Corfu travel guide

The island of Corfu with an area of 593 sq km is the largest and  northernmost of the Ionian Islands also known as Eptanisa (Seven Islands), Corfu is located in the Ionian Sea, very close to Epirus in the mainland from the port of Igoumenitsa there is daily connection with ferries to Corfu .The length of the island is 85 km, with an average width of 18 km. The topography is very rugged, but can be divided in two areas: the northern, much more abrupt, with highest summit: the mount Pandokratoras   with an elevation of 966. The southern zone is considerably less rugged possess some small plains.

The prefecture of Corfu covers an area of 641 sq km and consists of the island of Corfu, which contains 12 of the 16 municipalities as well as other smaller islands: Paxi and Antipaxi south, the north Mathraki and Erikousa and several islets.

In many places, there are olive groves that is why  during the Venetian time was given  a premium to residents who planted  olive trees. This was referred to the big Venetian need for oil. The residents have therefore on any free piece of land planted olive trees. Even today constitutes an important product olive oil in Corfu, and the advent of mass tourism was the price of the land at the island mainly determined by the number of olive trees.  The Venetian influence in Corfu is very great.  The island was occupied by the French and the British, very important is that Corfu, unlike other major parts of Greece never been occupied by the Turks. 

One of the main tourist attractions of Corfu is the Achilleion, a palace that was build between 1890 and 1892  by the Austrian Empress Elizabeth. The neoclassical building was named by the empress after her classic hero Achilles.

Zakynthos travel guide

The island of Zakynthos consists of fertile plains and mountains to the south west. The climate is Mediterranean. It has dense vegetation. It produces olive oil, grapes and citrus. The island has an  airport  called Dionysios Solomos and is located to the southeast. Also in the southwest is the national marine park on the island of Zante with the famous turtles on the island, an endangered species that is found mainly in Laganas Bay the Careta turtles.
 
 Zakynthos, according to Homer was called Iliessa meaning island with many foreststs ,the island was named from the first settler of Zakynthos the son of the King of Frygia Dardanos. Then it was conquered by Arkeisios, a descendant of the King of Kefalonia Kefalos, Laertis father, and grandfather of Odysseus. So Zakynthos became part of the Kingdom of Odysseus who participated with twelve ships in the Trojan war. After his return, however, and the murder of the suitors from which twenty were from Zakynthos, the Zakynthos people revolted and won their island from the Kingdom of Odysseus. In the years following the spirit of the time established also in Zakynthos a new regime, the Republic.
 During the Persian wars Zakynthos remained neutral while the island involved in the Peloponnesian war as an ally of Athens. Zakynthos concurred by the Macedonians of Alexander the Great and later the by the Romans, who had been granted relative autonomy. According to local tradition, Christianity was spread to the island by Mary Magdalene in 34 AD when the ship that was carry her to Rome stopped briefly in Zakynthos.
 During the Byzantine times Zakynthos was attacked by pirates and Vandals. In 1185 Zakynthos was occupied by the Normans of Sicily , who detached them from the Byzantine Empire. The island later was occupied by the Venetians and remains under the Venetian domination until 1798. French and then Russians conquered the island temporarily until  1800 when Zakynthos along with other islands in the Ionian became the first independent Greek state under the predominance of the Sultan. The 1809 th French returned and in 1815 was created the United State of the Ionian Islands, which came under the protection of the British until 1864 when Zakynthos united with Greece.

Poros travel guide

Poros is a Greek island in the Saronic islands newar Athens.Poros is close to the Argolis area in Peloponesse.
With an area of 33 sq km and a circumference of 42 km, it has  3500 inhabitants.
Poros is located 31 nautical miles from Piraeus with which it is connected daily by flying dolphins, hydrofoils, and  ferry. It is mostly detached from the Peloponnese by a narrow channel (or perasma, passage in Greek) of less than 400 metres wide. The crossing is done by boat or caïque.

In ancient times, Poros was known as Calavria and was the island of Poseidon. It was the center of a amphictyonieof the seventh century BC the maritime league of Kalavria In  the temple of Poseidon of Poros the Athenian  Demosthenes was assassinated.
At the time of the Byzantine Empire, Poros and other islands in the area suffered harassment from pirates.

During the occupation of the Ottoman Empire to remain independent and helped neighboring islands to start the war of independence from Greece. Poros participated in the Greek war of independence and became the first arsenal of the young independent state. The island was the scene of  major episodes of the struggle for power after the independence of Greece.

Admiral Andreas Miaoulis preferred to blow up the fleet rather than let the Russians who supported Ioánnis Kapodístrias. In the 18th and 19th century  Poros was the main seaport on the southeast coast of Greece, and during the Greek War of Independence played, along with Hydra and Spetses a prominent role. British, French and Russian diplomats came here in 1828 together to reflect on the future of an independent Greek state. Poros is a popular vacation resort and has many hotels and accommodations in very reasonable prices.

