Greece information, geography and historical facts
Greece – General Information
Map of Greece
Greece offers a myriad of experiences, landscapes and activities. Often cited as the birthplace of European Culture and Civilization, Greece offers a versatile and colorful mix of museums, archaeological sites, boutique hotels, chic restaurants and rustic taverns, family oriented resorts and hedonistic islands and clubs.
Greece is a country of 11,000,000 inhabitants. Almost four million of them live in Athens, although lately there is a tendency to return to the nature, away from urban centers, especially since the country offers endless opportunities for touristic development outside the big bustling cities.
Geography and Environment
Strategically located at the end of Europe, connecting three continents, Greece managed to benefit from its access to the Mediterranean Sea.
Greece is a diverse country; scattered throughout the calming blue waters of the Aegean and Ionian Sea, are the 1,500 islands of the country, each one bearing its own style and history. From the blinding sun and white washed houses in Mykonos, to the earthiness of Ioannina; from the grandeur of Meteora (the suspended rocks) to the cubic houses and the irresistibly stunning island of Santorini; from the gossip at the kafeneia (traditional coffee houses) to the imposing Parthenon, Greece offers a unique and fascinating contrast, as history, melancholy and exquisite beauty blend harmoniously throughout the country.
The northern part of the country is dissected by high mountains that extend southwards to a landscape of fertile plains and pine-forested uplands.
Featuring rugged mountains, inviting trekking, skiing, or hiking enthusiasts to explore them, forests and lush woodland at the northern parts, and islands offering endless opportunities for sea and water sports, Greece is a place to be all year long. Its climate helps anyway, as winters are mild, spring is gorgeous and summers are hot. It is estimated that Greece receives 15-16 million tourists every year.
Historical Facts about Greece
Temple of Zeus
Ancient Greece reached its peak in the 5th century BC, when Athens became the cultural, political and financial hub of the known world, an empire in the Mediterranean, producing unprecedented works of architecture, literature, drama and arts.
As the historical heritage of Greece resonates still throughout the modern arts, sciences and politics in the West, travelers flock to the country to explore and get to know the wonders of the Antiquity. Ranging from the Parthenon of Athens to the Ruins of the Impressive Minoan Civilization in Crete, Greece is still the historical hub of Europe and one of the most significantly influential countries in the world – due to the long and vast cultural and historical heritage. The appreciation and admiration for the past usually overshadows the fact that Greece is a vibrant and modern European country that can satisfy all needs of travelers and residents.
Greece is the land where immigrants from the Balkans, Asia and Africa, and the vast community of Northern Europeans and Scandinavians contribute to the current status of the country, setting it us one of the most multicultural countries in Europe.