Greece Mainland
Area Guide
The Area
Greece offers a unique blend of most beautiful Mediterranean landscape, overwhelming history and culture and a people of great hospitality. Once the home to the most powerful gods and goddesses of the Mediterranean world and the first home to the ancient olympics. Although the remains from ancient Greece are very dominant, you will still witness a very special blend of the modern and ancient, the contrasts are everywhere.
Greece, rich in vegetation, has a scenery of great contrast. Endless ribbons of pale sandy beaches with crystal clear waters, pine-backed sandy bays, cool mountain springs, verdant woodlands and sweeping valleys. The landscaped is dotted with tiny terracotta roofed villages, pine trees and olive groves, blue domed churches, monasteries and museums and colourful fishing villages.
In Athens, the capital of Greece, wherever you stand, wherever you turn, the city's long and rich history will be alive in front of you. In the centre of town are two hills, the Acropolis with the monuments from the Age of Pericles, and Lycabettus with the picturesque chapel of Ai Giorgis. Athens today is a modern city, alive and on the go with busy streets and squares, shop windows a riot of colours, as well as little alleys in quiet, peaceful neighbourhoods such as Plaka and Mets.
The unhurried pace of life abounds. Tavernas come alive at night with the cheery talk of the day's events and the fleet of fishing boats leave early in the morning to ensure that your evening meal will be fresh caught that day.
Activities
You will certainly find interesting museums, fascinating monasteries and ancient churches everywhere in Greece, especially in Athens.
Walking and cycling excursions will enable you to discover this varied and historic land with all its sights and scents. Numerous watersports are available including diving and snorkelling, windsurfing and paragliding.