Leros tourism

Leros has an area of about 53 sq km the main town located in Platanos. The most important towns of Leros is Agia Marina, Lakki, Kamara, Xirokambos, Alinda, Panteli.
 Alinda is located in the centre of the Agia Marina bay and is the place with the most developed tourist infrastructure. Most of the big Leros hotels units are in Alinda. The area has a lass vegetation and a pebble beach across the main road where you will find most of the hotels, restaurants and bars of the area. In the tower of Belenis you will find a small museum.
 Lakki is the main port of Leros and the largest natural port in the Mediterranean, Lakki has modern port facilities and services plus 2 yacht marinas. In Lakki the visitor will find many buildings of Art Deco that were build by the Italians. There are good roads, with Eucalypt trees and parks most of them where designed by the Italians in the 30’s. Leros maintained those historical buildings because they are important masterpieces of this specific architectural style in Europe before the second world war. Lakki is has developed some tourist infrastructure but is mainly used as the main place for the locals for shopping, there are though some hotels, restaurants and cafes.
 Panteli is the main attraction of Leros as the small fisherman’s village has kept its traditional way of life with local fishermen and their boats. Panteli is the ideal place for families and cheaper accommodation. In Panteli you will find restaurants, bars, the sophisticated cafeteria Kastelo and the Savana bar.
 At Vromolithos just a few minutes walk from Panteli there are many new hotel units and a nice beach. Unfortunately the build construction boom of the area has destroyed its natural beauty.
 Xirokambos is located in the south of Leros about 7 kilometres from Platanos, there is a nice beach and some restaurants at Xerokampos there is a hotels and some rooms for rent. Blefouti and Parteni are on the north part of the island. In Partheni is the airport while in Blefouti there is a nice beach and a tavern at the begining of the beach. Kamara is mainly an urban area of Leros between Alinda and Partheni. South of Kamara are the small church of Agios Isidoros and the beaches of Kokali and Gurna.
 Over Panteli and Platanos is the Castle of Virgin Mary from the 11th century BC. The vie from there is fantastic. Over Panteli are the wind mills of Leros recently renovated. Leros in general is an ideal place for holidays away from the package tourism of islands like Santorini or Kos.

A journey to Athens

The most of the Greek population of Athens was increased after 1921 by an influx of refugees expelled from Asia minor. At the same years the small number of Turks then residing in Athens was departed. 99% of the population belongs to the Greek Orthodox church, and Athens is the seat of the Orthodox Arcibishop of Greece. Athens is the center of the Greek government and parliament and the capital of the department of the prefecture of Attica. The old palace of the foreign kings of Greece is now used as the house the Greek parliament. Athens is the main financial and commercial center of Greece and is the main junction of the air, road and rail system . Most of Greece’s maritime trade is at the port of Piraeus. Athens has an international airport in Spata. Manufacturing, textile, electronic,shipyards industries have been developed primarily in and near Piraeus and further on the Attica basin. Light engineering, textiles, chemicals, and cement making are important, as are distilling, milling, tanning, tobacco preparation, oil refining, and the processing of other local agricultural products. Tourism is also important.Athens is surrounded by mountains: Aigaleon to the west, Parnitha to the north, Penteli in the northeast, and Hymettus to the east. Most mountains are made of limestone, granite or marble, from which materials the ancient buildings of the city were constructed. The valley on which Athens lies contains isolated limestone hills, including the Lykavittos hill, which rises 339 meters  above the sea level , and the rock of Acropolis, 156 meter high, around which the city of Athens grew.  Ilissus and Kifisos River are partly dry for much of the year and carring  water only after winter storms and rain falls. Athens has  Mediterranean climate, with very hot and dry summers and mild winters. Rainfall is slight. Athens Day trips can be done to many of the areas and islands that are near to Athens.
Athens is the main cultural and educational center of Greece and has a university, founded in 1837 a polytechnic, many private universities, as well as many professional schools and TEI. The city of Athens is world famous for its amazing archaeological collections, especially the ones that are in the National Archeological Museum of Athens. Athens most important cultural remains  are its numerous architectural  and historical monuments, dating from ancient times and later periods. Most famous among these is the Acropolis, the ancient fortified rocky hill on which stands the Erechtheum temple, Parthenon temple, and the Propylaea, all of the 5th century BC the golden age of Athens. To the south of the Acropolis are the Odeum of Herodes Atticus, and the Theater of Dionysus and the  Areo pagus   in which St. Paul spoke. The ancient agora is partially excavated. The stoa, or colonnaded walk, of Attalos, which is located near by, has been reconstructed and now holds a great collection of Greek antiquities. The city also has many Orthodox churches from the Byzantine period.

