All about Greece. General description of Greece. Regions and resorts of Greece

Greece, self-name - Hellas, official name - Hellenic Republic. In the north it borders with Albania, Macedonia and Bulgaria, in the northeast - with Turkey. In the east it is washed by the Aegean, in the west - by the Ionian, in the south - by the Mediterranean Seas. The country is named after the ethnonym of the people - the Greeks.

The capital is the city of Athens.

The recognized cradle of Western civilization, the place where the first democratic states known in history appeared. Member of the EU since 1981, NATO since 1952 (withdrew from the organization in 1973-1981).

Political system

Greece is a unitary state, consisting of 13 administrative units - regions. In 1983, it was legally established that issues of local importance are in charge of councils elected by the population through direct elections.

The Constitution, which came into force on June 11, 1975, is in force. According to the form of government, Greece is a parliamentary republic. The political regime is democratic.

Legislative power is vested in the Parliament, a unicameral representative body elected by direct universal suffrage for a term of 4 years. It should include at least 200 and no more than 300 people. The Chamber meets once a year for a regular session, which lasts at least 5 months. At the beginning of each session, it forms parliamentary commissions of its members for the purpose of preparing and studying bills and legislative proposals. Legislative activity is carried out, as a rule, during plenary sessions. However, some bills are considered and adopted in sections, the number of which cannot exceed 2. The Constitution determines on which issues bills can be adopted at a plenary session, and which ones are submitted for consideration by sections. Bills adopted by the parliament must be ratified by the president, and the presidential veto can be overridden (recognized as invalid) by an absolute majority of the votes of the total number of deputies.

The head of state is the president, who is elected by parliament for a term of 5 years. The constitution gave the president broad powers, entrusting him with the exercise of executive power. The president appoints the prime minister and, on his recommendation, appoints and dismisses other members of the government. According to the conclusion of the Council of the Republic, an advisory body formed under the President in cases stipulated by the Constitution, the President can remove the government if it has lost the confidence of Parliament. In exceptional cases, he presides over the Council of Ministers. The President convenes the Parliament for regular sessions once a year and for extraordinary sessions when he sees fit. He has the right to postpone the parliamentary session for up to 30 days. The powers of the president also include the approval and promulgation of laws passed by parliament and the ability to return a draft law to parliament for reconsideration. The president can call a referendum and send messages to the nation. Finally, he is the head of the armed forces. In addition, the president exercises a number of rights with ministerial countersignature. These include the right to represent the country in foreign relations, declare war and make peace, as well as the right to dissolve parliament if after 3 votes it cannot elect a president or when parliament is at odds with public opinion or cannot ensure the stability of the government.

In March 1986, a series of amendments were adopted that removed a number of important powers from the president, including the right to remove the prime minister. He can dissolve parliament only if the resignation of 2 governments in a row shows a lack of political stability. Its right to announce a referendum has been limited, and the right to declare a state of emergency has been transferred to Parliament.

Executive power is exercised by the government, which consists of the prime minister and ministers (one or more of them may be appointed as deputy prime ministers). The government is formed by the party that wins the most seats in parliament. The leader of that party becomes prime minister. Within 15 days from the moment he takes the oath, the government must raise the issue of confidence before the Parliament. The Chamber of Deputies has the right to "take back its confidence" in the government or one of its members. A resolution of reproof may only be introduced 6 months after the House has rejected the previous resolution. The resolution of reprimand must be signed by at least 1/6 of the deputies. The government determines and implements the general policy of the state in accordance with the Constitution and laws. Members of the Council of Ministers and State Secretaries are liable for omissions committed in the exercise of their functions, in accordance with the provisions of the laws on ministerial responsibility.

Geographic data

Greece is located in the southern part of the Balkan Peninsula and on the islands adjacent to it and to the coast of Asia Minor and covers an area of ​​131,994 km2. It borders with Albania, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Bulgaria and Turkey. It is washed by the Mediterranean Sea, including: the Ionian, Aegean Seas, and the southern coast of Crete - the Libyan Sea. Greece consists of about 2 thousand islands, which account for almost 20% of the entire country.

The territory of Greece can be divided into three parts:
mainland Greece, which includes Macedonia (Florina, Pella), Thrace (Rhodopi, Kavala, Epirus (Thesprotia, Preveza, Thessaly (Larisa, Magnesia) and Central Greece (Phthiotis, Phokis, Attica). The Ionian islands;
Peloponnese - the largest peninsula of Greece and the center of the most ancient civilization in Europe, includes the nomes of Arcadia, Laconia, Messinia, etc. The famous Corinth Canal, dug by a French company for the Greek state in the 19th century, is also located here;
the islands of the Aegean Sea, the largest of which are Crete - the largest island of Greece and the eighth in Europe (8259 km) and Euboea - the second largest island of Greece after Crete (3654 km), connected to the continent by a bridge thrown across the Strait of Eurypus, as well as Lesvos (1630 km), located off the coast of Turkey. There are also many groups of small islands - Northern Sporades, Cyclades, Dodecanese.

The Greek landscape is an alternation of rocky, usually treeless mountains, densely populated valleys, numerous islands, straits and bays. Picturesque cliffs, beaches, exotic grottoes provide great opportunities for seaside recreation and mountain tourism. The wide distribution of limestones, especially in the western part of the country, has led to the formation of karst funnels, caves, giving the landscape a peculiar wild look and attracting amateurs to try their hand at speleology. Mountain ranges occupy almost a quarter of the country's surface. These are predominantly medium-altitude mountains (up to 1200-1800 m). The highest point in Greece is Mount Olympus (2917 m). Pindus, Parnassus, the mountain range of Central Greece and Taygetos also rise above 2000 meters. There are few plains, they are concentrated in the eastern half of the country, with the exception of the Peloponnese, where the plains prevail on the western coast.

Climate

The climate of Greece can be divided into three types: Mediterranean, Alpine and temperate, each of which affects a strictly defined area. The Pindus mountain range strongly influences the climate of the mainland: the regions located to the west of the slopes of Pindus (Epirus) receive more rainfall than the regions located on the eastern side of the range (Thessaly).

The Mediterranean type of climate is characterized by mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers. The Cyclades, Dodecanese, Crete, the eastern part of the Peloponnese and part of Central Greece are located in this type of climate. Temperatures here don't often hit record highs, and in winter, even in the Cyclades and Dodecanese, snow can occasionally fall during the winter months.

The Alpine type of climate is more typical for the mountainous regions of the country: Epirus, Central Greece, Western Macedonia, part of Thessaly, as well as the nomes of Achaea, Arcadia and Laconia.

Eastern Macedonia and Thrace can be classified as regions with a temperate climate type, with relatively cold and wet winters and hot, dry summers.

Athens is located in a transitional zone where two types of climate are combined: Mediterranean and temperate. In the northern part of Athens, a temperate climate prevails, while in the central and southern regions there are features of the Mediterranean climate.

Rivers

Large river systems could not form on the narrow and mountainous Greek peninsula. Mountain rivers predominate, short, stormy, with picturesque rapids and waterfalls, often flowing to the sea in narrow canyons. The longest river in Greece is Alyakmon (over 300 km). Other major rivers are Evros, Nestos, Strymon, Vardar, Acheloos. Rivers are not suitable for navigation, but they play a rather large role as sources of energy.

lakes

In Greece, there are over 20 lakes with an area of ​​10-100 km2. The largest and deepest of them are of tectonic origin. These include lakes Trichonis (95.5 km), Volvi (75.6 km), Vegoritis (72.5 km). Lots of karst lakes. They are usually small and feed mainly on groundwater. The largest of them is Yanina (22 km).

Islands

Greece includes more than 2,000 islands, from large (Crete, Euboea) to tiny (Patmos, Chrissi, Kastelorizo). They account for about 20% of the entire Greek territory.

