Sanctuary of Great Gods
Exploring Samothraki Sailing Holidays area
Samothraki is the home of the Sanctuary of the Great Gods, site of important Hellenic and pre-Hellenic religious ceremonies. Considerable remains still exist of the ancient walls, which were built in massive Cyclopean style, as well as of the Sanctuary of the Great Gods, where mysterious rites took place in ancient time. In memory of the Apostle Paul who passed through Samothrace a three-aisled Early Christian church was constructed in Paliapoli (Old City). It is considered one of the oldest Christian Churches in the world and also holds the Shrine of the Apostle Paul. Paul spent a single night on Samothrace, came into contact with the residents, told them about Christianity and left the following day for Neapolis (today’s Kavala). Every year, on the evening of June 29, a vigil is kept in the Shrine of Apostle Paul.
Navigational Aids
Kamariotissa is the main harbor for the island. It provides good all around shelter but a strong SW wind brings in an uncomfortable swell.
Loutra or Thérma is the new second artificial harbor that opened in 2002. It is reported to have depths over 3 m and it provides good or better protection from the meltemi (the Etesians) than Kamariotissa.
The river Fonias creates many lakes and waterfalls. Kremasto is the biggest and most impressive one, 35m in height and forms a lake with a diameter of 30m.
Named after the medieval Fonias Tower that lies at the side. A long beach, with pebbles and clean waters.
A beautiful sandy beach, surrounded by high rocks with caves. On the east, the famed waterfall of Kremastos can be found.
The largest waterfall of the Mediterranean that flows into the sea from a great height. You can get here by boat and enjoy your swim with a view to the waterfall and the Pania Grias, strange white lines on the rocks as if they were drawn.
An organized beach with pebble, straw umbrellas, sunbeds and a beach bar. Be careful as the cold water deepens very suddenly.
A relatively small beach with white pebble and green-blue waters. The sea is so clean that it looks like glass (=gyali in Greek), after which the beach was named.