5 Spooky Places in Greece to give you the Heebie-Jeebies
Written on : 15 December 2020 By : Laura Wendy Harders López
Greece is one of the top tourist destinations in Europe. Its wide array of wonderful attractions such as iconic historical landmarks, paradise beaches, dreamy islands, glorious sunny weather, and the overall atmosphere of hospitable locals, delicious food, and interesting culture, makes for an exciting holiday experience.
However, given that Greece is heavily steeped in tradition and history, there are many creepy abandoned places shrouded in superstition, legends, spooky and unexplained phenomena, and even reputed hauntings. Making these stories very compelling to know about, and will fascinate and excite the curiosity of its visitors.
So, if scary stories tickle your fancy, in the following article, we will give you a spooky tour around these quirky places in Greece. Disclaimer: these are not for the faint-hearted.
1) Daveli's Cave - Mount Parnitha, Athens
Daveli's Cave in Athens is enveloped in mysteries that are yet to be uncovered.
This cave dates back to 5BC and has been reputedly named after an infamous 19th-century thief, called Daveli. This bandit would use the cave as a hideout to hoard all his stolen items. In Antiquity, it was apparently used as a home of worship for disciples of satyr Pan and nymphs. During Medieval times-- it is said that Christian ascetics constructed a church dedicated to Saint Nicholas in front of the cave.
Many stories surround this uncanny place. In 1977, neighbouring villagers reported having heard strange construction noises inside the cave. There was conjecture that it was something to do with the Greek government. However, that information has never been confirmed by anyone, and it remains a mystery until this day. Many speculate that it might be storage for nuclear weapons, or that there is a radar or communication base.
Today, it has been reported that the cave is often utilised by occultists, where they perform strange rituals.
Villagers have also said that ghostly paranormal activity occurs there. Eerie events such as water running uphill instead of downhill, electronic devices going berserk when at a near distance from the cave, and sinister appearances such as two-legged cats.
Who dares a visit to this spooky cave?
2) The Frangokastello Fortress and the Drousoulites - Crete
Located on the East of Sfakia, Crete, the Frangokastello Fortress dates back to 1373. It was built in the Castle of Nikita by the Venetians, who used it as a garrison for battles.
The 17th of May is the Anniversary of the Battle of Frangokastello in 1828-- which was a battle of independence. It is said that strange occurrences transpire around Frangokastello at the crack of dawn every year on the 17th of May. That scary events such as spooky ghost apparitions of soldiers dressed in black, some walking and others mounted on horseback have been spotted there.
These ghosts are reputedly named "The Drosoulites", which means The Dew Men. This name has been ascribed to the fact that they always appear in the early mornings when the dew is still fresh. They believe these ghosts are the spirits of Hadzi Michalis Dalanis and his men-- who defended the castle against the Turkish invasion.
Heptapyrgion is the fortress of Thessaloniki in Greece. Which became part of an enclosed castle in the 12th century for the Ottoman military. Heptapyrgion means seven towers, as it comprised these. However, the fortress of Thessaloniki has now, in fact, ten towers, after getting converted into a prison in the 1890s-- and named Yedi Kule prison.
They would make use of this prison for holding political prisoners to torture and execute them during the Metaxas Regime in 1936, the Nazi occupation of Greece in WWII and the Greek Civil War.
This prison closed in 1989 and got handed to the Ministry of Culture.
Today, many tourists visit The Heptapyrgion Fortress and marvel at this majestic fortification, beholding its magnificent views. However, many of them are oblivious of the haunting and horrifying events that occurred there.
4) The Necromanteion of Acheron --- Ephyra Epirus.
Necromanteuion of Acheron is located on the River Acheron, near Ephyra. It is said that around the 3rd or 4th-century BC, a temple was constructed for the worship of Hades and Persephone, God and Goddess of the underworld.
This temple was dedicated to practices of necromancy at the time-- as they believed the place was the entrance to the underworld and to reach Hades and Persephone. People believed that once the deceased bodies decayed in the soil, the spirits would be released and would find a final resting place with the rest of the dead in the underworld. Doesn't this remind you of the story of Hercules?
Ceremonies were usually held at the temple-- where people would eat exotic foods, ingest narcotic stimulants, and perform animal sacrifices--- believing that this would help them communicate with the spirits of the dead.
After the destruction of the necromantic temple, a monastery was built in 167 AC-- devoted to Saint John the Baptist.
Even though many ancient temples of necromancy have been discovered in Europe, Necromanteuion of Acheron remains to be the most famous landmark dedicated to this pagan cult.
5) The Kontos Mansion Ano Lehonia, Pelion
The Kontos Mansion of Ano Lehonia, located beside the sea in a small village in Pelion was built in 1900 for Nikolas Kontos, the Russian consul of Greece at the time-- and resided there with his wife and four children. Very uncanny and horrific occurrences happened while they lived there-- three of their four children died from tuberculosis.
Later on, during WWII, the mansion was occupied by the nazis, using it to torture and interrogate Greek resistance activists.
Throughout the years, residents of Kontos Mansion alleged to have heard hair-raising cacophonies of screams and cries. Its last occupants attempted to refurbish the property but to no avail, as they all died from unexpected incidents before finishing.
The mansion remains abandoned and empty until this day-- while continuously playing upon people's imagination and curiosity.
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