The island Paros

In this page you can read about geographic stigma, the transports, the groun morphology, the weath of the island , climate, the subsoil, the past and the present of Paros island.

Geographic Stigma:

Paros is one of the biggest islands of the Cyclades (186 square kms). It is in 375' longitude and 2514' altitude in the west of Naxos and n the east of Antiparos in the centre of the searoads of the Aegean, 90 miles from Piraeus

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Transport:

Paros connects regularly to Piraeus,Rafina,the Cyclades,the islands of the east Aegean, Thessaloniki and Crete (by ferry boats, flying dolphins) and by plane to Athns and hessaloniki. The boat trip lasts 4,5 hours from Piraeus by F/B and 2,5-3 hours by modern ships.

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Ground Morphology:

The central mountain hill of Profitis Ilias (776) ends that meet paradisaical beaches allowing the formation of many samll cultivable plains. And that's the magic of the landscape of Paros.

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The weath of the island:

Paros is one of the most productive islands of th Cyclades. It produces wine, which is known fron the ancient years, oil, cereals and fruits. Especially, viticulture in last years is at its best and the wines, that are bottled in the modern buildings of the islands, are famous all over the world. Fishing, agriculture and cattle-raising are the local people's main interests. Nowadays, tourism has changed the residents' way of life but it hasn't distracted them from their traditional occupations. Fresh fish is always served in their able. Their local cheese is a fantastic rastronomical experience whhile olive and vineyard keep giving their fruit.

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Climate:

Its climate is temperate.Winter is clement with few rains.The main feature of summer is the annual winds(etecian winds) which blow during the day with intesity of 5-7 Beaufort.

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Subsoil:

The subsoil of Paros consists mainly of granites with limestone islands (marbles). The marble of Paros, the famous lychnitis, was a material in great demand in the anient years because of its capacity to capture the light in its white colour. So, it was transported to all lands around the Aegean bt the first ships. Famous ancient sculptors gave it form and shape and it was the main wealth source for the island during all the historic periods.

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The past:

Paros was inhabitable from the 4th millenium BC and passed through periods of great financial and artistic rise as well as of intense violence, invassions and fall.

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The present:

Now Paros is a popular place for holidays,it has got remarkable tourist development and offers all the services that are necessary for the traveller. Paroikia is the capital of the island and is situated i the west coast. Naoussa, which is a little bit smaller than Paroikia, is one of the most beautiful ports in the Aegean Sea. Also, Paros is full of live and picturesque villages.The biggest villages are Lefkes ,Marmara, Prodromos, Kostos, Marpissa, Pisso Livadi, Dryos, Aggairia and Alyki. The visitor has the chance to see the history of Paros (churches from the first Cgristian years, monasteries with Fortification form, sanctum of "The twelve Olympian Gods"). However, the real beauty is that one you can see n people's soul. They are creative, wam, hospitable with love and respect towards their fellow man.

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The island Corfu

Corfu (Kerkyra) is an island in the Northern Ionian Sea, situated in the entry of the Adriatic sea and near the coasts of the Continent. The coasts in the north-eastern part of the island also approach Albania. The beaches have a total length of 217 km forming many bays and capes. It has a mountainous terrain mainly in the northern part, with its highest peak being Pantokratoras (914 m).

Administratively the island belongs to the Region of Ionian Islands. The prefecture of Kerkyra includes the islands of Kerkyra, Paxon, Antipaxon and Diapontia islands (Othonoi, Ereikousa, Mathraki). The total population of the prefecture is 107.879 residents, according to the census taken by the GREEK NATIONAL STATISTICAL ORGANISATION in 2001.

The capital of the island, the city of Kerkyra, constitutes the administrative, economic, commercial and cultural centre of the island and today it has a population of 25.000 residents, according to the census taken by the GREEK NATIONAL STATISTICAL ORGANISATION in 2001, of which 7.000 roughly live in the limits of the Old City. The employment of population is concentrated in the tertiary sector, in the service sector, in the trade and tourism.

The municipality of Kerkyra includes the urban districts: the Analipsi, the Canoni (Pontikonisi), the Figareto, the Stratia, the Goubia, the Kontokali, the Kyra Chrysikou, the Potamos, the Temploni as well as the islands Bido and Lazareto.

The Old City of Kerkyra is a monumental ensemble, unique for Greece. However, the city is also full of life, with operations that are also part of the permanent population and not only addressed for tourists. From 2007, the Old City of Kerkyra, with the Old and New Fortress, is found in the international list of the World Cultural Heritage of UNESCO, as a separate architectural and monumental ensemble that represents an important historical period. The old city of Kerkyra became the 17th Greek monument which can be found in the list of the world heritage of UNESCO.

