Greece an Overview

Things you need to know about Greece

Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country situated in Southeastern Europe, positioned on the southern end of the Balkan Peninsula. It has borders with Albania, the (former Yugoslav) Republic of Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north, and Turkey to the east. The Aegean Sea lies to the east and south of mainland Greece, while the Ionian Sea lies to the west. Both parts of the Eastern Mediterranean basin feature a vast number of islands. Greece lies at the meeting point of Europe, Asia and Africa. It is heir to the heritages of ancient Greece, the Roman and Byzantine Empire, and nearly four centuries of Ottoman rule. It has been sporadically occupied also by various other nations, such as the Venetians, before entering Ottoman rule. Greece has a particularly long and eventful history with a diverse cultural heritage that both shaped and has been shaped by cultures throughout the Middle East, North Africa and Europe. It is considered as the birthplace of democracy, Western philosophical thought, the Olympic Games, Western literature, political science, major scientific and mathematic principles, and Western theatrical drama including both tragedy and comedy.

Greece is a developed country and a member of various institutions. These institutions are the European Union (member since since 1981), the Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union (member since 2001), NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization, member since 1952), the OECD (Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development, member since 1961), the WEU (Western European Union, member since 1995) and ESA (European Space Agency, member since 2005). Athens is the country’s capital; Thessaloniki, Patras, Heraklion, Volos and Larissa are some of the country's other major cities.

No matter what short of vacation you are looking for, Greece has plenty to offer. Its numerous islands can satisfy all expectations. Whether you are looking for a party island or a quiet peaceful island, chances are there will be more than one you could visit to satisfy your expectations. But Greece is not all about the islands as the majority of visitors expect. Greece is famous for its beautifully mountainous terrains, like mount Olympus the home of the ancient Greek Gods, with small picturesque villages springing up like wild grass after the first spring rains. The majority of antiquity remains can also be found on the mainland. Some of the nicest beaches to be found in Greece are located on the coastline rather than in the islands. But of course, when in Greece, Athens should be the starting point of all future excursions. Its mystifying combination of millennia in historical existence along with current Greek ideological perspectives on entertainment and socializing make Athens a place surely worth visiting. You cant visit Greece and not feel in aw of all the aspects of this ancient culture.