The country which has the The country which has the most blue sky most blue sky

in the world!in the world!

Socrates HarisisSocrates Harisis

CULTURECULTURECULTURECULTURE The The Culture of GreeceCulture of Greece has evolved over has evolved over

thousands of years, with its beginnings in thousands of years, with its beginnings in the the MycenaeanMycenaean andand MinoanMinoan CivilizationsCivilizations, continuing , continuing most notably into most notably into ClassicalClassical Greece Greece, through the , through the influence of the influence of the RomanRoman EmpireEmpire and its and its GreekGreek EasternEastern successor the successor the ByzantineByzantine EmpireEmpire. The . The OttomanOttoman EmpireEmpire too had a significant influence too had a significant influence on Greek Culture, but the on Greek Culture, but the GreekGreek warwar of of independenceindependence is credited with revitalizing is credited with revitalizing Greece and giving birth to a single entity of its Greece and giving birth to a single entity of its multi-faceted culture throughout the ages.multi-faceted culture throughout the ages.

FOODFOODFOODFOOD Although one can find different ethnic Although one can find different ethnic

foods in Athens, the great majority of foods in Athens, the great majority of restaurants in Greece serve only one restaurants in Greece serve only one variety of food: Greek food! To most variety of food: Greek food! To most people who consider "variety" to come people who consider "variety" to come from different types of cuisines this from different types of cuisines this might sound rather monotonous, but might sound rather monotonous, but Greek food comes in many shapes, Greek food comes in many shapes, forms, and varieties to keep even the forms, and varieties to keep even the most demanding traveler satisfied. most demanding traveler satisfied.

What to Eat when in GreeceWhat to Eat when in Greece Greek salad with every meal ("horiatiki salata" = village Greek salad with every meal ("horiatiki salata" = village

salad, is best)salad, is best)Fresh Fish of any kind (you can ask to see the fish before it Fresh Fish of any kind (you can ask to see the fish before it is cooked)is cooked)Kalamari= squid (fried or sautéed with onions and red wine)Kalamari= squid (fried or sautéed with onions and red wine)Gyros (gee'ros.) As you will find out not all gyros are Gyros (gee'ros.) As you will find out not all gyros are created equal, ask the locals for the best restaurant.created equal, ask the locals for the best restaurant.Octopus grilled on charcoal with lemon.Octopus grilled on charcoal with lemon.Spinach Pie (spanakopita)Spinach Pie (spanakopita)Cheese Pie (Tyropita)Cheese Pie (Tyropita)

On the rural roads in Greece you will see little kiosks where On the rural roads in Greece you will see little kiosks where the farmers sell produce and fresh fruits. My family and I the farmers sell produce and fresh fruits. My family and I get the juiciest fresh peaches and other seasonal fruit from get the juiciest fresh peaches and other seasonal fruit from these vendors and we eat half of it before we reach our these vendors and we eat half of it before we reach our destination. Don't miss out on the opportunity if you pass destination. Don't miss out on the opportunity if you pass one.one.

The ArtsThe Arts The art and architecture of Ancient Greece have The art and architecture of Ancient Greece have

greatly influenced Western civilization through to greatly influenced Western civilization through to the present day. the present day. ByzantineByzantine artart and and architecturearchitecture also also played an important role in played an important role in earlyearly ChristianityChristianity, and , and remain a significant influence in the remain a significant influence in the OrthodoxOrthodox ChristianChristian nations of nations of EasternEastern EuropeEurope and and EurasiaEurasia. Yet, . Yet, because of the ravages of history, only a minor because of the ravages of history, only a minor assortment of ancient Greek art has survived - most assortment of ancient Greek art has survived - most frequently in the form of sculpture and architecture frequently in the form of sculpture and architecture and minor arts, including coin design, pottery and and minor arts, including coin design, pottery and gem engraving. Greece also has a rich history of gem engraving. Greece also has a rich history of contemporary art from the revolution onwardscontemporary art from the revolution onwards