History

After the partition of the Byzantine state from the Franks of the 4th Crusade in the year 1204 until 1214, Corfu (Kerkyra) was in the power of the Venetians for the first time. A period of fifty years of annexation followed in Despotato of Epirus and in 1386 it passed again in the power of the Venetians with her will because of the weakness of the Byzantine state to protect it. With the fall of the Venetian democracy in 1797, Kerkyra as well as the remainder of Eptanisa (Ionian Islands) were occupied by the French republicans and after two years by the Russian and Turks. In 1800 an agreement was signed between the Russians and the Turks for an independent state, the Eptanisa (Ionian Islands) State that lasted seven years. In 1807 Eptanisa (Ionian Islands) passed again into the possession of the French emperors for other seven years and afterwards to the English until1864 - the last possession before the union with Greece. 

Literature and Culture One of the first Academies that were established in Corfu was the ”Academy of Exisfalismenon” in 1656, followed by the “Academy of Gonimon” and the “Academy of Periplanomenon”, all of which had introduced important personalities, artists and scholars. During the second French occupation, the first public schools were established, following the spirit of French revolution. The establishment of the eminent Ionian Academy was an important milestone in the intellectual development of the island. It started in  1824 and it was the earliest institution of Higher Education in Greece. For a period of time the poet Andreas Kalvos taught in it.

The Eptanesian School (movement), one of the most important “schools” of Modern Greek 
literature, is dated back to the end of the 18th century and continued up to the beginning of the
20th century. The characteristic feature of this school was the perseverance in the perfection 
of creation. Dionysios Solomos was the central person in this creative era. The arrival of the poet,
from the island of Zakynthos to Corfu in 1828, meant the beginning of a period full of artistic creation. 
Around him developed a large literary circle, which had been influenced by Solomos. These people
formed the Corfu school. The main representatives of this school were Iakobos Polylas, 
Gerasimos Markoras, Ioannis Kalosgouros, Nikos Kogevinas, Lorentzos Mavilis and 
Konstantinos Theotokis. One of the characteristics of this poetic school, at that time, 
was the exclusive use of argo language. The Italian poetry had an intense influence on them. They also had a 
strong nationalistic perspective.

In 1836 the “Literature Club” was established, which is the oldest intellectual institution
of modern Greece. It was later renamed as Anagnostiki Eteria Ellados. Members
among others were Dionysios Solomos, Lorentzos Mavilis, Nikolaos Mantzaros and
Ntinos Theotokis. The rare collections of its library are considered to be of priceless value.

Another important intellectual institution is the Eteria Kerkiraikon Spoudon (Corfu Studies
Company), which was founded in 1952 and it is located in the Museum of Solomos. 
The objective of this organization is the promotion of the intellectual life of the island through
various activities. 

Local flavours and products

The Venetian occupation of about 412 years has influenced the cuisine of Corfu, which is
revealed from the way of cooking of most foods and from the origin of the names 
of the foods. Also, some particularities of the local cuisine are owed to the English people,
despite theircoexistence with Corfu people for a short period of time.


Generally speaking the cuisine Of Corfu is mainly Mediterranean, having olive oil as
a base, along with legumes, pastas, vegetables, fish and a lot of spices. The most frequent 
way of cooking is in a saucepan, which is used more for cooking than in the rest of the 
country. Another way of cooking and maintaining fish and vegetables consists of vinegar, 
salt, oil, rosemary and caper, which is known as ‘savoura’.


The most popular dishes of Corfu are:
Pastizzada: the village version is cooked with rooster while the one from the 
city is cooked with veal. This dish is cooked in a saucepan with thick tomato sauce,
garlic, onion, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, cumin, bay leaves, pepper and a little vinegar. 
It is served with thick spaghetti and is the most popular dish in Corfu.


Bordeto: boiled fish, usually scorpion or dogfish, with red-hot sauce and juice of lemon.


Soffrito: thin stripes of fried veal with white sauce from garlic, white wine and parsley.


The English brought to the island ginger beer, a foamy refreshment that is drank
frozen, made from lemon, ginger, grapes, water and sugar, which was particularly
loved by Corfu people. Today it is one of the characteristic flavours of the island.


