The holy Mount Athos (Agion Oros) is a self administered part of the Greek state. It is located on the Athos peninsula in Chalkidiki region. It has 20 monasteries and it is a center of christian orthodox monastic life. Since 1988 it has beenlisted as a  UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The first historical reference of Thassos island exists from Greek historian Herodotus who had visited the island. He states that the island took its name from Thassos, son of the Phoenician king Anigoras.