Going village-hopping in Thassos introduces you to unforgettable traditions and local crafts & products and offers a perfect contrast to the famous beaches and turquoise water of Greece’s northernmost island

You might already have heard of Thassos’ pristine beaches and the Instagrammable beauty of Giola lagoon. But there’s another secret on this island in northern Greece. Within its emerald-green, hilly interior you’ll find mountain villages that are a wonderful contrast to the picture-perfect coastline. There’s certainly nowhere better to meet locals keeping alive traditional crafts and creating products like thyme-honey and extra-virgin olive oil.

Thassos has 22 settlements, some along the coast and others in the hills. We’ll be concentrating on the mountain villages here but, before getting started, make sure to give Limenas the attention it deserves. It’s the main port (with regular ferries from Keramoti on the mainland) but it’s small enough to have a village feel itself and offers cultural highlights such as the Old Harbour and Archaeological Museum and monuments like the Acropolis and the Ancient Theatre and Agora of Thassos. Visiting them will make your appreciation of the cobblestone lanes, mansion houses and Macedonian architecture of the villages all the greater.

Your first impression of mountain villages like Panagia, Potamia, Kazaviti and Theologos will be how harmoniously they blend in with the landscape. Many are built into the hillside or valleys, surrounded by fir, pine and chestnut trees and running water (especially in spring). If you’re into hiking, the mountain footpaths are a must or you could just find a picnic spot and admire the view. Thassos’ mountain villages were originally protective enclaves and lookouts in the days of pirate raids, meaning the sea views are out of this world.

So if Thassos is your choice for a holiday in northern Greece, or you want to combine it with other destinations on the mainland (like Kavala), you’re in for a treat as we go mountain village-hopping on Greece’s northernmost island.

Source: discovergreece.com