Greece

Greece is often considered the cradle of Western civilization, having a significant impact upon the successive Greek, Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine rule throughout history. Indeed, this aura of history permeates nearly every square inch of the country today, found in the ruins of buildings and statues of its past that still linger along its rocky shores, echoing a former glory.

Surrounded on three sides by the Mediterranean, Ionian, and Aegean seas, Greece’s coastline and distinctly flavored culture are huge tourist draws each year. Its capital, Athens, is not only a modern city, but still retains the sacred artifacts of its past. Because the present city has far outgrown the original historic Athens, most of its ruins are conveniently located in one central area within the metropolis, making sight-seeing fairly easy.

The Acropolis in Athens easily holds some of the most recognized structures of Greek civilization with the former glory of the magnificent Parthenon, made almost entirely out of Pentelic marble, serving as a central treasury and a temple to honor the Greek Goddess of Wisdom, Athena, for whom the city is named. Beside the Parthenon are the Erechtheion and its six Caryatids, broken and chipped with age and strife.

Another historic attraction is The Agora and the nearby Temple of Hephaestus (the best preserved Doric temple in Greece). Once a central point of administrative, cultural, and political activity in ancient Greece, the site of the ancient Agora now remains an open ground and museum where visitors can walk around. Towards the south entrance is the Church of the Holy Apostles, built to commemorate St. Paul. Inside the halls of this church are many beautiful Byzantine frescoes.

For a step back further in time to the even older Minoan civilization, take a trip to the island of Crete, a beautiful and wildly rugged land dotted with mountains, olive groves, wild flowers, and fertile plains. Stop by Hania, picturesque with its Venetian and Turkish-styled buildings, or Iraklio, Crete’s largest city and most modernized with is famous café lattes on Dedalous Street.

For a trip steeped in more history, island hop the Dodecanese Islands, with some of the most concentrated archaeological sites in Greece, from ancient agoras to crumbling temples of the gods. For those who would rather live in the moment, the islands feature several small towns and larger cities with sophisticated and purely modern accommodations and comforts.

Just because Greece is heavily steeped in history doesn’t mean it doesn’t know how to have fun. The Sporades islands are heavy tourist places, especially Skiathos, but the island features stunning beaches and a rich nightlife for those seeking a little entertainment.