PALEOPOLI
The Sanctuary of the Great Gods
The island of Samothrace was very famous in the ancient times for one of the few sanctuaries of the Greek world where initiation ceremonies took place. The mystery cult (...)
The Archaeological Museum of Samothraki
The Archaeological Museum of Samothraki is in Palaiopoli, right next to the Sanctuary of the Great Gods. The small building was erected by the American School of Classical (...)
The Winged Victory of Samothraki
The most famous symbol of the island is no doubt the statue of the winged goddess Nike (Victory), exhibited today at the Louvre Museum. Her reputation reached all the corners (...)
Tracing the footsteps of St. Paul in Samothraki
Samothraki was the first land where St. Paul set foot when he began his second missionary journey - the one in Europe from around 50 AD. According to the Acts of the Apostles, he (...)
THE GOATS OF SAMOTHRAKI
Twenty times more than the number of the inhabitants. So the statistics say – 50-60.000 goats at a population of less than 3000 inhabitants. The most of the goats (almost 90% of the total) live freely. They are everywhere – on the road, near the road, on the rocks, on the beach, in the trees, even on the cars if you are not (...)
CHORA
Chora, the perched capital of Samothraki
The capital of the island is called Chora (though on some maps or signs, you may find it even under the name of Samothraki). Among other things, the word chora also means the (...)
The Gateluzzi stronghold of Chora
At one end of Chora, in the northeastern part, the ruins of the medieval citadel dominate the settlement from a 250 meters peak. History The citadel is built on an area of (...)
To truly understand a place, you must learn its history, customs and traditions, namely the foundation of what it is today. A first step towards learning more about what is (...)
The church of Chora and the five neo-martyrs
The Church of the Assumption of Mary is the most important on the island. It's easy to spot, thanks to the church bell that towers above the red roofs of the traditional houses in the (...)
PANAGIA KRIMNIOTISSA
Panagia Krimniotissa, the church on the rock
Legend says that there are 999 chapels and churches scattered about the island. Panagia Krimniotissa (or Kremniotissa) is probably the most beautiful of them all, and seeing the sunset from here will definitely become one of the many fond memories of your holiday in Samothraki. As you start from the port of Kamariotissa towards (...)
THERMA
Therma - between the mountain and the sea
Therma is located in the north of the island of Samothraki, about 14 km east of Kamariotissa. It is a small village with about 70 inhabitants, though, during the season, the (...)
The ruins of the Monastery of Christ near Therma
Although the sign says "The Holy Monastery of Christ", the actual monastery doesn't exist anymore. Only its ruins remain in a very beautiful natural setting, somewhere to the (...)
ANO MERIA
The church of Agia Paraskevi by the sea
There are only a few big churches in Samothraki. Chapels and small churches dot the island, even in the most remote places. Two of these are dedicated to Saint Paraskevi (Agia Paraskevi) - one in Paleopoli, near the Sanctuary of the Great Gods and the other in Ano Meria. The small church from Ano Meria is not really in the village, but on (...)
KAMARIOTISSA
Kamariotissa - Welcome to Samothraki!
Located in the northwestern part of the island, in a large bay protected by Akrotiri cape, Kamariotissa (Kamargiotsa in the local dialect) is the town you step into when you (...)
Panagia Kamariotissa, the protector of the island
The church of Kamariotissa is right by the harbor, on one of the streets behind the seafront. It's dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (like the church of Chora) and is (...)
