Athens brought the world drama, history, poetry, and philosophy. Athens, the capital city that is both the birthplace of Western civilization, once home to the world’s most powerful and civilized empires, Athens is now the world’s foremost archaeological playground. The towering columns of the Parthenon still stand in homage to the virgin goddess Athena. The Parthenon sits atop the Athenian Acropolis and watches over the city where it can be seen from just about anywhere in Athens. In addition to an abundance of historical riches, modern Athens has plenty on offer—from scenic beaches to restaurants with superb Mediterranean cuisine and bustling central markets.

The Ancient Theatre of Dionysus is the first theatre in the world and is regarded as the birthplace of the Greek drama. It was built into the southern slope of the Acropolis. This ancient theatre was dedicated to Dionysus, the god of wine making and ecstasy, whose festivals was the driving force behind the development of Greek theatre.

Rhodes, lying at the eastern end of the Aegean Sea is one of the great islands of the Mediterranean. This sunny retreat is also home to many historic sites, such as the ruins of the Temple of Venus and the medieval Street of Knights. Rhodes, pronounced ro-dos, is the largest of the Dodecanese Islands. The varied landscape with beaches, wooded areas, and ancient ruins also make this one of the most alluring of the Greek archipelago and the medieval Old Town with its winding cobbled streets is a highlight. Having lived under the control of Persia, Rome, the Knights of St. John, and finally the Ottoman Turks, Rhodes didn’t become a part of Greece until 1947, when the Dodecanese Islands were formally made a part of the country.

The Colossus of Rhodes is familiar to almost everyone. Where the famous Colossus may have stood are now a bronze stag and doe. The Rhodians decided to express their pride by building a triumphal statue of their favorite god, Helios, and twelve years (from 304 to 292 BC) were needed to complete it. A chain blocking the entrance was deployed during the time of the Knights, with ships paying a 2% tax (based on the value of their cargo) to help the war effort.  From its building to its destruction lies a time span of merely 56 years. The Colossus of Rhodes was not only a gigantic statue. It was a symbol of unity of the people who inhabited that beautiful Mediterranean island of Rhodes.

Santorini with its whitewashed houses is undoubtedly the most extraordinary island in the Aegean, arriving by ship, you are met by one of the world’s truly breathtaking sights, the caldera: a crescent of cliffs in black, pink, brown, white, and pale green, rising 1,100 feet, with the clusters of the towns perched along the top. Fira, aka the ancient greek name of Thira, is the capital. From Ormos old seaport, you can walk up/down the 600 stone steps, hop on a mule or smartly take the short cable car ride that offers great views of the houses, churches, monasteries, hotels and restaurants lie down the cliffs one on top of another using the neighbor’s roof as their terrace. All are painted in white and blue. The encircling cliffs are the ancient rim of a still-active volcano. The island of Santorini is related to the myth of Atlantis where it is believed to be the lost “Atlantis” because of the fact that half of the island was sunk after the eruption of a volcano in 1,500 B.C. 

Mykonos has become one of the most popular of the Aegean islands put firmly on the map by Jacqueline Onassis. Travelers are drawn to its many stretches of sandy beach, its thatched windmills, and its picturesque port town, also called Mykonos. Mykonos is also renowned for its outrageous nightlife, with more bars and discos per square foot than just about anywhere else on the planet. Its chic ambience can be seen everywhere, from marvelous gay bars to gourmet restaurants, and offbeat galleries. Its marinas are always full of VIP yachts and sailing boats, filled with incognito rock stars, designers, movie stars, and politicians!

Katakolon is a small port town in the northern Peloponnese. Once a busy commercial port, its main draw is the gateway to ancient Olympia, which is 30 km (18 mi) to the east. Many restaurants and cafés offer a view of the Ionian sea to go with their menus of fresh seafood and strong Greek coffee. The lighthouse dates to 1865.

Olympia represents one of the top 3 most important places in traditional Greece. The Olympic Games originated here where in the beginning the Games were composed of few disciplines, deriving from military arts characterized by loyalty and courage and lasted just one day often interrupted by religious ceremonies. Subsequently the celebration of the Olympic Games, every four years at the summer solstice, lasted for a few weeks and at this time all conflicts had to be suspended to enable the performance of the games. The ceremony was strict. Women, except for Hera priestesses were not allowed, upon punishment of death. All competitors had to be Greek. The winners (at the time there were no sponsors or money compensation) were awarded by public triumph, they were included in a golden register engraved in stone and a life size statue was erected. The stadium is very impressive, with an audience capacity of up to 45,000. After over 1200 years of continued history, the Olympic Games were stopped in 393 AD and started again in Athens in 1896.

Corfu is one of the most visually exciting regions of Greece with its variety of natural beauty – green woodlands, wild pine-covered mountains, lakes, cultivated fields and of course, miles of golden beaches. The town is a maze of narrow streets dominated by the 16th century fortress. Around every corner can you can find a chapel, old mansion or secret garden square.