Visit Athens

Athens  located at the Attica peninsula in a basin surrounded by mount Aegaleo at the north west , mount Parnitha and Penteli at the north ,mount Hymettos at the east and the Saronic gulf at the west.  Athens situated at the middle of Greece between Peloponnesus and Sterea Hellas, became the capital of Greece in 1834 and it is easy to see that this choice was made because of the city’s historical importance. In the 172 years since then it has become an attractive, modern city with modern buildings and facilities that perfectly and sympathetically juxtapose the ancient. Athens has a long and glorious history. The first settlers came during the Neolithic Age but it was Solon 638 B.C.-558 B.C the first one to put the stepping stone of the Athens Democracy that reach its glory during the Golden Age under the leadership of Pericles 495 B.C.- 429 BC. During this time Parthenon was build by Callicrates ,Ictinus and Phidias.Athens with its unique values ,ideas , politics and civilization became a blueprint for future societies around the world. During this time the development of science, architecture, rhetoric ,political thought , the arts, theatre and philosophy reached its peak. After the decline of its power that caused by the Peloponessian wars against Sparta, Athens lost its former glory and later was occupied by many conquering empires including the Roman, the Byzantine and the Ottoman all of which have left their mark on the city in the guise of many splendid monuments.

Visitors to Athens Greece can experience the exhilaration of stepping back in time and seeing the places where great historic events actually took place over 20 centuries ago. Most important, of course, is the fabulous Parthenon (448-437 BC), which stands like a crown on the rocky hill of the Acropolis, dominating the city. Also here is the famous Erechteum with the Caryatids supporting the porch, the Temple of Nike (Wingless Victory) and the Acropolis Museum. North of the Acropolis is the Temple of Theseus (believed to be 437-432 BC), best preserved temple of Athens’ classic period. Other places of interest include the Temple of Zeus, the Chapel of St. George on Lycavittos Hill, the National Museum of Athens, the Benaki Museum (noted for its fine collection of Greek costumes) the Byzantine Museum and the Stadium. The Dionysos Theatre is where the great plays of Sophocles, Euripides, Aischylos and Aristophanes were first performed. The whole of the Acropolis is surrounded by the beautifully tranquil archaeological park which features many other important archaeological wonders including The Pnyx which was the meeting place of the people of Athens where they could gather to hear great orators and take part in the democratic politics and the Ancient Agora or market place. A stroll around the Ancient Agora of Athens will be walking in the footsteps of the great philosophers like Aristotle, Plato and Socrates and climbing the rock of Arios Pagos will take you to the spot that was the seat of the court and the Parliament of ancient Athens ,on Arios Pagos spoke the Apostle Paul to the Athenians.

At the foot of the Acropolis nestles one of the oldest neighbourhoods of Athens, Plaka. This tiny neighbourhood of narrow cobbled streets, is crammed with ancient monuments, churches, mosques and elegant 19th century mansions .In Monastiraki area you will find bustling markets and shops for your shopping in Athens, where you can buy new and second hand goods ranging from clothes, jewellery and furniture to books, CDs, records and musical instruments. Amongst all of this you will find a multitude o traditional Greek taverns, cafes and museums. Here you can satisfy all your needs, cultural, gastronomical or shopping .The National Garden is an oasis in the middle of the city next to the Greek Parliament. The areas of Psisri ,Plaka ,Thission,Monastiraki and Kolonaki are the most recomended for night life with numerous of bars ,cafeterias ,night clubs ,international restaurants and live music halls.The ones that travel to Athens in the summer season and want to take a brake at the sea we recommend day trips in Athens  to the beaches at the coastal resorts of Athens. In the southern suburbs of Athens, along the Saronic Gulf (from the Paleo Faliro area to Vouliagmeni and further to Varkiza ,Lagonisi to Cape Sounion), and other areas of Attica, are dozens of organized and other beaches, with clean waters and easy access. Several Attica beaches have been awarded “Blue Flags of Europe”, granted every year to beaches meeting strict criteria regarding clean waters, good organization and security and the protection of the coastal environment. For the ones that want to go around by car ,in the Athens area are many reliable car rental companies, most of them located at Syngrou Avenue.Most of those resorts are less then an hour from the new Athens airport and the city center. From the port of Piraeus the largest of Greece and Zea the islands of Aegina ,Poros ,Hydra and Spetses can be reached within 1 up to 3 hours with hydrofoils and ferries. The system of  Athens transport includes urban buses ,trams, trolleys ,the new Metro and the Proastiakos rail.Taxis in Athens as well all over Greece are from the cheapest in western Europe The best time to visit Athens and Greece in general is Spring when the temperature is mild and the blue sky of Attica is really blue ,if it happens to be at the Easter (the major religious holiday of Greece) ,then you will be more relaxed because the half of the Athenians are on holidays .