All islands are divided into several groups:
Ionian Islands - located in the Ionian Sea, off the western coast of Greece. The largest island is Kefalonia.
Northern Aegean Islands - located in the north of the Aegean Sea, off the coast of Turkey. The largest island is Lesvos.
The Northern Sporades and the island of Euboea are located off the eastern coast of Greece.
The Cyclades are located in the center of the Aegean Sea. The center of the ancient developed Cycladic culture. Mostly small islands are located here: Andros, Naxos, Mykonos, Santorini.
Dodecanese - a group of islands located in the south of the Aegean Sea, off the coast of Turkey. sometimes they are also called Southern Sporades. It is an important tourism center in Greece. The largest island is Rhodes.
Crete is the largest island of Greece. Center of ancient Cretan civilization. Near the island there are many small satellite islands (Chrisi, etc.). From the south, the island is washed by the Libyan Sea.

Minerals

Greece does not have significant reserves of any minerals. The most common and mined is lignite, or low-carbonized brown coal. It is the main fuel resource of Greece. At the end of the 20th century, insignificant reserves of oil and gas were discovered in the Aegean Sea. They are being developed.

Greece is relatively rich in ore minerals. Among them are iron, manganese, nickel, chromium, copper and polymetallic ores. In Attica, near the city of Lavrion, silver and lead have been mined since the time of Ancient Athens.

In Thrace, sulfide and nickel ores are mined.

Naxos is home to the world's largest emery deposit. On the islands of Santorini and Nisyros, pumice is being mined on a massive scale. Since these are islands of volcanic origin, there have been frequent volcanic eruptions, which led to the formation of this material.

Various building materials are mined in the Cyclades: marble, granite, limestone and sandstone.

Significant reserves of bauxites, or aluminum ores. According to geologists, about 650 million tons lie in the bowels of Greece. of this valuable ore, which makes Greece one of its largest miners in Europe.

Flora and fauna

Not many species of wild animals have survived on the territory of Greece and their populations are small. This is due to the multi-thousand-year history of this country - for more than 8000 years people have been actively exterminating animals and plants in Greece. The most common here are small animals: hares, badgers, porcupines and various types of mice.

The brown bear, jackal, fox, lynx and wild boar have the most numerous population of large animals. Many species of animals are listed in the Red Book, among them: the Mediterranean sea turtle and the monk seal.

Most of all, reptiles are represented in Greece: snakes and lizards. They are the least sensitive to the hot climate of this country.

Among birds, you can most often see wild ducks, kingfishers and partridges, as well as predators - owls, eagles and kites.

There are many gulls in the coastal areas, and in the waters of Greece there is a huge variety of shellfish and fish, although the stocks of the latter have been significantly reduced in recent times.

More than 5,000 plant species are distributed on the territory of Greece. The most common in Greece are small plants and shrubs: maquis and frigana. Pine forests are often found on the Halkidiki peninsula. Cypresses and plane trees are widespread. Some are several thousand years old. The olive is very common - one of the most valuable trees in Greece and the entire Mediterranean.

In general, the poor vegetation of Greece is explained by the wide distribution of goats in Ancient Greece, which ate the bark of trees, as a result of which they died, and small shoots were simply trampled down. There is even a saying - "Greece was eaten by goats."

Administrative division

Greece consists of 13 administrative regions, which are divided into 54 nomes (or prefectures). Also in Greece there is one autonomous region - Aion Oros (Holy Mountain) in the region of Mount Athos. This is a monastic state, which is governed by a council of representatives of 20 Athos monasteries.

Real self-government exists at the level of nomes and smaller formations - municipalities. The municipality is headed by the mayor, and the nome is headed by the governor.

Economy

Advantages: one of the most important European tourist centers. A large volume of exports of agricultural products. Shipping companies operate the largest merchant marine fleet in the world.

Weaknesses: large public debts. Until recently, private initiative did not develop due to high bank interest and bureaucracy. A large percentage of the public sector of the economy, a developed shadow economy. Loss of jobs, their transfer to neighboring countries of the former Eastern Bloc with cheap labor.

Popular resorts in Greece: Kastoria, Corfu, Crete, Rhodes.

Demography

The majority of the population of Greece are Greeks (90%), although these data are disputed due to a significant underestimation of data on minorities, especially linguistic ones. Official Greek statistics do not keep records of the population by nationality, which is a relic of the times of the Ottoman Empire, when its peoples were divided into religious millets. The only officially recognized religious minority in modern Greece are the Muslims of Thrace and the Dodecanese, which include Turks (1% of the Greek population), Pomaks (Bulgarian-speaking Muslims, 0.3%) and Muslim Gypsies (0.1%). Also, according to the tradition inherited from the time of the Byzantine Empire, Armenians are officially recognized. Other minorities are distinguished mainly by ethnographers on linguistic grounds and are not officially recognized by the Greek government: Albanians (4%; including Arvanites), "Slavic-speaking Greeks" or Macedonian Slavs (close to Macedonians, 1.2%), Aromanians (1. 1%, including Meglenites), Orthodox Gypsies (another 0.8%), Serbs (0.3%), Arabs (0.3%), Jews (0.05%), etc. Special mention should be made of the Russian-speaking Pontic Greeks , the bulk of which arrived in Greece from the USSR and the CIS countries in the early 90s. Their number is estimated at 100 thousand people, they live mainly in the cities of Athens and Thessaloniki.

culture

The culture of Greece was formed over many thousands of years, starting from the time of the Minoan civilization, the formation took place during Classical Greece and Greece during the Roman domination. The Ottoman yoke also had an impact on the culture of the Greeks, mainly by slowing down the active development of ancient Greek culture. But even during the Greek Revolution, great works of literature, music, and painting were created. Orthodox Christianity had a huge impact on the entire culture of modern Greece.

Greek music

The folklore music of Greece is in many ways similar to the music of other Balkan countries - Bulgaria, Serbia, Macedonia. They traced similar rhythms and emotional coloring of the songs.

Rembetika is a Greek folk song. It was formed at the beginning of the 20th century, when, after the Asia Minor catastrophe, many refugees poured into Greece. In these songs they talk about their hard life.

Contemporary popular music is heavily influenced by the West. But even in it, bouzouki melodies, traditional for Greece, are often traced.

In 2005 Greek singer Elena Paparizou won the Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Number One" - a first for Greece.

Modern Greece has given the world many composers close to the New Age direction. Among them are the world-famous Vangelis and Yanni and the lesser-known Chris Sfiris and Stamatis Spanoudakis.

Rock is very popular among young people. Rotting Christ is a Greek dark / black / gothic metal band, created in Athens in 1987, known far beyond the borders of the country. The second cult rock band from Greece is the doom/death band Septic Flesh. The third most important rock band from Greece is the Brutal Death band Homo iratus.

Opera singer Maria Callas, a contemporary and longtime lover of Aristotle Onassis, is rightfully considered a phenomenon in the music world. Of the contemporary opera singers in Greece, Marios Frangoulis stands out.

By right, Sakis Rouvas can be called a recognized and successful performer. Success at Eurovision 2004 in Istanbul with the song "Shake It" brought Greece third place. And at Eurovision 2009 in Moscow, his song "This Is Our Night" and the production for it were perhaps the most colorful. Sakis Rouvas is well known and very popular not only in Greece, but throughout Europe.

Sports in Greece

Greece is the birthplace of the Olympic Games. Sports have been popular here since ancient city-states. The importance of sports in Greece is evidenced by the fact that during the Olympic Games all wars between the Greeks were suspended.

In modern Greece, sport has also not lost its relevance. In 1896, in Athens, the first modern Olympic Games were held, where 13 countries participated.

In 2004, Greece again hosted the Olympic Games. 211 states have already participated in them. New sports facilities were built using the latest technology.

