Thassos is believed to have been named after Thassos, the son or grandson of Aginoras, the king of Phoenicia. Thassos went to the island in search or Europe and he established himself there as its first king.

Other ancient sources claim other names for the island, such as “Hieria”, by her chill summer breeze, “Athria”, by her clear sky, “Coast of Goddess Demetra”, by her fertile ground or “Dasos”, meaning forest in Greek, from the many forests on the island.

According to Herodotus, the island of Thassos was constructed by the Phoenicians with Thassos as their king, who came to the island even before the Parians.

The Phoenicians drove away the Thracians, who were till then the inhabitants of the island, and started occupying themselves with the mineral mining, as the island was rich in minerals.   

The Phoenicians also developed the naval engineering and shipping activities along with agriculture and they also built fortress around the main town of the island. In order to assist to these activities, Greeks and other tribes came to the island which in time started turning into an autonomous state out of the Phoenician control. The predominant element of the island was now the Greek.

The island flourished in manufacture, mineral mining, industrial production but also arts and culture.

At the end of the archaic period, the inhabitants had built a state-of-the art wall around its town, made with marble and slate revealing the town’s prosperity. The wall had to be torn down by the Thassians themselves after the Persians invaded the area but it was partially rebuilt in 412 B.C.

In the following years and due to the Peloponnesian War the island is utilized by Athenians and it gradually loses its autonomy till around 385 B.C. when she regained its own control. But it was short period of recovery since it finally yielded to Philippe II of Macedonia in 338 B.C.

During the Macedonian rule the island manages to keep a basic autonomy. During that period the inhabitants restore their temples and their fortification walls and an outburst of constructions and various wide and well organized settlements emerge throughout the island. It was indeed the most important period of construction and development of building activities.

Thassos, like most parts of Greece, came under the Byzantine rule at the time when the Byzantine Empire was flourishing. When the island came under the Byzantines the state of Thassos lost its power and Christianism started expanding rapidly although the authorities did not want to disappoint the Roman Empire. At the first phase of Byzantine rule the island became pretty prosperous but this declined as the empire’s enemies started raiding Thassos.

Thassos was part of the Byzantine Empire, with intervals, till the 14th century A.D. when the Venetians took the authority. During this time the island and its commercial activities flourished until Sicilians, Slavs, Greek and Spanish pirates devastated all the development and positive progress of most fields during the last centuries.

Finally, at about 1455 A. D. and after the destruction of the Byzantine Empire, the Turks took over the island and left it almost uninhabited as almost all its inhabitants were transferred to Constantinople.

After years of harsh domination and cruel tax systems the Russian fleet defeated the Turks and a ship came to island which was liberated only for four years. When the Sultan returned to the island’s domination, his oppression and cruelty was much harder till the beginning of the 19th century when the Sultan gave the island as a reward to the Egyptian Mehmet Ale. He was pretty fond of the island and let the inhabitants create their own governance system made of communities.

Finally Thassos was shortly liberated during the Greek Revolution in 1821 but this only brief as the Neo-Turks re-established their constitution and all the rights and privileges of the island were taken away from them till the Balkan Wars at 1912, when Thassos was finally free.

According to mythology, the island was discovered by Thassos the Phoenician, in his search for his sister Europe. Europe was abducted by Zeus when he transformed into a bull, enchanted by her beauty.

After her abduction, her four brothers left Phoenicia to look for their sister. Thassos went to the north Aegean and finally established himself as king of the lush green island, Thassos.

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.

CLIMATE
Thassos climate is the typical Mediterranean climate with mild winters and hot summers. Due to its geo position, there are cool breezes even during summer while its waters are not particularly warm too.

The best season in Thassos, due to its lush vegetation and amazing natural scenery is spring till the beginning of summer.  

TELEPHONE
The national prefix for Greece is +30 if you are calling from abroad.  All numbers in the capital Athens start with the prefix 210 and are followed by 7 digits (e.g. 210-3227400).

The Area Code for Thassos is: +30 25930.

If you wish to call abroad, you have to start by dialing the other country’s national prefix (i.e. 0049 for Germany, 0044 for England etc.) and continue with the area code and the number where you wish to call.

CURRENCY
Euro €
Euro Coins: 1 and 2 euro coins (gold and silver color), 10, 20 and 50 cents (gold color) 1, 2 and 5 cents (copper color)
1 euro = 100 cents / centimes.
Euro Bank Notes: Are available in 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500. It is not always easy to receive change for 200 and 500 Euro Notes.

BY AIR
Thassos does not have an airport but travelers can fly to Kavala and then take the ferry boat to Ormos Prinou port, at Thassos, in about 1,5 hr.

The flight to Kavala lasts about 50’.

Olympic Air: For accurate timetable and ticket costs visit Olympic Air website www.olympicair.com
Tel.: 801 801 0101/+30 210 3550500

Aegean Air: For accurate timetable and ticket costs visit Aegean Air website www.aegeanair.com
Tel.: 801 112 0000/+30 210 6261000

BY BOAT
Thassos is accessible by boat from Kavala or Keramoti in Eastern Macedonia. The boat from Kavala reaches the port of Ormos Prinou at about 1hr and 35’ while from Keramoti reaches the main port of the island at about 40’.

