GREECE

Athens (Capital)

Athens is one of the oldest cities in the world, and has been one of the centers of Hellenic civilization over 3000 years. It is located on the central plain of Attica, bounded on three sides by Mt. Hymettos, Mt. Parnitha and Mt. Pendeli. Athens has about 3 million residents.

City has been continuously inhabited for at least 7000 years. By 1400 BC the settlement had become an important centre of the Mycenaean civilization. By the mid-4th century BC, the northern Greek kingdom of Macedonia was becoming dominant in Athenian affairs. It became one of the most important cities of the Byzantine Empire, until  it was conquered by the Ottomans in 1458. Athens became the capital of independent, unified Greece in 1834.

Acropolis of Athens (Acropolis) (UNESCO 1987)

Address: Athens 105 58, Greece

As one of the well-known examples of archaelogical sites of Greece, Akropolis of Athens speaks best for itself – also as an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its current architecture evolved mainly between 460–430 BC and it consists of 21 archaelogical attractions, included famous Doric Parthenon temple, Temple of Athena Nike and the Propylaea gate serving as only entrance to Akropolis. 90 meter high hill gives a great panorama view over the Athens valley. A must-see for a history enthusiast.

Monasteries of Meteora (UNESCO 1988)

Address: Kalabaka 422 00, Greece

Situated on the northwestern edge of the Plain of Thessaly, this complex of six Orthodox monasteries founded on natural sandstone pillars is a remarkable site. Largest of the monasteries is The Holy Monastery of Great Meteoron and it serves tourists as the main museum. Others are  Holy Monastery of Varlaam,  Holy Monastery of Rousanou/St. Barbara,  Holy Monastery of St. Nicholas Anapafsas,  Holy Monastery of St. Stephen and Monastery of Holy Trinity. No wonder that the site is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List, it is a fine part of religious history of Greece and shares the divine panorama view over the Meteora valley.

Samária Gorge

This majestic gorge offers a great terrain for a hiker in good physical shape. Situated in the White Mountains (Lefká Óri), inside the Samária Gorge National Park, the gorge is 16 kilometres long hiking route sharing beautiful and barren Cretan terrain,  with a chance to see a rare Cretan kri-kri goat and visit in abandoned village of Samária. One of the best routes is down the gorge from the Omalos plateau to Agia Roumeli on the Libyan Sea.

Extremely suitable place for a walking enthusiast.

Preveli Beach

With a river lagoon and picturesque palm forest this beach is among the most beautiful of the kind in Crete. The beach is reachable only by foot or boat. There are two footpaths leading to Preveli Beach, one from the idyllic Preveli monastery (west) and the other from Drimiskiano Ammoudi (east), both are only a few minutes walk. Some cruises start from Plakias or Agia Galini to bring visitors to Preveli Beach, which can be fairly crowded during the high season.

Archaeological Site of Sounion

Address: EO91, Lavreotiki 195 00, Greece

In the Odyssey, Homer refers to Sounion as “the sacred cape of the Athenians”, which combined with archaeological finds confirms that the site was a place of worship long before the construction of the first temples in the sixth century BCE. It is indeed an ideal place to host a sanctuary dedicated to the god of the sea.

National Archaeological Museum

Address: 44, 28th of October (Patission) str., Athens 106 82

This art museum (Michalakopoulou 1) houses the collection of art made between the 14th century and the 20th century, mainly focusing on Greek art made after the Byxzantine regime but also having Renaissance works from various European artists.