Today the most popular sports are football, basketball and swimming. In 2004, Greece became the European football champion, losing only one match to the Russian team. Greek basketball clubs have repeatedly become winners of numerous European tournaments. Greece, along with the Soviet Union, is the only country in history whose teams have simultaneously, in football and basketball, the title of European champion.

Greek holidays and special dates

January 1 - New Year
January 6 - Epiphany
January 8 - Ginaikratia
January 28 - Apokries
February 15 (2010) Clean Monday () (rolling)
March 25 - Independence Day. On the same day, the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos is also popularly celebrated.
April 2 (2010) - Good Friday. Day of Remembrance of the Passion of Christ on the Cross (transitional)
April 4 (2010) - Easter (movable)
April 5 (2010) - Bright Monday (rolling)
May 1 - Workers' Day and Flower Festival
May 19 - Day of Remembrance of the Greek Genocide in Asia Minor
May 21 - Pyrovassia
May 24 - Day of the Holy Spirit (rolling)
May 26 - St. John the Russian Day
June 23 - Midsummer Night
August 15 - Assumption of the Virgin
October 26 - Day of St. Demetrius of Thessalonica
October 28 - national holiday Ohi Day ()
November 17 - student holiday Polytechnic
December 6 - Day of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker
December 15 - Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the "Greek Operation" of the NKVD
December 25 - Christmas
December 26 - Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Greek cuisine

Greek salad

Greek cuisine is an example of a typical Mediterranean or Balkan cuisine. But in many ways the cuisine of the Greeks is different from the cuisines of its closest neighbors - Bulgaria, Albania and Italy. First of all, spices. Greeks add them to their food more often than others in Europe. However, Greek cuisine is not spicy.

Another distinctive feature of Greek cuisine is the abundance of olive oil. It is added to almost all dishes and is used not only as an aromatic seasoning, but also during the heat treatment of food. Another essential ingredient is lemon.

The special pride of the Greeks is cheese. In Greece, it is produced at least 50 varieties (each region has its own special recipe). The Greeks consume the most cheese in the world - more than 25 kg per person per year. The most popular variety is called "Feta": it is he who is used in the preparation of the famous "Greek salad". In Greece, this salad, by the way, is called “horiatiki” (village).

No less popular in Greece is meat. Preference is given to pork, lamb and goat meat. Moussaka is one of the most famous dishes prepared with the addition of both meat and traditional Greek vegetables. Pastizio is another favorite dish of the Greeks. And of course fish, shellfish and other seafood are popular.

Interesting Facts

The national anthem of Greece has 158 types.

GREECE
The Hellenic Republic, an independent state in southeastern Europe, occupying the south of the Balkan Peninsula. Greece also owns numerous islands in the Ionian and Aegean Seas, including Crete. The mainland of Greece is washed by the seas on three sides, the coastline is heavily indented and has a length of 4100 km (including the islands - about 15,000 km). The area of ​​Greece is 132 thousand square meters. km, including islands - 25 thousand square meters. km. In the north, the country borders with Albania, Macedonia and Bulgaria, in the east - with Turkey. The southern shores are washed by the Mediterranean Sea, the western - by the Ionian and the eastern - by the Aegean.

Greece. The capital is Athens. Area - 131,990 sq. km. Population - 10.493 million people (1995). Population density - 80 people per 1 sq. km. km. Urban population - 71.7%, rural - 28.3%. The highest point is Mount Olympus (2917 m). The official language is Greek. The main religion is Orthodox Christianity. Administrative-territorial division: 51 nomes, which are united into 13 regions (9 mainland and 4 island), and a special district (the monastic region of Athos). Monetary unit: drachma = 100 lepta. National holiday: Independence Day - 25 March. National anthem: "Hymn to Freedom".

NATURE
Relief. The central part of mainland Greece north of the Gulf of Corinth is occupied by the massive Pindus mountain system, which is a continuation of the Dinaric highlands stretching through the entire former Yugoslavia and Albania. This mountainous and rugged region is characterized by a wide variety of landscape forms. The western part of peninsular Greece (Epirus) is composed of limestones, which, due to their high porosity, absorb atmospheric moisture and emphasize the arid character of the area. Karst landforms are widespread here. To the north, more stable rocks - granites and gneisses - alternate with limestones and form a heavily dissected landscape of northern Pindus. The eastern part of peninsular Greece has a more complex mosaic structure with alternating blocky highlands and grabens. The Thessalian Plain is the largest of these intermountain depressions. To the north is a rocky mountainous region crowned by Mount Olympus (2917 m), where, according to legend, the Greek gods lived. From the Aegean side, there is a magnificent view of this snow-capped mountain, floating in the clouds above the forested lower slopes. The Pinda system itself ends in the south with Mount Parnassus (2457 m) towering over the Corinthian Gulf. From this mountain to the east a small mountain spur separates the plains of Attica, where Athens is located, from the plains of Boeotia. The mountains are predominantly arid, with a thin soil cover, used only for summer pastures for sheep (they spend winter on the plains). The coasts of peninsular Greece are mostly cut off by steep cliffs to the sea, but in some places the mountains recede inland, and small flat areas are formed there. Such, for example, are the plains on which the city of Arta is located in the Gulf of Amvrakikos, the plains around Messolongion on the west coast, and near the cities of Volos and Lamia on the east. Until recently, many of these plains were swampy and known as foci of malaria, but thanks to modern methods of reclamation, they have been drained and become the most fertile in the country. The Peloponnese is a large peninsula, connected to the main part of the country by the narrow Isthmus of Corinth, through which a navigable canal is dug. The mountains of the Peloponnese are a continuation of the mountains of Pindus south of the Gulf of Corinth. From the central massif of the Peloponnese to the south and southeast, four mountain ranges depart, which form on the periphery the backbones of narrow peninsulas separated by deep bays, ending in the south with capes Akritas, Tenaron (Matapas) and Malea. The fourth, eastern peninsula is Argolis between the Saronic and Argolicos bays. The coast is strongly dissected and bordered by only a few flat areas, the most famous of which are in the nomes of Argolis, Laconia and Elis. Greek Macedonia and Thrace border the northern coast of the Aegean Sea. The estuarine sections of the Alyakmon, Vardar, Strymon and Nestos rivers, originating in the depths of the Balkan Peninsula and flowing through these areas to the sea to the south, are the largest plains of Greece, separated from each other by hilly ridges that enter the territory of Greece from the Republic of Macedonia and Bulgaria. Thrace is largely formed by the southern spurs of the Rhodope Mountains, composed mainly of gneiss and schist, while the interlying plains are filled with sand, clay and pebbles. They are sparsely irrigated during the wet winter season, and during the Mediterranean summer these areas suffer from drought. On the northern coast of the Aegean Sea, the large peninsula of Halkidiki stands out, which is divided in the south into three narrow peninsulas - Kassandra, Sithonia and Aion Oros. The latter is famous for the famous Mount Athos, which rises steeply from the coast to a height of 2033 m. On the slopes of the mountain there are monasteries that played a big role in the history of the Orthodox Church. Insular Greece includes the Ionian Islands, located in the Ionian Sea along the western coast, and six separate groups in the Aegean Sea. The Ionian archipelago consists of seven large islands, the largest of which is Kefalonia (717 sq. km). The island of Kerkyra (Corfu) is located near the border with Albania, and the southernmost island of Zakynthos is off the coast of the Peloponnese. The relief of the Ionian Islands is mountainous, the soils are infertile, and the population is small (the exception is the fertile island of Kerkyra). In the northern part of the Aegean Sea there are three large islands - Thassos, Samothrace and Lemnos. Representing the peaks of ridges that have gone under water in geologically recent times, they are distinguished by a mountainous, highly dissected relief. The shores of Samothrace are steep and rocky, and there are no harbours. Further south are the Northern Sporades, where the mountains are not as high as those on the northern islands. To the south of this archipelago stands out the island of Euboea, the largest in the Aegean Sea. Its medieval name is Negropont. In the east of the Aegean off the coast of Asia Minor are the Greek islands of Lesbos (with the main city of Mytilini; this name is sometimes transferred to the whole island), Chios and Samos. To the east of the Peloponnese is the Cyclades archipelago, consisting of about 20 large islands located in ridges, including Andros, Tinos and Naxos in the north, and Sifnos, Serifos, Milos, Paros and Thira in the south. In addition, there are many small islands and individual rocks that do not have a permanent population. In the Cyclades, granite, marble and other building materials are being developed. Paros has been known since antiquity for its marble quarries. The relief of most of the islands is mountainous, and the coastal lowlands occupy small areas. The largest and most important of the Greek islands is Crete (an area of ​​8.3 thousand sq. km), stretching for 250 km in length and up to 58 km in width. Its mountains, reaching a height of 2456 m (Mount Ida), are composed mainly of massive limestone and are similar to the mountains of mainland Greece. To the east of the Cyclades are the Southern Sporades, which include the Dodecanese (Greek for "twelve islands"). The Dodecanese includes Rhodes off the southwestern coast of Turkey, one of the most populated islands in the Aegean.

