Greece is one of the oldest civilizations in the world. Its rich culture, mild to temperate weather and gorgeous coastline makes it a favorite destination for tourists the world over. Here are some interesting facts about Greece.
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The country is located in southeastern Europe and is one of the oldest civilizations in the world. Greece lies at the junction point of Africa, Asia and Europe. It was one of the first advanced civilizations in Europe.
Greece is bordered by the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Bulgaria, Turkey and Albania to the east.It is bordered by the Ionian Sea to the west and by the Aegean Sea to the east.
1. Greece has strains of the Byzantine Empire, the Ottoman rule and of Classical Greece in its current culture and tradition. 2. It is considered to be the first democracy in the entire world.
History
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3. Athens, the capital of Greece is one of the oldest cities in the world with a recorded history that dates back to 3,400 years.
4. While the country is called Greece in English, Greeks call it Hellas or Ellada, and its official name is Hellenic Republic.
The lands of Greece has gone through three eras, before the establishment of the modern Greek state took place. The first era as the Hellenistic Era, when Greece was under the rule of Alexander the Great. The Greek peninsula became a province of Rome in time, but Rome enthusiastically followed the Hellenistic culture.
The last empire to rule Greece was the Ottoman Empire. The Modern Greek state rebelled and gained independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1830. Greece is where the western civilization was considered to be honed.
1. The total area of Greece is around 50,000 square kilometers. Around four fifths of Greece consists of hills and mountains. and the highest mountain in the country is Mount Olympus, (Mitikas in Greek @ 2919 m.) itself a mainstay in many myths and fables.
Geographical Facts
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2. The country Greece consists of about 6000 different islands of which around 227 are inhabited, and only 78of those have more than 100 inhabitants. 3. It has the thirteenth longest coastline in the world which is about 13,600 kilometers long.
1. Greece is a member country of the European Union and has Euro as its currency. 2. The shipping or maritime industry has been central to the economy of Greece since ancient times.
Economy and Business Facts
3. The Greek merchant fleet is said to contribute to about 23.2% of the world's total capacity and is the largest in the world in terms of tonnage. 4. Tourism industry earns about 19.6% of the GDP of Greece and about 20% of the total workforce and directly or indirectly employed by this industry.
1. Greece ranks among the top 10 most visited destinations in Europe. It is not surprising that Greece has 18 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Facts for Tourists and Visitors
2. The most popular tourist spots in Greece are Athens, in particular the Parthenon on the Acropolis, National Museum and the famous Odeon of Herod Atticus.
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3. Greece is also famous for its azure blue seas temperate climate and beautiful coastline. Among the top island destinations in Greece, Santorini, Mykonos and Corfu are extremely scenic and popular.
The cultural importance of Greece to the world is huge, as it has been responsible for the Olympic games, the birth of modern political science, drama and the western literature. The history of Greece can possibly be compared only with China and India.
Social and Cultural Facts
1. About 98% of the population are Greek Orthodox Christians and as a result there are many churches all around Greece. 2. The Greek flag has an equal-armed cross in the upper corner and nine alternating blue and white stripes.
3. Greeks are fond of food wine and music. A heavenly meal consisting of eggplant ground beef, onions, tomatoes, spices and bechamel sauce called Moussaka is the national dish of Greece.
The official language is Greek. The first two stanzas of the poem Hymn to Liberty are used as the official national anthem of Greece. March 25th is celebrated as Independence day and is a national holiday. As when visiting foreign countries, Greece too has certain customs and traditions that one should respect when we visit that country.
It is advised to dress properly, not showing too much skin when entering a church in Greece. While at a bar or tavern you may be offered a sweet or drink, just say yamas (cheers) and thank the giver. Do not have it or force yourself to finish it. One of the rudest gesture, do not even try doing jokingly, is to thrust your palm in front of someone's face.