The small islands of Thassos

As is usually the case with the Greek islands, a few small islands circle Thassos and complement its natural beauty. There are four principal ones, and all are very interesting in their own right.

They are Thassopoula, Kinira Island, Panagia or Astrida, and Krambousa Island in order of size. They are found on Thassos’s south, east, and north sides. The biggest and first island that travelers see is Thasopoula, between Keramoti town and Thassos.

Thasopoula Island

Thasopoula Island is the largest, at about a mile long and 300 feet high. It’s very close to Keramoti town, and the ferries that connect Keramoti with Limenas town pass very close to it. Gulls are observed taking flight from the island to accompany the ferries. Cormorants and other birds use it as nesting and resting grounds. It is uninhabited, and although its shores are mostly steep and rocky, it has three fine beaches. If you ever find yourself moored on the island, fear not! The only reptiles are two harmless little lizards, a Gecko and a Lacertid. There are no wild animals on it.

Kinira Island

Very close to Kinira Beach in the east of Thassos is the near-twin island of Thasopoula. Smaller but similar in every other aspect. It is about 300 feet tall with a steep, rocky shoreline and is covered by drought-tolerant pines, wild olive trees, and Mediterranean maquis vegetation. This island is private, and a house can be seen (the tiny white dot) partly hidden among the pines.

Astrida or Panagia Island.

Astrida is a complex of three small islands near Astris Beach. It differs from the previous ones in having few trees, sparse vegetation, and a less wild shoreline. Sea birds such as gulls and Mediterranean shearwaters breed on the island. It is just a couple of kilometers from Salonikios Beach, the closest point on the mainland. The tiny pyramidal islet on the left is called Pelagos.

Krambousa Island.

Krambousa, or Grampousa Island, is the smallest and the closest to the shore of Thassos. It is situated right at the start of the Bay of Potamia, very close to Skala Potamias and Golden Beach. It takes its name from “crambe,” a kind of sea kale common in the area. The island of Krambousa was a center of asceticism and monastic life. The remains of a big temple and several dry stone walls—possibly constructed with stones from the previous structures—can be seen on the island. The lone cafe a few kilometers before Skala Potamias offers nice views of it.

The fascinating and long history of Krambousa dates back to the reign of Constantine V, a Byzantine emperor who ruled from 741 to 775. There was intense religious conflict at the time, and the emperor himself supported iconoclasm. During those trying times, Saint Daniel was born. He had always wanted to give up the world and found a peaceful refuge on the island of Thassos. He discovered the perfect place in a little cave on the island of Krambousa. As word spread of his virtues, the people of Thassos began pleading with him to accept them as students and disciples. With great pleasure, he welcomed them and eventually succeeded in erecting a modest monastery. He lived to a very old age and was buried on the small island. A modest shrine honoring the saint was constructed on the island in 1991, and the church celebrates him as Saint Daniel of Thassos on September 12.