Rivers Greece are few. They are short and fast flowing. Many of them flow from limestone caves as full-flowing streams. In mainland Greece, the rivers Arachthos, Acheloos, Alyakmon, Pinhos and Sperchios, known from Greek myths and legends, originate in the mountains of Pindus and flow from them into either the Ionian or the Aegean Sea. Most of the Peloponnese is irrigated by the rivers Alfios and Evrotas. All these rivers descend steeply from the mountains into narrow valleys, and then flow into the sea. In the dry summer months, the runoff is sharply reduced, the rivers become very shallow, in places they dry up. The rivers of Macedonia and Thrace - Aksios (Vardar), Strymon (Struma) and Nestos (Mesta) begin outside the Mediterranean climate region with a dry summer season, and although they also have a winter maximum flow, they do not dry up in summer. The climate of Greece is characterized by long hot and dry summers and mild, wet winters. In such a mountainous country as Greece, local climatic differences are expressed. In southern Greece, precipitation almost always falls during the winter months. The greatest amount of summer precipitation falls in the north. In Kerkyra, the northernmost of the Ionian Islands, the average annual precipitation is 1220 mm, almost 3/4 of them fall in October - February, but it also rains in summer. Most precipitation, including summer, falls in the mountains of Pindus. In Greek Macedonia and Thrace, most of the precipitation falls in the winter, but the summer is far from dry. Athens has a more typical Mediterranean climate. The average annual precipitation here is 394 mm, of which 3/4 falls in October - March, and in the summer months there is almost no rain. The lowlands throughout Greece are characterized by summer heat, with mean July temperatures of 26-27°C. Winter temperatures are more varied. In Thessaloniki, Macedonia, winters are cool, but occasionally, when the winds blow from the Stara Planina (Balkan) mountains, there are periods of very cold weather. Farther south in winter, the plains usually have warm weather, but already a little distance from Athens or Corfu, the slopes of Pindus are covered with snow for several months, and on the top of Mount Olympus, snow lies all year round.
Soils and vegetation. The soils of Greece depend on the parent rocks and the climate. Due to the wide distribution of limestones, thin soils predominate, in many places limestones come to the surface. The soils of the plains were formed mainly on alluvial deposits and are quite fertile, but they dry out a lot in summer. It is believed that in the past the territory of Greece was densely forested, but most of these forests were brought down at the beginning of antiquity. As a result of the destruction of forests, the slopes of the mountains were subjected to severe erosion. Plato writes in Critia (111b) that Greece is "the skeleton of a body exhausted by disease, when all the fat and soft earth was washed away, so that only a gnawed skeleton remained of the country." The lower slopes of the mountains in Greece, in addition to cultivated land, are covered with thickets of the so-called. maquis. Maquis is a tall and dense thicket of xerophytic shrubs (arbutus, myrtle, rockroses, tree-like heather, wild pistachio, wild olive, rosemary, junipers). Maquis degenerates into sparse and sparse plant groups known as garrigas. The original forest cover has been preserved on the higher and more inaccessible slopes of Pinda, Olympus and the Rhodope Mountains. There, on the middle parts of the slopes, forests of oak, beech, hornbeam and chestnut grow, conifers appear higher.
Fauna. Most of the wild animals disappeared in Greece along with the forests. The red deer is almost exterminated, but small animals such as rabbits and hares are common. Larger animals are still found in the mountains: the mountain goat and brown bear are found in Pinda and the mountains along the border with Bulgaria, and the wolf is found in more remote forest areas.
POPULATION
Ethnic composition. During the period of classical Greece, from about 1000 BC. up to 4 c. BC, there was almost no mixing between the Greeks and the tribes surrounding them. After the defeat by Philip of Macedon in 338 BC. they became part of a vast empire that united many different peoples. In the 6th-7th centuries. AD Slavic peoples penetrated almost all corners of Greece. Those of them that settled south of Macedonia were gradually absorbed by the Greek population. By the end of the Middle Ages, Albanians settled in the fertile valleys of Thessaly. Although Greece was under the rule of Ottoman Turkey for almost four centuries, from 1453 to 1829, Turkish influence on the composition of the population was small. Significant population migrations after the First World War, especially in the 1920s, increased the homogeneity of the composition of the Greek population. Over 1.2 million Greeks living in different parts of the Ottoman Empire were returned to Greece, a large number of Turks moved from Greece to Turkey. A similar exchange took place between Greece and Bulgaria. In the middle of the 20th century the population of the country almost entirely consisted of Greeks, and national minorities made up an insignificant part of the population. The most numerous of the national minorities were the Turks (about 100 thousand people) living in Western Thrace and Rhodes. Macedonians, Bulgarians, Gypsies, Armenians, and others also live in the country. Almost 300,000 Albanians have illegally arrived in Greece in recent years. Many Greeks live abroad. Ancient Greek communities exist in cities such as Istanbul and Alexandria. The population of the Mediterranean island nation of Cyprus is more than 80% Greek. Immigrants are accepted by Greek communities in North America.
Religion. Almost the entire population of the country belongs to the Greek Orthodox Church. According to the constitution, Orthodox Christianity is the state religion. Freedom of choice of religion is guaranteed, but missionary activities of other religious groups among Orthodox Christians are prohibited. Among the followers of other religions, there are 230,000 Muslims (1990), 58,000 Catholics, 17,000 Protestants, and 5,000 Jews (mainly in Thessaloniki). In 1943, before the start of the mass extermination of Jews, there were 75,000 of them in Greece.

demographic data. According to the 1991 census, the population of Greece was 10,264 thousand people (according to an estimate in 1996 - 10,475 thousand). Natural population growth in 1961-1971 reached 0.5% per year, in 1971-1981 - 1%, in 1981-1991 - 0.6%, in 1990-1996 - 0.5%. Large-scale emigration took place in the 1960s and early 1970s. Many left Greece in search of work in more prosperous European countries, especially in Germany and Belgium. In 1995, the birth rate per 1,000 people was 10, and the death rate was 10. Child mortality has declined sharply over the past 50 years: from almost 49 in 1951 to 9 in 1996.
Urbanization. After the First World War, there was a strong outflow of the population from rural areas to cities. In 1940, less than 1/3 of the population lived in urban areas; in 1982, the share of the urban population increased to 54%, and in 1996, to 71%. The city of Athens with suburbs, including the port of Piraeus, in 1991 had 3.1 million inhabitants, or about 1/3 of the population of the country, and the second largest city in Greece, Thessaloniki with suburbs - 740 thousand. Greater Athens and (to a lesser extent) Thessaloniki are centers of cultural, economic and political life of the country. The third largest city in Greece, Patras (153,000 inhabitants in 1991), is the main port of the Peloponnese and an important shipping center. Among other large cities, Heraklion stands out (116 thousand inhabitants), the main city of Crete with magnificent museums; Volos (106.1 thousand, of which 77 thousand are in the city itself), the main port of Thessaly, and Larissa (113 thousand), an important railway junction in Thessaly. See below
GREECE. STATE AND POLITICS
GREECE. CULTURE
GREECE. STORY
LITERATURE

Kurbatov G.L. History of Byzantium. M., 1984 History of Ancient Greece. M., 1986 Kumanetsky K. History of culture of ancient Greece and Rome. M., 1990

Collier Encyclopedia. - Open society. 2000 .

