Most people who visit Greece have made a pilgrimage to Delphi, the most important oracle of the ancient world on Mt. Parnassos. However, not many people know about Dodoni, the country’s second most important oracle, tucked away in the mountains of Epirus, in north-east Greece. I’ve visited Dodoni on several occasions. The best way to reach …
The great city of Athens, Greece is made up of numerous small villages that have melded together over the years. Plaka is the most ancient, original part of the city where most of the archaeological sites are located. Just up on the hill above Plaka, under the flank of the Acropolis (“the high city”) there …
Along the rail track near Monastiraki train station in Athens, a team of young archaeology students are digging for treasures. I was told they had discovered a ‘painted stoa’, a popular meeting place during the time of Plato and Socrates. I stand by the fence and watch in fascination as they dust, scrape, and carefully …
I’m sitting in a beautiful garden surrounded by classical sculptures and exotic foliage. Brazilian jazz is playing as I sip my glass of sangria. Who could imagine I am in the middle of downtown Athens or that this garden is at the former home of the explorer Heinrich Schliemann. This “Garden of the Muses” is …
One fascinating era of Greek history is the Medieval period during the occupation by the Venetians. One of the Venetian strong-holds in Greece was on the Cycladic island of Naxos. The Venetian Duchy of the Aegean ruled here from 1204-1537. At that time the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas were beset by pirates who invaded the coastal …
Greece’s Peloponnese has it all—striking landscapes, an array of historical sites, rich local cultures, and delectable food. Outdoor enthusiasts, culture vultures, foodies, history buffs, and practically everyone else will find their niche. It’s one of Greece’s most alluring regions, and it’s easy to access from Athens in a rental car. Plan well, rent a car, and voila …
The Bay of Laganas on the south west coast of Zakynthos is considered to be the largest nesting ground in the Mediterranean for the Caretta Caretta loggerhead sea turtles . They are commonly called “loggerheads” due to their large heads with a horny beak. They are the largest hard-shelled turtles in the world and the …
As if Greek food alone weren’t enough of a reason to visit Greece, 2013 is the Year of Gastronomy on the island of Santorini, where the Selene Restaurant offers cooking classes to ravenous travelers. With the recent economic and political turmoil driving down prices and keeping less-adventurous travelers away, this is the perfect year …
Off the coast of Thrace in northern Greece, lies the mystical island of Samothraki. I arrive by bus at Alexandroupolis, a pleasant city near the Turkish frontier. It originated as a small garrison town founded by Alexander the Great, and is now centre of the local tobacco trade. Offshore, in the mist of early …
The Roman Emperor Hadrian is best known for building Hadrian’s Wall, which marked the northern limit of Roman Britain. He also rebuilt the Parthenon and constructed the Temple of Venus in Rome. In addition to these contributions to Rome, Hadrian built several important structures in the city of Athens. Hadrian was an ardent philhellene and lived for …