Greece - A journey into the paradise ! (11-05-2007 to 14-05-2007)
Greece lies at the juncture of Europe, Asia, and Africa. It is heir to the heritages of classical Greece, the Byzantine Empire, and nearly four centuries of Ottoman rule. Regarded as the cradle of western civilization and being the birthplace of democracy, Western philosophy, the Olympic Games, western literature, political science, major scientific principles and drama, Greece has a particularly long and eventful history and a cultural heritage.
The capital of Greece is Athens and it is one of the most strategic part of the country.
Four-fifths of Greece consist of mountains or hills, making the country one of the most mountainous in Europe. Western Greece contains a number of lakes and wetlands and it is dominated by the Pindus mountain range.
The shipping industry is a key element of Greek economic activity.. Given that Greece is a peninsula, shipping in ancient times was the natural way for Greeks to reach their neighboring people, trade with them and expand by establishing colonies. Today, shipping is one of the country's most important industries.
According to the constitution of Greece, the religion of the country is Greek Orthodox. The majority of Greek citizens (98%) are baptised into the Greek Orthodox Church.
The approximate Greece population is about 11million of which about 4million of them live in Athens which happens to be the capital of Greece.
Santorini
Santorini is a small, circular group of volcanic islands located in southern Aegean Sea, about 200 km south-east from Greece's mainland. It is also known as Thera (or Thira). It is the southernmost member of the Cyclades group of islands, with an area of approximately 73 km². Santorini is essentially what has been left from an enormous volcanic explosion which destroyed the settlements thereon and led to the creation of the current geological caldera. Its spectacular natural beauty along with its eminent nightlife make the island one of Europe's top tourist hotspots.
Some of the main places in Santorini
Fira - the main stunning cliff perched town, featuring all that Oia has, but much more overcrowded
Kamari - black pebble beach
Oia - for unforgettable sunsets, probably the most charming place on the island
Pyrgos - highest point on the island; picturesque monastery and streets, can compete with Oia
For photos from Santorini click here
Delphi
Delphi is an archaeological site and a modern village in Greece. In ancient times it was the site of the most important oracle of the god Apollo. Delphi was revered throughout the Greek world as the site of the omphalos stone, the centre of the universe. In the inner hestia or hearth, of the Temple of Delphic Apollo burned. After the battle of Plataea, the Greek cities extinguished their fires and brought new fire from the hearth of Greece, at Delphi; in the foundation stories of several Greek colonies, the founding colonists were first dedicated at Delphi.
Delphi is perhaps best-known for the oracle at the sanctuary that became dedicated to Apollo during the classical period. With origins in prehistoric times and the worship of Gaia, in the last quarter of the 8th century BC there is a steady increase of artifacts found at the settlement site in Delphi. Pottery and bronze work as well as tripod dedications continue in a steady stream, in comparison to Olympia.
Meteora
Meteora is one of the gems of Greece. Located near the towns of Kalampaka and Kastraki in northwestern Thessaly it consists of a number of rock pinnacles topped with a total of 24 monasteries.
In the 1920s, steps were cut into the rock, making the complex accessible via a bridge from the nearby plateau. Of the six monasteries now inhabited, five are male, one female. Each monastery has fewer than 10 inhabitants and is visited by many tourists. The Agia Triada ("Holy Trinity") monastery was used in the final scenes of the James Bond film For Your Eyes Only.
The following monasteries can be visited and are located nearby the road circuiting Meteora.
Agiou Nikolaou monastery
Agias Varvaras Rousanou monastery
Varlaam monastery
Megalou Meteorou monastery
Agias Triados monastery
Agiou Stefanou monastery
For photos from Delphi & Meteora click here
Athens
Athens (Athína) is the largest city and capital of Greece, located in the Attica periphery of central Greece. Named after goddess Athena, Athens is one of the oldest cities in the world with a recorded history of at least 3,000 years.
The classical era heritage is still evident in the city, portrayed through a number of ancient monuments and artworks, the most famous of all being the Parthenon on the Acropolis, standing as an epic landmark of western civilization. The city has also a vast variety of Roman and Byzantine monuments, as well as a small remaining number of Ottoman monuments that project the city's long history through the centuries.
