Thessaloniki, Greece’s co-capital

8 August 2015 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General, Architecture, European Union, European Capital of Culture, UNESCO World Heritage Reading Time:  10 minutes

White Tower © MaurusNR

White Tower © MaurusNR

Thessaloniki, historically also known as Thessalonica or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the periphery of Central Macedonia as well as the de facto administrative capital of the Greek regions of Macedonia and Thrace. Its honorific title is Συμπρωτεύουσα (Symprotévousa), literally “co-capital”, a reference to its historical status as the Συμβασιλεύουσα (Symvasilévousa) or “co-reigning” city of the Byzantine Empire, alongside Constantinople. According to the 2001 census, the municipality of Thessaloniki had a population of 364,000, while its Urban Area had a population of 773,000. The Larger Urban Zone of Thessaloniki has an estimated 996,000 residents, while its area is 1,455.62 km² (562.02 sq mi). With a history of over 2,300 years, it is one of Europe’s oldest cities. Thessaloniki is Greece’s second major economic, industrial, commercial and political centre, and a major transportation hub for the rest of southeastern Europe; its commercial port is also of great importance for Greece and the southeastern European hinterland. The city is renowned for its events and festivals, the most famous of which include the annual International Trade Fair, the Thessaloniki International Film Festival, and the largest bi-annual meeting of the Greek diaspora.   read more…

Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon

9 July 2015 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General Reading Time:  7 minutes

Cape Sounion with Temple of Poseidon © Kuno Lechner/cc-by-sa-3.0

Cape Sounion with Temple of Poseidon © Kuno Lechner/cc-by-sa-3.0

Cape Sounion is a promontory located 69 kilometres (43 mi) south-southeast of Athens, at the southernmost tip of the Attica peninsula in Greece. Apart from a world-renowned archaeological site, Sounion is an upscale summer home location for Athenians. Construction flourished between the 1960s and 1970s, with massive yet minimal villas and condos erected. Sounion is one of the most expensive areas in Greece, with the value of some homes exceeding twenty million euros.   read more…

The Greek island of Hydra

28 April 2015 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General Reading Time:  6 minutes

© Herbert Ortner

© Herbert Ortner

Hydra is one of the Saronic Islands of Greece, located in the Aegean Sea between the Saronic Gulf and the Argolic Gulf. It is separated from the Peloponnese by narrow strip of water. In ancient times, the island was known as Hydrea (derived from the Greek word for “water”), which was a reference to the springs on the island. The municipality Hydra consists of the islands Hydra (area 50 km2), Dokos (pop. 13, area 12.5 km2) and a few uninhabited islets.   read more…

Theme Week Cyclades

3 March 2015 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General, Bon voyage, Theme Weeks Reading Time:  6 minutes

Mykonos © Bernard Gagnon/cc-by-sa-3.0

Mykonos © Bernard Gagnon/cc-by-sa-3.0

The Cyclades is a Greek island group in the Aegean Sea, southeast of mainland Greece and a former administrative prefecture of Greece. They are one of the island groups which constitute the Aegean archipelago. The name refers to the islands around the sacred island of Delos. The Cyclades is where the native Greek breed of cat (the Aegean cat) originated.   read more…

The island of Lefkada in the Ionian Sea

27 February 2015 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General Reading Time:  5 minutes

Lefkada © ERWEH/cc-by-sa-2.0-de

Lefkada © ERWEH/cc-by-sa-2.0-de

Lefkada is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea on the west coast of Greece, connected to the mainland by a long causeway and floating bridge. The principal town of the island and seat of the municipality is Lefkada (city). It is situated on the northern part of the island, approximately 20 minutes by automobile away from Aktion National Airport. The island is part of the regional unit of Lefkada.   read more…

Olympia in Greece

19 March 2014 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General, Museums, Exhibitions, Sport, UNESCO World Heritage Reading Time:  6 minutes

British Museum - Olympia Model © Joanbanjo/cc-by-sa-3.0

British Museum – Olympia Model © Joanbanjo/cc-by-sa-3.0

Olympia, a sanctuary of ancient Greece in Elis, is known for having been the site of the Olympic Games in classical times, the most famous games in history. The Olympic Games were held every four years throughout Classical Antiquity, from the 8th century BC to the 4th century AD. The first Olympic Games were in honor of Zeus. Olympia is an UNESCO world heritage site since 1988.   read more…

Theme Week Cyclades – Milos

25 January 2014 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General Reading Time:  6 minutes

Klima village © Kosant38

Klima village © Kosant38

Milos is a volcanic Greek island in the Aegean Sea, just north of the Sea of Crete. Milos is the southwesternmost island in the Cyclades group.   read more…

Theme Week Cyclades – Sifnos

24 January 2014 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General Reading Time:  6 minutes

Artemonas © Margaritaprounia/cc-by-sa-3.0

Artemonas © Margaritaprounia/cc-by-sa-3.0

Sifnos is an island municipality. The main town, near the center, known as Apollonia, is home of the island’s folklore museum and library. The town’s name is thought to come from an ancient temple of Apollo on the site of the church of Panayia Yeraniofora. The second-largest town is Artemonas (800), thought to be named after an ancient temple of Apollo’s sister-goddess Artemis, located at the site of the church of Panayia Kokhi. The village of Kastro (118), built on top of a high cliff on the island’s northwestern shore on the site of the ancient city of Siphnos, today has extensive medieval remains and is the location of the island’s archeological museum. The port settlement, on the west coast of the island is known as Kamares.   read more…

Theme Week Cyclades – Folegandros

23 January 2014 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General Reading Time:  6 minutes

© Oliwan/cc-by-sa-3.0

© Oliwan/cc-by-sa-3.0

Folegandros is a small Greek island in the Aegean Sea which, together with Sikinos, Ios, Anafi and Santorini, forms the southern part of the Cyclades. Its surface area is about 32 square kilometres (12 sq mi) and it has 765 inhabitants. It has three small villages, Chora, Karavostasis, and Ano Meria, which are connected by a paved road. Folegandros is part of the Thira regional unit.   read more…

Return to TopReturn to Top