The most popular however product of Corfu, which is not produced elsewhere in Greece, 
is “kam kwat” (kumquat). It resembles a small orange, is eaten with the skin and its flavour
is bittersweet. It originates from the East (Kam Kwat in Chinese means golden fruit). 
It reached Corfu by the English Merlin, in 1924. After it was adapted to the conditions
of the island, Corfu people loved it, and began a systematic production. Ideal place 
for cultivation was proved to be the plain of Nymphs in northern Corfu. The Agro-industrial 
Cooperation of Nymphs is responsible for the collection, processing, standardisation and 
distribution of the product. The products start from the known liqueur, jelly and extend to 
traditional sweets (eaten with a spoon) and marmalade. In the framework of regulations 
of European Community on the protection of products, Kam Kwat is declared as “a quality 
product with protected geographic origin”.


Other characteristic sweets of Corfu are Mantoles (baked sweetened almonds)
and Mantolata (Nougats - pastries from sesame cream, egg whites, honey, and whole almonds).


The vineyards of the island are not big but the wines that are produced are of excellent 
quality. The basic varieties of wines are kakotrygis (white wine with delicate flavour),
moschato (white wine with intense flavour) and petrokoritho (red dry wine).

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The city of Rethymno

Rethymnon is the capital of the Prefecture of the same name and it is built between two other large cities of Crete. In the east is Iraklion (80 km) and to the west is Hania (60 km).
It lies along the north coast, having to the east one of the largest sand beaches in Crete (12 km) and to the west a rocky coastline that ends up to another large sand beach after 10 km.
It is the administrative, communications and commercial center of the Prefecture with approximately 25.000 inhabitants.

Access
There is direct connection all year round from the port of Rethymnon to Piraeus.Tours to Santorini are also organized during the summer.
Rethymnon does not have an airport but the city is served by the airports of Hania and Iraklion.
Public buses can be used for travelling to Hania, Iraklion and most of the towns and villages of the Prefecture of Rethymnon.

History
There are evidences that Rethymnon city is built on the site of ancient Rithymna that flourished during Mycenean times. In the 3rd century AD, for some unknown reason, it lost its importance, and is only mentioned as a large village. However, Rithymna retained its autonomy and independence, as is evidenced by the coins which, as a free city, it continued to mint. During the Byzantine period the town continued to be inhabited, and parts of Roman and Byzantine mosaics have been found.
Rethymnon became a city during the Venetian occupation. The Venetians needed an intermediary port for their operations for their ships travelling from Iraklion to Hania. They also needed an administrative center, so Rethymnon became the third bigger city in Crete and an important cultural center. Rethymnon was destroyed in 1567 when Algerian pirates conquered, robbed and burned it. The Turks took over Rethymnon at 1646.
During the period of Ottoman rule, Rethymnon fell into decline as did the other towns in Crete. During the difficult years of the struggle for independence, its inhabitants were actively involved and, as a result, many of its freedom – fighters were executed.
In 1897, the Russian army took Rethymnon and held it until 1909. In 1913, it became part of Greece, together with the rest of Crete.

City map & virtual tour

With this map you will enjoy a virtual tour in the town of Rethymno. It features a distance calculator, many photos and information on the most important sites of the town.

During the German occupation, the Rethymniots took an active part in the resistance against fascism.
In the last 25 years, Rethymno has seen a significant growth, in economy by the development of tourism and in culture by the operation of the university.

Sights
The town still maintains its old aristocratic appearance, with its buildings dating from the 16th century, arched doorways, stone staircases, Byzantine and Hellenic-Roman remains, small Venetian harbor and narrow streets.

The Venetian Loggia, an elegant building of the 16th century, that used to be a Venetian gentlemens's club and today houses the information office of the ministry of culture and a sales point of the archaeological museum.

The Fortezza castle, at the top of a low hill named "Palaiokastro" dominates the town. It was built in 1590 to protect the city from the pirates raids and the Turks.
The name "Palaiokastro which means 'The old Castle" was in use even by the Venetians which demonstrates the existance of an even older castle at this place. - Probably the acropolis of the ancient town of Rithymna.
The interior of Fortezza accommodated the following basic buildings: the storeroom of the artillery, where canons and weapons were kept, the residence of the Councillors, where one of the city's two Venetian councillors lived, the residence of the Rector, which represented a luxurious, magnificent building in the central square of the fortress.
Today parts of those buildings, as well as of some others built later, can be seen. The view from up there is magnificent, especially at night.
The municipal theatre "Erofili" stands also at Fortezza's premises. It is an outdoor theatre that hosts almost all the performances during the Renaissance Festival.

