Located 7 km away from the capital of Thassos, Limenas, is the picturesque traditional village of Panagia, at an altitude of about 300 meters. It is a beautiful mountain village with stone built houses with gray slate roofs, thick marble walls and traditional architecture, that maintains its old color, even in newly built houses. Due to its old age it is under the protection of the Office of Byzantine Antiquities.
It features a large, stately church, built on the ruins of another oldest, with a magnificent carved temple of epirotic architecture, great lighting and acoustics, and a plethora of old icons and Byzantine relics among which is the banner of the crusader Richard the Lionheart, King of England, 12th century AD. The church, which stands dominantly, is dedicated to the Assumption of Mary and is celebrated on August 15th, when there is a procession of the icon of Virgin Mary and qurbani is offered, the sacred food from sacrificial animals, to all celebrators, locals and foreigners.
In front of the church are the famous Treis Piges (three springs) with clear cold water, coming straight from Mount Ipsarion. A stone built bridge leads to the Piges, decorated by a local artist, built along the small torrent formed by the fall of water from the springs. The whole area is full of old growth plane trees, as is the case in the central square of the village, which confronts the visitor as soon as they enter the village.
The square is filled with restaurants serving pit-roasted lamb, and a stone fountain which replaced an earlier one made from marble, and crystal water that runs continuously cooling every thirsty person. In front of the fountain small, picturesque cafes are lined up, with lots of green and breeze, where one can enjoy a delicious coffee made in the cezve.
Just outside the village is a two story cave called “Drakotrypa” (dragon’s hole) which has not yet been fully explored.
Panagia, along with its coast “Golden Beach”, are currently the most popular sites in Thassos and rightfully so.