This country is a recognized center of international tourism, the ancient cradle of Western civilization, its coast and islands are literally strewn with magnificent monuments of ancient Greek history and amazing natural beauties. 2000 islands make up about 20% of the entire country. Cities of Greece and their resort areas annually visited by about 20 million tourists. It is tourism that provides a significant part of the country's budget. Why is Hellas so beckoning? First of all, these are the snow-white resort cities of Greece with lovely narrow streets literally drowning in flowers. Let's find out more about them!
Athens
This city cannot be ignored, because it is the capital. Athens is located in the central part of the Attica plain, surrounded on three sides by mountains, the height of which varies from 460 to 1400 meters. Athens is facing the stunningly beautiful Saronic Gulf of the Aegean Sea with its southwestern part. More than three million people live in the capital. Considering all the cities of Greece, this one has the most ancient history. The first mention of it dates back to the XVI-XII centuries. BC e. Athens is now the main cultural and economic center of Hellas. Arriving here, you can see the Acropolis, the
Theater of Dionysus, the Parthenon, the temple of Olympian Zeus, Delphi, the Greek Agora, the temple of Poseidon.
Thessaloniki
In terms of size, it is the second city in Greece. It does not at all look like fishing villages or paradise islands. Thessaloniki is a major center for trade and industry. The city is conveniently located on the shores of the Thermaikos Gulf. The rich history of Thessaloniki goes back to the ancient Macedonian period. It was founded by King Cassander in 315 BC. e. Then he united 26 small villages located on the shores of the Gulf of Thermaikos. Thessaloniki was conquered by the Romans, Byzantines, the city suffered the invasion of Turks, Arabs, Saracens and Germans. Currently, Thessaloniki boasts a developed infrastructure, comfortable hotels, excellent and unique cuisine.
Popular resort areas
Cities of Greece, the list of which is long, of course, receive a certain percentage of tourists every year, but the majority of visitors, of course, go to the coast and islands. We describe the two most beloved by tourists.
- Santorini, or Crescent Island. It is interesting that the island was originally round in shape, but the earthquake that occurred in the 16th century BC changed its shape - the central part of Santorini plunged into the depths of the sea. In the center of the ring, small islands Nea-Kameni and Palea-Kameni formed - a unique phenomenon that is not found anywhere else in the whole world. The capital is the city of Fira, which has taken its place on the edge of a sheer cliff, whose height is 260 meters above sea level. The local climate is very pleasant, because the island is located in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea. What to see? Ancient Fira, Archaeological Museum, Santorini Volcano, Pangea Episcopal Church, the Monastery of Elijah the Prophet, the ancient ruins of the city on Cape Akrotiri, Ayiu Mina Church, which is a symbol of the island.
- Rhodes. The island is separated from the famous Greek city of Karpathos by a strait, the width of which is 47 km, and from the shores of Asia Minor - a narrow strait only 37 km wide. The coast here is sandy, the island is a scattering of bays and capes: Zonari, Lardos, Fokas, Armenistis, Prasonisi. The city of Rhodes is the administrative center that has taken its place in the northeast of the island. About a hundred thousand people live here. The settlement is primarily notable for the Old Town, which is under the protection of UNESCO. It was founded by the Knights-Johannites in the XIV century, so it is so pleasant here to walk along the cobbled streets and look at the knight’s buildings, temples and bastions. It is worth seeing the Acropolis on Mount Monte Smith, the Rhodes Archaeological Museum, visiting Lindos, Mount Filerimos, visiting the Butterfly Valley and you should definitely go to the water park. Have a nice trip to the fabulous cities of Greece!