Greek landscape - the alternation of rocky, generally treeless mountains, densely populated valleys, numerous islands, straits and bays. Picturesque cliffs, beaches, exotic caves provide great opportunities to enjoy the sea and mountain tourism. Widespread limestone, especially in the western part of the country, has led to the formation of sinkholes, caves, the landscape of the original wild appearance and attract fans to try their hand at caving. The mountain ranges occupy almost a quarter of the surface of the country. This is mainly by high mountains (up to 1200-1800 m). The highest point in Greece - Mount Olympus (2917 m). Above 2,000 meters also raises Pindus, Parnassus, a mountain range in Central Greece and Taygetos. Plains little, they are concentrated in the eastern half of the country, except in the Peloponnese, which is dominated by plains on the west coast. Climate of Greece can be divided into three types: Mediterranean, alpine and temperate, each of which affects the well-defined territory. Pindus mountain range strongly affects the climate of the mainland: the regions to the west slopes of the Pindus (Epirus) receive more rainfall than the regions located on the east side of the ridge (Thessaly).
Greece has survived not many wildlife species, their populations are small. This is due to multi-millennial history of this country - more than 8000 years, people actively slaughtered animals and plants on the territory of Greece. Here are typical small animals: rabbits, badgers, porcupines and various types of mice.
Iz most common large mammals brown bear, jackal, fox, lynx and wild boar. Many animal species listed as endangered, including the Mediterranean sea turtles and monk seals.
Numerous in Greece reptiles snakes and lizards.
Among the birds most often see wild ducks, kingfishers and partridges, and predators - owls, eagles and vultures.
In coastal areas found a lot of gulls, and the waters of Greece's huge variety of fish and shellfish, while stocks last declined significantly in recent years.
Greece has distributed more than 5000 species of plants. Widespread in Greece are small plants and shrubs: maquis and freegan. Chalkidiki often pine forests. Common cypress and plane trees. The age of some several thousand years. Olive is very common - one of the most valuable trees in Greece and the Mediterranean. Greek culture has evolved over thousands of years, from the time of the Minoan civilization, the formation proceeded during the Classical Greek and Roman rule in Greece since. Ottoman yoke also had an impact on the culture of the Greeks, mainly braked active development of ancient Greek culture. But even during the Greek Revolution created great works of literature, music and painting. Huge impact on the entire culture of modern Greece was Orthodox. Some researchers, such as Robert Kagan, believe that modern culture of Greece is much more related to the cultural heritage of the Byzantine and Ottoman empires, rather than the culture of ancient Greece
Greek cuisine is a typical example of Mediterranean and Balkan cuisine. But in many ways different from the Greek cuisine kitchens of its immediate neighbors - Bulgaria, Albania and Italy. First of all spices. Their Greeks added to your food more often than others in Europe. However, the Greek cuisine is not spicy. Another distinguishing feature is the abundance of Greek olive oil. It is added in almost all the dishes and is used not only as an aromatic condiment, but in the heat treatment of food. Another indispensable component of a lemon.
A special pride of the Greeks - cheese. In Greece, it is no less than 50 classes (each region its own special recipe). Greeks consume cheese most in the world - more than 25 kg per year per person. The most popular variety is the name "Feta": it is used in the preparation of the famous "Greek salad". In Greece, this salad is called "horiatiki" (village). Equally popular in Greece meat. Preference for pork, lamb and goat meat. Moussaka - one of the most famous dishes, prepared with the addition of meat as well as traditional Greek vegetables. Pastitsio - another favorite Greek dish. Popular fish, shellfish and other seafood.
The main center of tourism in the country is its capital - Athens, one of the oldest cities in the world, situated in a bowl-shaped valley on the west coast of Attica, surrounded by mountains Egaleo, Parnitha, Pendeli and GIMET (Imitos). The city itself was built a bit messy because of the location and in the intermountain basin has a rather complex environment, but its beautiful monuments and great museums attract millions of tourists. Considered the center of Athens Acropolis and Lycabettus hill (Likavitos), with which more than six thousand years ago and started the town. Acropolis of Athens - the symbol of ancient Greece. The pearl of the Acropolis is the Parthenon (V c. BC. E.) - Temple of Athena Parthenos, which is a unique architectural construction - it is designed in such a way that its different-sized columns and the curvature of the plane at first glance, the design gives this enormous building amazing ease and proportionality. Next to the Parthenon is an ancient place of worship Athenians - a small classical temple Erechtheion (421-407 years. BC. E.), Built on the site of the royal palace of Mycenae. According to legend, in this place to resolve the dispute of Athena and Poseidon for the right to protect the city. In honor of this event and have been built two churches under one roof. The most interesting "Portico Daughters" - six Caryatids sculptures, one of which was exported to the British Ambassador in London (now in the British Museum), which gave rise to the legend of the night to hear crying in their remaining Caryatids kidnapped sister.