Rimondi fountain with rich decoration is situated at Platanos square, the centre of the Venetian town. It was built in 1626, by A.Rimondi, in order to provide the citizens with drinkable water.

Neratzes mosque formerly the Holy Virgin church, was converted into a mosque by the Ottomans. Today it is used as a music conservatory. Outstanding elements of this building are the doorframe and the three domes. Next to the mosque there is the impressive minaret, built in 1890.

Kara Mousa Pasa Mosque also a venetian monastery that was turned into mosque by the Turks. Today it is the house of the Restoration Board.

Porta Guora the entrance to the Venetian town is the only remnant of the defensive wall.

Folklore & history museum (Vernardou 28-30. Open Monday to Friday 09.30-14.30. Closed Saturday and Sunday.) Housed in a restored Venetian building with an interior courtyard. Eight halls with collections that include textile and basket weaving, embroidery & lace, costumes, ceramics, historic photographs and maps, weapons and coins. Over 5.000 items dating from the 17th to the 20th century are displayed.

The Archaeological museum of Rethymno (8am to 3pm, closed on Monday), just opposite the entrance of the fortress, exhibits objects from the Neolithic to the Roman period, found at the prefecture of Rethymno (mainly Eleftherna, Monastiraki and Armeni). Clay figurines, funerary coffers, grave offerings, statues, grave steles, red-figure vases, bronze vessels, jewellery and glass vases, are some of the objects on display.

The municipal gardens are ideal for those in search of shade and tranquillity.
Throughout the year various activities are organized which draw a large crowd. The Wine Festival is held there annually at the beginning of July. Another festival is held on 7-8th of November, in memory of the destruction of Arkadi Monastery.


Facilities
Rethimnon is a city that caters to the needs of the visitor.
There are a lot of places to stay ranging from luxury hotels to rent a room, bed and breakfast apartment buildings.
Night life can range from extremely intense on the pubs and bars around the harbor and inside the old city , to relaxed on small bars right on the beach.
There is always fresh fish to be found in the tavernas around the harbor and there are many other restaurants and tavernas outside the city in equally attractive surroundings.
Arabatzoglou Street
A commercial street with old buildings.
Shopping could also be interesting at Rethimno. There are lots of small shops with attractive merchantise from souvenirs, cards, etc to the most rare kind of sponge.

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Top 10 Attractions at Athens

The Parthenon and the Unification of Archaeological Sites

Many cities boast archaeological sites, monuments and artifacts. Key to a city like Athens, with such a vibrant and withstanding ancient past, is to evolve with the times, keeping history and heritage in tact, while maximizing functionality within its modern city framework. This vision, although part of original city planners as far back as 1833, was realized in contemporary form in 1985 when Melina Mercouri, then Minister of Culture, proposed that work begin to make this vision a reality. The Goal? To offer visitors and natives an aesthetically, environmentally and culturally improved Athens. The result: The Unification of Archaeological Sites, the plan that beautified the area surrounding the Acropolis transforming it into a large archeological park or open-air archeological museum. Alleviating the historic centre of traffic and busy car-filled streets, it replaced many streets of the historic centre with quiet pedestrian walkways graced with green-topped hills; historically significant ancient ruins and renovated 19th century neoclassical buildings. Today, visitors to the park can enjoy a walk among some of the world's most ancient treasures in a peaceful way. The park extends from Dionissiou Areopagitou Street, Apostolos Pavlou, Adrianou, Ermou and Vassilisis Olga streets and covers an area of approximately 4 km in length and 15,000 acres. Highlights of the sites along the way are: the Acropolis, The Ancient and Roman Agora, Hadrian's Arch, the Ancient Temple of Olympian Zeus, The Theatre of Dionysos and Philopappou Hill. Furthermore, the park integrated monuments of the Byzantine and Post-Byzantine period, areas of green including the National Garden, Zappeion, and the traditional neighbourhoods of the historical Centre of Athens namely, Plaka, Anafiotika, Thisio, Psirri, Metaxourgeio, Makriyanni and Koukaki.

The new Acropolis Museum

Years in the making, this museum and its creative use of natural Greek light is the new gem of Athens and has been heralded as a masterpiece in itself. The permanent collections present finds and artifacts from the sacred hill of the Acropolis, while smaller «vignette» temporary exhibits offer insight on the whole. The cafe and museum shops are quite popular and are a must to visit as well.

National Archaeological Museum.

