The Splendor of Athens
"The glory that was Greece" is perhaps best symbolized by the Parthenon atop the Acropolis. This ancient structure overlooks Athens, a city full of history and mythology, worshiped by gods and by people as the center of learning, democracy, and power. Athens is considered the birthplace of Western civilization as it is the home of many scholars and philosophers of the antiquity. The most important civilization of the ancient world flourished here and its symbols can still be seen in some of the world's most recognizable sights. 

Mythical Atlantis
Atlantis - the oldest myth of mankind, the story about a prosperous land that disappeared without trace, sunk into the sea by the anger of gods - stands for the dream of the lost paradise. There is sufficient evidence to believe the connection between Santorini and the Atlantis myth. This speculation as well as Plato's description of Atlantis from 360 BCE was popularized by the History Channel's "Lost Worlds" series. According to Plato, Atlantis was a circular island inhabited by an immensely gifted, highly civilized, prosperous people. 

Crete
Crete, the largest island in Greece, is one of the most popular travel and vacation destinations. This southernmost island in Europe has a variety of natural features and historically significant sites. There are mountain villages, long sandy beaches, rocky bays, the fabled remains of the Minoan culture, old Venetian towns, quaint villages tucked in the foothills and the spectacular rugged mountains, plateaus and gorges. Crete is bathed in clear sunlight much of the year, and its climate is mild and pleasant. With its supreme quality... 

Palace of Knossos
Knossos was undeniably the capital of Minoan Crete. It is grander, more complex, and more flamboyant than any of the other palaces known to us, and it is located about twenty minutes south of the modern port town of Iraklio. Knossos was inhabited for several thousand years, beginning with a neolithic settlement sometime in the seventh millennium BCE, and was abandoned after its destruction in 1375 BCE which marked the end of Minoan civilization. The first palace on the low hill beside the Krairatos river was built around... 

The Myth of King Minos
5,000 years ago, around 3,000 BCE, people living on Crete developed an illustrious civilization which left the longest lasting influence on the character of the island: the Minoan Civilization. Named after the legendary King Minos, this was the first advanced civilization to emerge in Europe. According to Greek mythology, Minos was the son of Zeus and Europa and attained the throne with the help of Poseidon. By his wife, Pasiphae, he fathered Ariadne, Androgeus, Deucalion, Phaedra, Glaucus, Catreus, Acacallis, and other children. 

The Good Oil
The pungent smell of wild mountain herbs and the satisfying smell of olive oil are the ones that visitors to the island never forget. Herbs and oil have been a part of life in the eastern Mediterranean since the beginning of civilization, and olive cultivation can be traced back 6,000 years. While we tend to think of olive oil as being just cooking oil, to the people of ancient civilizations it was almost inseparable from civilized life itself. It was used not only as food, but also in lamps to provide light, in tools for lubrication and for blending with herbs and essences to make fragrant oils. 

Greek Cuisine
Cuisine is one of the highlights of visiting Greece. The Greek Mediterranean cuisine is based on olive oil, feta cheese, seafood, vegetables, and herbs that give the Greek cuisine its unique taste. The Greek climate is ideal for the local produce, including many colorful fruit. Many regions of Greece serve traditional foods and meals that are unique to those particular regions, and cannot be found anywhere else. Some of the unique Greek dishes are: Souvlaki made with pork meat, tzatziki, tomato and onions; Mousakas made...