Wanderlust

A proud heritage

With 3,000 years of history at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, it is not surprising that Greece today offers the visitor an unparalleled array of cultural and archaeological treasures. This country of vibrant cities and picturesque islands contains no fewer than 17 World Heritage sites. And although those more familiar, such as the Acropolis in Athens and Olympia, stem from the age of classical antiquity sites as a range from prehistoric to modern times much more - and they reflect the wide range of civilizations have populated coasts, and made modern Greece it is today.

As befits a country that has sought to sea its trade, colonization and conquest of Greece's most accessible are the properties of UNESCO on or near its vast coastline. Indeed, before the advent of air travel, the main access to Athens was water. On clear days you can take on monumental gates of the Acropolis - an old citadel and the sacred sanctuary in one - and watch the ferries leaving from the port of Piraeus, where in 480BC, the Persian fleet landed and soldiers marched on Athens burn itself.

The Athenians took the advice of soothsayers too literally ("the wooden walls in the city will save you ") have perished, but those who interpreted the oracle correctly - that the" wooden walls "is battleships Athens - Xerxes defeated in a naval battle off Piraeus. The destruction already caused by the Persians leads to the Acropolis under reconstruction during the golden age of Athens, and established the elegance of its buildings marble and their architectural harmony.

The sleepy village of Katakolon, perched on a long peninsula covered with pines, is the gateway Another area of Greece celebrates UNESCO - Olympia. Katakolon, a quiet fishing community of 300-odd souls, is the place to relax in a tavern and welcoming haven overlooking the sea while feasting on freshly caught seafood and delicious cold beer. For some, it is sufficient, but most likely on their domestic cruise to experience the magic of the Olympia. Site serene today, surrounded by olive groves, white hair, is beautiful in itself, but for the ancients it was an important part of their lives: Olympic competitions were used to measure time, hostilities were suspended for their duration, and because the Greeks could compete, the games are a link that has brought together a nation split into a variety of city-states.

Action, cults and tombs royal

Nafplio became the first capital of modern Greece in 1829, and is the 18th century fortress of Agamemnon, hovering above the city, which attracts attention today. Of course, not everyone is ready to climb 857 steps to the fortress, but the impressive view of its strongholds, but the town is favored by the Greeks who come here simply to relax in its atmosphere, cobbled streets. It is easy to lose days wandering in narrow balconies overhanging bougainvillea and jasmine.

Nafplio is the gateway to two of the most spectacular of the Greek Jewels of UNESCO. First Epidaurus is the site of a temple to his son of Apollo - Asklepios - whose powers of healing has inspired a cult which persisted long ancient after Christianity took hold. The nearby town prospered thanks to the influx of sick and infirm, and a series of buildings Monuments have been erected, including the ancient theater, which is still in use. Tour guides show acoustic dividing members their group in the higher tiers and the elimination of a game at center, one can not hear the rustling that result.

The second property of UNESCO in the area includes the settlements of the Bronze Age Mycenae and Tiryns. According to legend, Mycenae was the kingdom of Agamemnon, the hero of Homer's Iliad and commander of the Greek forces throughout the war of Troy. The vicissitudes of his dynasty has left a incredible legacy of the city gates, the impressive cyclopean walls and deep, like Egypt and the royal tombs that were built a barely believable 10 centuries before the buildings of the Acropolis.

Capital of Greece "North", Thessaloniki, was one of the ports the largest in the Balkans since the Roman era, and is itself a heritage site containing not less than nine different UNESCO monuments for visitors explore. Outside the arc of Galerius and the "Rotunda" - a tour of the temple of Zeus transformed the world's oldest surviving Christian place of worship - deals Byzantine churches ranging from the Basilica of Aghios Demetrios 7th century, with some of the early Christian mosaics to be seen everywhere, to brick and stone chapel of Agios Nikolaos Orfanos, which hides a thankless excess intense, vibrant frescoes of the 14th century.

Title Offshore

The capitals of the most visited islands of Greece - Rhodes and Corfu - are also sites of UNESCO. Rhodes Old Town, a maze of medieval alleys shaded, was the seat of the Knights of St John, having been forced to flee the Holy Land in 1309, the only city succumbed to Suleiman the Magnificent in 1522 after a long siege. Today's visitors can arm themselves with maps and explore the charming old quarter, dinner and relax in the picturesque port of Mandraki while admiring medieval windmills and swimming, sunbathing and watching the sunset on the sandy beach nearby.

The old town of Corfu is located safely between the imposing Citadel Old and New Fort functional. Although there are still keys Venice fortifications that once stood here, was really the British occupation and the post-Napoleonic civil subsequent reconstruction that the profile shape of the city today: this is, after all, a Greek island with his own cricket pitch!

Those who want Authentic Venetian color on their trip cruise would sail Cephalonia, a few hours, and visit the fishing village of Fiskardo. It is a real step back in time when the Serenissima ruled the Mediterranean. Kefalonia is an island of 11 blue flag beaches clear, translucent waters, and mountain peaks that stand over 1,500 meters high. Another option is the castle ruin of Venice, Zante, who died of an earthquake disaster Ionian in 1953. This is the island music of Greece, where the inhabitants have an accent and use words of Italian opera in common parlance, a place where the rare sea turtles come to lay their eggs on the pristine sands of secluded coves where the sea and on the evenings of the weekend, the serenade local pleasure in the remote mountain villages.

Knossos, the island of Crete, has a partially restored Minoan palace, together with its colorful murals and reconstruction inspired captures the imagination in a way that many other archaeological sites do. He is currently on the Tentative List of UNESCO, until his status of being finalized. The palace is a product of the oldest European civilization, which peaked in four centuries before full Mycenae. Its maze of 1,000 rooms lock provided the setting for the myth of the Minotaur, a mythical half-man half-bull who consumes seven boys and girls of Athens, paid as a tribute to nine each year to King Minos. She was the daughter of King lovestruck, Ariadne, who provided the hero Theseus with a sword and a ball of thread so that it can kill the monster and find his way through the maze safely.

The cause of the collapse of the Minoan civilization can be seen on the island of Santorini glorious, who is approached by a still active volcanic caldera, looking for the edge steep housing blinding white, like icing on a cake giant complex. The scenery is spectacular from the top: seasoned travelers have been silenced tears while watching the sunset or Thera Oia, suspended two cities on the edge of the crater sea. Recent excavations at Akrotiri have discovered a city that was buried under lava when the volcano exploded, causing a tsunami that may have destroyed Minoan society. With whispers that it the true location of the mythical Atlantis, Santorini is the UNESCO-website-who-must-be - But as the mystery remains to be elucidated, maybe wait a little longer.

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COSTELLATION CRUISES HOLDINGS SHIP ARION venezia 10/08/2010