Europe Chronicle

Greece

Greece, Ancient, was the birthplace of Western civilization about 2,500 years ago. The magnificent achievements of the ancient Greeks in government, science, philosophy, and the arts continue to influence our lives today.

Greece, officially called the Hellenic Republic (Greek: Ελληνική Δημοκρατία), is a country in the southeast of Europe on the southern tip of the Balkan peninsula. It has land boundaries with Bulgaria, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and Albania to the north; and with Turkey to the east. The waters of the Aegean Sea border Greece to the east, and those of the Ionian and Mediterranean Sea to the west and south. Regarded by many as the cradle of Western civilisation and the birthplace of Democracy, Greece has a long and rich history during which its culture has proven especially influential in Europe, Asia and Africa...More Information on Greece .

Full country name: Hellenic Republic
Area: 131,940 sq km
Population: 10.66 million
Capital City:Athens
People: The government does not recognise any ethnicity other than Greek. However, a foreign population does exist
Language: Greek
Religion: 98% Greek Orthodox, 1.3% Muslim, 0.7% other
Government: Parliamentary republic
Head of State: President Karolos Papoulias
Head of Government: Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis

History of Greece

The Greek War of Independence began in 1821 and concluded in 1830 when England, France, and Russia forced the Ottoman Empire to grant Greece its independence under a European monarch, Prince Otto of Bavaria...History of Greeks.

Also Read: Our special feature on Background on Greece

Overview of Greece Economy

GDP: US$203.3 billion
GDP per capita: US$19,100
Annual Growth: 4%
Major Industries: Tourism, shipping, food and tobacco processing, textiles, chemicals, metal products, mining and petroleum products
Major Trading Partners: Germany , Italy, France, UK, USA
Member of EU: Yes

Also Read: Our Special Feature on Economy of Greece

Political System of Greece

- Government And Political Condition
- Foreign Relationship of Greece
- Greece Military and Defense

Climate, Vegetation and Fauna

Greece has various vegetation. From sea level to an elevation of 460m ,oranges, olives, dates, pomegranates, figs, cotton, and tobacco are grown. From 120 to 460m are deciduous and evergreen forests containing oak, black pine, chestnut, beech, and sumac. Tulips, hyacinths, and laurels are also characteristic of this elevation. Firs and wild flowers such as anemone and cyclamen are found above 1,200 m ,and mosses and lichens predominate above 1,500 m...More on Climate and Fauna found in Greece.

Population:Eastern Orthodox Christianity is the dominant religion in Greece and receives state funding...Greek Population.

Environment In Greece:Greece is endowed with a spectacular richness of flora - over 6000 species, some of which occur nowhere else, including more than 100 varieties of orchid. In spring, the Peloponnese and the mountains...More.

Culture: There are few places that evoke such a heady sense of cultural romance as Greece. The cradle of Western thought, literature, art...More about Culture of Greece.

Language: The first language of the overwhelming majority of the population is Modern Greek . The Greek language demonstrates a remarkable degree...more on Languages of Greece

Education: In 2001 Greece had an adult literacy rate of 100 %. Education is free and compulsory for all children...more on education in Greece

Also Read:Money and Cost Required | Transportation System in Greece | Public Holidays in Greece

When to Go

Conditions are perfect between Easter and mid-June - beaches and ancient sites are relatively uncrowded; public transport operates on close to full schedules; and accommodation is cheaper and easier to find than in the mid-June to end of August high season. Conditions are once more ideal from the end of August until mid-October, as the season winds down. Winter is pretty much a dead loss outside the major cities as most of the tourist infrastructure goes into hibernation from the middle of October till the beginning of April. This is slowly changing, however; on the most touristy islands, a few restaurants, hotels and bars remain open year-round.

Also Read: Getting Around Greece | Greece: Getting There and Away

What to See in Greece

Major Tourist Attractions in Greece
- Athens: Redolent with mythology, smeared with grime, Athens is an affable city enlivened by...
- Crete: Steeped in Homeric history and culture, scented by wild fennel and basil, Crete welcomes and overwhelms visitors...
- Dodecanese Islands: Whitewashed walls, deep blue sky, olive groves, fig trees, azure Aegean waters…
- Ionian Islands: Give into temptation and succumb to the lure of the idyllic Ionian group of islands...

Other Tourist Attractions in Greece
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Events in Greece

The Greek year is a succession of festivals and events, some of which are religious, some cultural, others an excuse for a good knees-up. Gynaikratia on 8 January is a day of role reversal in villages in northern Greece. Women spend the day in kafeneia (cafes) and other social centres where men usually congregate, while the men stay at home to do housework. The Greek carnival season runs through February-March over the three weeks before the beginning of Lent, and features fancy dress, feasting, traditional dancing and general merrymaking. Easter is the most significant festival in Greece, with candle-lit processions, feasting and fireworks displays. Emphasis is placed on the Resurrection rather than on the Crucifixion, so it is a joyous occasion. There are numerous summer festivals across the country, the most famous being the Hellenic Festival (mid-June to late September), which hosts drama and music in ancient theatres.

What to do in Greece

To protect underwater antiquities from pilferers, scuba diving is forbidden unless under the auspices of a diving school (of which there are many). Water skiing is popular on quite a few islands. Despite the disparaging remarks among backpackers, yachting is the way to see the Greek Islands - nothing beats the serenity of sailing the open sea and the freedom of being able to visit remote and uninhabited islands.

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