When someone from Greece told me about Mount Athos, it aroused my curiosity. Located on a peninsula, Mount Athos is an autonomous monastic republic, occupied by wilderness and farmland, dotted with 20 Eastern Orthodox monasteries, some of them more than 10 centuries old. Access by land is closed and women have not been allowed to enter for more than 1,000 years.
Men are allowed to visit Mount Athos to retreat for a few days, eating and sleeping in the monasteries, which can be reached on foot, along trails across the peninsula.
In my trip to Greece in September 2015, I traveled from Thessaloniki to Uranopolis, where, after obtaining the necessary permit, I took the boat early in the morning.
I spent three days wandering around the peninsula. I remember that when you arrived at a monastery, you were usually greeted with fresh water and a small snack, which was much appreciated, especially after walking through the dusty paths. The food served is partly based on local produce, from the monasteries themselves, including the wine.
Unfortunately, it is forbidden to photograph the interior of the churches, something I regretted, especially in one of the ones I visited, when the dramatic light highlighted the beauty of the church and its icons. Photographing the monks is also forbidden, unless you are given permission, which, it seems, they usually refuse.
