Greece is famous for its exquisite cuisine – from flavorful garlic tzatziki and satisfying moussaka dishes, to charcoal-grilled octopus. And nothing pairs better than enjoying them alongside a refreshing glass of anise-flavored ouzo.
Greece became a parliamentary republic after abolishing monarchy in 1975. Executive power rests with a prime minister appointed by parliament; his or her powers are mostly ceremonial.
Mainland
Greece may conjure images of Greek islands when people think about visiting, but its mainland also holds many surprises and delights. Towering mountains, beautiful beaches and authentic towns all come together to form a landscape rich with both nature and history.
Greece, located on the southern end of the Balkan Peninsula, is a small country known for its mountainous terrain that borders both on its northern and eastern coastlines with the sea. Geology has played an influential role in shaping Greece’s development over time.
Mountains adorn the landscape, featuring forests, ravines, lakes and streams. On the coasts meanwhile lie crystal blue waters which offer great opportunities for relaxation or water sports activities.
Greece boasts some stunning natural beauty, making for some unforgettable destinations like Peloponnese, Chalkidiki peninsula and Meteora monasteries, which stand on clifftops like majestic monasteries on Meteora clifftops. Other iconic spots in Greece include Rodopi mountain range that is believed to be Orpheus’ mythical home as well as Lake Vistonida and Ismarida lakes and Dadia forest – not forgetting internationally-acclaimed Evros River Delta with globally-recognized wetlands!
Greece has struggled for independence since its birth against both Ottoman Empire and European powers, starting as a monarchy up until 1946 when civil war between royalist and communist forces broke out, followed by republic status with parliamentary democracy in 1949.
After the world credit crunch, Greece introduced austerity measures which have had a devastating impact on living standards and public services, including cuts backs. Greece also experienced numerous wildfires consuming dense forests.
Despite these obstacles, most citizens remain optimistic about the future and confident that things will turn around. The country boasts a longstanding tradition of political activism as well as an engaging youth culture; membership to both OECD and EU organisations as well as an extensive network of embassies worldwide is hallmarks of success for any society.
Islands
Greece is well known for both its rich history and beautiful islands. Home to over 2,000 inhabited ones ranging from car-free enclaves such as Hydra that attract wealthy Athenians seeking slower pace lifestyle and traditional way of living to larger groups like Cyclades that lie closer to Athens capital city, Greece boasts more than two thousand islands to explore!
This cluster of islands includes popular tourist spots like Mykonos, Santorini, Naxos, Sifnos and Paros – with international airports as well as ferry connections – serving fine dining establishments or lively nightlife options. Delos, an ancient trading hub turned archaeological museum, stands out as a landmark on this journey through time.
Ionian Islands are another prominent Greek island group, stretching off the west coast of mainland Greece like folds on a mountainside. Corfu, as one of these Ionian Islands, is among the most developed, offering hotels as well as an elegant Old Town with cafes and tavernas. Meanwhile, less developed but equally alluring southwestern Ionian Islands such as Paxoi (Paxos), Lefkada (Lefkoy), Ithaki (Ithaca), and Zakynthos are less developed but equally alluring due to sheltered beaches and lush forests.
The Sporades islands, situated north of mainland Greece near Volos, provide a more rustic island experience than their Cyclades counterparts. Famous for its picturesque villages with whitewashed houses and terra-cotta roof tiles, Alonissos and Skiathos stand out as appealing destinations for cruise ship tourists.
Milos’ volcanic island provides the ultimate beach lounging and sunbathing paradise, boasting beautiful beaches and dramatic rock formations. If you prefer something more culturally engaging, Syros offers museums dedicated to arts, including those celebrating singer/songwriter Markos Vamvakaris who was an influential figure in rebetiko music.
Athens
Athens rose to power as one of the leading Aegean powers due to its advantageous location between water and hills. Athens may have first been settled around 4000 BCE. Later, Mycenaean King Peisistratus expanded the city, building his palace at the top of Acropolis that can still be seen today. Additionally, Peisistratus initiated reforms which created its first constitution. Solon had these laws drawn up, which remained in force after Peisistratus died in 527 BCE until his sons Hippias and Hipparchus assumed power; Hipparchus would eventually be assassinated in private quarrel over a woman in 510 BCE before Cleisthenes took charge and restored Athens back to a form of democracy that existed prior to Roman rule in the sixth century BCE.
This period was known as the Golden Age and saw such luminaries as Socrates, Plato and Aristotle; philosophers Sophocles, Aeschylus and Euripides; historians Herodotus and Thucydides; as well as sculptors like Phidias and Praxiteles flourishing during their works. With Christianity’s arrival to Aegean though pagan schools closed and temples like Parthenon converted into churches;
Athens was severely diminished following its defeat in the Peloponnesian Wars with Sparta during the second half of the fifth century BCE, but rebounded through Persius (c. 400 BCE) to experience its Hellenic Revival period characterized by new theater construction, fortification of city walls and fortification of defenses, as well as development of first Olympic games.
As soon as Rome conquered Aegean in 146 BCE, Athens continued its role as an important cultural center and capital of Achaea Province under Roman rule. Although Athens maintained its intellectual and cultural life after this change occurred, its wealth gradually declined until being attacked in 267 AD by Heruli pirates who burned much of the lower city and tore apart Acropolis monuments destroying much of Athens monuments forever.
The Peloponnese
The Peloponnese feels like holy ground. With its rugged yet beautiful setting for ancient myths of gods and heroes, this southeastern peninsula was also host to some of the pinnacles of human civilization – Olympia to Sparta were among its landmarks, while its beauty inspired some of history’s greatest artistic works.
Peloponnese was known in medieval times by its medieval name of Morea due to its shape resembling a mulberry leaf, earning it its medieval moniker of Morea (or Morea). Morea is essentially an island within mainland, connected only at two points: Corinth Canal and Rion-Antirion Bridge. Mountainous terrain includes Taygetos and Parnon as well as forests, lakes, rivers, gorges with waterfalls, coasts and beaches – with Taygetos peak standing out among these features as well.
Coastal regions feature fertile sandy beaches, while most of the landmass inland is mostly mountainous, featuring numerous gorges, streams, valleys and forests in Pindus and Rhodope ranges. Forests can also be found scattered among fertile plateaus of southern Peloponnese.
Peloponnese’s natural compartmentalisation has played an essential role in its history and present. The landscape has created distinct yet sometimes incompatible social worlds that set local communities apart from each other and the rest of Greece at large.
Filmmakers have taken notice of Peloponnese’s distinctiveness, using locations here for numerous blockbusters and independent movies. Southeastern Peloponnese in particular was used for Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy’s 2013 Richard Linklater movie Before Midnight (using Patrick Leigh Fermor’s home in Kardamyli as their main character’s residence as its filming location).
Peloponnese mountainous interior is an idyllic destination for hikers and nature enthusiasts, boasting lakes, rivers and gorges home to an abundant biodiversity that is worth discovering either on guided tours or independently, such as Argos’ clear waters or Lake Doxa’s serene atmosphere, Mount Ziria or Parnon’s alpine scenery.