Synonyms:

See what "GREECE" is in other dictionaries:

Hellenic Republic, state in the south of Europe. The name Greece (from the Latin Graecia), adopted in Russian. and other languages, formed from the ethnonym Greeks, a small tribe of Epirus Dorians from Illyria. In Greece itself, their state is called Hellas or Hellas, t ... Geographic Encyclopedia

Greece- Greece. Agora in Corinth. GREECE (Greek Republic), a state in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula and numerous islands of the Mediterranean Sea (the largest Crete, Euboea, Rhodes, Lesvos). area 132 thousand km2. Population 10.3 million people,… … Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

Greece is a country where everything is there! Luxurious beaches, clear waters of the Mediterranean Sea, many amazing architectural monuments, excellent cuisine and cozy hotels... The "Cradle of Civilization", as Greece is also called, is located in southern Europe - on a part of the Balkan Peninsula and more than 1400 islands.

Visa

To travel to Greece you will need. The requirements for a passport are standard - it must be valid for 3 months from the date of completion of the trip, and 2 pages must be free from marks in the document itself.

Currency

The currency in Greece is the euro. Until 2000, the Greek drachma was in use. There are many exchange offices and ATMs in the country, in large resorts you can easily pay with a bank card. However, if you are going on vacation to Greece on the outlying islands, it is better to stock up on cash.

Weather

Navajo beach. Zakynthos, Greece

It is best to go to Greece in the warm season - from May to September. The swimming season in the sea on the island opens at the end of April and ends in October. In other resorts, the sea warms up a little later - by the end of May. In Greece, it is almost always warm and sunny, you can come on excursions at any time of the year.

Resorts

Chania, Crete island, Greece

The most popular resorts in Greece are the islands and. Here you can easily choose a suitable tour option - a wide variety of beaches and hotels, fairly inexpensive prices, there are good hotels for families with children. If you are going to Greece for the first time, then it is better to choose these resorts. Crete is associated with ancient Greek myths and the birthplace of the minotaur. Rhodes is known for the fact that it was here that one of the wonders of the world was located - the Colossus of Rhodes.

Round trip flights to Greece

Ticket prices shown are for 1 person departing from Berlin

Attractions

Parthenon. Athens, Greece

By the number of attractions, Greece confidently holds a place in the top ten countries in the world. Ancient ruins, picturesque islands, magnificent beaches, amazing excursions, hospitable taverns... There are probably even more attractions in Greece than residents and tourists combined!

Many famous sights are found on the Greek mainland. Athens is the capital-museum where you literally cannot take a step without discovering traces of history. In the central part of Greece are the ruins of the ancient city of Delphi. Also, tourists go to Greece on pilgrimage tours to the monasteries.

On the islands, vacationers are interested in ancient ruins, architectural monuments and stunning landscapes. The most famous sights of island Greece are located on and.

Kitchen

Souvlaki and moussaka skewers take pride of place in the national cuisine of Greece - they will be on the menu of any restaurant. In Greece, the famous Greek salad is called "horiatiki", that is, "village". For a quick snack, pita is suitable - a flatbread with meat and vegetable filling.

Portions in Greece are very generous, keep this in mind when ordering. Before serving the main courses, the café offers freshly baked bread and olive oil free of charge.

You should definitely try the snails (escargo), the sarca (beef with tomatoes, garlic and special sheep’s cheese ladotiri), the pastitia (lasagna with a Greek accent) or the swordfish kebab (ksifias souvlaki), the white eggplant with grilled octopus.

Greeks love to drink coffee - both hot and cold, with ice. For a hearty dinner or lunch, retsina (white wine), ouzo (aniseed vodka) or Greek beer Mythos are often ordered. If you are on, be sure to try kumquat liqueurs, and on - assyrtiko wine.

What to bring

The main Greek souvenir is olives. Oil, soap, pate - that only the Greeks do not make from the fruits of the olive-nurse. Olive oil costs about 10 euros per litre.

Sweets take second place in the ranking of Greek souvenirs. Nougat and Turkish delight (2-5 euros per box) here are not at all the same as in. Local honey is especially interesting - a small jar will cost 8-10 euros. Many people bring alcohol from Greece - ouzo, metaxa, rakia, kumquat liquor.

The famous handmade Greek leather sandals will cost 30-60 euros per pair. You can take measurements and make shoes exactly on the leg for 120-200 euros. In addition to them, you can look at linen clothes with a national pattern - a meander.

Another souvenir from Orthodox Greece is an icon. The faces of the saints, made on a cypress board and consecrated in one of the monasteries of the country, will be a wonderful gift for yourself or believing loved ones.

Prices for souvenirs in Greece depend on the resort and the distance of the outlet from the center - the farther from the well-trodden tourist trail, the cheaper.

Good to know

• It takes 3.5-4 hours to fly from Moscow to Athens. Flight time to Crete or Rhodes is 3-3.5 hours.
• In winter, time in Greece is one hour behind Moscow, in summer there is no time difference.
• Restaurants and taverns in Greece are open from 12:00 to 16:00 and from 20:00 to midnight, and some of them accept guests until 2:00 at night.
• Greek hotels are not assigned "stars", but categories: deluxe (5 *), A (4 *), B (3 *) and C (2 *).
• In Greece, it is customary to leave a tip of 10-20% of the bill. In places popular with tourists, the mark-up is already included in the bill.
• Museums throughout Greece can be visited free of charge on all Sundays between November 1st and March 31st. On major holidays (both secular and church), admission to museums is also free.
• Greece has a well-developed bus service. Tickets are sold at newsstands or small shops near the bus stops. On the islands, you can negotiate and buy a ticket from the driver - however, it will cost more. "Vote" - otherwise the bus will not stop.
• Taxis in Greece are not very expensive. The color of the cars is different: in Athens they are yellow, in Thessaloniki they are blue or white, and in Rhodes they are black.
• Entrance to Athos is allowed only for men. There are no exceptions, even female animals are not allowed on Athos - for more than a thousand years. To get there, men need to apply for a special visa and written permission - diamontirion.

Greece is an amazing and multifaceted country. Here, the sea coast is adjacent to mountain ranges, cozy fishing villages - with noisy youth discos, and a relaxed beach holiday is covered with parables and legends of Ancient Greece. Traces of the ancient civilization can be seen here in each of the sunny Greek regions ... And it's up to you to choose - to try the cherry of this fragrant cake, experiencing all the delights of beach relaxation, or to get to know the taste of all its layers, trying to better understand Greek history and culture in the Acropolis, Meteora or on Olympus.

In Greece, the sun shines 300 days a year, and the country's shores are washed by four warm seas at once - the Aegean, Ionian, Mediterranean and Cretan. Here, several times a year, they harvest juicy fruits and fresh vegetables, from which the Greeks know how to cook, it seems, the most delicious salads and desserts in the world. The inhabitants of Greece are generally born culinary specialists - no matter what tavern you visit during your vacation, it will be delicious everywhere! Greece will infect you with love not only for the amazing Mediterranean cuisine, but also with its philosophical attitude to life. It is not without reason that most famous philosophers come from these parts! You will learn not to rush anywhere, to see harmony in everything and savor every hour of your stay in this country. It is impossible to return from Greece not in love - to the sea, golden sand, fresh bread with olive oil and open smiles of the Greeks.