Capital Region Attica, in whose territory the Athens and Piraeus, famous for an extraordinary variety of landscapes - in a small area of land fit and mountain areas, and endless coastline and beaches, and many historical monuments. "Golden Delphi" from their sanctuary of Apollo (IX century. BC. E.), Sacred and Kassotidskim Castalian springs, famous stone 'Sybil' oracle and obschegrecheskimi Pythian Games, considered the center of the Hellenic world. In the vicinity of Athens, visit the port of Piraeus - the greenest suburb of the capital, with its great archaeological and naval museum and outdoor theater on the hill Profitis Elias. Sure to visit the outskirts of the resort of Glyfada (16 km from Athens), with its famous yacht club and luxury hotels, Vulyameni (25 km) from the picturesque lake filled with healing thermal water with a high sulfur content, the resort village of Mati (25 km), lying on a small picturesque Cape resort Lagonisi, or famous Byzantine monasteries Kesaryani and Daphne (XI century., 11 km from Athens) to the nearby holiday pavilion, which hosts the annual Athens Wine Festival.
Mountainous Peloponnese peninsula, which lies in the south of Greece, is one of the centers of Greek civilization, the "homeland" of many myths and modern resort area. Be sure to visit the ancient Corinth with its ruins of the temple of Apollo (VI c. BC. E.), Roman Agora, the Odeon and the theater, or the ruins of the famous Lacedaemon (Sparta) with the remains of the Acropolis, Temple of Athena (VI c. BC. E.) , numerous temples and the theater (I - II cent. BC. e.).
Macedonia - the largest and most fertile region of Greece. Here was born and flourished the famous ancient Macedonia, where lie the beautiful headlands and bays Halkidiki, green forest mountains and fabulous waterfalls and concentrated thousands of archaeological sites of world fame - Olintos, Dion, Vergina, Pella, and o.Tasos Platamona. In the south, the Aegean Sea is the largest island in Greece - Crete (8.3 sq. km.), One of the centers of ancient Minoan culture (III-II thousand years BC. E.), Which has had a huge impact on the culture of ancient Greece. On this island, covered with the legendary fame of ancient myths, Zeus was born, there loomed the famous Palace of Minos and the Minotaur Maze. On its northern coast are the best beaches in Greece, and in mountainous central regions - about 3 thousand caves, deep canyons and fertile valleys. The most picturesque irrigated thousands of windmills Lassithi Plateau, the longest gorge of Europe - Samaria, Europe's only palm forest at Vai and Preveli areas, as well as the highest peak of the island - was Ida (2456 m).
Capital of Crete and also the largest center of the island of the same name - the city of Heraklion (Gerakleyon), named after the legendary Hercules. Heraklion was once the main port of the Venetians in the eastern Mediterranean. Strong defensive walls of the Fortress (XVI c.), Built around the "old town", is well preserved to this day. But the main attraction of this major port - Archaeological Museum, which stores unique frescoes of the palaces of Knossos and Phaistos, the famous "Phaistos Disk" and a lot of sculptural forms.
Cyclades - a group of nearly two thousand islands and islets, forming a ring ("kiklos") around the sacred island of Delos in ancient times, with its temple of Apollo and Artemis, in the southern Aegean Sea. Delos, the center of the first Delian League (477-404 years. BC. E.) And a major religious and political center of the Mediterranean, is now a well-known resort center, this island-museum with innumerable monuments of history and culture.
Mykonos - the most famous of the Cyclades islands and fashionable bohemian resort. Island strikingly beautiful - high rocky hills, picturesque windmills, white houses and narrow streets, numerous churches and the azure sea, framed by the beautiful beaches of Agios Stefanos, Psarou, Kalafatis, Platis Yialos, Ornos, Elia and Panormos. Paros was in ancient times a center of the Cycladic civilization, which is produced from the famous Parian marble was to produce masterpieces of ancient sculpture. Now it is a major resort area, famous for its stone houses, the ruins of the temple of Asclepius, the church Ekatondapiliani (Assumption), Venetian castle, unusual rocks Kolumbitres near the village of Naoussa, Zoodohu-Pigi Monastery-Longovarda (living force Longovardskogo) Christ and the temple-to-Dassos , extensive vineyards and numerous archaeological sites.
Tiny Antiparos attracts many beaches with golden sand, hundreds of tiny islands, stalactite cave area 5600 square meters. m on the hill of St.. John from the chapel of Agios Ioannis, Spiliotis (St. John Peschernika) and a medieval castle in the capital of the island - Castro. Santorini - the only volcanic island in Europe, which is associated in legend of Atlantis. The island's capital - Fira, located directly opposite the volcano is still spewing smoke. Be sure to explore the ruins of the Mycenaean sanctuary and impressive gates of the temple of Apollo, the excavation of the ancient capital of the island - Fira, the famous volcano crater in Nea Kameni and the Akrotiri peninsula. Numerous smaller islands of the Aegean "mastered" by tourists, but a closer examination of their attractions and natural features will not yield the best resorts of the country. Famous Lesbos (Mytilene) is famous for its huge olive groves, the hottest source of mineral water in Europe, as well as "The Petrified Forest" near heresy. Mountainous Chios rich in monuments of ancient Greek and medieval architecture. Ikaria is famous for mud, vineyards and wonderful pine groves. Birthplace of Pythagoras - Samos, known for its excellent wines, numerous ruins of ancient buildings and inviting beaches.