One of the richest museums of ancient Greek art in the world, its collections span cultures that flourished in Greece from the prehistoric age and beyond. A bronze statue of Poseidon is here as are frescoes from ancient Thira. The National Archaeological Museum is a comprehensive museum that is often overlooked.
 The National Archaeological Museum is the largest museum in Greece and one of the world's great museums. Although its original purpose was to secure all the finds from the 19th century excavations in and around Athens, it gradually became the central National Archaeological Museum and was enriched with finds from all over Greece. Its abundant collections, with more than 20,000 exhibits, provide a panorama of Greek civilisation from the beginnings of Prehistory to Late Antiquity. The museum is housed in an imposing neoclassical building built at the end of the 19th century, which was designed by L. Lange and remodelled by Ernst Ziller. The vast exhibition space, consisting of numerous galleries on each floor accounting for a total of 8,000 square metres, houses five large permanent collections

Greek Parliament and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Every vacation portfolio should not be without a photo alongside the tall, commanding Presidential Guards, known as evzones or tsoliades.  Worth the wait is to witness the changing of the guards, a ten-minute ceremonial procedure that takes place every hour on the hour. The foustanela or skirt that is part of their uniform is made up of 400 pleats, each one symbolizing a year that Greece was under Turkish rule.

Panathenaic Stadium

This must-see monument in Pagrati, opposite the Zappeion Gardens and beneath the hills of Agra and Ardettus, stands apart from the many in Athens, and, in the world. For starters, it has withheld the test of time, and is one of the few ancient stadiums to host significant international modern sports and cultural events. One glance at the roster of "performers" and "clients" over the years is testament to its unique character: from the Panathenaia festival in the 4th century B.C. to the Greek MTV launch concert in 2008. The stadium's history also reads like a who's who in Athens history beginning in 330 B.C. when Athenian financier Lykourgos supervised its construction, which at the time consisted of wooden seats and was used to house the Panathenaia festival every four years. Athenian aristocrat and Roman Senator Herod Atticus who, by coincidence, was born in Marathon, Greece, built a new marble stadium in its place in 139-140 and 143-144 A.D. with a seating capacity of 50,000 and a track of 205 metres and width of 33.35 metres. In 1869, well known architect Ernst Ziller excavated the site and in 1894, when Athens undertook the revival of the Olympic Games, architect Anastassios Metaxas backed up by benefactor Georgios Averoff drew up plans for its marble modernization. Four rows of marble seating were completed by the time the first modern Olympics took place (the others were painted white for conformity), as were five bridges that extended across the river that once ran in front of the stadium on what is today Vassileos Konstantinou Avenue. Construction was completed in its present format in 1906 and consists of 47 rows of seats and 60, 000 seating capacity. Each year the Athens Marathon terminates here.

Lycabettus Hill

At a height of 277 metres (approximately 1,000) feet Lycabettus Hill is perhaps the best spot in which to get an aerial view of the city.  The cable car Visible from here is the Acropolis, the port of Pireaus, and the island of Aigina. If a mini-trek up is not appealing, take the cable car to the top (and back down). The entrance is on the corner of Aristippou and Ploutarchou streets. If you decide to walk down the forest path you will encounter Dexameni Square in Kolonaki, where you can grab a bite to eat.

Ancient Agora, Monastiraki

Its befitting that this monument the center of commercial and business life in ancient times would later give rise to the buzzing shopping district that surrounds it today. Of course, Monastiraki does not compare to the milieu of the ancient agora, but it still continues to inspire those who live, work and visit the area.

Plaka

With its undisputable charm, this area is one of the most frequented by visitors and natives alike. Plaka's winding pathways carry thousands of years of history. Walk amongst the buildings whose facades are dressed in 19th century neoclassical design and architecture. Dine at one or several of its restaurants. And explore the ancient monuments, contemporary museums and traditional souvenir shops throughout.

The Attica Coastline

Athens is surrounded by pristine beaches, where you can swim for many months during the year. Visit a beach in Athens and you are likely to feel like you're on a Greek island, as you are greeted with stretches of crystal sands, fine pebbles and blue, clean waters. The tram and bus take you to nearby, organized beaches (some offer water sports) in Faliro, Alimo, Kalamaki, Glyfada, Schinia and Varkiza in less than an hour. Ideal for the whole family is a walk on the Flisvos Marina promenades a great destination for all ages, at any time of year.

Temple of Poseidon-Cape Sounion

Take a road trip to the southernmost tip of Attica for a breathtaking drive along the coastal highway and you are rewarded with a visit to one of the most fascinating temples in ancient history.  It is no wonder that the ancient Greeks built the temple to their sea god Poseidon here in Sounion.  Situated on a plateau on the top of a cliff it welcomes ships and sailors even today.

