Greece

Having exported chaos, drama, tragedy and democracy before most nations were staying up late enough to want souvlaki, Greece boasts an unrivalled legacy. But don't expect a visit there to be a sober study of the ancient world - the Greek propensity for partying dates back to Dionysos.
From sometimes smoggy Athens to blindingly bright islands, ancient fragments abound - the navel of the cosmos at Delphi, fallen columns galore on the sacred island of Delos, frescoed Minoan palaces on Crete and even - as some might believe - the remnants of Atlantis at Santorini.

The Parthenon

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, while the ski resorts on the mainland do thriving business.

Sunset on the greek sea!

Athens-The capital of Greece

It is the city of the Olympic Idea, the city of culture, of science and commerce. A city with ancient monuments like Acropolis, the inimitable ancient monument and landmark of Greece, museums, lively tradition districts like Plaka and numerous sights. These are some of the reasons that make Athens worth visiting.

The Acropolis hill

This unique monument, which represents the ultimate in architectural and artistic expression of the ancient Athenian spirit, occupies a rock 156m above sea level, which is itself a natural fortress. During the Classical period (450-330 BC) the most important temples were erected. It acquired its first temple in the 8th c. BC. Building started on the Parthenon itself, dedicated to Athena Parthenos, in the early 5th c BC only to be razed by the Persians in 480. It was rebuilt during Pericles’ rule in just ten years. The monumental entrance to the summit of the holy rock, the Propylaia, designed by Mnesicles, was under construction form 437 to 432 BC. The Erechtheion, dedicated to Athena Polias, was completed twelve years later. Pheidias supervised these brilliant architectural and artistic achievements of the 5th c BC, while the designs were the work of Iktinos and Kalllikrates. The foundations of the temple of Athena Nike, dedicated to Athena –Apteros Nike, were also laid at this time.

The Herodion

Temples of The Acropolis

The Parthenon:Perhaps is the most important and characteristic monument of the ancient Greek civilization and still remains its international symbol. It was dedicated to Athena Parthenos, the patron goddess of Athens. It was built between 447 and 432 BC, to plans of Iktinos and Kalikrates while Pheidias and his pupils had charge of general constructional supervision and of the decorative carvings. It was the first time that a peripheral temple in the Doric style was decorated all round with a sculptured frieze 160 meters long, illustrating the Panathenaean Procession (the most formal religious festival of ancient Athens). The 92 metopes were also sculptured with reliefs representing a battle with giants, a battle with amazons, battles with centaurs and scenes from the Trojan War. The gold and ivory statue of the goddess Athena, the work of Pheidias was set up in the interior. When construction of the temple had been completed, the pedimental sculptures were added. The two pediments of the temple are decorated with mythological scenes: the east, above the building's main entrance, shows the birth of Athena, and the west, the fight between Athena and Poseidon for the name of the city of Athens.

The Erechthrio:It was build during the Peloponnesian War (420 BC) by Philocles. The main temple was divided into two sections, dedicated to the worship of the two principal gods of Attica, Athena and Poseidon – Erechteus, from whom it got its name. Six female statues, the famous Karyatids, with canisters on their heads as column capitals, support the roof of the temple. Today five copies stand in their place. The originals are in the Acropolis Museum (the sixth Caryatid can only be seen in London).

Temple of Apteros Nike:It was constructed in ca. 420 BC, by architect Kallikrates. The temple is built in Ionic order, and it is amphiprostyle with a row of four columns in front of each of its narrow sides. The relief frieze on the upper section of the walls depicts the conference of gods on the east side, and scenes from battles on the other three. A marble parapet decorated with the relief representation of Nike (Victories), protected the edge of the Bastion on which the temple was erected. Athenians placed a statue of Nike without wings to ensure that she would never “fly” away from their city. Today the statue can be seen in the Acropolis Museum.

The Propylaia.The monumental entrance to the Acropolis was designed by the architect Mnesicles and constructed in 437-432 B.C. It consists of a central structure with two wings. The colonnades along the west and east sides had a row of Doric columns while two rows of Ionic columns divided the central corridor into three parts. The walls of the north wing were decorated with painted panels or wall paintings and that is why it was called the "Pinakotheke". The ceiling of the Propylaia had coffers with painted decoration and a perforated sima around the roof. The Shrine of Zeus Very little is left of this temple dedicated to Zeus Polios, to whom sacrifices, the Bouphonia, were brought every summer during the harvest season.