Cyclades islands

The Cyclades are a region of Greece with more than 200 islands in the Aegean Sea The area is 2,572 square kilometers ,with Naxos, the largest island, covering about the one sixth of the total surface Other major islands of the group are Andros, Tinos, Syros  Milos, Paros,Santorini, ios, Anafi, serifos, sifnos, Santorini is associated with the lost city of Atlantis after foundings in Akrotiri The population is 97,000 about, and the islands administyration located in Ermoupolis of Syros. The name Cyclades  derives from the Greek for Cycle Kiklos because the ancient Greeks believed that the islands where surounding the island of   Delos
The Cyclades are a major tourist  resort area  Volcanic dry and rocky, they are formed by granite,gneiss, marmor,slate, limestones, and schist. The Greek island farmers raise grapes, figes, olives, tomatos,wheat, fruits, and watermellons by irrigation. Exports include marble,fish.  wines, and fruits
The Cyclades were the site of an  Bronze Age early civilization known as the Cycladic  The islands conquered by the Ottoman Turks and the Venetians,during the middle ages, finally  became part of independent Greece in 1829.

Geographical Location of Greece

Greece as you can see on the map of Greece consists of a large mainland, the southernmost point of the Balkans, which united with former mainland Peloponnese, from the Isthmus of Corinth, after the Peloponnese after construction of the Corinth Canal is in fact the island. The country is surrounded by the Ionian Sea, the Aegean Sea and Lybean sea.

The Aegean contains numerous islands, among them Evia, Lesbos, Rhodes, Paros, Naxos and the island complexes in the Cyclades and Dodecanese, while 180 kilometers south coast of Crete dominates, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean.

South of Crete is the island Gavdos, the southernmost island in Greece and also in Europe. The main islands in the Ionian is Corfu, Kefalonia, Lefkada and Zakynthos. Greece has 15,021 kilometres of coastline, which is considered extremely high, due to the rich and horizontal territorial division and the strong relief in the region, and the host of numerous islands, which are more than 1500, and is mainly the result of a collision of the African Tectonic plate with the European. It is along the border of around 1,181 kilometers.
Approximately 80% of the territory of Greece is mountainous or hilly. Much of it is dry and rocky, while only 28% of the territory is Agricultural. See bellow a Greece map to see the borders of Greece.

Preveza travel guide

Preveza by several national roads to the Greek road network. The National Highway 18 leads in a northerly direction toward Igoumenitsa in a southerly direction through the tunnel after Preveza Vonitsa in southern ambrakischen Gulf or on the island of Lefkada. The National Highway 21 leads in a north-easterly direction and continue to Filippiada Ioannina (north), or Arta (South East).

On the south of Preveza-lying peninsula Actium is the commercial airport of Preveza. The port of Preveza is located on the western coast of the Gulf  and not on the Ionian Sea. Rail links do not exist

Generally speaking Preveza is an expensive place to stay but if you book well in advance and steer clear of the all-important Preveza view you’ll be able to find reasonably priced pension-style accommodation with basic but comfortable facilities. There are also two youth hostels on the island and three well-equipped campsites.

The Preveza was established after the final decline of Nikopolis, probably in the 11 th century when surrendered by the Byzantine Emperor to the Venetians as emporeio . The primary reason for the recommendation was the favourable position at the mouth of Amvrakikos used for the transport and commercial needs of the continent and the Akarnania

In this first period and throughout the Middle Ages Preveza followed the fortunes of the Despot of Epirus, which was part. Normans under threat several times since, Venetians, Albanians, Turks, the Franks and finally occupied it in 1449, when the Sultan Bayezid made Preveza with Naval dockyards

Geography of Corfu

Corfu is one of the northernmost islands in the Ionian Sea. Located at the entrance to the Adriatic Sea, near the Continental shores. The northeastern coast of catching enough (approx. 2 km) in Albania.

It has long shaped, wider in the northern section, while narrows to the south. The coastline has a total length of 217 kilometers and form a number of bays and capes. The territory is mainly mountainous, especially in the north.

Apart  of the main town speople can enjoy excellent locations. Among the attractions of the area belongs Achillion, the palace of Queen Elizabeth (Sissi), the famous sculpture «» Thniskon Achilles and the wonderful works of art such as murals and paintings. The area of Peleka famous for the sight of the sunset offered, while in Palaiokastritsa is the Byzantine fortress Angelokastro. Beaches blonde with fine sand are present in the St. Gordis, Glyfada, Lake Korission, St. George of Ice, Marathia, Gardeno, Kassiopi, Sidhari, Roda, Acharavi in Almyros, Dasia, and Paleokastritsa in other areas. But in villages in the hinterland of Corfu exert a fascination, as the Sinarades, St Luke, Varypatades, Korakiana, Giannades, Karousades, the Visitation, Chlomos, Spartyla, Lefkimmi, smothered with green.