Greece is a beautiful country which is roughly the size
of the state of New York. Approximately 20% of the area
of Greece is made up of hundreds of historic and beautiful
islands. The country receives millions of visitors annually
from all over the world, and is a favorite destination of
many Europeans. Greece is famous for beautiful weather,
crystal clear waters, stunning landscapes, and some of the
nicest beaches in the world. Currently the country has 12
million inhabitants of which approximately one third live
in Athens. The population is almost 100% Greek Orthodox.
Historically Greeks have
made vast contributions to art and academics. For centuries
scholars and artists have looked to the Greeks for the inspiration.
Some of the more famous Greeks of Antiquity include Pythagoras,
Euclid, Aristarchus, Plato and Aristotle. It can be said without
much of an argument that the spirit of the Greeks life on
in our every day practices of today.
Greece has a history of
close to 4,000 years. The influence of the country and its
people have been tremendous. From trade to military conquest,
Ancient Greeks made their presence felt throughout the Mediterranean,
the Black Sea, the Near East and many other areas. At one
point Greece was an important part of the Roman, Byzantine,
and Ottoman Empires. As such their influence touched many
people in substantially large areas. As you travel through
Greece it is still possible to find remnants of these past
empires. Few places in the world can you find so much in such
a small area.
A pleasurable part of any
trip to Greece involves discovering the local foods and wines.
Much of the food so common today in Greece is as a result
of a culinary heritage influenced greatly by Turkish Rule.
Some tasty examples of Greek food include Tzatziki (a yogurt
and cucumber dish), Souviaki (grilled meat with pita bread),
and Spanakopita (cheese and spinach pie). These are just a
few of the examples, different regions of Greece have their
own culinary traditions. A visit to the local cafe will give
you a chance to see locals indulge in.
While the historic sites
in Greece attract a lot of visitors, the vast majority of
visitors flock to the country to visit the islands. The summer
months are especially popular. It is best to plan in advance
if you would like to visit some of the more well known islands.
One of the most popular islands is Rhodes. On this island
you will find excellent beaches, great hotels, lots of history
and and active nightlife. Another great island to visit is
Crete. It is home to some great beaches, interesting cities
and a wealth of historical attractions. Note: If you have
time, sometimes it is better to visit some of the lesser known
islands. In total there are 220 inhabited islands that make
up the Greek territory.
Whatever your interests may
be, we are confident that you will fall in love with Greece
and enjoy your time spent in this country...who couldn't?
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