History of Greece

 So, here we started to share the history of Greece first.

Greece has a rich history and is known for its natural beauty and fascinating history. While travelled in Greece you can see beautiful scenery and interested places to travel.

Did you know??

Greek civilization developed on the Greek Peninsula and its surrounding islands surrounded by the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. Greece, its official name is the Hellenic Republic in Greek. This country is known as the origin of Western civilization.

Greek civilization began with the formation of human settlements known as city-states or polis. Although there are many city-states in Greece, the most prominent are Athens, Sparta and Corinth. The modern Greek state was first established in 1830, i.e.

Today Athens is a bustling and modern capital. A completely different holiday experience from the beautiful Greek islands, Athens can feel busy and crowded but balances out with impressive cultural attractions.

While going to the archaeological museum, I learned about the history of the rise of Greek civilization. The museum has exhibits from all periods of Greek history. Among the ancient collections you can see marble or stone statues, miniatures, tombstones, bronze objects, tools, weapons, and objects from everyday life.

Culture/Lifestyle in Greece

 

Greece is a multi-cultural country of great and diverse interests. It has been influenced by its location at the confluence of the East and the West and by the continued occupation of Greece and its people from the Romans until its independence from the Ottoman Empire in the 19th Century. So, here’s I will share about the cultures of Greece. Which is it start from music, dance, festivals, clothing, and language

1)Music

Among the musical culture in Greece that I have just discovered is that it has an unbelievable diversity due to the creative Greek assimilation of the different influences of Eastern and Western Asian and European cultures.  This is because music is an important aspect of everyday Greek culture.  It has a long history dating back to Ancient times, where poetry, dance and music were inseparable and played an important role in the daily life of the ancient Greeks.  In addition, it states that music and musical instruments are an important part of Greek history and life.  Examples of musical instruments used in Greek folk songs are the lyre and laouto (lute), tambouras and gaida (bagpipe), zournas (shawm), and viola (violin).  Not forgetting it made me excited to see and hear musical instruments and music in Greece. Next, let's see what other interesting culture is in Greece.

2)Dance 

Greece is one of the few countries in the world where folk dances are as alive today as they were in ancient times.  Dance has always played an important role in Greek life.  It is an expression of human feelings and daily life.  The Greeks would dance at religious festivals or ceremonies for them to dance to ensure fertility, to prepare for war and to celebrate victory.  Thus, they also dance at weddings, to overcome depression and to cure physical ailments.  Almost every dance has a story to tell.  An example of a dance that I have seen in front of my eyes is the Sirtaki, probably one of the most famous Greek dances that is famous all over the world.  It’s way of dancing with alternating slow and fast steps from the hasapiko dance, sirtaki was born.  It is danced in a line or circle, with hands placed on their neighbour’s shoulders. 

3)Festivals

What I discovered while in Greece is that there are many types of festivals in Greece that mostly take place in the summer.  In fact, the festival has a religious basis and it follows the Orthodox calendar.  The Orthodox calendar is similar to the Catholic calendar, except for the occasional Easter.  Greek festivals are a part of Greek culture.  For example, The Athens Epidaurus Greek Festival takes place every summer (from June to August) and includes various performances, such as modern theatre, ancient drama, ballet, opera, jazz and classical music concerts and art exhibitions.  The event took place in various theatres around Athens.  In fact, the highlight of the festival is the performance of ancient dramas that are displayed on summer weekends in Epidaurus.  It really excited me after seeing it there.

4)Clothing 

Next I went to a museum or on the street that had statues of ancient Greeks who wore simple clothes that covered their bodies.  To my knowledge when told by the people there, they told that the Chiton and the peplos were both simple garments made of a rectangular piece of cloth, with a hole cut out for the head.  Thus, the peplos is sleeveless, while the chiton covers the arms.  For this, people can wear a robe called a himation.  These clothes are usually made of wool.  Very unique and creative, isn't it?.  Next, let's see what other cultures there are in Greece.

5)Language

Since language constitutes one of the most important elements of Greek culture and its best transmitter, it is interesting to see how the Greeks speak today, how the Ancient Greek language became the modern one known today. The Greek language is part of the Indo-European family of languages. Unlike other languages that branch off of Indo-European, the Greek language doesn’t have any offshoots. For instance, the Latin language morphed into French, Italian, Spanish, and others. However, the language has evolved over the centuries and the modern Greek language that we know today is different in a lot of ways from the language that was spoken in Ancient Greece. They are, however, still considered the same language. Modern Greek has simply evolved.