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Greek honeymoon destinations

If you thought that a dream honeymoon in the sun means being somewhere south of the equator you probably haven’t thought about the Cycladic Islands. Golden beaches, crystal-clear water, tanning beneath a hot sun, delicious cocktails and luxury hotelswill all add a little extra shine to your memories of your wedding ceremony. Let’s go on a little guided tour around Santorini, Mykonos, Sifnos and Folegandros. That should be enough to persuade you.
Santorini has a beauty found nowhere else in the world, while Mykonos is bustling and cosmopolitan. Sifnos offers a host of things to do to relax, yet Folegandros has somehow managed to escape the effects of mass tourism. These four islands are just some of the destinations on offer in the Cyclades. Let’s explore.

Cosmopolitan Mýkonos
The most cosmopolitan destination in the Cyclades is also the perfect place for a glamorous honeymoon. Mykonos is an island that never sleeps and every year celebrities from all over the world pay a visit to its shores. This a place you can organise the honeymoon trip you’ve always dreamt of.The immaculate architectural style of the main town (Hóra) of Mykonos, its freshly whitewashed sugar-cube houses and spotlessly clean labyrinthine side streets,all bathed in the dazzling light of the god Apollo, are simply magical. Along Matoyánni Street, the most famous on the island, you’ll find shops owned by the world’s leading fashion housesand jewellers. Scattered all over the island are superb gourmet restaurants,waiting to serve you up an unforgettable gastronomic experience. Enjoy the facilities on offer at the island’s luxury hotels alongside the island’s beautiful beaches and treat yourself to a little quality time in some seriously stylish places. Most of the luxury hotels are to be found in ÁyiosIoánnis, Órnos and alongside the gorgeous beaches of PlatísYialós and Eliá. You must, of course, take a dip at some of the island’s other cosmopolitan beaches too. Check out Paradise, KalóLivádi, Pánormos, Parága,Fteliá and Psaroú. It goes without saying that you must party the nights away in some of the island’s world famous bars and clubs!

Add a touch of extra romance. There are a number of unspoiled little islets around Mykonos which are well worth a visit. To the south west of the island is the isletof Chtapódia (Octopus). Explore Pánormos and head for the northern section of Mykonos, where you will find the picturesque little island of Marmaronísi.

Sífnos: A place of harmony
The sheltered beaches and scattered coves of Sifnos,the uniquely beautiful villages and countless Cycladic churches all create a setting that is in harmony with itself, the ideal place for a honeymoon where body and soul can unwind beneath deep blue skies. On Sifnos, the island of the renowned early 20th century Greek chef Nicholas Tselementes, you can sample some of Sifnos’ exceptional produce cooked by award winning chefs who know how to tempt our taste buds. Visit its medieval castle and sense the indomitable strength and charm of the Aegean. If you like to be next to the sea, pick one of the hotels in Vathý, while if you prefer the splendour and harmonious style of neoclassical mansions we’d recommend a stay in picturesque Artemónas,with its courtyards bursting with flowers and spectacular view. And don’t miss out on a dip in the sparkling blue waters at Chrysopiyí, Vathýand Kamáres.

Add a touch of extra romance: The starry skies over Sifnos are perfect for stargazing. A combination of good weather, a gentle northern breeze and an absence of artificial light create perfect conditions to enjoy the night sky in all its splendour.

Folégandros: A haven away from the crowds
If any of you really want to unwind completely after the stress of getting ready for your wedding, why not escape to Folegandros. There hasn’t been much in the way of tourist development and what has been done has always respected the local Cycladic style. The island’s main town, or Hóra, is surrounded by steep cliff faces. It is a residential area unlike any other, whose main characteristic is its unadulterated Cycladic style. The view from the towering north-facing side of the castle in Poúnda Square, the afternoon break spent idling in the shade in Dounávidon Square, the Church of the Kímisi tis Theotókou(Assumption of the Virgin Mary),which stands imposingly on its rocky pedestal and the evening buzz in lively Piátsa Squarecome together here to create a beautifully welcoming atmosphere in this distinctive Cycladic settlement.There are a lot of hotels here which have been built in accordance with contemporary trends in design, specially laid out to let you gaze out in peace and quiet over the endless blue of the Aegean Sea. The crystal-clear waters ofAgáli, Kátergo and Livádisparkle beneath the Mediterranean sun. They’re waiting for you!

