There are a million reasons to visit the birthplace of Zeus, Zorbas, Seferis, Xatzidakis, Theodorakis and the list goes on but let me tell you the top 4 reasons to visit Greece.
Beautiful places, hospitable people, rich culture, stunning beaches, fantastic weather, unique destinations, Mediterranean cuisine just to name a few.
The cradle of Western civilization is a wonderful destination all year round. You simply need to visit Greece and see for yourself!
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1. The Epitome* of Hospitality
The ancient Greek value of hospitality, which ranked at or near the top of the list of virtues and still lives on today in modern Greece, is “philoxenia”. Translated from Greek, philoxenia literally means “friend to a stranger” and refers to the act of welcoming and caring for a stranger in one’s home.
The roots of philoxenia live deep in the heart of every Greek person nowadays, and this ancient concept and way of life which ancient Greeks practiced brings millions of visitors back to Greece every year.
For the ancient Greeks, it was an institution and an act of virtue to welcome and care for strangers in their home as they thought they were sent by the ancient Gods.
Over the years, the Greek generosity of spirit has become a cultural norm that is deeply embedded in every person in the nation. For Greeks, it is about sharing their lives with others — such as inviting new friends into their home for lunch, dinner or BBQ even 10 o’ clock in the evening!
After all, the famous Greek hospitality will make you feel a warm welcome wherever you go.
*: (epitome/ɪˈpɪtəmi,ɛˈpɪtəmi/ = the typical or highest example of a stated quality, as shown by a particular person or thing)
2. The Greek Mediterranean Cuisine
Mediterranean cuisine is famous for a reason.
In the late 1950s, the American physiologist Ancel Keys conducted the famous “Seven Countries Study”. It was an exhaustive study of the dietary culture of the Mediterranean. The conclusions of this project were truly surprising and coined the term “Mediterranean diet”.
The Mediterranean diet has its origins in a portion of land considered unique in its kind, the Mediterranean basin, which historians call “the cradle of society”, because within its geographical borders the whole history of the ancient world took place.
The principal aspects of this diet include proportionally high consumption of olive oil, legumes, unrefined cereals, fruits, and vegetables, moderate to high consumption of fish, moderate consumption of dairy products (mostly cheese and yogurt), moderate wine consumption, and low consumption of red meat products.
The importance of the Mediterranean diet in enriching human health & well-being is so substantial that in 2010, UNESCO included the Mediterranean dietary tradition in its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The Greek Mediterranean cuisine is not just a set of dishes.
It’s a whole cultural activity, a sacred ritual, a celebration of life.
Writers’ Retreats in Greece
3. Glorious Ancient Greek History & Culture
Ancient Greece, the birthplace of democracy, was the source of some of the greatest literature, architecture, science and philosophy in Western civilization, and home to beautiful historical sites like the Acropolis and the Parthenon.
In Greece, it’s harder to avoid ancient ruins than to find them. They survive in a broad spectrum of importance, quality of preservation, and overall impressiveness, with must-visit sites, 18 of which are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The city of Sparta, Island of Delos, Cape of Sounio, Oracle of Delphi, Ancient Olympia, the palace of Knosos, theater of Epidaurus, Mystras and Vergina are only a few and most prominent of the sites and landmarks you can visit in order to get a glimpse of the high spectrum of Ancient Greek history and culture that still lives around.
Greek history sits literally everywhere. From the most touristic and visited places like Mykonos, Santorini and Crete to the less explored areas like Peloponnese, Evia, Central Greece and Macedonia.
4. The Greek Sun
Helios, (Greek: “Sun”) in Greek religion, the Sun God, sometimes called a Titan. He drove a chariot daily from east to west across the sky and sailed around the northerly stream of Ocean each night in a huge cup.
In classical Greece, Helios was especially worshipped in Rhodes, where from at least the early 5th century BCE, he was regarded as the chief god, to whom the island belonged. His worship spread as he became increasingly identified with other deities, often under Eastern influence.
Aside from the historical citations and myths, the climate in Greece is typical of the Mediterranean climate, with mild and rainy winters but warm and dry summers with long sunshine at least 8 months throughout a year. We literally have sunshine and over 20-25 degrees almost all year round.
Greek sun means Greek summer. But Greek summer isn’t just about sun and sea. Greek summer is a state of mind that goes beyond time and seasons.
Greek summer is a thrill, a feast, a passion.
The Greek Taxi
It is the paradise on earth.
Greek summer is the Greek islands, the fresh farm-to-table tomatoes and cucumbers that make up for a great Greek salad and of course the Greek beaches.
According to Henry Miller, “It takes a lifetime for someone to discover Greece, but it only takes an instant to fall in love with her”.
If you are planning a trip to Greece, allow us to show you around, organise your accommodation, help you book your tickets to the Greek islands or book your flight tickets and make you feel like home.
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