Highlights of Greece: What Not to Miss for Your First Visit

Despite being our planet's smallest continent, Europe's influence and culture have shaped the world. Its languages, particularly English and Spanish, are spoken worldwide. America's cultures are hugely influenced by Europe as are the cultures of Australia and New Zealand etc. Fast foods such as hamburgers and pizza are found worldwide and, although often considered American, both originated in Europe. Blue jeans, the world's favorite trousers, may have originated in America, but they are named "jeans" after the material which came from Genoa in Italy (and 'denim' is from the French De Nîmes, meaning from Nîmes, the city in France).

But where did Europe's culture come from? It is well-accepted that European civilization and culture began in Greece, albeit with some outside influences. It was Greece that gave us the first European literature and drama; Greece gave us the foundation of our political and philosophical systems (think Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle); Greece gave us science and, to every schoolchild's disgust, many of our mathematical principles (think Pythagoras and Archimedes); Greece gave us its mythology and system of gods which Shakespeare and others used in so many of their works; Greece gave us the name of one of the world's most popular sportswear manufacturers (and I'm not talking Adidas); Greece gave us the world's most important sporting event, the Olympics. I could continue.

Over the centuries, Greece has been colonized again and again, but every colonizing power has respected their advanced culture, from the Romans who annexed the country in 200 AD, to the Byzantine and then Ottoman empires. Also, it can be argued that the Romans were the first to visit Greece as tourists as it became a popular destination for wealthier Romans to travel to visit the famous sites in Athens, Corinth, and Thebes. Today, over 33 million visitors (2018 figures) visit the country, making it one of the top destinations in the world.

But Greece today isn't just about ancient history and ruins, fascinating as they are. For a relatively small country, it has a very long coastline and many islands. Greece is therefore a land of beaches. It has the second highest number of "Blue Flag" beaches in the world, after Spain. These "flags" are awarded to beaches meeting strict standards of cleanliness and environmental responsibility.

So for many visitors, Greece, with 18 UNESCO World Heritage sites, is an ideal place to combine a culture and history tour with some quality beach time. Others prefer lively nightlife, which can also be found … or avoided by those who prefer peace and tranquillity. You can even enjoy some skiing, not something many people associate with Greece!

So here I would like to present you some of the highlights of this very important, fascinating and beautiful destination. But first an interesting fact - no one in Greece calls their country "Greece". In their language it is Ελληνική Δημοκρατία, usually transliterated as "Ellinikí Dimokratía" and meaning the "Hellenic Republic", but more commonly, in everyday situations, it is referred to as Ελλάς pronounced "Hellas".

ATHENS

Athens is one of the world's oldest cities, its recorded history going back 3,500 years. Long the most important and largest city in Greece, it only officially became the capital in 1834. It is home to many of the most famous and important sites in Greece.

The Acropolis above the city of Athens

The Acropolis of Athens, perched 150 m / 490 ft high on a rocky hill overlooking the city, is a large citadel or acropolis. This isn't the only acropolis in Greece, but it is by far the most impressive and well-known, so is usually just referred to just as "The Acropolis". Although there is evidence of the hill being occupied as early as 4,000 BC, what can be seen now are the remains of what was built by Pericles in the 5th century BC. The complex of buildings was dedicated to the goddess Athena, from whom Athens gets its name - or perhaps the goddess takes her name from the city. The experts are divided on that question, although most think the city name came first.

One can climb up to the Acropolis and enter through the Propylaea or 'monumental gate'. This impressive gate wall was the official entrance and security checkpoint for centuries until it was blown up in 1656 when some gunpowder stored there was accidentally ignited. The design of the original central gate, one of five gates in the wall, has inspired other monumental gates around the world, most significantly the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany.

Once through the gate, most visitors head straight for the acropolis's most important building, the Parthenon, Greece's most iconic building. Built between 447 and 438 BC, this was, like all the Acropolis, dedicated to Athena, but in the 6th century AD briefly became a Christian Church, dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It became a Roman Catholic church again in the 13th century. In the early 1460s, the Ottoman Empire turned it into a mosque. The Parthenon too was badly damaged, not by time, but by another accidental explosion in 1687.

However, arguably the worst damage was done in the 19th century when the Acropolis was basically looted and many of the statues removed, most famously by the British Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin, although he claimed to have been given permission by the Ottoman Turks. These are now displayed in the British Museum in London as the "Elgin Marbles", although there are strong calls for them to be returned. Other pilfered statues can be seen in the Louvre in Paris as well as museums around Europe. Many are now housed in the nearby, modern Acropolis Museum along with thousands of artifacts found on the rocky hill. Still, even damaged and stripped of some of its treasure, it remains one of the world's greatest architectural achievements.

Nearby are the remains of the Temple of Athena Nike. Here things get confusing. In most accounts, Athena and Nike were two separate goddesses, Athena being responsible for wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, law and justice, strategic warfare, mathematics, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, and skill. Busy lady. Nike, on the other hand was the goddess of victory. However, sometimes they are treated as being different aspects of the one goddess.

Whatever, the current incarnation of the temple was built in the 19th century to replace the previous one destroyed by the Turks in 1686. There is evidence of a temple on the site back in the 5th century BC. Conservation work is ongoing at the temple, so it is regularly closed to visitors, although it can always still be admired from the outside.