Conventionally, mainland Greece can be divided into four favorite zones for tourists - the Athenian Riviera, the Halkidiki peninsula with its three "fingers", Pieria, or the Olympic Riviera, and the Peloponnese peninsula. Of course, Greece is inconceivable without its fabulously beautiful islands, the crown jewel of which is Santorini. Zakynthos, Corfu, Evia, Mykonos, as well as Rhodes, Crete and Thassos are loved by tourists - about 2000 islands belong to Greece. You will read in detail about the most popular regions of Greece further.

When is the best time to go on vacation to Greece?

The choice depends on your goals. If your dream is to eat ripe strawberries on the beach or huge Greek olives with cool wine, if you dream of swimming, sunbathing and not thinking about anything, then you should plan your vacation from the end of June to the end of August. It is good to go on mountain excursions at this time: to Meteora monasteries floating in the air, to Olympus - in the mountains at this time it is very fresh and comfortable. If you are an inquisitive tourist, then the best time for sightseeing holidays is May, June and September. And although the beach season in Greece opens in early May and lasts until October, many people visit Greece with pleasure in the winter too - they buy fur coats, visit ski resorts, bask in the thermal springs of the resort of Loutraki and ... celebrate the New Year!

How to get to Greece

There is no regular communication between Belarus and Greece, but this is more than offset by charter flights, which are organized by tour operators to almost any region of the country of the Hellenes. The closest region is Halkidiki, the flight from Minsk to Thessaloniki takes only 2 hours and 15 minutes. Belarus and Greece have the same time zone, so you can forget about acclimatization, you won’t have to adapt to the new rhythm - this is especially important for those who fly to Greece on vacation with children. Thanks to a wide charter program, together with the largest Greek tour operator Mouzenidis Travel, you can get to the resorts of Halkidiki, Pieria, Peloponnese, Corfu and Zakynthos.

Visa to Greece

You can travel to Greece with a Schengen visa. You can get it yourself at the Greece visa center in Minsk (Zheleznodorozhnaya st., 33), or you can entrust this process to professionals. When buying a tour, your travel company takes care of all the hassle of obtaining a visa to Greece. However, if you have not yet been fingerprinted, you will need to visit the Greece Visa Application Center in person to submit your documents. Children under the age of 12 are exempted from submitting biometric data. The fee for issuing a visa is 95 EUR at the rate of the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus + 1% for adults, 30 EUR for children from 6 to 11 inclusive, for children under 5 years of age inclusive, a visa is free.

To obtain a visa to Greece, you need:

• profile,
• a passport valid for another 3 months after the end of the trip, and a copy of the passport.
• two color photographs
• certificate from the place of work indicating the position and salary for the last six months,
• medical insurance.

Greece Hotels

Greek beaches

The entire coast of Greece is beautifully indented with large and small bays with azure water - it deserves the glory of one of the most picturesque in Europe. Most of the country's beaches are sandy, with soft golden sand. In some regions there are pebble beaches, but pontoon beaches are rare for Greece. When choosing a tour to Greece, check this question with a Mouzenidis Travel specialist.

All beaches in Greece are municipal. This means that anyone can access them. However, hotels and beach cafes take the adjacent beaches under their wings, monitor cleanliness and safety, and charge for sunbeds and umbrellas. Some cafes practice renting beach equipment for a cocktail - you buy a cocktail and can use the beach equipment for free on the coastal strip near the cafe or bar.

Shopping in Greece

Greece is famous all over the world for its production of fur coats - every year thousands of fashionistas from all over the world fly to Kastoria and similar factory towns to choose a warm new thing for themselves. The Mouzenidis Travel company offers special conditions for those who want to combine a vacation at sea with the purchase of a fur coat - a tour costing 1 EUR * in winter and from 69 EUR in summer.

But not only for fur coats it is worth going to the country of the Hellenes. New collections of European brands are the first to appear in the stores of Patras, the third largest city in Greece, located in the Peloponnese. It is here that ferries from Italy arrive, loaded with fashionable items from European designers.

Those who like to plunge into shopping will appreciate the shopping centers of Athens and Thessaloniki - the two largest cities in Greece, the capital and ... the northern capital of Greece, as Thessaloniki is called. Bags and wallets from Axel, European brands, Greek cosmetics Apivita, Korres, Macrovita, clothing by Greek designers Toi&Moi - all this and more can be found in ATTICA and Mediterranean Cosmos shopping centers. The amount of the required purchase amount for VAT refund in Greece (Tax Free) is 50 EUR.

For exclusive gizmos, exclusive clothes of Greek designers, handmade jewelry, you should go to the main shopping streets of Athens and Thessaloniki, in the very heart of the cities.

And, of course, it is impossible to imagine the suitcase of a tourist flying away from a Greek resort without olive oil, huge local olives, spices and sets for tzatziki - a traditional Greek snack. And also - without a ceramic souvenir, for example, a pomegranate, a Greek symbol of prosperity and well-being, and a symbol of the region: for example, on Zakynthos it is a turtle, on the Athenian Riviera - an owl.

Greek Cuisine

Greek cuisine is considered the basis of the Mediterranean diet. And this means that not only the sea and air in Greece contribute to health, but also food. Everything here is prepared from local organic and fresh products. The greatest variety of crops is grown on the Halkidiki peninsula, so prices in the markets of local resorts will be lower, and the choice of vegetables and fruits will be larger.

Greek cuisine is based on two principles - freshness and simplicity. All food for cooking should be fresh, freshly picked (for greens) or caught (for fish and marine life), and the dish should be simple. Therefore, do not look for frills, intricate culinary masterpieces in Greece. Already on the first day you will understand that you do not need them, and the Greeks were right again - the simpler, the tastier, the brighter the taste of each component and the more accessible the harmony. As you can see, the Greeks turned out to be philosophers in the kitchen too!

What is worth trying in Greece?

First of all, horiatiki is the famous Greek salad seasoned with olive oil. From meat dishes - eggplant moussaka casserole and souvlaki kebab with tzatziki sauce. Of course, being in a country on four seas, it is unforgivable not to experience the whole variety of seafood cuisine - in the taverns of Greece, fish in a variety of variations, mussels, shrimp, grilled octapodi, or fried octopus are served. Be sure to order Greek wine for such a variety - one of the best in the world. Or a special Greek wine with a signature resinous flavor - retsinu. For lovers of stronger drinks, there is ouzo - anise vodka or metaxa cognac.

For those who adhere to a sober lifestyle, there is always a cup of iced frappe coffee - ideal on a hot day. Greeks drink tea in very rare cases - with a cold. There are no soups in Greek cuisine that are familiar to us. Recently, however, some hotels have been introducing soups into their menus - this is done mainly for families vacationing with children, so that the kids feel at home without adjusting to a new diet.

Holidays with children in Greece

Greeks love all children as their own. Therefore, be prepared for increased attention to your child at the resorts. Your baby will be complimented, treated to sweets and pampered in every possible way. This is typical not only for ordinary Greeks, but also for owners of hotels that provide free accommodation and other bonuses for children. Details about holidays in Greece with children can be found in one of the previous articles.

• To Greece - with children: the benefits of relaxation and the best hotels

Guide to the regions of Greece

Chalkidiki

The peninsula of Halkidiki is figuratively called the "Poseidon's trident" - its three long peninsulas of Kassandra, Sithonia and Athos really resemble a trident. Halkidiki is Northern Greece with its capital Thessaloniki. About a million people live in the country's second largest city. In Thessaloniki, not only business and trade, but also the party life of the region is concentrated. From Thessaloniki Airport to the nearest resorts - only 40 minutes drive. From Minsk to Thessaloniki you can fly directly in 2 hours 15 minutes - this is the fastest flight from Belarus. And, accordingly, the most inexpensive - due to this, tours to the resorts of Halkidiki can be a little more pleasant in price.

