Mount Athos

Mount Athos, also known as Holy Mountain, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located on the eastern peninsula of Halkidiki. It has about twenty Orthodox monasteries and, for that reason, is also called the Autonomous Monastic State of the Holy Mountain. Only men are allowed to enter Mount Athos. There are caves and monastery cells, and people often access the place by ferries.

The place has many interesting stories associated with it, and visitors can learn more about it by exploring the area. The aura of the place is entirely different and very monastic in nature. It houses monks that lead a simple life of prayer and exercise, with no modern facilities around. Paintings date back to 13 AD, ancient sculptures, chalices, turrets, music manuscripts, icon screens made of marble, and exquisite miniatures in gold and silver that date to the 12th century. 15,000 handwritten manuscripts and volumes are also displayed, representing almost a fourth of all Greek literature worldwide.