The shipping companies that operate the trips to Thassos are ANETH and Thassos Ferries.

For accurate timetable and ticket costs visit ANETH LINES website: http://www.anethferries.gr/

For accurate timetable and ticket costs visit Thassos Lines website: http://www.thassos-ferries.gr/english.html

LOCAL BUSES
Thassos island has a very good internal network of buses, the long distance buses or else called KTEL buses.

Its network covers the distances between almost every town, village or settlement on the island, facilitating visitors with their exploration dashes on this magnificent island of the North Aegean Sea.

For more information on timetables and routes please contact:

KTEL Thassos Tel.: +30 25930 22162

TAXI SERVICE
At the ports of the island you will most probably find a taxi to take you to your hotel but it would be advisable to cross check with your hotel upon booking and maybe ask for a taxi phone number, so as to ensure your ride.

RENT A CAR/MOTORBIKE
You will find some car/motorbike rental agencies on the island, as having your own vehicle is the best way to tour around the island and its gorgeous landscapes.

The main road network is in reality a peripheral road that circles the island and you can arrange to have your car/motorbike dropped off your hotel or have it waiting for you at the port.

BANKS & ATMS
On Thassos you will find branches of some of the biggest Greek banks. Mind that all bank branches are open for the public from 8am to 14.30pm on all weekdays except for Friday and on Friday from 8am to 14pm.
ATMs can be found outside all bank branches and in some villages too.

MONEY EXCHANGE
Banks exchange all major currencies, traveler’s cheques or Eurocheques. Post offices exchange cash, but not traveler’s cheques, and usually charge lower commissions than banks. Travel agencies and larger hotels exchange cash and traveler’s cheques but usually charge a higher commission. Credit cards are accepted in shops and restaurants, however, in local cafes, especially in villages you will probably have to pay in cash.

POST OFFICE
The Greek post office is called ELTA. Post Boxes in Greece are YELLOW for normal post, usually with 2 slots for INTERNAL POST (meaning inside Greece) and post for ABROAD. RED Post Boxes are rarer and they are used for URGENT mail. REGISTERED mail is always handled and given a receipt for at the POST OFFICE.

Post Offices operate between 8am and 14pm and can be found at the main towns and villages of the island.

Thassos Post Office: +30 25930 22114
Theologos Post Office: +30 25930 31212
Limenaria Post Office: +30 25930 51296
Prinos Post Office: +30 25930 71200

INTERNATIONAL PRESS
You can find some shops and super markets where international press is sold but it would be advisable to have it with you before boarding on the ferry boat to Thassos from Kavala or Thessaloniki airports or cities.

POLICE STATION
A police department and various regional police offices are found on the island at the villages of Theologos, Limenaria, Prinos and Skala Kalirahis. Of course, the main police station is located at Thassos town.

Thassos Police Station: +30 25930 22500
Theologos Police Office: +30 25930 31222
Limenaria Police Office: +30 25930 51111
Skala Kalirahis Police Office: +30 25930 91111

Municipality of Thassos
Town Hall
Head office
Thassos Town
Tel.: +30 25930 23918, 23118
Fax: +30 25930 22118
E-mail:  [email protected]

• Tourist Police: 171, +30 26950 24483-4
• Hellenic National Meteorological service: +30 210 9699101-3
• Elpa (Car breakdown tourist information service): 174
• Thassos Port Authority: +30 25930 22106
• Prinos Port Authority: +30 25930 71390
• Limenas Port Authority: +30 25930 22355

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

• Police: 100
• Fire Department: 199
• Ambulance: 166
• Forest Inspection Service: +30 25930 22106

HEALTH
There is no hospital on Thassos Island but you will find a very well equipped, modern health centre at Prinos.
At Limenaria and Limenas mostly you will be able to find private doctors too, such as a dentist, orthopedic, cardiologist and general practitioner.

Prinos Health Centre: +30 25930 71100

PHARMACY
Pharmacies can be found in most of the island’s big villages and settlements: Limenas, Prinos, Skala Kalirahis, Limenaria, Potos and Panagia.

Ganitou Aikaterini
Limenaria, +30 25930 52189

Matsani Bros
Limenas, +30 2593022688

Ellhna Maria
Panagia, +30 2593062164

Konstadinidis Andreas
Skala Kalirahis, +30 2593091708

Lavtzi Eleni
Limenas, +30 2593022486

Piperolahana in Greek means the spicy, full or pepper flavour cabbages. This a very spicy dish for discerning palates as it consists in beans boiled together with cabbage, peppers and other vegetables that have been left to dry and then merged into salt and vinegar water for more than a week. The result is a very distinctive, spicy flavour given by the salted vegetables.

This dish is made with veal meat, onion, potatoes, apple, quince and various herbs. Sfragisto in Greek means “sealed” and so this dish is made. The meat is cooked in a casserole alone with the grinded pepper, olive oil and sugar without pinching it so as to keep its juices within. The casserole remains closed until the meat becomes reddish. Then all the rest of the ingredients are added to cook with the meat without leaving the casserole uncapped.