ArchitectureArchitecture Remains of ancient Greek Remains of ancient Greek architecturearchitecture still survive or are still survive or are

well documented today alongside more modern examples.well documented today alongside more modern examples. It emphasized a Grecian cross layout, the Byzantine It emphasized a Grecian cross layout, the Byzantine

capitol style of column (a mixture of capitol style of column (a mixture of IonicIonic and and CorinthianCorinthian capitols) and a central capitols) and a central domedome surrounded by several surrounded by several smaller domes. Greece also experienced something of a smaller domes. Greece also experienced something of a NeoNeo--ByzantineByzantine revival following the revival following the GreekGreek RevolutionRevolution, and , and quite unsurprisingly, also experienced a growth in quite unsurprisingly, also experienced a growth in NeoNeo--ClassicalClassical ArchitectureArchitecture in the years following the in the years following the Revolution; this came into a contact and interaction with Revolution; this came into a contact and interaction with traditional Byzantine villa architecture to produce a form traditional Byzantine villa architecture to produce a form specific to modern Greecespecific to modern Greece

Painting and sculpturePainting and sculpture

In contrast to other illustrated forms, surviving In contrast to other illustrated forms, surviving ancient Greek paintings are very rare. Greek painters ancient Greek paintings are very rare. Greek painters worked mainly on wooden panels, and their finest worked mainly on wooden panels, and their finest works were admired for hundreds of years after their works were admired for hundreds of years after their creation. However, these paintings rapidly creation. However, these paintings rapidly disappeared after the disappeared after the 4th 4th centurycentury AD AD when they were when they were no longer adequately protected. In addition to sub-no longer adequately protected. In addition to sub-standard Roman copies, for example in standard Roman copies, for example in PompeiiPompeii, rare , rare surviving examples have been found in the tombs of surviving examples have been found in the tombs of the kings of the kings of MacedonMacedon at at VerginaVergina, at also in ancient , at also in ancient MacedonMacedon, as well as , as well as KazanlakKazanlak in ancient in ancient ThraceThrace..

POPULATION AND AREAPOPULATION AND AREA POPULATION AND AREAPOPULATION AND AREA Greece has about eleven million people of Greece has about eleven million people of

population and population and 131.957131.957 sq km of area.sq km of area. The capital of Greece is Athens which has The capital of Greece is Athens which has

about three million and five hundred about three million and five hundred people (according to the number of 2001).people (according to the number of 2001).

The biggest port is the port of Piraeus The biggest port is the port of Piraeus which is located near to the capital city which is located near to the capital city AthensAthens

PERIFERIES AND PERIFERIES AND PREFECTURESPREFECTURES

PERIFERIES AND PERIFERIES AND PREFECTURESPREFECTURES

PERIFERIES PERIFERIES 1.1. Attica Attica

2.2. Central GreeceCentral Greece3.3. Central MacedoniaCentral Macedonia4.4. CreteCrete5.5. East Macedonia and Thrace East Macedonia and Thrace 6.6. EpirusEpirus7.7. Ionian IslandsIonian Islands8.8. North AegeanNorth Aegean9.9. Peloponnese Peloponnese 10.10. South AegeanSouth Aegean11.11. ThessalyThessaly12.12. West GreeceWest Greece13.13. West Macedonia West Macedonia

PREFECTURESPREFECTURESEvrytaniaEvrytania

PhocisPhocis

PhthiotisPhthiotis

BoeotiaBoeotia

ChalkidikiChalkidiki

ImathiaImathia

KilkisKilkis

PellaPella

PieriaPieria

SerresSerres Thessaloniki Thessaloniki

ChaniaChania

HeraklionHeraklion

LasithiLasithi

RethymnoRethymno

DramaDrama

EvrosEvros

KavalaKavala

RhodopeRhodope

XanthiXanthi

ArtaArta

IoanninaIoannina

PrevezaPreveza

ThesprotiaThesprotia

CorfuCorfu

KefaloniaKefalonia andand IthacaIthaca

LefkadaLefkada

ZakynthosZakynthos

ChiosChios

LesbosLesbos

SamosSamos

ArcadiaArcadia

ArgolisArgolis

CorinthiaCorinthia

LaconiaLaconia

MessiniaMessinia

CycladesCyclades

DodecaneseDodecanese

KarditsaKarditsa

LarissaLarissa

MagnesiaMagnesia

TrikalaTrikala

AchaeaAchaea

AetolAetoloaoacarnaniacarnania

ElisElis

FlorinaFlorina

GrevenaGrevena

KastoriaKastoria

KozaniKozani

MountMount AthosAthos

ECONOMYECONOMYECONOMYECONOMY Tomatoes

Onions Lettuce

Eggplant Cucumbers Green

Peppers Cauliflower

Carrots Cabbage Broccoli

Fresh fruits Citrus

Oranges Lemons

Olive Sunflower

Soybean Cotton

Tobacco Potatoes

Sugar beet Vegetables

AGRICULTURE: Major AGRICULTURE: Major cropscrops

TOURISM IN GREECETOURISM IN GREECETOURISM IN GREECETOURISM IN GREECE GreeceGreece attracts well over 16 million tourists a year attracts well over 16 million tourists a year

