camping Pefkari Beach, Pefki, Limenaria, Thassos, 025930-51190
• Camping Nysteri, Nysteri Limenas, Thassos. 025930-23327
• Camping Paradissos, Potos, Thassos, 025930-51950
• Camping Persefs, Rahoniou Skala, Thassos, from 025,930 to 81,242
• Camping Prinos, Thassos 64 010, 02593-071270

Text: Yorgos and Wendy Nikolidakis - Text edited by Maxine van Hoften