The Acropolis Museum.The museum was designed by the architect Panages Kalkos and constructed between 1865 and 1874. In the 1950's it was extended towards the east and the exhibition was rearranged by the archaeologist I. Meliades. The museum contains mainly pedimental sculpture, reliefs and statues found on the rock of the Acropolis, which formed part of the decoration of its buildings or were dedicated to the goddess Athena. The collections of the museum include: · Sculptural offerings of the Archaic period · Pediments of temples dated to the Archaic period · Archaic Horsemen · Sculptures of the "Severe" style · Pediments and metopes from the Parthenon · The Parthenon frieze · The Erechtheion frieze · Parapets of the Athena Nike temple · Frieze of the Athena Nike temple · The Caryatids · Clay figurines and vases from the sanctuary of the Nymphs .

Theatre of Herod Atticus (The Herodion):Erected in 161BC by the Athenian orator and benefactor whose name it commemorates. It can seat 5.000 spectators but most of its marble seats, except for those in the front row, are modern restorations. It hosts all the events of the Athens Festival, as well as a few other concerts and performs throughout the summer.

Temple of Poseidon-Sounio

Islands of Greece

Greece has a variety of very beautiful and attractive islands.Each one has its own characteristics which make it unique!Let's see three of them just to get a general idea!

Corfu:Exotic scenery, magical colours, flaming sunsets, romantic moonlight, luxurious vegetation, (lush green even in the height of summer) a riot of radiant flowers and colourful blooms, centuries old silver olive groves, glowing oranges, scented lemons, rich pergolas, sleepy lagoons, forgotten coves, bubbling springs, exciting caves, virgin beaches, golden sands, and pellucid turquoise emerald seas ­there is surely no other island in the whole universe to which these superlatives collectively apply.

Corfu

Pontikonisi-Corfu

Santorini:It has been said that the sunsets in Santorini are the best in the world. From the Caldera breathtaking views of the volcano & neighbouring islands. From the east, miles of dark sandy or pebbled beaches. Everywhere one sees small domed churches and remnants of days gone by.
This is Santorini seen through the eyes of people who know & love it ...


Magic scenery in Santorini!

Sunset in Santorini

Spetses: Are you the summer type of person?

Beautiful pebble beaches, clear waters and long days at the beach... Magnificent sunsets, long walks along the promenade gazing at the passing sailboats, a run of dolphins, just half a mile across the coast...

Maybe springtime?

Beautiful rainbow-tinted gardens, traditional settlements with bloomy gardens and flower-beds at the sides of narrow pebble-streets... The warm sun making your day magical...

And yet, ideal for a winter excursion!

The tranquility that characterizes the island of Spetses during the winter time, is ideal for a perfect weekend. Spetses offers a unique scheme for those who wish to enjoy excellent service during the so-called Low Tourist Season. Just pick your favorite lodgement and rest by the large fire-place while looking at the breath-taking sea view, through the large windows of your Deluxe Suite!

Around Spetses!

The Mermaid-Spetses

GERMANY

From the high Alps in the South, the Bavarian plain, and the flowing hills of central Germany to the coast of the North and Baltic Sea: it all looks like a miniature train landscape packed with the nicest of old towns, medieval houses, gothic churches and small villages. Thanks to the different regional princedoms, earldoms, monarchies and states Germany did not unite until the last centuries. Thus Germany has not one but many major cities. And each city has its own unique character, formed by its history and the surrounding region. Each is a whole new world unto itself in which you will experience not only different architectural styles and art treasures but also a very distinctive lifestyle. Local traditions and mentalities are clearly reflected everywhere - in the arts, the nightlife, the shops, the pubs and restaurants and the way people work and live.

Germany's cities have endless pleasant surprises in store for those who enjoy good food and drink. In addition to top-quality international cooking each region has its own local specialities, ranging from hearty country fare at simple inns to modern light cuisine at star-rated restaurants. Accompanied by our world-famous beers and wines, all this plenty is guaranteed to make your tour of Germany's cities an unforgettable culinary experience. Discover the beautiful Southwest of Germany with cities like Freiburg, Heidelberg and Tόbingen. In the western part cities still have some french influence, discover Bonn, Dόsseldorf, Cologne- the heart of the Rhineland, Trier, the oldest city of Germany and a former capital of the Roman Empire or Aachen with its impressive cathedral and history back to Charlemagne. Today, Germany is also an industrial powerhouse. In the Ruhrgebiet ( Essen, Oberhausen, Duisburg and surroundings) there is heavy industry, different car brands like Mercedes (near Stuttgart ), BMW and VW make Germany one of the world's biggest car producers and Frankfurt is the country's bank and finance centre, called also "Mainhattan" ("Main" is a river in Frankfurt). All this makes the standard of living one of the highest in the world.

Best of Germany

The Rhine

In Germany, The Rhine has a spectacular beauty and it is a popular holiday destination. There you can find impressive places to visit like castles, cathedrals, vineyards and hiking trails. Its magnificent scenery inspired a lot of painters and poets. In fact, Germany is full of castles, but the Rhine has an especially amount of important castles. Some are ruins and many of them have survived the past of the years.