A great variety of vegetables including cabbages are used to accompany the pre-boiled octopus. Onions, soft tomatoes, cabbages, various vegetables, parsley, spearmint, dill, olive oil and pepper grains are all sautéed together and at the end some juice from the already boiled octopus is added. when the vegetables are almost done the octopus is added to be boiled with the mixture for about 15’. A very delicious, summer dish!

A delicacy made with dried pumpkin, rice cinnamon, eggs and olive oil all put into homemade dough. A dish for all times of the day.

A dish made with zucchinis, spearmint, eggs, feta cheese and breadcrumbs. The zucchinis are grinded and the feta cheese is cut in small pieces, in a pan olive oil and a thin layer of flour is poured before the mixture of the zucchinis, feta, spearmint, rice, eggs and the breadcrumbs is added. At the top of the mix some flour is sprinkled again and some butter is added. Baked in the oven Paspalopita is prepared after about 1 hr and the result is magnificent!    

This is a traditional Thassian dessert resembling t6he oriental sweets made with thin layers of dough, nuts and syrup. The layers of dough are prepared first and poured with vegetable oil. It is then baked into the oven and as soon as it is ready the syrup is added and it is cut to welcome the nuts and the cinnamon or the cumin. A light, nutritious and delicious traditional homemade sweet!

This is similar to other Greek spoon sweets though instead of vegetables and fruit it is made with rose petals. A symphony of flavors, sweet and sour and a delicate touch in the mouth…just like the touch of a rose!

Thassos was very famous for its wine production especially during the past years. A great number of about 300 hectars was cultivated with a distinctive vine which produced an excellent wine, considered to resemble to the Ancient Greek Wine.

A product that is greatly produced at Thassos and is related to wine production is “linoi”, the vessels where the grapes are smashed for their juices to be released.

Another local product of Thassos, as a typical product of Greece, is high quality honey and the royal pulp, the product of the bees used to feed their queen bee. This is proved to have miraculous attributes and great value for the human organization, though its taste is a little unpleasant.

Thassos is an island with lush vegetation and therefore olive trees could not but be amongst the island’s major cultivation. Fine quality olive oil, with its extraordinary effects on the human organization and also the basis for Mediterranean nutrition, is one of the island’s principal local products.

The Thassian olives are also pretty famous and especially the “Throumba” variety olive which is pretty popular for its unique taste and fine quality.

Thassos is an island of crystal form geomorphology so its mineral wealth is great. In the past many mineral and marble mines operated on the island, which were abandoned as the island’s population started diminishing and the inhabitants started occupying themselves with tourism.

The Thassian marble is among the most valuable and fine quality marbles in Greece and the island’s inhabitants had started exporting it since the ancient times even to Asia Minor and Turkish coasts, as they had understood its fine quality and great durability. Thassian marble has a distinctive white-milky colour and a crystalline gradient. Examples of marble creations can be seen throughout the island even nowadays as well as the remains of old mines.

An annual festival that takes place each summer in Kavala, Macedonia, and its major vanues but also on Thassos Island. The Festival hosts many events and popular artists, Greek or foreigners, mostly from the fields of music and theatre.

Philippi Festival takes place usually for 1,5 month, starting at the beginning of  July till end of August.

Each summer, from mid July till end of August, Thassos Festival takes place on the island hosting various theatrical plays and musical performances. The Festival also hosts ancient Greek comedies and tragedies from famous Greek writers.

In Thassos Stadium each summer take place various musical concerts and events.

On the days when various saints are celebrated throughout Greece, in Thassos take place various fairs and festivities in order to honor their contribution and nameday. Especially in the summer, all festivities are accompanied by music, dances and local delicacies. Among the most famous local dish is the “kloumpani” which is meat cooked with a type of short and thick pasts, “kritharaki”.

The scenery of Skala Potamia, the seaside part of the beautiful Potamia village is an ideal place for a day or evening stroll around its picturesque harbour and charming central square. Especially the imposing Tarsanas building at the small harbour of the settlement, which was built in the 19th century A.D. from monks of the Holy Mountain, is a site that should not be missed.

Theologos village, on the central-southern part of Thassos, is not only one of the most historical and traditional villages on the island, but also the best place to taste quality local food and especially the lamb spit-roasted.

Another attraction of the village is the representation of the traditional Thassian wedding that takes place every summer at the end of June.

A charming waterfall is hidden within the beautiful scenery at the heart of the island, near Kastro village. The waterfall is about 2m high, creating a small lake within the verdant nature of the area making the scenery just magical!

Some kilometers northern and going westwards, right outside Maries village, you will meet a small lake, principally created to serve the needs of the area’s farmers. A tranquil ambience for a small escape from the busy spots of the island.

Finally, south from Limenas, Thassos capital, and near the famous Golden Beach, you will find Panagia village, a tranquil place where natural springs flow water from the mountains. Take a stroll around the village and have a café at the traditional “kafeneio” right next to the springs, where men from all around the island came in order to make a wish for their child to be a boy.

Scattered around Limenas and all the major resorts on the island you will find a great number of shops selling traditional products such as honey, olive oil, cheese, wine and sweets.