Aegean Sea


The Aegean Sea may hold more history and legend in its waters than any other body of water in the world. Located in the eastern Mediterranean, this is the sea upon which those thousand Greek ships sailed when they set out to sack Troy and rescue the lovely Helen. The Aegean is where western civilization was born; the Myceneans, the Minoans, and later, the more well-known states like Athens and Sparta lined its coast. Plato likened the situation to “frogs around a pond.”

A history lesson and a few thousand years’ worth of ancient ruins, however, are just a couple of the many reasons to visit the region. Located in the eastern part of the Mediterranean, the Aegean enjoys a comfortable subtropical climate. This makes it an ideal destination for cruises and vacationers: summers are dry with warm to hot temperatures, and the winters are fairly mild with more rainfall. While other nations and states have shared the Aegean coast in the past, only Greece and Turkey border it nowadays.

Yachts in Aegean sea near Poros, GreeceThe Aegean Sea covers roughly 83,000 square miles, with the Black Sea feeding into its northeastern corner via the Dardanelles. On the western side is Greece and a strait that connects to the Ionian Sea, which lies between the Italian peninsula and the Dalmatian coast.

Hundreds of islands are to be found in the Aegean, both large and small. Most of them belong to Greece, but recent decades have seen some disputes with Turkey over the details. Despite a lack of technology, many ancient travelers found it easier to travel over the water than to navigate Greece’s rough land routes. An Aegean sailor was never very far from landfall. Crete, at the southern edge where the Aegean meets the Mediterranean, is the largest of the Aegean islands. It is perhaps the most famous as well, but none of them are short on beauty.


However, the Aegean is not a place to go in search of a lush tropical paradise; it is generally too dry during the warmer parts of the year. Most of its islands are rather rugged, some are volcanic, and some are downright barren. The beaches, however, are excellent, as is the food. The pristine blue waters of this sea draw visitors from across Europe and the rest of the world. You’ll find the standard delicious Mediterranean fare here: lots of wine, olives, olive oil, and other Greek staples. Seafood, of course, is never in short supply. It’s as healthy as it is tasty.

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Greece

Greece

Aegean Sea

Mediterranean Sea

Athens

Heraklion

Kavala

Larissa

Patras

Thessaloniki

 

Volos

 

Islands of Greece

Crete

Euboea

Lesbos

Rhodes

Santorini

 

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Volos, Greece


For most, visiting Greece conjures up tales of Spartans, Olympiads and “Homer’s Odyssey.” Ancient ruins, often temples built to gods, stand as monuments of engineering and design genius. Crystal waters, spectacular islands and wonderful climates attract visitors from all parts of the globe.

Volos is the fifth largest city in Greece, and the newest port city; rebuilt after a devastating earthquake in 1955. It is located on the location of the ancient cities of Demetrias, Pagasae and Lolcos. Lolcos was the home of Jason, who organized the Argonauts in search of the Golden Fleece. The city is located at the foot of Mount Pilio or Pelion, the mythical home of the centaurs. It is the third largest port in Greece.

Located between Athens and Thessaloniki, the city is also a central point in shipping from Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Home to the University of Thessaly, it also is central for economic and cultural events and conferences. The city has hosted numerous sports events, such as the European Athletic Championships, and participated in the Olympic Games.

Visitors to Volos have the opportunity to visit the islands of the Sporades: Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonissos. Ferrys and hydrofoils have daily schedules to each, or all of the islands. Travel west to Sesklo to see the oldest acropolis in Greece- 6,000 B.C.

The Volos Archeological Museum houses exhibits from the Bronze Age to the Hellinistic period. The Municipal Gallery, located in the Town Hall, houses art from modern Greek artists. Many Neoclassical buildings remain, such as the Hotel de France and the National Bank.

Since the geography of Volos is relatively flat, walking or bicycling is a great way to tour the city. By the ocean, bicycle is the best way to get around. Taxis are affordable, and public bus transportation covers every part of the city.