contributing 15% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the contributing 15% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the nation's nation's EconomyEconomy. The country has been an attraction for . The country has been an attraction for international visitors since antiquity for its rich and long international visitors since antiquity for its rich and long historyhistory and more recently for its glorious Mediterranean and more recently for its glorious Mediterranean coastline and beaches. In 2005, 6,088,287 tourists visited only coastline and beaches. In 2005, 6,088,287 tourists visited only the city of the city of AthensAthens, the capital city., the capital city.

In 2004, the country welcomed over 16.5 million tourists. At In 2004, the country welcomed over 16.5 million tourists. At the same time, the same time, tourismtourism consumption increased considerably consumption increased considerably since the turn of the millennium, from US$ 17.7 bn. in 2000 to since the turn of the millennium, from US$ 17.7 bn. in 2000 to US$ 29.6 bn. in 2004. The number of jobs directly or indirectly US$ 29.6 bn. in 2004. The number of jobs directly or indirectly related to the tourism related to the tourism sectorsector were 659,719 and represented were 659,719 and represented 16.5% of the country’s total 16.5% of the country’s total employmentemployment for that year. for that year.

Tourism in Tourism in GreeceGreece is run by the is run by the GreekGreek NationalNational TourismTourism OrganisationOrganisation (GNTO) who use (GNTO) who use HelenaHelena PaparizouPaparizou, a famous , a famous Greek singer who won Eurovision song contest in 2005 as an Greek singer who won Eurovision song contest in 2005 as an ambassadorambassador. The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) . The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) expects Greece to gain US$54.12 billion in economic activity expects Greece to gain US$54.12 billion in economic activity through tourism in 2007, a 4% increase over 2006through tourism in 2007, a 4% increase over 2006..

INDUSTRY IN GREECEINDUSTRY IN GREECEINDUSTRY IN GREECEINDUSTRY IN GREECE The industrial sector in Greece is weak. An established The industrial sector in Greece is weak. An established

tradition exists only in the production of textiles, tradition exists only in the production of textiles, processed foods, and processed foods, and cementcement. (What is said to be the . (What is said to be the world's largest cement factory is located in Vólos.) In world's largest cement factory is located in Vólos.) In the past, private investment has been oriented much the past, private investment has been oriented much more toward real estate than toward industry, and more toward real estate than toward industry, and concrete apartment blocks proliferate throughout the concrete apartment blocks proliferate throughout the country. In the 1960s and '70s, taking advantage of an country. In the 1960s and '70s, taking advantage of an investment regime that privileged foreign capital, Greek investment regime that privileged foreign capital, Greek shipowners invested significantly in sectors such as oil shipowners invested significantly in sectors such as oil refining and shipbuilding. Shipping continues to be a refining and shipbuilding. Shipping continues to be a key industrial sector, with the merchant fleet being one key industrial sector, with the merchant fleet being one of the largest in the world, even if many of its ships are of the largest in the world, even if many of its ships are older than the world average. In the 1970s many ships older than the world average. In the 1970s many ships that had hitherto registered under flags of convenience that had hitherto registered under flags of convenience returned to the Greek flag. The fact that Greek ships, returned to the Greek flag. The fact that Greek ships, predominantly bulk carriers, are principally engaged in predominantly bulk carriers, are principally engaged in carrying cargoes between third countries renders the carrying cargoes between third countries renders the shipping industry vulnerable to downturns in shipping industry vulnerable to downturns in international economic activity.international economic activity.

SHIPPING IN GREECESHIPPING IN GREECESHIPPING IN GREECESHIPPING IN GREECE InIn the early twentieth century, well-established the early twentieth century, well-established

Greek-run international businesses turned their Greek-run international businesses turned their focus towards shipping as a result of major focus towards shipping as a result of major upheavals affecting their markets: the upheavals affecting their markets: the RussianRussian revolutionrevolution, the collapse of the , the collapse of the OttomanOttoman EmpireEmpire and restrictions in Egypt closed their markets to and restrictions in Egypt closed their markets to foreigners. The Greek grain merchants in London foreigners. The Greek grain merchants in London and Odessa (such as the Vaglianos Bros. and and Odessa (such as the Vaglianos Bros. and Rodocanachi family) lost access to their Rodocanachi family) lost access to their traditional grain suppliers and markets and, traditional grain suppliers and markets and, rather than close, they seized the chance to rather than close, they seized the chance to invest in merchant fleets of steamships, and invest in merchant fleets of steamships, and specialized in tramp shipping.specialized in tramp shipping.

