Tour of Samothrace island
Samothrace means nature and relax.
If you are looking for a green paradise on earth, Samothrace is the ideal place to visit.
For the time the biggest part of the island is still untouched, but every year more people from Greece and abroad choose Samothrace for their summer vacations.
It is an island where you can relax, wander in the nature, and enjoy your summer swims.
SAMOTHRAKI (CHORA)
The capital of the island, also called SAMOTHRAKI or Chora, is a traditional settlement built in the west part, 6 kilometers from the harbor KAMARIOTISSA.
In Kamariotissa there are many hotels, rooms to let, restaurants, cafes, bars, clubs, tourist shops, travel agencies, etc.
Chora has picturesque two-storey houses, with tiled roofs which ascend the slopes of the hill, with the castle on the summit.
In Chora you will find rooms to let, cafes, restaurants, bars, shops with traditional products.
Ask for traditional Samothracean cookies (called paximadia in Greek) and kouloures in a bakery shop.
Tour of Samothrace island
If you follow the route from the port of Kamariotissa to the windmill power generators, you will find AKROTIRI the most westerly point of Samothrace and one of the more beautiful places on the island.
Akrotiri gives you a panoramic view of the Kamariotissa harbor and the Saos peaks, as well as the opportunity to enjoy bathing on which ever side of the cape you prefer.
PALEOPOLIS
The ruins of PALEOPOLIS, 13 kilometers north of Chora, include the remains of the ancient city and its imposing fortifications, dating from the 6th c. BC.
The remains of the sanctuary of the Great Gods, where the Kabeirian Mysteries were held in ancient times, have been restored.
They lie west of the ancient city and cover an area of about 12,5 acres.
Excavations were begun on Samothrace by French archaeologists in 1863 – 66 and brought to light the superb headless statue of Niki (Victory), which now is in the Louvre Museum in Paris.
The archaeological site includes: a propylon, a circular building, a dedication, a palace, a sacred house, the thole of Arsinoeion, a precinct, a sanctuary, a marble altar, an Hellenistic theater dedicated by a Milesian woman, an unfinished Hellenistic building, an arcade and a building of Victory in which the famous the famous
“Victory of Samothrace”, was found on a pedestal; the statue is a dedication connected with a naval battle fought sometime about 190 BC.
The sanctuary, with its partly restored marble Doric columns, is an imposing building that dominates the ruins.
A short distance away are traces of an ancient cemetery.
The Archaeological Museum at Paleopolis houses important finds from the excavations on the island.
Tour of Samothrace island
In addition to the harbor and Chora the settlements of the island include THERMA with its radioactive sulphur springs, KARIOTES, PROFITIS ELIAS, XIROPOTAMOS and LAKKOMA.
There are two campsites in Therma.
Near Therma is the forest of Martinis. The oaks of this forest are very old.
4 kilometers away from Therma is the most beautiful point of the island called in Greek “Rema tou Fonia” (little river of the Murderer).
The water there, springs from the mountain and pours into the river forming waterfalls, which the greatest has some of 35 meters of height.
BEACHES
PACHIA AMMOS is the only sandy beach on Samothrace island.
It lies 15 kilometers away from Kamariotissa port.
The small church of Panagia Kremniotissa is built on a rock high above the beach at Pachia Ammos.
The view from up there is fantastic.
KIPOS : It is one of the best beaches with crystal clear waters composed by fine, small volcanic pebbles
VATOS is one of the most beautiful beaches of the island with sand surrounded by rocks with caves.
LOCAL PRODUCTS
Don’t forget to taste the traditional sweets on Samothrace (praousti, kaisi) and cookies.
