The most mysterious place in Greece is Saint Athos, it is completely dedicated to the worship of gods and prayers. The peninsula is like a trident that pierces the Aegean Sea. Incredible beauty of nature, white clean beaches, olive groves, bays with cozy restaurants and small hotels and the main attraction is Mount Athos, which is 2033 meters high.
The history of the island is inextricably linked with the mythology of ancient Greece. According to legend, the titan Athos, during the battle with Poseidon, threw a rock at him, but missed, and it fell into the water, so Mount Athos appeared on this place.
Features of the relief, mild warm climate and nature are perfect for a secluded life. After the adoption of Christianity, hermits and monks remained to live here. Another legend says that after a sea storm a ship with the Mother of God came to the peninsula, she was stunned by the splendor of nature and asked God to give her this place, and so it happened.
Today Mount Athos is a monastic state, with its own charters and administration, the history of which goes back to 972. And in 1923 it joined Greece. UNESCO listed Mount Athos as a World Heritage Site. An interesting fact is that only 120 exclusively males can climb the mountain a day, and women for trying to get to Athos can go to prison for up to two years, this also applies to female animals.
Those who cannot visit the mountain go on a boat trip around the island, where you can see many monasteries. Each monastery contains the most valuable manuscripts, shrines, ancient icons and very large libraries.
The excursion to the monasteries will be very exciting. This is a whole complex of buildings that are located at the very top of the rocks. Anyone can go here, without exception. It contains many ancient relics and manuscripts. And the architecture of the monasteries is striking in its beauty.
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One of the attractions is the Petralona Cave. In the middle of the 20th century, during archaeological excavations, very old human remains were found in this cave. During the study, scientists have established the age of these remains - 7 thousand years. Traces of a fire were also found there, which proves the use of fire by ancient people. The cave itself is very beautiful, stalagmites, stalactites of different shapes with colored splashes.
Today, there are approximately 1,700 monks in all 20 monasteries on Mount Athos. They, as in ancient times, preach the Holy Letter by living prayer.
Perhaps you will be interested: Mount Olympus is the highest point in Greece - 2917 meters high, is a park. According to one legend, they say that the gods lived on this mountain, and you can only verify this by climbing the mountain and seeing the throne of Zeus. In addition, a wonderful view of the sea and islands opens up from the top. Climbing the mountain is not so easy, and it takes about three hours, but the tourist has no time to rest and he will visit the city of Zeus - Dion.