Giola: The rock pool in Thassos sculpted by waves and erosion

Giola, with the unique morphology of its rock pool, is one of the few natural pools in Greece, capturing visitors’ attention as if by magic.

Lacrima Veneris

Those of you, who have visited the island of Thassos will probably have heard the story associated with Giola, a natural pool overlooking the vast blue of the Northern Aegean, in whose crystal waters the goddess Aphrodite bathed. The Tear of Venus, as it is popularly known, was created by the waves of the sea where for millions of years sculpted the rocks giving them their current form.

Nature, at the height of her creation, generously bestowed countless gifts on her beloved Thassos, one of them coming from rock formations, forming a naturalistic special interest, due to its shape, seawater tank inside them.

The surreal beauty of the natural pool is partly due to the contrast of the colors of its waters but also to the myth that links its creation to Olympian Zeus, father of gods and men, giving the Goddess Aphrodite an earthly paradise to enjoy her bath surrounded by her beloved Nymphs and Graces.

The name has a Turkish origin since gēōl means lake. The reservoir created by a rock formation offers an unrivaled and unusual swimming experience overlooking the vast Aegean blue.

The dreamlike scenery is completed by the small, uninhabited islet of Astiriotiko or Panagia, positioned opposite Giola and according to legends is inhabited by Sirens.

This unique landscape, wild as well as rough, requires a lot of effort from its visitors and also quite a walking distance in order to approach it.

With a depth of 3 meters, spacious, but at the same time quite small, and a water temperature higher than the sea, the color alternations of green and blue complete a simple and unique natural setting.

The stone walls surrounding Giola’s natural pool reach a height of 8 meters and many swimmers choose to dive from above. The rocky masterpiece of nature nestles in Astris region, south of Thassos and at a distance of 40 kilometers from Limenas.

Astrida is located in the southern part of Thassos. It is 45 kilometers from Thassos (Limenas) and 7 kilometers from Potos. It got its name from the wonderful sunsets during the night. Initially, it was a settlement with stone houses created by the inhabitants of Theologos for their agricultural and livestock work. Nowadays, the area acquires modern accommodation and a variety of tourist businesses and worldwide traveler arrivals.