GREEK HISTORYGREEK HISTORYGREEK HISTORYGREEK HISTORY This article covers the Greek civilization. For the Greek language as This article covers the Greek civilization. For the Greek language as

a whole, see a whole, see GreekGreek languagelanguage. For the Classical Greek language, . For the Classical Greek language, see see AncientAncient GreekGreek..

The History of Greece traditionally encompasses the study of the The History of Greece traditionally encompasses the study of the GreekGreek peoplepeople, the areas they ruled historically, and the territory , the areas they ruled historically, and the territory now composing the modern state of now composing the modern state of GreeceGreece..

The scope of Greek habitation and rule has varied significantly The scope of Greek habitation and rule has varied significantly through the ages, and as a consequence, the history of Greece is through the ages, and as a consequence, the history of Greece is similarly elastic in what it includes. Each era has its own related similarly elastic in what it includes. Each era has its own related sphere of interest.sphere of interest.

The first (proto-)Greek-speaking tribes are generally thought to The first (proto-)Greek-speaking tribes are generally thought to have arrived in the Greek mainland sometime in the 3rd have arrived in the Greek mainland sometime in the 3rd millennium BC, where various pre-Greek peoples had already been millennium BC, where various pre-Greek peoples had already been practicing agriculture since the practicing agriculture since the 7th 7th millenniummillennium BC BC..

At its geographical peak, Greek civilization spread from Greece to At its geographical peak, Greek civilization spread from Greece to EgyptEgypt and to the and to the HinduHindu KushKush mountains in mountains in PakistanPakistan . Since then, . Since then, Greek minorities have remained in former Greek territories (e.g., Greek minorities have remained in former Greek territories (e.g., TurkeyTurkey, , ItalyItaly, and , and LibyaLibya, , LevantLevant, etc.), and Greek , etc.), and Greek emigrantsemigrants have have assimilated into differing societies across the globe (e.g., assimilated into differing societies across the globe (e.g., NorthNorth AmericaAmerica, , AustraliaAustralia, , NorthernNorthern EuropeEurope, , SouthSouth AfricaAfrica etc.). Still today, etc.). Still today, most Greeks live in the modern states of Greece (independent most Greeks live in the modern states of Greece (independent since since 18211821) and ) and CyprusCyprus..

GREEG HEROESGREEG HEROES GREEG HEROESGREEG HEROESGreek heroes Greek heroes

Alexander The Great Alexander The Great ThemistoclesThemistocles

AchillesAchilles Agamemnon Agamemnon

Hercules Hercules

JasonJason

OdysseusOdysseus

PerseusPerseus

Theseus Theseus

LeonidasLeonidas

MiltiadesMiltiades

PericlesPericles

Modern Greek HeroesModern Greek Heroes Athanasius DiakosAthanasius Diakos Markus MpotsarhsMarkus Mpotsarhs Georgius Karaiskakis Georgius Karaiskakis Theodorus Kolokotronis Theodorus Kolokotronis Laskarina MoumoulinaLaskarina Moumoulina Konstantin Kanares Konstantin Kanares Alexander Ypsilanti Alexander Ypsilanti Konstantin Tsabelas Konstantin Tsabelas

And more……………And more……………

SIGHTSEEING IN SIGHTSEEING IN GREECEGREECE

SIGHTSEEING IN SIGHTSEEING IN GREECEGREECE

If some day come to If some day come to Greece you can visit Greece you can visit the following the following sights!!!sights!!!

Acropolis in Acropolis in AthensAthens

Delphi in Delphi in Phocis Phocis

Saint Laura

Saint Laura

EvvoiaEvvoia

Zakynthos

Zakynthos

Kefallinia!Kefallinia!

Santorin

Santorin

And even………And even………

And more……And more……

Vardousia

Vardousia

Oiti Oiti

THE ENDTHE ENDTHE ENDTHE END

Socrates Socrates HarisisHarisis

It was some helpful information about GreeceIt was some helpful information about Greece