Known for its sunny beaches, delicious food, ancient ruins and friendly people, Greece has ranked as Europe's top travel destination
Greece, also known as Hellas, is located in Southeast Europe. It is considered as the cradle of Western civilization, being the birthplace of democracy, Western philosophy and literature, Olympic Games. Surrounded by sea from three sides, Greece hosts a large number of islands that surround the Grecian peninsula like little gems in the sea. Greece with its rich history, architectural monuments, beautiful landscape and island, turquoise waters and white sandy beaches is a dream destination for many people. Here are some of the famous destinations to visit when travelling to Greece.
Mount Olympus
Mount Olympus located in northeast Greece, is the highest mountain in Greece with an altitude of 2918m. The myth of Mouth Olympus is famous throughout the world. It is the home of Zeus, a major Greek god and legendary author and poet Homer. With the idea of preserving the natural beauty of the region i.e wild flora, fauna and the landscape, the region was converted into a national park in 1938. It is the first national park in Greece. European Union has listed Olympus as an important bird area of the European Community.
The flora vegetation of this region is very diverse providing visitors jaw-dropping views. Trekking around the forest of Mount Olympus can be tricky for inexperienced hikers and without maps. The trails host numerous hidden small and pristine villages like Dion, Litochoro, Ano Skotina and many more. There are villages are filled to lustful green forest, streams, narrow streets and old traditional houses.
Athens
Athens is the capital and largest city of Greece. It is one of the oldest cities with a history spanning over 3400 years. The ancient city of Athens is recognized by its modern subways, spotless streets, well-manicured parks, warm people and remarkable freeways. It is a city that boasts stunning modern architecture as well as striking historical monuments.
The city presents a perfect mixture of historical and modern features. Athens is famous for its archaeological monuments and ruins like the famous Acropolis, Parthenon, the temple of Zeus, Ancient Agora and Theatre of Dionysus just to name a few. The core of the historic center is the little suburb, Plaka neighborhood which has been inhabited without interruption. However, Athens is not just about ancient ruins. This bustling city is also an important center for business, culture and nightlife.
Delphi
Delphi is the second most popular archaeological site after Acropolis in Greece. Located along the slopes of Mount Parnassus, was a famous pilgrimage site for people coming from the Mediterranean. Delphi is dedicated to the god, Apollo. It is home to multiple archeological sites, the Oracle being the most important and ancient of all. There is a belief that in the ancient times, people from the country and all around the world would come to this sacred place and seek advice from the Pythia (priest) in a wide range of topics. Other than the Oracle, there are many significant ruins and structures which include Temple of Apollo, Stoa of the Athenians, Sibyl rock, Theatre, hippodrome, Charioteer of Delphi which has withstood for centuries.
Santorini
Santorini is one of the most famous islands of Greece instantly recognizable around the world and is definitely a head-turner. It was ranked as the world's top island by many magazines and travel sites like BBC, Travel+Leisure Magazine. Part of the Cyclades island group, Santorini sits in the Aegean Sea. The island owes its existence to the volcanic eruptions that happened throughout the years.
With its multicoloured crescent beaches, beautiful whitewashed building, and breathtaking sunset, it has been a perfect getaway for couples and growing its reputation as a wedding destination. Walking down the streets of the caldera edges viewing the azure ocean, under the azure sky and tasting the locally made wine, visiting the active volcano, experiencing the island nightlife can be other exciting activities to do when visiting Santorini.
Mykonos Windmills
Mykonos windmills are the iconic feature of the Greek island, Mykonos. These classic whitewashed buildings with blue towering domes signify the Greek architecture. The windmills face towards the North, making most of the gusty wind blowing in the area. There are almost 16 windmills on Mykonos. They were used as a wheat mill which was an important source of income in past days. Now one of their windmills has been transformed into a museum. Other places like Matoyianni Street, Kalafatis Beach, Armenistis Lighthouse and golden sandy beach of Megali Ammos are don't miss places while visiting the island of Mykonos.
Greece hosts a number of different places and islands which are some of the best destinations for rejuvenating and having a lifetime experience. Visitors will have a unique food experience like Taramasalata, Olives and olive oil, Moussaka, Dolmades which are the local delicacy found in Greece.
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