Often cited as the birthplace of European civilization, Greece offers a heady mix of ancient archaeological sites, chic design hotels, rustic tavernas, family-orientated seaside resorts and hedonistic dance clubs.
Ancient Greece reached its zenith in the fifth century BC when Athens became the cultural and artistic center of the Mediterranean, producing magnificent works of
architecture,
sculpture,
drama and
literature.
There is no denying that the
historical and cultural heritage of Greece continues to resonate throughout the modern
Western world - in its literature, art, philosophy and politics. In fact, many travelers come here specifically to explore Greece's ancient wonders, from Athens'
Parthenon and Delphi's
Temple of Apollo, to the ruins of the
Minóan city of Knossós on Crete.
Scattered throughout the calm blue waters of the Aegean and the Ionian are Greece's
1,400 islands - each with its own special story. The serenity of islands like Kefalonia and Amorgos contrasts with the
hedonistic party islands such as Mykonos and Páros. Those interested in architecture should visit the
medieval fortified towns of Rhodes and Corfu (both UNESCO World Heritage sites), and the
whitewashed cubic houses of Thira and Oia on Santorini, typical of the Cyclades.
Sports enthusiasts will relish the Greek islands for their endless opportunities for
scuba diving and
sailing (there's no better way to explore the islands than aboard a chartered yacht), while keen hikers and mountain bikers can test their stamina in the
rugged mountains of the country's largest island, Crete. And let's not forget, Greece's previous glory in sports was restored when the
Olympic Games returned home in 2004.
GeographyGreece is situated in southeast Europe on the Mediterranean. The mainland consists of the following regions: Central Greece, Peloponnese, Thessaly (east/central), Epirus (west), Macedonia (north/northwest) and Thrace (northeast). Euboea (Evvia) the second-largest of the Greek islands is also considered to be part of the mainland region and is connected to it by a bridge. The Peloponnese peninsula is separated from the northern mainland by the Isthmus of Corinth, but connected to it by a bridge over the isthmus, plus another bridge near Patras. The northern mainland is dissected by high mountains (such as the Pindus) that extend southwards towards a landscape of fertile plains, pine-forested uplands and craggy, scrub-covered foothills.
The islands account for one-fifth of the country's land area. The majority are thickly clustered in the Aegean between the Greek and Turkish coasts. The Ionian Islands are the exception; they are scattered along the west coast in the Ionian Sea. The Aegean archipelago includes the Dodecanese, lying off the Turkish coast, of which Rhodes is the best known; the Northeast Aegean group, including Chios, Ikaria, Lemnos, Lesvos and Samos; the Sporades, off the central mainland; and the Cyclades, comprising 39 islands (of which only 24 are inhabited). Crete, the largest island, is not included in any formal grouping.
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