Σαμοθράκη | Samothraki

Samothraki Island

Samothraki is one of the north-east Aegean islands, 29 nautical miles south of the mainland city of Alexandroupolis. Alexandroupolis is the port where you can get a ferry to the island. This eliptical island covers an area of 180 sq.klm. with a shoreline of 32 klms. It's terrain is mountainous and the highest peak of Mount Saos or Saoki is Fengari at 1700 m. According to Homer, Samothrace was the island from which Poseidon watched the fall of Troy.

Because the island is off the beaten track it is relatively difficult to reach for tourists, so almost all of the visitors are Greeks. But the island has many things to offer for someone who decides to go there for vacations.

As you will shortly see, even though Samothraki has many natural beauties and charms to offer its visitors, it has stayed away from the tourist expansion. This only makes it more beautiful to those who like to find some of the lost serenity of our times here.


History

The Pelasgi are considered the island's original inhabitants, while in 700 BC settlers from the island of Samos established themselves on Samothraki, hence its name. After the 5th century BC it successively came under the rule of the Athenians, Spartans and Macedonians. In 86 BC under Syllas, Samothraki was plundered by pirates who desecrated the rich sanctuary of the Cabeiri. The Romans, though, restored it. After the breaking up of the Roman Empire, the island became part of Byzantium. In 1457 the Ottomans occupied Samothraki and the island was abandoned. During the uprising of 1821 those who did not manage to flee to the mountains were slaughtered by the Turks. Samothraki was liberated by the Greek fleet in 1912.


Main Attractions on the island

First, the island is very green, plenty of valleys full of oak and plane trees, thick forests of olive trees, very dense shrubbery, and beautiful wild flowers.

Second there is plenty of water on the island, there are many waterfalls that flow into deep cold pools, like Fonias and Gria Vathra, that are very nice to bath on the hot summer days.

(Samthraki Waterfalls Video)


Third the island is very rich in animal life. In the many springs you can find many kinds of frogs, toads, and turtles. The meadows are also rich of butterflies. Plenty of goats on the rocky mountainside are clanking their bells in the form of an idyllic melody.

Finally there are the beaches, although stony and pebbly, they are beautiful and very clean.

(Samthraki Seaside Video)


So the visitor at his disposal has many activities such as swimming, fishing, diving, hiking and many others.

Boats arrive at the port of Kamariotissa, on the north-west coast, where you'll find a plentiful supply of hotels, bars, and tavernas. The island capital, Hora, is five kilometres inland from the port. This is Samothraki's prettiest village - a totally unspoiled confection of cobbled streets and red-tiled houses tucked away in a hidden hollow cloaked with pine trees. The town is topped by the ruins of a Genoese castle which has dramatic views of the sea and port below.

(Kamariotissa Town Video)


The island's premier resort since Roman times has been Loutra, 14 kilometres east of Kamariotissa, where the therapeutic hot springs and lush scenery attract hordes of visitors in July and August. The presence of two nearby camp sites makes Loutra (also known as Therma) a popular spot among backpackers as well as ailing Greeks who come here to bathe in the curative waters of the local thermal baths.

Loutra is also the favored starting point for the challenging hike up to the summit of Mount Fengari. The name of this forbidding mountain means moon and according to legend if you reach its peak when there's a full moon your wish will come true. Don't let the local police catch you trying it because the mountain has claimed numerous lives and over-zealous, ill-equipped hikers are injured on it every year.


Gastronomic Delights

Some of the famous products of the island are olives, olive oil, cottage cheese, honey and goat meat. Hora is well known for its walnut and apricot traditional preserves. There is fish but mainly what you may find is goat meat like the tasty semi-savage goat on the spit which is something that the visitors have to try.


Archaeological Sites

Samothraki's ancient site is at Paleopolis. The Sanctuary of the Great Gods can be found there. It is one of the most evocative ancient sites and sacred pilgrimage site during pre-Hellenic times where secret rituals took place. The ruins of the sanctuary have refused to yield the secrets of the mysterious initiation rites and sacrifices which took place here, but some say that Alexander the Great was conceived here during some orgiastic rite since his parents are known to have met while being initiated into this ancient cult. Other famous initiates of the ancient world include Herodotus and Cicero.

(Samthraki The Sanctuary of the Great Gods Video)


Samothraki became worldwide known after the beautiful statue ‘Winged Victory of Samothraki’ (also called ‘Nike of Samothraki’) which was stolen in April 1863 by by the French consul and amateur archaeologist Charles Champoiseau and now decorates the Daru staircase in the Louvre Museum. A plaster replica stands in the museum at the original location of the Sanctuary of the Great Gods on Samothraki. The Archaeological museum at Paleopolis contains many findings on the island.



"Who’d dare reveal to the impious the secret rites of Ceres, or uncover the high mysteries of Samothrace?"
---- Ovid, "The Art of Love"