Thassos is most northern island in the Aegean Sea and lies about 8km off the Macedonia mainland in the Gulf of Kavala. It has an area of about 380 sq km and is roughly circular at 22km wide and 26 km long and with a coastline of about 100 km.
Thassos is a mountainous island with the highest peaks at Ipsarion (1,127m) and Profitis Ilias (1,108 m). Much of the northern coast in inaccessible, with steep rock cliffs, while the south of Thassos is relatively flat.
The northern half has rich vegetation, with thick forests, olive groves and vineyards that are fed by many underground springs. The south is mostly unproductive agriculturally, although as much as 90% of the island is covered by pine forest, oak trees, and planes.
Thassos is also rich in minerals with lead and silver in the Limenaria area, copper around Astris, iron at Kalirachi and snow white marble, for which Thassos island is famous, found around Limenas.
The monastery at ARCHANGELOS leans out over a sheer cliff drop, high above a narrow bay with small and attractive shingle beach below. The Archangelos beach is reached down a narrow unsurfaced track off the main road and has no facilities.
Although called a monastery it is today a convent for 20 or so nuns. There are two chapels, one dedicated to St Ephraim of Syros and the other to St Gerasimos of Kefalonia.
The monastery is more impressive outside than in, but it is conveniently located on the main coast road should you want to take a closer look.
It was built like a fort on top of the cliffs at the edge of a cape with a 200ft drop to the sea and was founded by a monk, Lucas, in 830 at the site of a spring.
In the 13th century the Archangelos monastery was a dependency of Mount Athos on the mainland. Today it includes the Catholicon, built in 1834, several cells and rooms for guests.
The monastery has a collection of religious artifacts, notably a nail said to be from the cross on which Jesus was crucified. Each year, on the first Tuesday after Easter, the nail is carried on procession from the village of Theologos to the convent.
Visitors are welcome at Archangelos monastery but are expected to adopt sober dress - no shorts please and women are must cover up too. There is a car park outside the front gate, just off the main road.
It is a long but beautiful 10km valley road to THEOLOGOS, the former island capital under the Turks. You may well wonder why you bothered as Theologos is little more than a village of old houses,a tiny square and a couple of cafes under a tree. There is just enough room to turn the car and go back. The alternative is to stare back at the villagers who stare back in reply.
Brochures describe Theologos as a serene place unblemished by tourism - and they are right about that. Founded by refugees from Constantinople in the 16th century Theologos is the most remote of Thassos island villages. It was deserted in the 19th century.
There are 30 or so houses at Theologos now, many locked up except in the summer and there has been a recent upsurge in rebuilding and renovation. Astonishing views are found at every angle so take your camera and there are many good walks to be found in the hills around Theologos.
Thassos is the most northerly of the Greek holiday islands so its climate is cooler than most other Greek Islands especially at night. On the other hand Thassos is more sheltered from the prevailing northerly winds so it can feel quite humid.
The season starts in May when Thassos has lots of sunshine with only occasional rain. Showers can be heavy but are generally brief. Summer temperatures average 27°C in July and August then drop off to 25° in September. Unlike other Greek islands Thassos is not swept by cooling afternoon breezes. Sea temperatures hover around 20°C.
Winter in Thassos is milder than on most Greek islands. Average temperatures drop to 8-9°C and afternoons are often swept by rain. November can still have warm days and by April the temperatures are rising fast and the island is covered in wild flowers.
| JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC | Averages |
| 11 | 11 | 15 | 17 | 21 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 24 | 21 | 16 | 12 | Day °C |
| 5 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 13 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 16 | 13 | 9 | 6 | Night °C |
| 5 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 4 | Sun (hrs) |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 2 | UV Index |
| 140 | 129 | 91 | 68 | 43 | 18 | 10 | 16 | 48 | 125 | 172 | 184 | Rain (mm) |
| 12 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 11 | 13 | Rainy days |
‡ On Fridays there is a free tour of Thassos marble quarry at 10am, near Thassos Town on the Panagia road.
‡ In Panagia village there are daily tours of a traditional olive oil factory.
‡ The recently enlarged archaeological museum in Thassos Town is now open 7 days a week.
