Page 144 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Greek Islands

d INSIDER TIP
THÁSOS Although there are
Ferry Crossings

to Thássos from the city
ΘΆΣΟΣ some ferries travelling
of Kavála, there are far
more frequent (and
g @ Liménas bus station ∑ thassos.gr cheaper) crossings from
EXPERIENCE The Northeast Aegean Islands deposits near modern Liménas, ancient Thasos locations in Liménas. Well
the port of Keramotí,
Thásos has been inhabited since the Stone Age, with
located just under
settlers from Páros colonizing the east coast during
40 km (25 miles) east
the 7th century BC. Spurred by revenues from gold
of Kavála.
became the seat of a seafaring empire, though
its autonomy was lost to the Athenians in 462 BC.
The town thrived in Roman times, but lapsed into
defined by the ruins of four
medieval obscurity. Today, the island’s last source
stoas, which were colonnaded
walkways, the Hellenistic and
of mineral wealth is delicate white marble, cut
Roman agora covers a large
from quarries whose scars are prominent on the
area behind the ancient
hillsides south of Liménas.
military harbour, today the
(fishing port). Though only
1
while the road to Panagiá
a few columns have been
Liménas
re-erected, you can trace the
cuts across a vast shrine of
Modern Liménas, also known part of the central square, picturesque modern limanáki
essentials of ancient civic life,
Herakles before passing a
as Thásos town, is a rather monumental historic gateway. including several temples to
undistinguished resort on Established in the 7th gods and deified Roman
the coastal plain which has century BC, ancient Thasos emperors, plus the remains of
been settled for nearly four had a complex series of heroes’ monuments and an
millennia. One of the more buildings, only the remains extensive drainage system.
interesting sights in town is of which can be seen today. Foundations of a Temple
seeing the vestiges of the French archaeologists have of Dionysos, where a 3rd-
ancient city blend into the conducted excavations century BC marble head of
modern town. The remains of here since 1911; digs have the god was found, mark the
a Byzantine basilica take up continued at a number of start of the path up to the

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