 Greece
is a land of rich cultural heritage, considered the
capital of literature, art, philosophy and politics as
well as architectural wonders. Situated in the
Mediterranean in Southeast Europe, with Athens as its
capital it is composed of both mainland and numerous
islands. The official language is Greek, although most
of the younger generation speaks English, German, French
and Italian.
Strewn amidst the calm turquoise waters of the Ionian
and Aegean Seas are 1,400 islands, every one of which
has its own history. The islands makeup one fifth of
Greece’s surface area, here one may find peaceful
beaches, medieval fortified towns, dramatic cliffs
plunging into the sea all scattered with typical
whitewashed houses with cubic forms.
In Athens one can explore the city’s rich architectural
heritage with the Parthenon and Delphi’s Temple of
Apollo amongst other numerous sites, while on the island
of Crete the magnificent Minoan city of Knossos is a
must.
Greece offers something for everyone, including those
seeking sports activities both on water and land, with
sailing, scuba diving, hiking and mountain bike riding.
The islands offer superb conditions for all water
sports, while the rugged mountainous landscapes offer a
myriad of trails to explore on foot or on wheels.
Greece has a warm Mediterranean climate with hot, dry
summers and mild winters. The summer winds on the
islands help alleviate the very hot summer temperatures
that can get very hot in the Athens area. The rainy
season goes from November to March.
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