Add a touch of extra romance: Enjoy a romantic stroll around Hóra, set at an altitude of approximately 200 meters above sea level. Wander around town square after town squareand little whitewashed courtyards. Sample local delicacies or, if you prefer, international cuisine at one of the restaurants for which this Cycladic resort stands out.

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Zakinthos, Crete, Alonissos, Kefalolia, Mykonos...

Zakinthos

Kefalonia

Crete

Mykonos

Alonissos

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Sports in Greece

Greece, birthplace of the Olympic Games, is ideal for participating in a sport or taking part in events or games (sports tourism). In the recent past the country has frequently organized many large sports/athletic events (world championships, Pan-European games, significant international tournaments, etc), with the crowning event being the 2004 Olympic Games that were held in Athens.

These sports/athletic events contributed significantly to the construction of many modern large and small sports facilities, stadiums and training centers throughout the country, covering a wide range of sports, where today local residents and visitors to the region are able to exercise or train in their favorite sport: from athletics, soccer, volleyball and basketball to tennis and golf, sailing and surfboards.

Moreover, many hotels offer their guests special facilities for sports activities (basketball, volleyball, tennis, golf, sea-sports, etc). More details can be provided by the relevant hotel official (check the hotel guidebook).

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Weddings in Santorini

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Sea in Greece

The wealth and diversity of the Greek seas, the endless kilometers of the Greek coast and the thousands of Greek islands, the protected sea areas covering thousands of square kilometers, the mild climate, the high percentage of sunshine and its interesting and varying landscape make Greece the ideal destination for the development of sea tourism activities.
This advantage is strengthened both by thousands of years of marine tradition and by conditions favorable for sea travelling: the Greek seas are considered safe, distances between coasts are small, while conditions related to wind strength, ambient and sea temperatures are equally favorable.

In Greece sea tourism started in the ‘60s and since then has been developing at a fast pace, especially in recent years.
Cruise ships under Greek flag organizing short or longer cruises to Greek ports and ports of other countries of the Eastern Mediterranean amount to more than 160,000 GRT units and have a total capacity of over 10,000 passengers. Greek ports, however, are also visited by cruise ships under foreign flags, which annually bring more than 500,000 passengers into the country by sea.

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Culture in Greece(video)

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History of Greece...

The history of Greece can be traced back to Stone Age hunters. Later came early farmers and thecivilizations of the Minoan and Mycenaean kings. This was followed by a period of wars and invasions, known as the Dark Ages. In about 1100 BC, a people called the Dorians invaded from the north and spread down the west coast. In the period from 500-336 BC Greece was divided into small city states, each of which consisted of a city and its surrounding countryside.
There were only a few historians in the time of Ancient Greece. Three major ancient historians, were able to record their time of Ancient Greek history, that include Herodotus, known as the 'Father of History' who travelled to many ancient historic sites at the time, Thucydides andXenophon.
Most other forms of History knowledge and accountability of the ancient Greeks we know is because of temples, sculpture, pottery, artefacts and other archaeological findings.

Greece was the first area in Europe where advanced early civilizations emerged, beginning with the Cycladic civilization of the Aegean Sea, the Minoan civilization in Crete and then the Mycenaean civilization on the mainland. Later, city-states emerged across the Greek peninsula and spread to the shores of the Black Sea, South Italy andAsia Minor, reaching great levels of prosperity that resulted in an unprecedented cultural boom, that of classical Greece, expressed in architecture, drama, science and philosophy, and nurtured in Athens under a democraticenvironment.

Athens and Sparta led the way in repelling the Persian Empire in a series of battles. Both were later overshadowed byThebes and eventually Macedonia, with the latter under the guidance of Alexander the Great uniting and leading the Greek world to victory over the Persians.

The Hellenistic period was brought only partially to a close two centuries later with the establishment of Roman ruleover Greek lands in 146 BC.^[24] Many Greeks migrated to Alexandria, Antioch, Seleucia and the many other new Hellenistic cities in Asia and Africa founded in Alexander's wake.^[25]

The subsequent mixture of Roman and Hellenic cultures took form in the establishment of the Byzantine Empire in 330 AD around Constantinople. Byzantium remained a major cultural and military power for the next 1,123 years, until the Fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks in 1453. On the eve of the Ottoman conquest, much of the Greek intelligentsia migrated to Italy and other parts of Europe not under Ottoman rule, playing a significant role in theRenaissance through the transmission of ancient Greek works to Western Europe.^[26] Nevertheless, the Ottoman millet system contributed to the cohesion of the Orthodox Greeks by segregating the various peoples within the empire based on religion, as the latter played an integral role in the formation of modern Greek identity.

