The Holy Mount Athos, Prohibited Locations Around The World

The Holy Mount Athos is an Orthodox monastic republic, which is located on the same eastern finger of the Halkidiki peninsula in the east of Greece.

It has an autonomous state under Greek sovereignty. The Republic is one of about 2,200 monastic inhabitants and covers 336 square kilometers.

On the peninsula there are 20 large monasteries, which is a UNESCO world heritage. Near the monasteries on Mount Athos there are also the so-called sketes. These are rural settlements where the buildings are laid around a monastic central building.

In addition, settling on the inaccessible slopes of the actual Mount Athos peninsula at the southern tip of the monks in small buildings and caves.

Athos is not only famous for its tradition of icon painting, but also because of the ban on access for women.

Even female animals can not put a hoof or paw on the peninsula. The exceptions are cats that decimate the mice and rat , as well as bees.

The peninsula is for male pilgrims, but not accessible for tourists. If you comply to certain rules and the allowed maximum number of visitors has not been exhausted, is man (man) recognized as a pilgrim.

On the hill for a long time getting around on foot or by mule was possible. It was only the beginning of 1960, the first gravel road was built, now are all the monasteries connected to the road network.

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