HomeEuropeGreeceThe main sights of Greece

The main sights of Greece

This amazing country has a huge number of historical, cultural, architectural and natural attractions. Tourists from all over the world go to Greece not just to relax on the beaches. Here you can add to your knowledge of how modern Europe was born and shaped, a huge part of which belongs to the classical era of Hellenism and pre-Hellenic history and culture.

Top 20 attractions in Greece

The sights of Greece will also tell you about the birth of the European democratic tradition, the golden era in mythology, literature, sculpture, architecture, theater, sports, etc.

The ancient Greek city of Delphi

What to see in Greece - the city of Delphi

This city in ancient times was a religious center for the worship of the god Apollo. According to legend, it is named after his son Delphi. The city is also famous for hosting the famous Pythian games for centuries. Delphi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a world-class historical and cultural attraction.

Delphi emerged about 1.6 thousand years BC. and first worshipped Mother Earth there. And later came the myths of classical Ancient Greece, associated with Zeus and the pantheon of gods.

During the excavations in the second half of the 20th century Apollo’s temple, an ancient theater, stadium, treasuries, etc. were discovered here on the slope of Mount Parnassus.

Medieval City of Rhodes

Rhodes City - Greece

And this famous Greek landmark dates back to the Antiquity and the Middle Ages with its Crusader knights. Also Rhodes is a famous beach resort. The most interesting thing to see here is the Rhodes Fortress, which was built by the Knights Hospitallers in the 13th century on the site of the ancient Acropolis.

Behind the strong walls of this fortress is the Palace of the Grand Masters, built on the site of the ancient temple of Helios. In the old town of Rhodes you can wander through the street of the Knights, to plunge into the Middle Ages. There are ancient forts and ports that played a significant role in the history of Rhodes, and much more.

Palace of the Grand Masters

The sights of Greece - Palace of the Grandmasters in Rhodes

It is worth telling separately about such a historical and cultural attraction of the Rhodesian fortress as this palace. It, too, is on the UNESCO list as part of the Rhodes Fortress. It is a very imposing building, built according to all the rules of medieval fortification.

For many centuries, the Grandmasters’ Palace served as the residence of the head of the Hospitaller Order, which once controlled the entire Mediterranean. Today the Palace of the Grand Masters has become a huge museum, with exhibits that tell visitors about the history of the island and the city of Rhodes from antiquity to the present day.

Paleokastritsa Beach

Paleokastritsa Beach - Corfu Island attractions - Greece

It is a world-famous beach and a Greek landmark. It is located on the island of Corfu in the north of the Ionian Sea at the resort of the same name. Tourists can fully enjoy the clearest turquoise water, bright but not burning sun, as well as the beautiful olive, lemon and orange groves around.

On the beach Paleokastritsa you can relax, it is one of the ten best beaches in Europe, and at the same time to get acquainted with the cultural and historical sites of Corfu, which are here since ancient times – very much.

Athens Acropolis

The main attraction of Greece - the Acropolis of Athens

The Acropolis is the calling card of the modern Greek capital. The first thing to see in this city is the Athens Acropolis. From here begins an introduction to classical Ancient Greece, with its myths and legends, gods and heroes, scientists and philosophers.

It should be noted that on the hill, where today you can see the Acropolis of Athens, there was a royal palace in Mycenaean times. In the 7th century BC. In the acropolis they began to build the most famous temple, the Parthenon, and a century later the Temple of Athena was erected, of which today only the foundations remain.

During the time when Greece was under the Ottoman yoke, the Acropolis of Athens was a mosque. Later it became an arsenal. One of its temples once housed the harem of a pasha. The Athenian acropolis was repeatedly attacked by barbarians and vandals. Today it is a magnificent open-air museum.

Temple of Poseidon

Temple of Poseidon - Greece

Many tourists tend to visit Cape Sunion to see this ancient temple with their own eyes. The ancient Greek god of the sea, Poseidon, once patronized fishermen and sea travelers who lived in Attica and all of Hellas. They brought gifts and sacrifices to their god, and he gave them good luck.

The temple of Poseidon was built in 400 BC. There is a theory among scholars that it was erected by Atlanteans – the inhabitants of the legendary Atlantis. Today only the ruins of the temple and 12 columns remain.

