Greece is unique.Every corner of this country is different from the other. On the one hand, its ancient history makes it unique in its own way, on the other hand, any resort in Greece has places for noisy crowded parties and secluded corners. Have you heard the saying "a guest in the house, God in the house"? Well, in Greece, these words are far from empty words. You will certainly be amazed by the boisterous hospitality of the Greeks. The Greeks live by the sea, for them it is the most valuable treasure, so they carefully protect it. The sea has helped some citizens to make truly huge fortunes (remember at least the ship owner Aristotle Onassis), but it also helps ordinary fishermen not to live in poverty. It is impossible to get to know Greece and its iconic sights by visiting it just once. Each city has its own peculiarities, to get to know each one you need to come to Hellas again and again. The best time to visit Greece is considered to be spring and winter, since at this time there are fewer tourists than usual and there is not such noise and fuss as the resort season.
Athens is a city with a thousand-year history
Visiting Greece can be called a real experiencea journey through historical eras. Here, antiquity and the Middle Ages, the times of Turkish rule and modern times are closely intertwined. Greece is so beautiful that it is difficult not to fall in love with it. The sights of Greece are a real paradise for connoisseurs and experts of art. Athens is the capital of the state, named after the Greek goddess of wisdom. You can study the history of this city for years, and talk about its features for hours, and you don’t want to leave home at all. Thanks to the Olympic Games, the city has acquired a modern infrastructure. Each hotel has a water park with many slides, swimming pools, jacuzzis, saunas - everything you need for fun and relaxation. Athens is a modern, noisy and very temperamental city. The most visited place is the Acropolis, which majestically rises above the city. And above the Acropolis is the ancient district of Plaka - This is a real treasure trove: there are many churches, traditional taverns, shops and cafes. Also in the capital it will be interesting to visit the Temple of Olympian Zeus and the Panathenaic Stadium.
Heraklion
It is believed that not just temples and museums, but thecities of Greece and attractions that reveal the spirit of different times. These include, for example, Heraklion. This is the largest city on the island of Crete, its economic center. In the historical center of the city, picturesque streets have been preserved to this day, and in them, traditional Greek coffee shops. A fortress wall with three main entrances encircles the old city. The fourth entrance is the Venetian port. The lighthouse of the fortress has long been destroyed, but the symbol of Venice has been preserved - the image of a lion. Inside the fortress wall, we go towards Nikifor Foki Square, and then to Venizelos - another square famous for its Morosini Fountain. The pool of this fountain is built in the shape of an octopus, it is crowned with four lions and decorated with sculptures from mythological scenes. Tourists really like the Church of St. Catherine, it houses the Museum of Icons - a slightly unusual place. Be sure to visit the Martinengo Bastion. There is a staircase along the fortress wall. Climbing it, you will find yourself at another famous landmark of Greece - the grave of one of the most beloved Greek writers Nikos Kazantzakis. Also from this height you will have an unforgettable view of the Ida and Yuchtas mountains and a breathtaking panorama of the whole of Heraklion.
A little more about Crete
Probably the main attractions of Greece– these are its islands. There are indeed many of them, but each one is unique in its own way, both in terms of recreation and history. Let's start with perhaps the most famous and beloved island – Crete. Here you will not suffer from the heat, as a breeze blows from the sea, and the mountains provide coolness. Crete is the southernmost point of Europe, and at the same time, the largest of all the Greek islands. From here to mainland Greece is about 100 kilometers. The Cretan city of Chania is much older than Rome itself, although it is hard to believe. But, unfortunately, very few traces of antiquity have survived here, and from the sea the city looks like Venice, only Venice, restored and sunny, without poets and gondolas, but with sirtaki and a warm embankment. The style of the city is determined by the Middle Ages. In the 14th century, Venetian merchants built fortresses and palazzos here. For example, one of them – the rectangular Frangokastello with crenellated walls – has miraculously survived to this day. But it should be noted that the fortress is completely empty inside, because it was not a shelter for civilians, but was built for purely military purposes. And yet, this fortress remains a very popular attraction in Greece due to an unusual phenomenon that occurs once a year. In mid-April, the road to the fortress becomes almost impassable, people want to witness a mysterious spectacle: before dawn, you can see white ghosts in the sky – these are horsemen gradually disappearing into the sea. Another attraction of Greece, and in particular the island of Crete, are the White Mountains and the Samarino Gorge between them. You walk along a path between two steep cliffs, and a river runs parallel to it. The landscape and the sensations are simply fantastic. Guides to the sights of Greece are full of mentions of kri-kri goats, and it is believed that they live here, but rarely does a tourist manage to meet them.
