MARINE PARK

The Alonissos Marine Park is the largest in Europe and the first of its kind in Greece. Launched in 1992 to protect the Monachus monachus, an endangered Mediterranean monk seal, and other rare animals and plants, it extends over a large area along the coast of Alonissos and the surrounding uninhabited islets. Since 2021, the first underwater museum of Greece has opened off Peristera. Called "the Parthenon of wrecks", an ancient ship and its thousands of amphorae from the^5th century B.C. are waiting for you in the sea bed via organized dives.

This exceptional wreck lies at a depth of 21-28 meters, near the coast of the islet Peristera, and contains 3,000 to 4,000 amphorae. This treasure trove of two-handled vessels is considered one of the most important of the Classical period, as most of the amphorae are still intact today. The wreck and its cargo were discovered by a local fisherman in 1985, but it took nearly 40 years for the site to be opened to the public. Archaeologists believe that the merchant ship - large for its time - may have capsized due to bad weather around 425 B.C. It was carrying wine amphorae from the mainland peninsula of Halkidiki in northern Greece and the nearby island of Skopelos. Because of the very good state of preservation of the amphorae, archaeologists have established that the cargo came from the ancient city of Mende and Peparithos, wine-producing regions renowned for their wines in antiquity.