The Rhine has a sunny, dry and warm climate. For that reason, the vineyard agriculture is famous there. In every village, there is at least one wine festival per year; the most famous series of festivals is the Rhine in Flames.

Its river is the best place from where you can observe the beauty of the area; every day tour boats set sail with many tourists. If you don’t like boating, you can also explore the Rhine by car. The best period to visit the Rhine is in summer, the weather is sunny and the festival season is in full movement.

Trier

Trier is located in Mosel River Valley, is known as Germany’s oldest city. The City was one of the seats of the old Roman Empire, a proof of that is the amazing ruins’ architecture. The most dominant structure is the mixture of two churches: The Dom St. Peter and the Liebfrauenkirche, both build upon ruins. The city is also home of the stunning Porta Nigra, the best preserved Roman city gate north of the Alps.

Currently, Trier is a gateway from Germany to Luxembourg. There are also a lot of wine producers. If you would like to you could even try to work for a week in the vineyards, it is a great experience! The city is also an active town; there you can find wine festivals, river trips, cycling, and an extraordinary cultural life.

Berchtesgaden

Berchtesgadem, with its beautiful scenery, is an attractive town to visit. The city is mostly visited in winter by its ski resorts on the edge of the Berchtesgaden National Park. There is also the “Eagle’s Nest”, the famous mountain that was refuge of Hitler in the World War II, from there you have an impressive view of the Berchtesgaden area.

In the city’s center you can find many historical attractions, like the Royal Palace and the famous church of Maria Gern. The art is not apart from de city, many houses around the market place are decorated by artistic painting with mountain motives and animals.

The main attraction is the Berchtesgadem National Park that with its stunning high mountains and the renowned Lake Kφnigssee is one of the oldest protected areas in the Alps. In the park, there are many fauna that reflects the bio-diversity of its landscape; and if you are lucky, you will see the rare golden eagle.

The citizens in the Berchtesgaden area complement with nature and preserve their culture and traditions, many people wear traditional clothes like leather trousers and they love Ooompah music. You will be fascinated with this place!

Wόrzburg

Near from Frankfurt, Wόzburg is a vibrant university town surrounded by vineyards and full of architectural splendors. Its cultural scene includes traditions and popular events like the Mozart Festival and the Africa Festival which attract many visitors every year.Wόzburg is also a wine-centre of the Franconian region, the wine in the typical bottle "Bocksbeutel" is served by many taverns.

In and around the city there are many cultural attractions like the famous Main Franconian Museum with sculptures by the famous artist Tilman Riemenschneider, the Fortress Marienberg, the Cathedral museum, and the Martin Wagner museum that is a splendid archiepiscopal residence and the famous masterpiece of Balthasar Neumann, an extraordinary baroque architect.

The city is also the main shopping town for the Franconian region been the most important chain stores Domstrasse and Schφnbornstrasse, Furthermore, there are many small shops located on Juliuspromenade where you can find unique souveneirs.

Bamberg

Bamberg is a city with an original character and a very special atmosphere. 1000 years of history are united in an Old Town that is a cultural and architectural site of European rank.

In the Middle Ages, Bamberg was a powerful ecclesiastical center. Initially, it was two towns divided by the river: One was the Ecclesiastical Town of the prince – bishopric, and the other was The Secular Town of the burghers. Nowadays, Bamberg is known as “a beer drinker’s Eden” because there 9 Breweries with lots of different kinds of beer, being the most famous the “smoked beer”. The average Bamberger drinks 190 liters of beer a year!

Bamberg is also famous for its architecture, with styles ranging from Romanesque to Gothic, Renaissance to baroque. There you can find narrow cobblestone streets, ornate mansions and palaces, and impressive churches. In Bamberg there is always party going on somewhere, the Franconian hospitality expresses itself when people get together, and the major occasions to celebrate are the frequent anniversaries of churches’ consecrations.

Potsdam

Potsdam, capital of Brandenburg state, is a suburb of Germany’s cosmopolitan capital: Berlin. This beautiful baroque city is home for the magnificent palace of Sanssouci that is comparable with other amazing European royal palaces like Versailles and Windsor Castle. Other impressing attractions include Nikolaikirche church, Cecilienhof, Hollδndisches Viertel, Franzφsische Kirche church and the historic Dutch quarter among others. Potsdam is also a green city surrounded by lakes, hills, and several “palace gardens”

During the 18th and 19th century the city was the residence of the Prussian kings, many of Potsdam’s sights date of this epoch. As many cities Potsdam was damaged by bombings in 1945, but a number of palaces in the Sanssouci park remained intact.

The film industry is important in Potsdam, particularly Babelsberg Film Studios that made many important German films. Also, in the city you can find many cafes, riverside villas and historic streets which you have to stroll before leaving. For those reasons and more, Potsdam is a very attractive place to live.