Overview
One of the most ancient cities in the world, Athens Greece is famous as the birthplace of democracy.
With a history of over 3,000 years, it is the best town for sightseeing.
The city took its name after Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom and daughter of Zeus. She was the protector of the city and in fact, the temple of Parthenon on the Acropolis is dedicated to her.
The first traces of Athens date from the Mycenaean period, but the town reached its peak in the 5th century BC. This period is known as the Golden Century of Pericles, the Athenian statesman who managed to gift the town with meridian power and glory.
From as early as the 8th century BC, Athens was gradually developing into an important city-state for Greece, emphasizing culture and its naval power.
But it was in the 5th century BC when great political formations were made and new buildings were constructed, including the Acropolis, the Temple of Poseidon at Sounion, and the Ancient Agora, and victorious imperial wars took place so that the Athenians would obtain new economic sources.
However, after the Peloponnesian War and the win of the Spartans, the city-state started to decline.
In the 2nd century BC, it was conquered by the Romans and gained some of its old glory, but in Byzantine times, it was frequently raided by northern tribes and fell into decline again.
Athens became the official capital of Greece in 1834, after King Otto’s decree.
At that time, Greece had survived a long fight for independence, the modern Greek state had just been formed and the people needed a symbol to connect modern Greece to the glorious ancient years. This is why this particular city became the capital of the country and reformation plans started immediately.
European architects were called to come to the country and rebuild the capital.
At that time, impressive Neoclassical buildings were constructed, including the Greek Parliament, the University, and the Academy of Athens.
All these Ancient, Byzantine, and Neoclassical sights make Athens a great town to visit.
The Olympic Games of 2004 improved the image of the town, with good transportation means and the reconstruction of old buildings.
Although the city’s center might discourage visitors with its disorganized appearance at first, there are several places of historical beauty to visit, such as Plaka, Monastiraki, and Thissio.
A trip is not complete without a visit to the Acropolis and the New Acropolis Museum, the Ancient Agora, and the Roman Agora.
A very convenient town for walking as all sights are in proximity to each other, Athens is also a great place to travel with kids.
Except for the capital of Greece, Athens is also a transportation hub, as it hosts an International Airport and is located very close to the port of Piraeus, the main gateway to the islands. In the region of Attica, there are two more ports, Rafina and Lavrion, where ferries to the Greek islands depart from.
The everlasting beauty of Santorini Greece attracts thousands of visitors every year. Hence, it is no wonder that the island is one of the top tourist destinations in the world. Its wild volcanic landscape, rugged cliffs, wild nature, and beautiful shores, combined with its rich history and traditions, make the island the gem of Greece.
Santorini got its current half-moon shape around 1,650 BC after a huge volcanic eruption. In ancient times, its shape was round and a myth claims that the island emerged out of the sea miraculously. However, the intense volcanic eruption eliminated about half of the island covered the Minoan settlement of Akrotiri on the south of the island in ashes, and raised waves so high that reached the northern coasts of Crete and destroyed Minoan towns, including the famous Knossos Palace.
Today, half of the caldera is submerged, which makes it the only sunken caldera in the world. The volcano remains active and, throughout the centuries, many eruptions have occasionally occurred. The latest was as recently as 1956 when small volcanic islets emerged from the bottom of the caldera. In one of these eruptions, the islet of Nea Kameni emerged just opposite the caldera villages. The volcano can be approached by boat or jet ski excursions and is a must-see in Santorini.
Another enchanting sight that Santorini displays is the architecture of the villages, built right on the edge of the caldera. Those picturesque villages are distinguished for their sugar-cube houses, paved streets, wonderful churches, and, most of all, the breathtaking view of the Aegean Sea. The incredible architecture of the island makes it a convenient location for parkour, a new impressive sport. From Oia, you will enjoy the most romantic sunset ever, with the orange sun dipping into the sea. Due to this unique atmosphere, the island has become a popular wedding and, at the same time, honeymoon destination.
The beauty of Santorini has inspired many writers and artists, as well as cinema makers, who frequently choose the island for shooting their movies. Jules Verne had visited the place during one of his travels and he mentions Santorini in his book Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the sea. The island also constitutes the inspiration behind his novel The Mysterious Island, in which Captain Nemo and his crew witnessed a volcanic eruption. Greek poet George Seferis wrote a poem about Santorini in the 1960s, while the internationally famous composer Yanni created a wonderful composition inspired by the island.
Many people also link the island of Santorini with the mythical Atlantis, although this theory is believed to be a myth today. Apart from walking the caldera villages, the lovely beaches on the southern side of the island, including Red Beach, Kamari, and Perissa, which have developed into large beach resorts, are also worth a visit.
