Mount Athos

Mount Athos is one of the most significant hubs of Eastern Orthodox monasticism since it is home to not one, but twenty monasteries. It may be found in Greece's northeast. Often referred to as the ‘Holy Mountain’, the peninsula upon which it rests is only accessible by boat, and only men are authorized to explore its steep, wooded slopes and secluded monasteries. Monks have resided on the peninsula since the Byzantine era. All of the Athonite monasteries are filled with magnificent antiquities and pieces of art, and there is a lot of beautiful old architecture on display. Visitors may witness the ages-old monastic way of life, participate in religious services, and trek between monasteries on Mount Athos.

The mountain and its corresponding portion of the peninsula have been ruled as the monastic community of Mount Athos, an autonomous area within the Hellenic Republic, with the rest of the peninsula falling under the administration of the municipality of Aristotelis. With a lengthy history of Christian habitation dating back at least to the Byzantine era and AD 800, Mount Athos is renowned for its medieval monastic traditions. Mount Athos was included to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1988 due to its lengthy religious significance, the monasteries' maintained agricultural architecture, and the preservation of the local flora and animals.

Location: Greece