Due to the not so hot climate as in the south of the country, Halkidiki can boast of amazing coniferous forests - here the salty sea air is filled with phytoncides, forming a special healing cocktail. And here, along 500 km of the coastline, there are beaches with fine golden sand, which is so suitable for the delicate legs of the smallest tourists. The most popular resorts of Halkidiki are Kallikratia, Kallithea, Afytos and Chanioti.

Halkidiki is not very rich in attractions. The most important of them - and what! - Holy Mount Athos, where pilgrims come from all over the world. Only men can enter here, having previously received a special permit. Women can go on a cruise along the shores of Mount Athos and bow to the Belt of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which is brought by monks from the Vatopedi monastery on a boat. In addition, from Halkidiki it is convenient to go for a new fur thing - on an excursion to the town of Kastoria.

• Bomo Club Aqua Mare 3* . Price: 7 days in June - from 497 EUR, breakfasts
• Bomo Club Olympic Kosma 3* . Price: 7 days in June - from 558 EUR, breakfasts + dinners, from 615 EUR, all inclusive.
• Athos Palace Hotel 4* . Price: 7 days in June - from 636 EUR, breakfasts + dinners, from 797 EUR, all inclusive.

Pieria

The Olympic Riviera, in addition to having the famous Mount Olympus, is rich in beautiful natural views. This coast of Greece is as if in an embrace - on the one hand, it is washed by warm sea waves, on the other, it indulges with beautiful views of the mountain range. And the creation of human hands - a string of resort villages - can compete with natural creations for the palm in picturesqueness. The most popular of them are Paralia Katerini, Litochoro, Nei Pori, Neos Panteleimon.

What else is good about Pieria is its location. It is located just south of Thessaloniki, which makes it very convenient to go on excursions around Greece from Pieria, and for special connoisseurs - to the islands of the Northern Sporades, where the filming of the film "Mamma mia!" with Meryl Streep.

• SKS Boutique Rooms. Price: 7 days in June - from 478 EUR, no power
• Poseidon Palace 4*+ Price: 7 days in June - from 744 EUR, all inclusive

Peloponnese

"Greece in miniature" - this is how this peninsula is called, here you can touch with your hand the legends that you read about in school textbooks, watched movies: Sparta, Corinth, Mycenae, Olympia ... It was on these lands that Hercules accomplished most of his exploits, from here they set off troops to conquer Troy. The entire medieval heritage of Greece is concentrated in the Peloponnese, adjacent to the leisurely rural life of villages and resorts. The largest of them is Patras, a city of students and great shopping. But it is famous not only for youth entertainment. In Patras, there is the Cathedral of St. Andrew the First-Called - the largest basilica on the Balkan Peninsula. And the whole north of the peninsula seems to be dotted with small monasteries.

The ancient Venetian town of Nafpaktos is also popular in this region, where history meets relaxed beach holidays within its medieval walls. Due to the location of the resort, Nafpaktos is a convenient place to explore both mainland Greece and the Peloponnese peninsula. You can rent a car, or you can use the KTEL network buses - although there may be problems with punctuality in the company, this is more than offset by the variety and range of routes.

• Akti Hotel 2* . Price: 7 days in June - from 548 EUR, breakfast
• Grecotel Lakopetra Beach 4* . Price: 7 days in June - from 900 EUR, all inclusive

Corfu

The greenest Ionian island in Greece, where "stick a stick into the ground - it will turn green," according to the Greeks. Corfu is called "Venice in Greece" - once the island was under the auspices of the Venetians. The architecture and some sights are still reminiscent of those times. As some of the details are reminiscent of the times of the protectorate of Britain, there are English pubs in Corfu, which are very popular with British tourists. As, by the way, the island itself, because here is the most party resort in Greece - Kavos.

Kavos deserves the name of "Greek Ibiza" and "the second Kazantip" - discos rumble here until the morning, and alcohol flows like water. If you love Corfu, but do not intend to sacrifice your sleep, choose the slightly calmer Gouvia or Benitses.

• Messonghi Beach Resort 3* . Price: 7 days in June - from 636 EUR, all inclusive
• Corfu Dassia Chandris & Spa Hotel 4* . Price: 7 days in June - from 804 EUR, breakfasts + dinners

Zakynthos

The southernmost Ionian island of Greece, divided in half - the southern part is occupied by resorts, the northwestern - by a nature reserve. A rare breed of carriage-carriage turtles lives here, which the Greeks have chosen as the main symbol of the island. Zakynthos is no less beloved by British tourists, and the main resort of Laganas may well compete for the title of the most party-oriented with Kavos. Young people settle in the center of Laganas with pleasure - closer to bars, restaurants and discos. Families with children, on the other hand, choose the outskirts of the resort, where city-type hotels are replaced by good family hotels. Or choose the picturesque Vasilikos, calm Tsilivi, Agios Sostis and other villages.

Ekaterina KULBITSKA

+375 17 392 88 88
office on st. Kalvariyskaya, 17
[email protected]

INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY

Travel company "Mouzenidis Travel" exists in Belarus since 2000 and during this time has achieved success in the tourism market, having won a strong position as the leading tour operator in Greece. In 2016, the company also offers a novelty - the island of Cyprus, where the high standards of service quality that have been developed in the Greek direction will be transferred. In these areas, the scope of the company's activities includes: booking villas, hotels and apartments, an extensive excursion program, sea tours, cruises, medical and recreational holidays, pilgrimage tours, educational programs, real estate tours, business trips and VIP tourism. The Mouzenidis Travel company, like no other, knows how to present Greece in all its grandeur.

Greece is of interest to almost any person. Someone is interested in the history of Ancient Hellas, someone aspires to this country, considering it the cradle of Orthodoxy, and some tourists, and they seem to be the majority, just want to relax in the beautiful Greek beach resorts. More than 15 million tourists from all over the world visit Greece every year.

In the 5th century BC, Greece was the center of the ecumene, the undisputed leader in art, architecture, science, mathematics, philosophy, theater and literature. Now Greece is famous for its amazing landscape, natural beauty, numerous historical monuments, as well as beautiful beach resorts.

Geography of Greece

Greece is located in southeastern Europe. In the east and northeast, Greece borders on Turkey, in the north - on Bulgaria, Macedonia and Albania, in the south it is washed by the warm waters of the Mediterranean Sea, in the west - the Ionian, and in the east - the Aegean Sea.

The total area of ​​Greece is almost 132 thousand square kilometers, including islands (about 20% of the territory of Greece are islands), and the total length of the state border is 1,228 km.

A significant part of the territory of Greece is occupied by mountains. Moreover, the highest of them is the famous Mount Olympus in Thessaly (2,917 m).

There are about 3,053 islands in Greece. The largest Greek islands are Crete in the Mediterranean and Euboea in the Aegean.

Capital

The capital of Greece is the ancient city of Athens, which is now home to more than 5 million people. This city was founded about 3,500 years ago.

Official language of Greece

The official language of Greece is Greek, which is a branch of the Indo-European languages. The first archaeological evidence for the existence of the Greek language dates back to the 15th century BC.

Religion

About 97% of the Greek population consider themselves Orthodox Christians belonging to the Greek Catholic Church. According to a Eurostat poll, 81% of Greeks believe that "God exists".

State structure

Greece is a parliamentary republic in which the head of state is the President (he is elected by the Parliament). The current Greek Constitution was adopted relatively long ago, in 1975.

Legislative power in this country belongs to the unicameral Parliament (300 deputies).

The main political parties are the liberal New Democracy, the leftist Panhellenic Social Movement, the Coalition of the Radical Left, the People's Orthodox Appeal, and the Communist Party of Greece.

