Greece consists of a mainland with numerous bays and peninsulas (Peloponnese, a peninsula connected to the mainland by the Corinth isthmus) and some islands (about 3000 islands in the Aegean, Ionian and Mediterranean). Most important islands are Crete, Rhodes, Corfu, Zakynthos. Greece is independent place for family trips. Is much more than I learned in school or in pictures than I admire wonderful sunsets and golden sandy beaches. Is a country that waits for your vacations with family or friends. By visiting this country, you will find a colorful land, located at the crossroads of several civilizations. You feel the power and charm of history and warm people of this country of myth. Choose from the multitude of trips and offers to Crete, Santorini, Thassos, Zakynthos, Rhodes, Corfu.
Greece is the birthplace of democracy, philosophy, the Olympic Games, literature, historiography, scientific politics, of some of the most important scientific, mathematical and dramaturgical principles. The Aegean Sea witnessed the birth of one of the most developed ancient European civilizations (Minoan and Mycenaean) and one of the greatest tragedies: the disappearance of Minoan civilization after the tsunami caused by the eruption of the volcano in Santorini. Here were created the first cities of the world. The impressive level of development and prosperity they have reached has allowed the development of the scientific and artistic flora and the creation of a genuine democracy in Athens. The influence of the current of thought developed in ancient Greece was later in Rome, they were taken over by the Renaissance and are still today. Is it history that calls us in Greece? Or rather the islands are call us to their unique beauty? Mykonos, Santorini, Crete, Paros, Naxos and Rhodes, with their wonderful beaches, restaurants, nightlife and archaeological sites, are popular for decades. Lesser known islands, such as Sifnos, Lesvos and Kea, can be an ideal destination for those who want a romantic holiday and away from the noise of the world. Don't you wanna want one?
Geographical position: Greece is situated in the south of Europe on the Balkan Peninsula, adjacent to the Aegean Sea, the Ionian Sea and the Mediterranean between Albania and Turkey. The country are between approximately 35 ° 00'N and 42 ° 00'N parallel and between meridians 19 ° 00'E 28 ° 30'E. It has a total area of 131,957 km2, of which the dry land occupies an area of 130,647 km2, the surface occupied by water is 1,310 km2 and the length of the rivers is 13,676 km.
RELIEF: Greece consists of a continental area with numerous bays and peninsulas (the Peloponnese, a peninsula linked to the isthmus corridor) and an island (about 3,000 islands in the Aegean Sea, the Ionian Sea and the Mediterranean Sea). The most important islands are Crete, Rhodes, Corfu and the Dodecanese and Cycladic groups. Greece has about 15 000 km of coastline. Approximately 80% of the country's territory is mountainous or hilly, making Greece one of the most mountainous countries in Europe. In Western Greece you will find lakes and wetlands. The central chain of the country is represented by the Pindus Mountains, with an average height of 2 650 m. The chain continues with the islands of Kythera and Antikythera, towards Crete and Rhodes. The Aegean islands are peaks of the underwater mountains that represent a geological extension of the chain.
The West and central Greece have steep and high surfaces intersected by numerous gorges and other forms of karst relief, the most famous being the Meteora and the Vikos Gorge - the latter being one of the largest in the world, the second largest in the Grand Canyon, with 1100 meters. In Olimp chain is the highest point in Greece, the tip of Mytikas, at 2,919 m altitude. In the north of the country is another mountainous area - the Rhodopes Mountains, on the border with Bulgaria. The area is covered with forests, centuries old. The plains occupy larger areas in the north, especially in eastern Thessaly, Central Macedonia and Thrace.
CLIMATE: Climate of the country is adorable. In Greece you will find 300 sunny days a year. During summer, rains are very rare, and in the winter there are frequent storms. The best time to visit Greece is the end of March – the mid of June or September – or end of October. The ideal conditions for a visit in Greece are between Easter holidays and mid-June, when the beaches are not very crowded and the weather is ideal for bronze and relaxation on the beach. The same conditions are between late August and mid-October. The climate of Greece is mainly Mediterranean, with mild and wet winters and hot and dry summers. This type of climate is present in all coastal areas, including Athens, Cyclades, Dodocanes, Crete and the Peloponnese, the Ionian Islands and some parts of central Continental Greece. The Pindus Mountains have a strong impact.
TOWNS: Almost two-thirds of Greeks live in urban areas. The greater and most influential metropolitan centers of Greece are Athens and Thessaloniki. They have a metropolitan populations of about 4 million and one million inhabitants, respectively. Other cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants are Patras, Heraklion, Larissa, Volos, Rhodes, Ioannina, Chania and Chalcis.
CULTURE: Greece's culture is very rich and diverse, being influenced by its location at the east-west junction. A location well known to be the place of many occupations, where the Greek people have endured throughout history. The Greeks are proud of their culture and their country, presenting them with great passion and identifying in their culture a definition of their national and ethnic roots. Traditions, religion, music, language, food and wines are the major composition of Greek culture. It is well known that Greece is a space of mythological and legendary stories that bring fables, oracles, heroes and monumental intrigue to the forefront. That is why much of the Greek culture is reflected both by the oral and written existence of these stories, but also by their physical incarnation in architectural pearls, such as pantheons, temples, necropolises and other places of worship. Religion is an important aspect for the Greeks. Approximately 97% of the Greek population is identified as Orthodox. Love for music and dance, chefs, food and drink is not ignored at all. Negotiation is also an important aspect of the culture here, the Greeks being renowned merchants, but also extremely hospitable hosts. Many Greeks are superstitious. Like the Romanians, I believe in the doctrines, which they heal with the red color.