Athens was the host city of the first modern-day Olympic Games in 1896 and in 2004 it welcomed the Summer Olympics back home with great success.
For photos from Athens click here
The capital of Greece is Athens and it is one of the most strategic part of the country.
Four-fifths of Greece consist of mountains or hills, making the country one of the most mountainous in Europe. Western Greece contains a number of lakes and wetlands and it is dominated by the Pindus mountain range.
The shipping industry is a key element of Greek economic activity.. Given that Greece is a peninsula, shipping in ancient times was the natural way for Greeks to reach their neighboring people, trade with them and expand by establishing colonies. Today, shipping is one of the country's most important industries.
According to the constitution of Greece, the religion of the country is Greek Orthodox. The majority of Greek citizens (98%) are baptised into the Greek Orthodox Church.
The approximate Greece population is about 11million of which about 4million of them live in Athens which happens to be the capital of Greece.
Santorini
Santorini is a small, circular group of volcanic islands located in southern Aegean Sea, about 200 km south-east from Greece's mainland. It is also known as Thera (or Thira). It is the southernmost member of the Cyclades group of islands, with an area of approximately 73 km². Santorini is essentially what has been left from an enormous volcanic explosion which destroyed the settlements thereon and led to the creation of the current geological caldera. Its spectacular natural beauty along with its eminent nightlife make the island one of Europe's top tourist hotspots.
Some of the main places in Santorini
Fira - the main stunning cliff perched town, featuring all that Oia has, but much more overcrowded
Kamari - black pebble beach
Oia - for unforgettable sunsets, probably the most charming place on the island
Pyrgos - highest point on the island; picturesque monastery and streets, can compete with Oia
For photos from Santorini click here
Delphi
Delphi is an archaeological site and a modern village in Greece. In ancient times it was the site of the most important oracle of the god Apollo. Delphi was revered throughout the Greek world as the site of the omphalos stone, the centre of the universe. In the inner hestia or hearth, of the Temple of Delphic Apollo burned. After the battle of Plataea, the Greek cities extinguished their fires and brought new fire from the hearth of Greece, at Delphi; in the foundation stories of several Greek colonies, the founding colonists were first dedicated at Delphi.
Delphi is perhaps best-known for the oracle at the sanctuary that became dedicated to Apollo during the classical period. With origins in prehistoric times and the worship of Gaia, in the last quarter of the 8th century BC there is a steady increase of artifacts found at the settlement site in Delphi. Pottery and bronze work as well as tripod dedications continue in a steady stream, in comparison to Olympia.
Meteora
Meteora is one of the gems of Greece. Located near the towns of Kalampaka and Kastraki in northwestern Thessaly it consists of a number of rock pinnacles topped with a total of 24 monasteries.
In the 1920s, steps were cut into the rock, making the complex accessible via a bridge from the nearby plateau. Of the six monasteries now inhabited, five are male, one female. Each monastery has fewer than 10 inhabitants and is visited by many tourists. The Agia Triada ("Holy Trinity") monastery was used in the final scenes of the James Bond film For Your Eyes Only.
The following monasteries can be visited and are located nearby the road circuiting Meteora.
Agiou Nikolaou monastery
Agias Varvaras Rousanou monastery
Varlaam monastery
Megalou Meteorou monastery
Agias Triados monastery
Agiou Stefanou monastery
For photos from Delphi & Meteora click here
Athens
Athens (Athína) is the largest city and capital of Greece, located in the Attica periphery of central Greece. Named after goddess Athena, Athens is one of the oldest cities in the world with a recorded history of at least 3,000 years.
The classical era heritage is still evident in the city, portrayed through a number of ancient monuments and artworks, the most famous of all being the Parthenon on the Acropolis, standing as an epic landmark of western civilization. The city has also a vast variety of Roman and Byzantine monuments, as well as a small remaining number of Ottoman monuments that project the city's long history through the centuries.
Athens was the host city of the first modern-day Olympic Games in 1896 and in 2004 it welcomed the Summer Olympics back home with great success.
For photos from Athens click here