Climate and weather

In the coastal regions of Greece (Athens, Cyclades, Dodecanese, Crete, Peloponnese and part of Central Hellas), the Mediterranean climate prevails (winter is mild and humid, and summer is dry and hot).

In the mountainous regions of northwestern Greece (some parts of Epirus, Central Greece, Thessaly and Western Macedonia), as well as in the mountainous part of the Peloponnese, including Achaia, Arcadia and Laconia, the climate is alpine with heavy snowfalls.

In the interior of central Greece, in Central Macedonia, Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, the climate is temperate.

In July, the average air temperature in Athens is +28.7C, on the island of Corfu - +27.8C, and on the island of Rhodes - 26.8C.

Sea in Greece

Greece is washed by the waters of the Ionian (in the west), the Mediterranean (in the south) and the Aegean (in the east) seas. The total coastline is about 17,000 km. About 85% of the population of all of Greece lives in coastal areas (up to 50 km from the coast).

Sea water in Greece amazes and surprises all tourists. Its deep blue color is due, in part, to the reflection of the blue sky and the fact that it does not contain a large amount of solid matter (for example, plankton, dirt and dust).

There are about 450 species of fish and 12 species of cetaceans in the Greek seas.

There are about 3,053 islands in Greece. The largest of these are Crete in the Ionian Sea, Euboea in the Aegean Sea, and Corfu in the Ionian Sea.

Average sea temperature in Greece:

• January - +15C
• February - +14C
• March - +14С
• April - +15С
• May - +18C
• June - +22С
• july - +24С
• August - +25С
• september - +23C
• october - +21C
• November - +19C
• december - +16C

The average water temperature near Crete in May is +19C, in August - +25C, and in October - +23C.

Rivers and lakes of Greece

Despite the fact that a significant part of the territory of Greece is occupied by mountains, this country also has many rivers. In ancient times, the Greeks believed that the rivers belonged to the world of the gods, and worshiped them as separate deities.

The largest rivers in Greece are Alyakmon (297 km), Aheloos (217 km), and Mesta (230 km).

Perhaps tourists will be interested in Greek lakes, among which we single out Trichonis, Volvi, and Vegoritis.

History of Greece

Greece marked the beginning of European civilization. The Greek city-states of Athens, Corinth, and Sparta joined forces only when threatened by Persian invasion.

In the 5th century BC. Athens was the political, economic, and, of course, the cultural center of the Mediterranean. Then Sparta, led by Alexander the Great, gained a dominant role over the Greek lands. At this time, the Greeks defeated the Persians and extended their influence over vast territories, up to India.

In 146 BC. Greece was conquered by the Roman Empire. In 395 AD, after the collapse of the Roman Empire, Byzantium (officially called the Eastern Roman Empire) was formed, with Constantinople (modern Istanbul) as its capital.

In 1453, the Byzantine Empire was liquidated, and the territory of modern Greece fell under the rule of the Ottoman Empire. For the next 350 years, Greece was part of the Turkish Ottoman Empire.

As a result of the liberation war of 1821-1829, Greece finally gained independence. In 1833, Otto of Bavaria became king of Greece. The monarchy in Greece (since 1863 the Danish royal family ruled the Greeks) lasted until 1973.

After World War II, Greece plunged into civil war until the right-wing monarchists won in 1954. From 1967 to 1974, Greece was ruled by the so-called. "black colonels".

In 1981, after years of consultation, Greece became a member of the EU.

Greek culture

Greek culture begins with the Mycenaean and Minoan civilizations (this is an example of 2000 BC). After that, there was a period in the history of Greece, which historians call classical. At this time, Greek culture was formed, which began to influence neighboring peoples. In general, Greece is the birthplace of mankind, and one way or another, Greek culture has influenced a huge number of countries. The successors of Greek culture are Ancient Rome and the Byzantine Empire.

In the Middle Ages, the culture of Greece was greatly influenced by the Ottoman Empire. But this is understandable, because. For about 350 years, Greece was just one of the provinces of the Ottoman Empire.

It was in ancient Greece that science was born. Modern philosophy, mathematics and astronomy are based on the knowledge gained by the ancient Greeks.

The most famous ancient Greek philosophers are Aristotle, Plato, Diogenes, Crates of Athens, Diogenes and Socrates.

The most famous ancient Greek mathematicians are Archimedes, Pythagoras, Democritus and Euclid.

The Greeks are very superstitious, they believe not only in God, but also in supernatural powers. Until now, the Greeks take the myths of ancient Greece seriously. Moreover, in every region of Greece, in every village, on every island, there are their own superstitions and traditions.

The Greeks will never personally hand over a knife to a person who asks them to, but simply put it, for example, on the table. It is believed that if you give someone a knife, then this person will have to fight.

The most popular Greek folk (and very often religious) holidays are Theophany, Gynecocracy, Tsiknopempti (Meat Thursday), Maundy Monday, Annunciation, Good Friday, Easter, Pontic Genocide Remembrance Day, Trinity, Polytechnic and Christmas.

If two Greeks say the same words at the same time, they will definitely touch some red object, otherwise, it is believed that they will fight and become enemies. Where this superstition came from - history is silent.

Greek Cuisine

We definitely advise tourists in Greece to visit local restaurants and enjoy Greek cuisine. The variety of dishes, as well as their taste, make Greek cuisine unique. A characteristic feature of Greek cuisine is the use of olive oil in absolutely every dish.

Also, the Greeks usually use a lot of vegetables and spices when cooking. However, the spices are quite mild, and there is no need to be afraid of strong spiciness.

We all know "Greek salad" and moussaka. However, these dishes are only a prelude to real Greek cuisine. Each region of Greece, each island has its own dishes and methods of their preparation. Therefore, the taste of moussaka on the island of Corfu will not be the same as that of moussaka on the Dedecanes Islands.

We definitely advise tourists in Greece to try Fasolada bean soup, shrimp fried in butter, souvlaki (shish kebabs on wooden sticks), Greek fish fillet, flatbread with meat, potatoes and tomato "gyro", "fritta" from vegetables with tzazyki sauce, as well as kakavia fish soup.

The ancient Greeks considered wine to be the drink of the gods, and in modern Greece this alcoholic drink is very popular. True, the ancient Greeks diluted wine with spring water, and modern Greeks for some reason forgot this, in general, very useful tradition.

The most famous Greek spirits are tsipouro (also called tsikudya or crayfish), 38-47% alcohol, ouzo (anise vodka, 40% alcohol), and Metaxa brandy.

Sights of Greece

Greece ranks 1st in the world in terms of the number of attractions (in second and third places are Italy and Bulgaria, respectively). Therefore, we will highlight, in our opinion, the ten best attractions in Greece, although in fact there are many more.

Top 10 best attractions in Greece:

Cities and resorts

The largest Greek cities are Athens, Piraeus, Patras, Thessaloniki, and Heraklion.

The coastline in Greece is 13,676 kilometers, which means that there are a huge number of beautiful beaches with crystal clear waters, which are surrounded by rocks with pines and palms.

The most popular beach resorts in Greece are Athens, Santorini, Mykonos, Corfu, Rhodes, Kos, Chania and Chalkidiki.

Souvenirs/Shopping

• Greek shoes (in particular, handmade sandals).
• Gold jewelry.
• Folk talismans that "drive away the evil eye."
• Bouzouki (baglama) is a small stringed musical instrument.
• CDs with Greek folk music.
• Olives, olive oil.
• Greek cheese.
• Kitchen utensils.
• Alcoholic drinks - ouzo, tsipuro (tsikudya or raki) and Metaxa brandy.

Office Hours

Bank opening hours:

Mon-Thu: 08:30-14.30
Fri: 08:30-14.00

Banks on the larger islands tend to be open in the afternoon to cater to tourists.

Shops in Greece are open from Monday to Saturday from 9:00 am (from 8:30 am in summer)

Visa