Thira

Much of the country consists of peninsulas and islands in the Aegean, Ionian, and Mediterranean Seas. It borders Albania, the Republic of Macedonia, Bulgaria, and Turkey. Ancient Greece was one of Europe's first urban civilizations, and the origin of much of the arts, language, philosophy, politics, and sports of western society. The cultural heritage and spectacular mountains and beaches draw tourists from far away. Eighty percent of Greece is mountainous, with Mount Olympus being the highest peak at 2,918 metres. The country consists of nine geographic regions: Macedonia, Central Greece, the Peloponnese, Thessaly, Epirus, the Aegean Islands, Thrace and Crete. Few countries can pride themselves on a heritage as important to Western civilization as Greece. A range of first class historic landmarks remind one of the days when the great Greek emperors and writers made their mark on the development of science, literature and democracy. No less than 17 of those monuments are listed as World Heritage Sites. However, the many charming little islands, sandy beaches and picturesque whitewashed coastal towns are at least as much a reason to come for the millions of tourists that this Mediterranean country receives each year.

Greece

The capital of the region is Ermoupoli of the Syros island. This island offers a nice architecture to discover and of course the beautiful beaches to relax at. If you are looking for some history make sure you stop by Rhodes. In this island you will come across many ruins, castles and chapel. There is also a really old town where you can see the walled fortress of the medieval Rhodes, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the best preserved medieval walled towns in Europe. Impressive on the outside, the Palace of the Grand Masters is not worth the entry fee, so head to the Archaeological Museum. However the most famous places of the region are the islands of Mykonos and Santorini, two beautiful and paradisiac islands.

South Aegean

Oia, pronounced Ia, is the most famous of all villages of Santorini. It is known throughout the world for its quiet life and fantastic sunset, and is certainly the most beautiful and picturesque village of Santorini. The village is also situated on top of an impressive cliff and offers a spectacular view over the volcano of Palia and Nea Kameni and the island of Thirassia. Oia is situated on the north of the island, 11 km away from Fira. It is a traditional village with charming houses in narrow streets, blue domed churches, and sun-bathed verandas. Its streets have plenty of tourist shops, taverns, cafes, and other shops. Oia is much more quiet that Fira and the busiest area is the main pedestrian that runs along its length. At the entrance of the village is a car park where visitors can leave their vehicles and enjoy long walks on the picturesque paths. The volcano from here is much less imposing, but you can still get some gorgeous views. © Istock/Gatsi

Oia Village, Santorini

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