There’s nothing like a bit of Greek script to know you’ve reached the very outer fringes of Europe. Ελληνική Δημοκρατία. Why, exactly!
Putting confusion aside, there’s no doubting the sheer weight of history, culture and art present in Greece. You can see it etched into the faces of the older generation in the village squares.
The Greek islands themselves are all scattered throughout the Aegean and Ionian Sea. Some of the most enchanting islands in Greece include Kos, Crete, Lesbos, and Rhodes... with charming forests, rugged coastlines, and scenic mountains. But the least written about, and probably the most misunderstood, is Mount Athos.
This World Heritage Site is home to 20 eastern Orthodox monasteries and is a self governing monastic state. It would have to be - only males are allowed entry. Come again? That’s right, only males are allowed onto Mount Athos. European Law would normally make that illegal, hence the term ‘self-governing monastic state’.
Put simply, 2,500 monks live on a peninsular 60 kilometres long and 7 kilometres wide.
If you are a male and over 18, how do you visit Mount Athos? Well, firstly, grab a cheap flight to Thessaloniki or Patra using cheapflights.co.uk. Yet again, Cheapflights delivers outstanding value and whilst Easyjet’s Stelios would argue his airline is cheaper, I’m not convinced.
Though land-linked, Mount Athos is accessible only by boat and requires a special permit to visit. This permit is harder to obtain than a ticket for the Queen’s summer garden party and involves a written application to the Pilgrim’s Bureau in Thessaloniki. Once this has been granted it will be issued at the point of departure, on the day of departure!
It is only then that you, the pilgrim, can contact the monastery where you would like to stay in order to reserve a bed (one night only per monastery). Even the ferries themselves require reservations….phew.
If you’ve got this far, you’ll deserve a quiet room for the night! Preferably darkened.
In all seriousness though, Mount Athos is a spectacular journey into a distant past where religions ruled the world and secular states were unimportant. Oozing with history, spirituality and a peacefulness beyond words, Mount Athos is probably one of the most authentic retreats in the world. That’s why Prince Charles can often be seen there…..he loves it too.
Mount Athos - the most authentic retreat in the world?