ADMINISTRATIVE DEPARTMENT: From the Kallikratis program, which reformed the administrative-territorial organization of the country since 1 January 2011, Greece is divided into thirteen regions further divided into 325 communes. The 54 former prefectures and prefectural administrations have been largely preserved as sub-regions of the regions. Seven decentralized administrations group from one to three regions for administrative purposes. There is also an autonomous region, Mount Athos (in Greek, Agio Oros, "Holy Mount"), which is bordering the Central Macedonia region.
TOURISM: The vast majority of Greece visitors in 2007 come from the European continent, in the amount of 12.7 million. From UK are only one (2.6 million), followed closely by those in Germany (2, 3 million). In 2010, Greece's most visited region was Central Macedonia, with 18% of the total national tourist flow (3.6 million tourists in total), followed by Attica 2.6 million and Pelopones 1.8 million. In 2010, Lonely Planet ranked Thessaloniki like the second city of Greece, fifth in the list of the best party cities in the world. So Thessaloniki is now comparable to other cities such as Dubai and Montreal. In 2011, Travel + Leisure named Santorini was voted "the best island in the world". The neighboring island of Mykonos has ranked fifth in the European category.
TOURIST OBJECTIVES: Athens: Acropolis, Parthenon, National Museum, Antique Theater Epidavros, Delphi, Mycenae - King Agamemnon's House, Nike Temple, Acropolis Museum, Olympic Temple. In the Islands: Limenas Archaeological Museum, Kallirachi Folk Museum, Skala Potamias Vaghis Museum, Limenas and Alyki Archaeological Sites, Potos Castle, Saint Pantilimon Monastery in Skala Sotira, Archangel Michael of Alyki, Archontiko Argyrou Museum, Franco Castle, , Akrotiri Archaeological Site, Venetian Fortresses and Fort, Morosini Fountain, Loggia, St. Minas Church, Meteora, Chora Castle, Glezos Tower. Thessaloniki: Platia Elefterias and Platia Aristotelous, Roman Forum in Dikasterion Square, and Archeological Museum of Thessaloniki. Rhodes: Monte Smith's Column, Knights Palace SF Ioan, Butterfly Valley.
TRANSPORT: The mountainous and rocky landscape offer such a beauty landscapes, but not a very good roads. Greece have a good railways, bud have some roads with a high difficulties. That’s her beauty. There are 2,650 km of railways and 5,500 km of roads, of which over a quarter are unpaved. Olympic Airways is an international airline, and the Greek marine fleet is the second largest in the world, accounting for almost 10% of the world's tonnage. The main ports are Piraeus and Elevsis, near Athens, Thessaloniki and Volos.
TRAVEL WARNINGS: Greece is a beautiful and calm country. Rarely you here about crime or another problems with the tourist. Minor offenses such as pocket theft, deception or theft of cars may occur in crowded areas (stations, stations, car parks, shopping centers, gas stations or highway services). It is advisable to keep documents and personal values, travel tickets and money or credit cards in safe places and not be visibly exposed to the person or machines. Cars must be locked and secured with alarm systems. In the case of bus or train journeys, it is advisable to keep the luggage on for the entire duration of the journey.
HOW ARE YOU GETTING IN GREECE? In Greece, nearly 40 cities have their own airport. From Bucharest there are flights to several towns and island, but especially to Athens and Thessaloniki. Low-cost offers come from most of the airlines that offer services in our country. An alternative to the plane is the train that linking Bucharest to Thessaloniki and Athens. In Greece, you can reach the coach, but it is a long and tiring road, depending on the destination you choose. The personal car remains the alternative chosen by many of the Romanian tourists heading to the Hellenic Republic. Beyond the southern border of Romania, the only country to be crossed to Greece is Bulgaria. No vignettes are required for Greece, while the crossing of the border to Bulgaria in Giurgiu will ease the tourist's pockets for the bridge and the vignette charge on the Bulgarian territory.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: In Greece, as in every country in the European Union, are accepted the usual credit cards (VISA, DINERS, MASTERCARD, AMERICAN EXPRESS, EUROCARD, JCB). In public areas of the most cities are installed ATMs. Most major shopping centers and restaurants accept credit card payments, and most banks are open from 8.00 to 14.30, from Monday to Thursday, and from 8.00 to 14.00 on Fridays. That is the work program of public institutions. Greek restaurants and taverns are open daily from 12.30 to 16.30 and from 19.00 until 00.30. Some of fast-food restaurants(with souvlakia, gyros) are open 24 hours, the other uninterrupted from 07.30 am to 01.00 pm.
Cafes and bars work daily from 08:00 until late at night. Shops are open Monday and Wednesday, from 09.00 to 14.30, and Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, from 09.00 to 13.30 and from 17.30 to 20.30. Saturday you can shop between 09.00 to 14.00. The shops in central Athens (especially the tourist regions: Plaka, Ermu Street, Kolonaki Square, Omonia square and Constitution Square) and those from centers work daily from 09.00 to 20.00, excluding Sundays.
