Sights in Kazaviti on Thassos island in Greece:
Kazaviti has preserved much of its traditional appearance. Walks through the narrow, partly steep village roads reveal the rich architectural heritage. The oldest stone mansions in Macedonian style are dated 1805 and 1807,but several buildings were erected much earlier. The oldest quarter "Kato Machala" is situated at the lower end of the village. This place was hidden and could not be spotted by pirates from the coast.
A section of the old road that connected Kazaviti with the coastal plain is still in operation just below the village. It leads to the "Kato Machala" Quarter and from there passes through the gorge under shady plane trees.
The church Dodeka Apostolon of 1804 is a unique example of local folk art, with a wealth of mural paintings and a very beautiful carved and painted ikonostasis. Unfortunately, the church is usually locked up.
In the near vicinity of the village remains of two settlements from the Roman period have been discovered recently. Fragments of amphora's and of slack indicate sites of pottery manufacture and of metal smelting. There are no exhibition facilities or on site demonstrations yet.
Nature:
Following the partly overgrown foot paths that extend from the periphery of the village into the wide rural landscape all around Kazaviti, an almost unlimited field of exploration is opened up. No modern building, no car noise affects the experience of wandering through an ever changing scenery of terraced fields and gardens framed by ancient stone walls. Chestnut and walnut trees, some vineyards remain the only testimony of the former cultivation's. A wealth of natural vegetation has largely replaced the former crops. In summer, a light breeze carries the aroma of oregano and thyme. For the naturalist the area offers a variety of rare species of vertebrates and insects. No pesticides kill the many gorgeous butterflies; all this land remained totally unaffected by any modern threats.
Highlights are the exploration tours through the wild gorges on both sides of the village. The easiest access is from the bridge at the entrance of the village, just before the tavern O Vassilis. But there are also trails to the southern gorge from the Rodia quarter in the upper part of the village. Search for the irrigation channel ("agoi" or "avlaki") that ends up there. It can be used as a guide line to the gorge. On its bottom, just below from where the channel begins, there are an old water reservoir and the ruins of a grain mill that was operated until the 1950ies.
The northern gorge is best accessible from the crossing with the main road in the first sharp bend after the end of asphalt cover, before this road ascends the mountains above Kazaviti. Leaving this road and climbing up the steep gorge, passing many massive stone walls of former cultivation terraces, ancient plane trees and higher up huge rock boulders and cliffs, the experienced mountain hiker will reach the church of Agios Ioannis and nearby the same road left further below.