After the Greek War of Independence, successfully waged against the Ottoman Empire from 1821 to 1829, thenascent Greek state was finally recognized under the London Protocol in 1830. In 1827, Ioannis Kapodistrias, fromCorfu, was chosen as the first governor of the new Republic. However, following his assassination, the Great Powersinstalled a monarchy under Otto, of the Bavarian House of Wittelsbach. In 1843, an uprising forced the King to grant a constitution and a representative assembly.

Due to his unimpaired authoritarian rule, he was eventually dethroned in 1863 and replaced by Prince Vilhelm (William) of Denmark, who took the name George I and brought with him the Ionian Islands as a coronation gift from Britain. In 1877, Charilaos Trikoupis, who is attributed with the significant improvement of the country's infrastructure, curbed the power of the monarchy to interfere in the assembly by issuing the rule of vote of confidence to any potential prime minister.

20th century onwards

As a result of the Balkan Wars, Greece increased the extent of its territory and population. In the following years, the struggle between King Constantine I and charismatic Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos over the country's foreign policy on the eve of World War I dominated the country's political scene, and divided the country into two opposing groups.

In the aftermath of WWI, Greece fought against Turkish nationalists led by Mustafa Kemal, a war which resulted in a massive population exchange between the two countries under the Treaty of Lausanne.^[27] According to various sources,^[28] several hundred thousand Pontic Greeks died during this period.^[29] Instability and successive coups d'état marked the following era, which was overshadowed by the massive task of incorporating 1.5 million Greek refugees from Turkey into Greek society. The Greek population in Istanbul dropped from 300,000 at the turn of the century to around 3,000 in the city today.^[30]

King Constantine I and Eleftherios Venizelos (seated, with back to camera) in 1913, during the Balkan Wars.

Territorial evolution of Kingdom of Greece until 1947.

On 28 October 1940 Fascist Italy demanded the surrender of Greece, but Greek dictator Ioannis Metaxas refused and in the following Greco-Italian War, Greece repelled Italian forces into Albania, giving the Allies their first victory over Axis forces on land. The country would eventually fall to urgently dispatched German forces during the Battle of Greece. The German occupiers nevertheless met serious challenges from the Greek Resistance. Over 100,000 civilians died from starvation during the winter of 1941–42, and the great majority of Greek Jews were deported to Nazi extermination camps.^[31]

A poster of 1942 during World War II in support of Greece.

After liberation, Greece experienced a bitter civil war between communist and anticommunist forces, which led to economic devastation and severe social tensions between rightists and largely communist leftists for the next 30 years.^[32] The next 20 years were characterized by marginalisation of the left in the political and social spheres but also by rapid economic growth, propelled in part by the Marshall Plan.

King Constantine's dismissal of George Papandreou's centrist government in July 1965 prompted a prolonged period of political turbulence which culminated in a coup d'état on 21 April 1967 by the United States-backed Regime of the Colonels. The brutal suppression of the Athens Polytechnic uprising on 17 November 1973 sent shockwaves through the regime, and a counter-coup established Brigadier Dimitrios Ioannidis as dictator. On 20 July 1974, as Turkey invaded the island ofCyprus, the regime collapsed.

Former premier Konstantinos Karamanlis was invited back from Paris where he had lived in self-exile since 1963, marking the beginning of the Metapolitefsi era. On 14 August 1974 Greek forces withdrew from the integrated military structure of NATO in protest at the Turkish occupation of northern Cyprus.^[33][34] The first multiparty elections since 1964 were held on the first anniversary of the Polytechnic uprising. A democratic and republican constitution was promulgated on 11 June 1975 following a referendum which abolished the monarchy.

Meanwhile, Andreas Papandreou founded the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) in response to Karamanlis's conservative New Democracy party, with the two political formations alternating in government ever since. Greece rejoined NATO in 1980.^[33] Traditionally strained relations with neighbouring Turkey improved when successive earthquakes hit both nations in 1999, leading to the lifting of the Greek veto against Turkey's bid for EU membership.

Greece became the tenth member of the European Communities (subsequently subsumed by the European Union) on 1 January 1981, ushering in a period of remarkable and sustained economic growth. Widespread investments in industrial enterprises and heavy infrastructure, as well as funds from the European Union and growing revenues from tourism, shipping and a fast-growing service sector have raised the country's standard of living to unprecedented levels. The country adopted the euro in 2001 and successfully hosted the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. More recently, it has borne the brunt of the late-2000s recession and related 2010 European sovereign debt crisis.

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