Best Travel Destinations - Greece
Enjoy one of life's simple pleasures, as you sail along the beautiful coast line of the Greek Islands. For those familiar with these idyllic Islands, the mere mention of its name brings back warm and fuzzies of beautiful sun, breathtaking beaches, and great culture. The Greek Islands are made up of over 6,000 individual islands, of which only 227 are inhabited, offering you the welcome choice on how to to spend your nights, from a small quaint bistro to a lively pub. A popular destination for boating enthusiasts is Symi, as it offers a taste of neoclassical Greece at its finest, evident in its alluring skyline and charming harbour front. Santorini is undoubtedly one of the most popular islands. Perched 250m above the Aegean Sea ...
Harmoniously blended with its natural surroundings, the Acropolis towers gracefully over the archaeologically-rich and modern city of Athens, often referred to as the most important historical compound left behind by Greek Antiquity. The Acropolis, or city on the edge, was erected on a flat-topped rock high above the rest of the city as a form of defense. Its location atop a rocky crag doesn’t stop hundreds of tourists from climbing up to it every day and admiring what was formerly the cradle of one of the grandest civilizations of all time. The Acropolis of Athens is only one of many acropolises that were erected in Ancient Greece, but it is by far the most famous having been the greatest cultural center during the peak of ...
Ancient Olympia, site of the first Olympic Games, is one of the most important sites of antiquity in Greece. Nestled between the Alfios and Kladeos rivers, Ancient Olympia started out as a grove devoted to the Greek god Zeus in the 10th century BC. Today, the buildings are now weather-worn ruins beneath the cool refuge of the valley. The Olympic Games as we know them began in the 8th century BC and were organized by three rulers as a type of truce between their lands. Since that day, the Olympic Games have occurred every four years from 776 BC to AD 393 during the full moon after the summer harvest. At a time when Ancient Olympia was the centre of the Games, the rules about ...
Climbing Lycabettus Hill (also known as Lykavittós) is one of the best ways to spend an evening in Athens. One of the tallest of the mounts in Athens, reaching 277 metres above the city, the sunset atop Lycabettus Hill offers a spectacular view of Athens and the Aegean Sea. According to ancient mythology, Lycabettus Hill was the mount originally intended for the fortress of Acropolis, but the city’s patron goddess Athena dropped it by an accident. At the top of the hill is an observation deck, two restaurants, an amphitheatre, and a small 19th century Byzantine church: the chapel of Agios Geórgios. On the eve of Easter Sunday, a procession of candles encircles the hill slopes and moves towards the church. The event reflects the ...
Trace the path of Ancient Greek history to the centre of the earth, as you find your way to the Temples of Apollo. These temples of great magnitude are found within Italy, Turkey and Greece, yet it is at The Temples of Apollo in Greece that you feel as if you were visiting on the day Apollo defeated Pythos in Ancient Greece. In Greece, The Temples of Apollo are found in Corinth, Bassae, Patroos, and Delphi. Each of the temples are popular in their own right, but The Temples of Apollo at Delphi is where the epic history begins. As the story goes, Apollo was one of the most important deities of Ancient Greece. When he set out to find his way in the world, ...
To taste the very best of Greek cuisine, visit Plaka: one of the oldest districts of Athens. With its streets closed to car traffic, Plaka dining brings the charm of a small Greek village into the city of Athens. Whether you are looking for a light lunch during a day of sightseeing, or a full dinner in the evening, Plaka is the best place to find food in Athens. In the morning, get energized with a frappé foam-covered ice drink made from Nescafe instant coffee. Although the Greek frappé was apparently an accidental discovery, it’s the most popular summer beverage in Greece; and is available all over Plaka. Ask for it “medium sweet” and relax under the umbrella of a restaurant in Plaka before a ...
There is an air of mysticism which surrounds the Greek Islands. As the setting for some of the oldest myths, it is no surprise that there is a powerful allure drawing tourists and travellers to these majestic islands. Some of the Greek Islands have become so popular that they have lost some of their authentic appeal and become tourist hotspots filled with hotels, gift shops and tourism agencies. The beautiful Island of Santorini, though a popular destination, has somehow maintained a low-key atmosphere with traditional villages and unique, breathtaking landscapes. Aside from the spectacular sunsets over sunken volcanic islands, one must-see site is the cliff-enclosed Red Beach. Cut off by striking red cliffs, reaching the beach on foot is an adventure all on its own. ...
Buckingham Palace is not the only place to see the changing of the guard. You can also experience this in Athens, twenty-four times every day. Around the clock, two guards called the Evzones keep a watch at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Hellenic Parliament in Syntagma Square of Athens. The two guards on duty switch their positions every 20 minutes, and remain completely motionless until the next switch. Every hour, on the hour, the two soldiers perform the elaborate ceremony of changing of the guard with two replacement Evzones who arrive from the Guard Barracks located behind the Parliament Building. The guards’ particular marching style consists of a normal march with intervals of striking the ground with their right foot. During the ...
When we talk about archaeological sites they are often shrouded in myth and legend, and perhaps nowhere else on earth do more of these tales originate from other than Greece. Greek ruins always make our top 10 lists because its roots are so deep. Its colourful and vibrant history has been a source of inspiration for many centuries now. Its academic contribution to the world is priceless and has been the foundation to many schools of thought today. Mystras is one of the top archaeological treasures in Greece. It's located 5 kilometres from the city of Sparti, south of Peloponnese. Mystras, also known as the 'wonder of the Morea', is an amphitheater and a castle built in 1249 by the Prince of Achair. Mystras, Greece ...
If you are looking for a truly unique experience while you travel the world, then you must attend Anastenaria, a firewalking festival. This festival takes place in Greece and Bulgaria, so no matter which of these countries your world travels take you to, you can attend this exciting event. The Anastenaria firewalking festival occurs twice each year in southern Bulgaria and northern Greece. It is practiced by a group of Orthodox Christians on the feast days of Saint Constantine (May 21) and Saint Athanasius (January 18). The festivals each last for three days, and besides firewalking, include parades, animal sacrifice, feasting, and dancing. Prior to stepping onto the burning embers, firewalkers are blessed with holy water, and believe the saints of the festival take over ...
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