As I’ve shared in other posts recently, my family and I explored a lot of Greece’s mainland during our trip to that fascinating country. Our jam-packed itinerary included stops in the Macedonia, Peloponnese and Thessaly regions. And, much to our delight, we were also able to sail to the island of Patmos, one of Greece’s Dodecanese islands, during our trip. It was dark when we arrived, so we couldn’t tell until the following morning just how charming the area that we were staying in was. But, over the next couple of days, we began to understand why Forbes magazine in 2009 named Patmos as the most idyllic place to live…
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Learn About Other Cultures By Studying Ethnic Art
Traveling outside of one’s own geographical region or to another country is often one of the best ways to learn about cultures that are different from one’s own. However, spending time away from home isn’t always feasible. Personal- and work schedules, not to mention insufficient funds for traveling, are among the many factors that can prevent people from being able to explore an unfamiliar place firsthand. This is why history museums are so important; they are often go-to institutions for residents and tourists alike when they decide to embark on a time of cultural exploration. However, visiting an ethnic museum, specifically one that focuses on ethnic art, could prove to…
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Meteora’s Varlaam Monastery Is A Must-See During A Visit to Greece’s Thessaly Region
Tired and excited. These two words are probably the best adjectives to describe how I felt after climbing up one part of the rock formation that is known as Meteora during our beloved trip to Greece. A UNESCO World Heritage Site in Greece’s Thessaly region, Meteora is situated near the city of Kalambaka (also known as Kalampaka or Kalabaka) and is one of the most popular tourist destinations on the country’s mainland. So what exactly is Meteora? It’s kind of hard to describe, but it’s basically a region filled with tall sandstone pillars, six of which are home to Eastern Orthodox monasteries. And, we visited the second largest monastery of…
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Here Are Three Reasons To Visit Olympia
I’ve always enjoyed watching the Olympics, particularly the summer games. So, I was excited when our family visited the town of Olympia in the Peloponnese Region of Greece. Why? Because modern day Olympia is near the Archaeological Site of Olympia, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the place where athletes once competed in the ancient Olympic Games! Anyone who is fascinated by history, especially Greek history, will be captivated by this place because it gives them the chance to see in person what is left of the buildings that were prominent in this place centuries ago. Included are the remains of the Temple of Hera, Philippeion, Nymphaeum, Temple of Zeus,…
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The Top Six Sites to Visit in Central Greece
As our family witnessed during our trip to Greece, the country is filled with lots of interesting archaeological sites and museums. While many cultural sites are located in the Macedonia region, the largest of the nine geographical regions, quite a few can also be found in Central Greece, the most populous region. When we were in Central Greece, we explored several places in Athens, the country’s capital. However, the one I was the most excited about seeing was the Acropolis, one of Central Greece’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Acropolis is home to the remains of a collection of ancient buildings, including the Parthenon, Erechtheion, Temple of Athena and Propylaea…