Restaurants and fast food places are plentiful in Volos. Food is available in every price range, from those on a strict budget to fine dining. Single rooms to hotel suites for every budget in Volos are open all year long. Fish taverns, or “tripouradika” serve fish tidbits and tsipouro- a pomace brandy. Visit the shopping center on Ermou street.

The climate of Volos is one of the best in Greece. Winters are mild, and with low humidity, even hot summers are tolerable. Sea breezes help to cool visitors as they tour and enjoy the area. Spring and Fall are the best times to visit for the climate.

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Greece

Greece

Aegean Sea

Mediterranean Sea

Athens

Heraklion

Kavala

Larissa

Patras

Thessaloniki

 

Volos

 

Islands of Greece

Crete

Euboea

Lesbos

Rhodes

Santorini

 

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Greece


If you come to Greece expecting one thing, you are going to be surprised. From breathtaking vistas of the Acropolis in Greece’s ancient capital city Athens, to the beaches and quaint fishing villages of the Aegean and Ionian islands, to the Byzantine-influenced historic sites and hip, contemporary culture of Thessaloniki in the north, Greece is a land of enchanting diversity, with something for everyone, no matter what their interests or budget.

Greece is famous as the cradle of Western civilization. Following the successful defense of their homeland against the Persians at Marathon and Salamis in the 5th century BC, Athens rose as a superpower among Greek city-states, introducing a system of government called democracy that has become a prototype for governance in our modern world. During the so-called Classical Era, Greece produced cultural, philosophical, architectural and scientific achievements through the teachings of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Pythagoras and Hippocrates, and the dramas of Sophocles, Aeschylus and Euripides, that continue to be relevant in the 21st century. Greece became the gateway for a thriving commercial culture that included the entire eastern Mediterranean as well as southwest Asia.

Beaches of Hydra Island, GreeceBut the Roman annexation of the free Greek city-states into their Empire presaged almost 2000 years of foreign subjugation, first by the Romans, than by the Byzantine Empire, and finally by the Ottoman Turks and the Italian city-states of Genoa and Venice. Greece did not achieve independence again until 1829. Greece was again invaded by a foreign power, Germany, once again during World War II.

Greek tourism began to flourish in the 1960s and 1970s. Today, Greece attracts close to 20 million visitors a year, most of them from other countries in the European Union.

Classical Greek culture, of course, is one of the very foundations of European civilization, and many travelers come to Greece to better acquaint themselves with it. The United Nations has included 17 Greek monuments on its list of World Heritage sites. Among them, of course, are Athens’ Acropolis with its quartet of ancient architectural masterpieces, The Parthenon, The Propylaea, The Erecchtheum and the Temple of Athena. The most perfectly preserved temple in all of Greece, however, is to be found in the wilder landscape south of Olympus, at the Temple of Apollo Epikourios on the slopes of Kotylion Mountain in Bassae.


Antiquities are not Greece’s only allure. Life on its many islands is famously relaxing and slow-paced. The most picturesque of the Greek isles? Santorini, where whitewashed villages nestle above dramatic volcanic cliffs overlooking the azure Aegean. Crete is Greece’s largest island, renowned as much for its splendid beaches and mountain climbing as it is for its archeological treasures. Mediterranean Corfu has more of a Riviera flavor; its sunny countryside abounds with lush vegetation, while its capital, Corfu City, is filled with Byzantine churches, French facades and sunny, Italian-style piazzas.

One of Greece’s most recently discovered tourist attractions is Chalkidiki in northern Greece where sun, sea and golden-sand beaches compete with Paleolithic site and medieval monasteries as must-see attractions.

Greece

Greece

Aegean Sea

Mediterranean Sea

Athens

Heraklion

Kavala

Larissa

Patras

Thessaloniki

Volos

Islands of Greece

Crete

Euboea

Lesvos

Patmos

Rhodes

Santorini

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