Before leaving the Acropolis, we must mention the Erechtheion, another temple on the Acropolis this time dedicated to both Athena and Poseidon, God of the Sea among his other responsibilities. Don't miss the unusual Porch of the Caryatids, also known as the Porch of the Maidens, whose six columns are in the form of female figures. Those you will see are replicas. Lord Elgin stole one of the originals to decorate his Scottish mansion and it is now in the British Museum. The other five are in the Acropolis Museum.

Erechtheion, an ancient Greek temple on the Acropolis of Athens

In 520 BC, the then Greek leaders decided to build the largest temple in the world, the Temple of Olympian Zeus and dedicate it to Zeus, the God of the Sky and King of the Gods who lived on Mount Olympus. They chose a prime site at the foot of the Acropolis in the center of Athens. Ten years later work was abandoned for political reasons and the barely started construction lay ignored for around 300 years. Sporadic attempts to revive the project did very little until the time of the Roman Emperor, Hadrian who finally oversaw the completion of the work. To celebrate, a huge statue of Hadrian was built behind the temple, but that was outdone by the even huger statue of Zeus which was inside the temple.

The temple only enjoyed about 100 years of glory until it was abandoned and much of its stone was used for other projects. Of the original 104 columns, only 16 remain and one of those is lying on its side after falling over in a storm. Yet the power and majesty are somehow still there.

DELPHI

182 km / 113 miles northwest of Athens, on the south-western slope of Mount Parnassus, is Delphi, home to the Sybil or Oracle of Delphi. According to the Greek myths, Zeus determined to locate the center of the earth by sending two eagles to find it, one flying east and the other west. In time, their paths crossed over what is now Delphi. Obviously, this must be the center of the earth and so the city was founded.

Today, you can visit the ruins of the Temple of Apollo where the High Priestess, also known as the Sybil gave her prophecies. Also, well worth a visit is the Theater uphill from the temple and in slightly better condition. For photographs, the most popular site is the Tholos of Delphi with its 30 columns, three of which have been restored.

MOUNT OLYMPUS

The home of the twelve Greek Gods in ancient Greek mythology, Mount Olympus is Greece's highest mountain, standing at 2,917 meters / 9,570 feet. In 1938, the mountain became the country's first National Park and is home to a large variety of fauna and flora. It is a UNESCO-recognized "Biosphere Reserve" and is noted for its bird life. There is a Visitors' Information Center at Litochoro where you can learn all about the mountain, its history, mythology, nature, and more. Guided hikes can also be arranged here.

Contrary to many people's expectations Olympus has no connection with the Olympic Games. These were held far away at:

OLYMPIA

The small town of Olympia was home to the world's best-known sporting tournament, the Olympian Games which were held here every four years between 776 BC–393 AD. It was used again in the 2004 Olympics which were being held in Athens. The Olympic torch is lit here by the sun's rays reflected parabolic mirror at the ruins of the Temple of Hera which was destroyed by an earthquake in the 4th century AD.

You can visit the remains of the Olympic stadium and the gymnasium etc. and see the running track. A must for all sports fans.

ISLANDS

Greece abounds in archaeological sites, not all of which can be covered here, but it is also known for its many islands. It is difficult to say exactly how many there are as some disappear at high tide and some are so tiny that no one can agree whether to count them or not. Estimates vary from as few as 1,200 to as high as 6,000. The vast majority are uninhabited, with only around 200 or so permanently settled.

There are beaches to suit every kind of visitor. Quiet, secluded beaches to noisy nightlife - all can be found here. Some examples include:

Santorini is usually touted as being an ideal island for honeymoon couples and is easily accessible from main European airports. The beaches here are composed of volcanic sand and pebbles which is perhaps not so alluring as the white sand beaches elsewhere, but they are much more relaxed and less busy than most. Kamari, Perissa, and Perivolos beaches are considered the best. The island has a small but interesting wine-making tradition, so be sure to sample the local drink.

Santorini, an island in the southern Aegean Sea

Naxos has more beaches and is noted for its windsurfing and kite surfing activities, so is well suited to the sportier types. The island also has a number of interesting archaeological sites, which are well worth visiting.

Kos is a larger island and attracts a younger crowd with its nightclubs and lively bars. The main town, also known as Kos is pretty with its whitewashed buildings and has many hotels and other tourist facilities. Away from the beaches and bar streets, there are a number of churches, mosques, and a couple of castles as well as the remains of an ancient marketplace.

Hydra, a small town island with no cars or motorcycles allowed, is known for its artistic community. It is also a popular yachting center. The small town, known as Hydra Port, is easily navigable on foot and has a number of restaurants, bars, markets, etc. The island will be known to many music fans, particularly those from Canada, as it was where Leonard Cohen lived and wrote many of his famous earlier songs, such as "So Long, Marianne".

Mykonos, sometimes called "Island of the Winds" is probably Greece's liveliest island. It is known for its nightlife and for its gay-friendly culture. There are a number of beaches and sites of interest. Look out for the famous Mykonos windmills. A lovely spot to visit is Little Venice, where old fishing houses overhang the sea. Today, many of these have been converted into bars and cafés.

These are only a handful of the many islands you could visit. Many travelers like to take ferries on an island hopping adventure, maximizing the number they get to see.

SKIING

Before I go, I must finally let you in on the Greek skiing resort I mentioned at the beginning. Vigla is a smallish ski resort on Mount Vernon by the town of Pisoderi near the borders of Greece, Albania, and North Macedonia. There are five ski lifts and ten designated ski trails.

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