Corfu Island
Completely different buildings andThe ruins create the unique beauty of this island, because what is united here, it would seem, cannot be united at all. Warm sea air, mixed with the heady aroma of orange and cypress groves, rocky mountains with pine forests - all this creates a real cocktail of health, normalizing the respiratory system. The capital of Corfu - the city of Kerkyra, is a must-see. There are few other places where you can enjoy ancient Italian architecture. And here it has been preserved, even after the terrible earthquake of 1953. Since school years, we know that the main building in medieval cities was a fortress. And in Kerkyra there are two of them. The Old (Sea), it was built by the Venetians, and the New (Coastal) - to protect against the Turks. An unforgettable experience will bring you a visit to the Archileion Palace - another national landmark of Greece. It was built by Empress Elizabeth of Austria. She also did the main work in decorating the interior. It is very pleasant to walk in the palace park. Elizabeth installed marble statues of the muses there, as well as two statues of Achilles. And, of course, such a woman could not forget about her beloved self, so tourists can see a marble double of the empress at the central entrance. If you feel that lush architectural masterpieces are already boring, take a course for the Zooduhu Pigis monastery in Paliokastritsa. In this citadel of wisdom, located in Greece, the sights have been preserved since the 13th century, it is good to reflect on the eternal and beautiful.
Isle of Siim is an ideal place for lovers
Greece, whose attractions hide inhas many secrets, is famous for another unique place - Siim Island. Peace and quiet reign here. It is hard to imagine, but in such a seemingly small area there are about five hundred churches and temples. A favorite place for locals and tourists is the Taxiarchs Monastery. It keeps the icon of the patron saint of sailors, Archangel Michael. It was to this church that marriageable girls were brought since ancient times, looking for grooms for them. An unusual altar was specially built under the icon of Michael, where pilgrims leave offerings as a token of gratitude for wishes that have come true. There is a belief that if a couple in love leaves their photo here, their marriage will be long and happy.
Pearl of the Mediterranean
Rhodes Island, another attractionGreece. It earned such a beautiful name not only for its natural beauty, but also for its numerous archaeological sites. It is not for nothing that UNESCO has included the island itself in the list of world cultural heritage. According to legend, the God of the Sun Helios decided to leave Olympus for this island, and, according to tourists, he clearly did not miss. The island of Rhodes has long been considered the most popular resort in Greece. Therefore, there is a powerful recreation and entertainment industry here, complemented by a network of restaurants, taverns and cafes with traditional Greek cuisine of European class. The symbol of the island of Rhodes is considered to be the statues of a deer and a deer on columns located at the entrance to the ancient port. According to legend, it was on this place that the famous bronze Colossus was once located, which depicted the God Helios with a torch in one hand. A little higher than the port is the Palace of the Grand Masters of the Knights of Rhodes, recognized as the most amazing medieval structure. It was erected in the 16th century, but during the Turkish rule it was destroyed. The Italians restored it only in 1939. Not far from this palace is the very ancient city where knights once lived on Ippoton Street. There is the Archaeological Museum of Rhodes on the island. Here you can see exhibits of world significance - the statue of Aphrodite of Rhodes, and the head of the sun god Helios. On Mount Montreux there is an ancient acropolis. This place will not leave anyone indifferent, because the remains of the temples of Athena, Zeus, Apollo, as well as the ancient Olympic stadium have been preserved here. There are few other places where you can touch the monuments of all eras, and in Rhodes they still live. Greece is, of course, a dynamic, prosperous state with a powerful economy. Here, in a modern way, life flows quickly, the industry is developing, shopping centers and beauty salons are crowded together. But in some corners of Hellas, life seems to have stopped, and here we can remember what a huge role this small state played in the history of Europe. It is impossible to understand Greece by visiting it just once. But the beauty of it is that after the first time, it will be very difficult for you to stop. We recommend reading:
