Rhodes Mykonos
Sandy
beaches, a dynamic nightlife and plenty of sunshine
have made this small, barren island one of the most
favored in the Cyclades. Tourism if the main source
of income for the island. The first tourists began
to arrive in the 1950's on their way to see the archaeological
wonders on the island of Delos, and today Mykonos's
own charms have made it a hugely popular destination
in its own right. The island's main town is the supreme
example of a Cycladic village, built in a maze of
narrow lanes to defy the wind and pirate raids. A
tangle of dazzling, white alleys runs between cube-shaped
houses up to Kastro, the oldest part of town, where
the excellent Folk Museum is built on part of an ancient
castle wall. Down by the water's edge at Little Venice
(officially known as Alefkandra) the balconies of
the houses jut over the sea.
Athens
( Piraeus )
Athens
has been a city for 3500 years, but its greatest glory
was during the Classical period of ancient Greece
, from which so many buildings and artifacts still
survive. The 5th century BC in particular was a golden
age, when the great democratic leader Perikles oversaw
the building of the Acropolis. Within the Byzantine
Empire and under Ottoman rule, Athens lost importance,
becoming little more than a village. It returned to
prominence in 1834, when it was made the capital city
of a newly independent Greece . Today, it is a busy,
modern metropolitan centre.
Acropolis
In
the mid 5th century BC, Perikles persuaded the Athenians
to begin a grand programme of new building work in
Athens that has come to represent the political and
cultural achievements of Greece . The most impressive
building took place on the Acropolis. Here, a massive
gateway led to the top of the rock, on which stood
three temples in contrasting styles. The Theatre of
Dionysos on the southern slope was developed further
in the 4th century BC, and the Theater of Herodes
added some 400 years later.
Rhodes:
Rhodes Old Town
The
town of Rhodes has been inhabited for more than 2,400
years. A city was first built here in 408 BC, and
when the Knights of St. John arrived in 1309 they
built their citadel over these ancient remains. The
Knights' medieval citadel, dominated by the towers
of the Palace of the Grand Masters, forms the centre
of the Old Town; the new town lies beyond the original
walls. Of the walls' 11 gates, Koskinou ( St John's
) gate, which leads into the Bourg quarter, has the
best view of the city's defenses. The Old Town is
now a World Heritage Site.
Olympia
(Katakolon)
Located
at the confluence of the rivers Alfeios and Kladeos,
in a valley of pine, oak and olive trees, the Sanctuary
of Olympia enjoyed 2,000 years of esteem as a religious
and athletics centre. Unlike other major archaeological
sites in Greece, Olympia was never a great city, but
the temples to Hera and Zeus the latter's statue of
the eponymous god was one of the seven wonders of
the Ancient World made it a place of great religious
significance. In 776 BC the Olympian Games were founded
here. Athletes from all over the Greek world would
come every four years to compete in athletic events
such as sprinting and wrestling. The games continued
after the Roman invasion, but, in AD 393, they were
banned by the Christian emperor Theodosius I. Soon
afterwards, the sanctuary was abandoned until excavations
began in the 19th century.
Santorini
The
name Santorini was given to this island by the Venetians
who arrived in the 13th century and named it after
their patron saint, Saint Irene. The island was once
part of a larger island called Strogyle, which was
ripped apart in about 1450 BC by a massive earthquake
and volcanic eruption about four times the size of
Krakatoa. A huge volume of lava buried the town of
Akrotiri , and the rush of water filling the caldera
left by the explosion caused a huge wave that devastated
Minoan Crete. In the 9th century BC, the Dorians,
extednding their empire from mainland Greece, settled
on the crescent-shaped remains of the island calling
their colony Thira and establishing a capital on the
headland of Mesa Vouno. Despite tourism, today's Santorini
is a stunning island, with its white villages clinging
to volcanic cliffs above black-sand beaches. The island's
capital, Fira, perches above the caldera, and the
town's hotels and bars afford magnificent views, especially
at sunset. Outside Fira, interesting archeological
sites, local wineries and small volcanic islands all
wait to be explored.
Corfu
Situated
between the Greek mainland and Italy, Corfu offers
the diverse attractions of seclude coves, busy resorts
and traditional hill villages. Its position has given
it a strategic importance, and over the centuries
the island has been occupied by many invading powers;
Romans, Byzantines, Venetian, French and British have
all left their mark. Northern Corfu combines a rugged
mountain interior with wild stretches of shoreline.
In the northwest, beautiful beaches fringe a wooded
headland at Palaiokastritsa, making this one of the
most popular spots on the island. Southern Corfu is
less mountainous but more varied than the north; unspoiled
villages dot the interior, while the lively resort
of Benitses and the tranquil wildlife preserve of
Korision Lagoon occupy opposite coasts. In Corfu town,
the influences of the island's past can be clearly
seen. Visitors can stroll between Italianate buildings,
sip coffee in French-style colonnades or watch cricket
by the Esplanade.
Cyprus
Fought
over by Persians and Greeks, Cyprus was finally captured
by Ptolemy I of Egypt in 294 BC, with Pafos as the
capital. This was the centre of the cult of Aphrodite,
goddess of love, who was said to have been born from
the sea nearby. Cyprus came under Roman rule from
58 BC to AD 295 and superb remains can be seen at
Kourion and Pafos. The Byzantive era left exquisite
frescoed churches, while fortifications remain from
the periods of Frankish (1192 to 1453), Venetian (to
1571) and Ottoman (to 1878) rule. After independence
from the British in 1960, conflict between the Greek
and Turkish communities resulted in Turkish occupation
of northern Cyprus in 1974. With the island still
divided, southern Cyprus has made tourism its main
source of income. |
