Monasteries were first established here a millennium ago; since then, their fortified walls, imposing bell towers, paved courtyards, small harbours, and the humble huts for monks not residing within the main buildings have all become a familiar part of the Mt Athos landscape. 

The natural environment, virtually untouched by human activity, features ravines and waterfalls as well as stands of wild chestnut, fir, pine and oak. Denizens of these ancient woodlands include wild boar, deer, jackals, foxes, snakes, eagles and hawks. 

Mt Athos, or the Holy Mountain, is a truly remarkable place. One of the world’s oldest monastic communities, inhabited by 2,000 monks who live apart from the rest of the world, Mt Athos is an autonomous monastic state within Greece. Along with Jerusalem, it is the most significant site in Orthodoxy, as well as one of the world’s most prominent spiritual centers.

The Holy Mountain is home to 20 large communal monasteries and a number of smaller facilities − little communities (known as either sketes or cells) and even individual dwellings where ascetics and hermits reside alone. 

Most visitors accumulate at the large monasteries, which are architectural masterpieces resembling medieval towns in their own right. Built in coastal locations and isolated spots, they feature fortified walls, heavy wooden doors and large courtyards. Within their walls are located the main churches, chapels, dining spaces, phiales (small octagonal buildings for the blessing of water) and various supplementary buildings, as well as the rooms where the monks sleep. The monasteries also maintain collections of priceless artifacts, including sacred relics, icons, manuscripts, embroidery, wood carvings and historical documents.

Useful information

• Mt Athos is a male-only society; women are not permitted here.

 A special entrance permit is required to visit Mt Athos. 

Interested male parties need to contact the Mt Athos Centre in Thessaloniki (tel. 2310-252.578, athosreservation@gmail.com); permits can then be picked up in Ouranoupoli, the last town before crossing into Mt Athos.

• For overnight stays at any monastery or cell, interested parties need to call, fax or email the Mt Athos Centre well in advance.
• Boats depart from Ouranoupolis for the monastery harbors as well as for Dafni, the main port, on the peninsula’s southern coast. A boat service is also offered from Ierissos for monasteries on the peninsula’s eastern coast.
• Women are not allowed to enter Mt Athos because the Holy Mountain is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and because maintaining the chastity of the monks is of great importance.

This rule has been in force since the establishment of the monastic state.