This country is a recognized center of international tourism, the ancient cradle of Western civilization, its coasts 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 territory of the country. The cities of Greece and their resort areas are annually visited by about 20 million tourists. It is tourism that provides a significant part of the country's budget. Why is Hellas so attractive? First of all, these are the snow-white resort towns of Greece with charming narrow streets literally immersed 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. To the stunningly beautiful Saronic Gulf of the Aegean Sea, Athens faces its southwestern part. More than three million people live in the capital. Taking into account all the cities of Greece, this one has the most ancient history. The first mention of it dates back to the 16th-12th centuries. BC e. Now Athens is 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
It is the second largest city in Greece. It does not look like fishing villages or island paradises at all. Thessaloniki is a major center of trade and industry. The city is comfortably located on the shores of 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 Thermaikos Gulf. Thessaloniki was conquered by the Romans, Byzantines, the city suffered invasions of the Turks, Arabs, Saracens and Germans. Currently, Thessaloniki boasts a developed infrastructure, comfortable hotels, excellent and unique cuisine.
Popular resort areas
Greece cities, the list of which is long, of course, receive a certain percentage of tourists every year, but the largest part of the visitors, of course, goes to the coast and islands. Let's describe the two most beloved by tourists.
- Santorini, or Crescent Island. Interestingly, the island originally had a round shape, but the earthquake that occurred in the 16th century BC changed its shape - the central part of Santorini plunged into the abyss of the sea. In the center of the ring, small islands of Nea Kameni and Palea Kameni were formed - a unique phenomenon that does not occur anywhere else in the whole world. The capital is the city of Fira, which has taken its place on the edge of a steeprocks, the height of which 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 watch? Ancient Fira, Archaeological Museum, Santorini Volcano, Church of Pangea Bishops, Monastery of Elijah the Prophet, ancient ruins of the city on Cape Akrotiri, Church of Aiu Mina, which is the 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 by 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, which has taken its place in the northeast of the island. About a hundred thousand people live here. The settlement is primarily remarkable for the Old Town, which is under the protection of UNESCO. It was founded by the Knights of St. John in the 14th century, which is why it is so pleasant to walk along the cobbled streets and look at the knight's buildings, temples and bastions. It is worth seeing the acropolis on Mount Smith, the Rhodes Archaeological Museum, visiting Lindos, on Mount Filerimos, visiting the Butterfly Valley and you should definitely go to the water park. Enjoy your trip to the fabulous cities of Greece!