Archaeologists discovered a huge statue of a man, probably Poseidon, and several smaller statues near the temple.

Mount Olympus

Natural attractions of Greece - Mount Olympus

Olympus is the highest mountain in the country, located on the coast of the Aegean Sea. But that’s not what made her famous. As we know, this mountain was chosen by the gods of ancient Greece as the place of their residence, and Olympus acquired sacred status because of that. The area around the mountain range is now a national reserve.

What mere mortal does not dream of visiting the home of the gods? That is why this mythological landmark of Greece is a success among travelers from all over the world. The good thing is that there is also an excellent tourist infrastructure, including. ski resort.

Santorini Island

The island of Santorini - the sights of Greece

This island is considered by many to be the best tourist spot on earth. It is ideal for family vacations. There are beautiful clean sandy beaches from white to black, houses, as if from a fairy tale picture. Santorini often hosts wedding ceremonies between couples who dream of married life as in a fairy tale.

On such a tiny island there are a huge number of attractions. First of all, these are Catholic and Orthodox churches; there are about three hundred of them. There are also many ancient ruins of the Minoan era of Greek civilization.

Stay in the local hotels, sunbathe on the beaches – you will have unforgettable memories.

Samaria Gorge

Natural attractions of Greece - Samaria Gorge

It is a famous natural attraction of Crete. The Samaria Gorge is the largest in Europe and is named after an old village nearby. It is an incredibly beautiful place to visit, where you can make a lot of unique beautiful pictures.

It is worth to go to this gorge with a tourist excursion to appreciate once again the great Greek past, to see the ancient Cretan civilization, to admire the beauty of nature of Crete, its flora and fauna, to learn about the old way of life, life, manners and traditions of the islanders.

Parthenon

Historical sites of Greece - Parthenon

The marble temple of the Parthenon, dedicated to the goddess Athena, is located at the very top of the Athenian acropolis. It symbolizes the triumph of Athenian democracy and the eternal glory of great Athens. This temple was erected in the middle of the 5th century B.C. Interestingly, a great deal of money from the military treasury was spent in the process.

Pericles, who organized this construction, is said to have foretold that the temple would be the pride of the Greek people for many centuries. And so it happened.

Parthenon is present in all textbooks of history, culture, art, to see this wonder of the world in Athens every year come tens of millions of tourists.

The Ancient City of Mistra

Attractions in Greece - The Ancient City of Mistra

Mistra is a town around a fortress built in the 13th century during the Byzantine era. Later it was captured by the Ottomans, then by the Venetians. In the mid-19th century Mistra was abandoned by its inhabitants, and today the city is a picturesque ruin, a historical and cultural attraction of Greece, a favorite among tourists.

Especially beautiful in Mitre are the Orthodox churches built and decorated with frescoes during the Renaissance. This city gave the world many great political and religious figures, famous representatives of literature and art. Every year the Paleolog Festival is held here.

Cave Lake Melissani

Interesting places in Greece - Cave Lake Melissani

This lake is a natural landmark of Greece has a truly extraordinary beauty. The cave and the underground lake are on the Greek island of Kefalonia in the Ionian Sea. In the old days, the islanders were convinced that it was in Melissani where the nymphs lived. Surely some locals still feel that way today.

The water in the lake is crystal clear, and its shores are framed with emerald greenery, which creates a fabulous picture. The cave dome was destroyed by an earthquake several thousand years ago, so rays of light enter the cave. They refract and give the lake water a color that varies during the day from turquoise to deep black.

Myrtos Beach

Myrtos Beach Resort - Greece

This beach is considered one of the best in Greece and the most beautiful in the world. Once on the Greek island of Kefalonia, don’t miss this unique natural attraction. Myrtos has many awards in the field of tourism, as well as the Blue Flag of UNESCO.

The beach is in a relatively secluded location, and it is quite difficult to get to it, so there are not too many vacationers on Myrtos. It is surrounded by former rocks, covered with white pebbles and has azure water. To sunbathe and relax, you can rent a deck chair or a sun umbrella.

Monasteries of Meteora

The Amazing Monasteries of Meteora - Greece

It is the largest complex of active monasteries, a historical, cultural and Christian symbol of this Orthodox country. The monasteries of Meteora (read more about them here) are located in Thessaly. The first of them appeared here in the 10th century, and today four monasteries and two monasteries of Meteora are included in the list of UNESCO.

