Mount Athos

greece > treasures > and controversies
This monastic haven is under threat of an invasion of females. For 1000 years now the "Holy Mountain" peninsula has been banned for women. This guardian article does a great job of describing the effect this has on the place and the monks.
The Greek government has argued in favour of the monks rights to keep the ban. Yet, understandably, quite a few women are pissed off about it.

In 1997 an Exhibit of Mount Athos Treasures was opened for the first time to the Greek public. This is sampled here.