They are built on top of huge natural mountain pillars several tens of meters high. Therefore, it seems as if the monasteries are floating in the clouds. It’s pretty hard to get to them. The monks use a long rope ladder.

Holy Mount Athos

Holy Mount Athos is worth seeing in Greece

According to tradition, the Holy Virgin Mary and the Apostle John the Theologian traveled across the Mediterranean Sea. They were shipwrecked and found themselves on this shore. Our Lady liked the place and asked God to give it to the monastic brethren. This is how the holy mountain of Mount Athos came into being, designed to save all who wish to be saved.

Saint Athos is an autonomous state of monks, consisting of 20 Orthodox monasteries and many individual hermitages and cells. Today, there are more than 1,500 monks living on Mount Athos. Male tourists can buy a trip and stay here for no more than four days, explore the lives of monks and explore the sights.

Acropolis of Lindos

Historical sites of Greece - Acropolis of Lindos

On the island of Rhodes, archaeologists discovered the ruins of the Greek civilization of the pre-Hellenic period, which existed many thousands of years ago. In particular, this is the legendary acropolis of Lindos, erected on top of a steep cliff around 400 BC. Here in those days priests worshipped pagan gods.

This acropolis is the second most important after its Athenian counterpart. This means that Rhodes itself occupied a significant strategic place in the history of ancient Greece. The island was patronized by Athena Linda. This is why the main temple on the acropolis of Lindos is dedicated to this goddess.

Mykonos Island

The resort island of Mykonos in Greece

It is a great resort destination in Greece, where you can ski in winter and sail in summer, sunbathe on first-class beaches or relax in five-star hotels. The nature and climate of the island are as if created for tourism. Mykonos is a respectable European resort.

Myths of ancient Greece say that on this island once lived huge and terrible people who were destroyed by Hercules, as a result of which they turned into bizarre rocks.

Mykonos was inhabited back in the 3rd millennium BC, was part of Hellas, ancient Rome and Byzantium, which left many traces of their civilizations.

Plaka

Plaka, the old district of Athens

Plaka is the oldest part of Athens, the historical part of the city where most of its major attractions are located. Here, too, on the narrow pedestrian streets you can sit in cozy cafes and restaurants, taste the local cuisine, drink Greek wine, and then buy souvenirs.

A century ago on the Plaka lived exclusively Greek aristocrats, today it is home to many stores, boutiques and wine cellars. Tourists can spend many days wandering through local museums and exhibitions, examine the architecture and historical monuments of ancient Greece, or simply indulge in a coffee ceremony.

Delos Island

Interesting places in Greece - Delos Island

As far back as a thousand years B.C. people lived here. Delos occupied a strategically important place in the Aegean Sea, its inhabitants protected ancient Athens from enemy raids. And today the little Delos has become a museum of Greek history and culture in the open air, a first-class resort, the subject of dreams of tourists from all over the world.

All the guides speak of Delos with special reverence. According to Greek myths, Apollo and Artemis were born here. The island is listed by UNESCO. Today you can see the ruins of the temple of Artemis, the sanctuary and the theater of Apollo, the temple of Isis, sculptures of lions, statues of Cleopatra and Dioscurides, the temple of Dionysus with a floor mosaic, etc.

Achilleion Palace

Achilleion Palace - Greek sights with photos

The Achilleion summer palace is located on the island of Corfu. This is a very young Greek attraction. It was built in the 19th century on the orders of the Austrian Empress Elisabeth of Bavaria and served as the residence of the Austrian monarchs for a long time. Later the Achilleion became a casino. And today it’s a museum.

Here you can see the exquisite classic interiors, paintings by European artists of the 19th and 20th centuries, including. with scenes from Greek mythology. Around Achilleion is a huge and well-kept garden with a statue of Achilles, to whom the palace is dedicated. And from the garden there are beautiful views of the whole island of Corfu.

Video overview of sights in Greece

In this beautiful country live hospitable people, they are always friendly to foreign tourists. Don’t forget the well-known phrase from domestic cinema: “Greece has it all!”

Greek sights on the map

On the proposed map you can find the main attractions of Greece, which are highly appreciated by travelers and tourists.

You'll like it

Comments

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Popular Articles

Ancient World