Traditional Foods in Greece

 

Greek food spread its culinary delights throughout the country and beyond. Greek cuisine has an ancient tradition and has been heavily influenced by Eastern and Western cultures. The taste of food in this country changes according to the season. However, fresh vegetables, fish, and seafood are the main ingredients of Greek cuisine and play an important role in the dishes, while meat is less popular, with the exception of lamb. Here are some dishes that should not be missed on your trip through Greece and are sure to become favorites.!

1. AMYGDALOTA

The first dish I tried was amygdalota, a gluten-free almond pastry that is very popular in Greece, and in my opinion, it goes well with a warm cup of Greek coffee. Whether I'm meeting with family or friends, according to traditional beliefs in Greece, this food symbolizes the image of a beautiful friendly relationship. This dish can vary slightly in different restaurants in Greece, but almonds are the dominant ingredient throughout the region.

2. BOUGATSA

Next is a dish called bougatsa, a sweet cake made from puff pastry and semolina porridge. This dish is great to eat during the day, and I think it's even better late at night when you're happy and full. In Greece, they say that if you eat this cake in a street snack bar, you also get icing sugar and cinnamon on it. For me, it is suitable for people who like sweet food.

3. DOLMADAKIA (STUFFED GRAPE LEAVES)

According to popular belief, this is another sign of the versatility of Greek cuisine. The so-called dolmadakia are small dolmades made of stuffed grape leaves. When I tried them, inside the leaf was either lamb or beef (sometimes both) or rice. Traditionally, this dish is served as an appetizer with lemon wedges.

4. TOMATOKEFTEDES (SANTORINI TOMATO FRITTERS)

Tomaotokeftedes, better known as fried tomatoes, is a traditional side dish and main dish or so-called vegetarian dish in Santorini and Syros. The preparation of this delicious dish depends on the ingredients combined with the right tomatoes. In my opinion, you should definitely try them when traveling in Greece, because these fries have a rough edge with mint, tomato and onion flakes that are delicious and hearty.

5. HALVAS

The first time I was in Greece, I was introduced to a simple but delicious dessert. I think you'll be surprised at how delicious this simple meal is, especially if you're looking for a dairy-free, butter-free, egg-free dessert. Halva is a combination of four great ingredients, oil, semolina, sugar, and water. I am sure you will be amazed by the taste of the combination of these four ingredients. Simply put, halva is a semolina pudding sweetened with syrup and sprinkled with nuts.

Tourist Attractions

Do you know they have lots of the best places in Greece? Before I tell you the experience when I had to go to any place in this country,let me give a short introduction about this country.

It started with a home to some of the world’s most important historical sites,along with some 6,000 islands,Greece is known for its natural beauty and fascinating culture. Ancient archaeological sites, cliffs tumbling into sparkling blue water, sand and pebble beaches, and a balmy Mediterranean climate make Greece one of Europe's prime places to visit for tourists.

1) ACROPOLIS MUSEUM

In my experience the first place that i have go is Acropolis Museum in Athens.I have decided to go that place because i was heard that it's the most visited tourist attractions.The museum building had designed by Swiss architect Bernard Tschumi,It is an ultra modern glass and steel structure with light and airy exhibition spaces,built specifically to display ancient finds from the acropolis.Here also have a cafe from the museum cafe restaurant terrace,I guess we can enjoy amazing views of the Acropolis itself.

2) SANTORINI

The second place that I have go is Santorini.To me Stunning Santorini is the most dramatic of all the Greek isles.It is best known for the west coast cliff top towns of “Fira” and “Oia”,which appear to hang over a deep, blue sea-filled caldera. Made up of typical Cycladic whitewashed cubic buildings, many of which have been converted into boutique hotels with infinity pools, both Fira and Oia are considered romantic destinations, popular for weddings and honeymoons.

3) CORFU

Next place that I have to go is Corfu.This place is one of Greece’s top tourist attractions.Corfu sits in the

Ionian Sea off the west coast of the mainland. I heard that the capital, “Corfu Town”, is a UNESCO World Heritage site, thanks to its elegant Italianate architecture that was ruled by the Venetians for several centuries. Explore its romantic pedestrian only streets to discover two 16th-century fortresses and the arcaded Liston, lined by old-fashioned cafes.Away from the main town, the island is lushly beautiful, with rugged limestone rocks tumbling into the sea in its north and velvety green hills in its south.

4) SAMARIA GORGE

The most top attraction and lovers of the great outdoors that I had go is Samaria Gorge at island of crete.The measuring 16 kilometers in length and at its narrowest point only four meters wide,it runs from Omalos(1250 meters) in the White Mountains down to down to Agia Roumeli on the Libyan Sea.It’s had depending on your level of fitness, it will take five to seven hours to walk. It is steep in parts and rocky, so you should wear good hiking shoes and carry plenty of water.

5) MOUNT OLYMPUS

The last place that I had to go was Mount Olympus, famous home of the god Zeus, which lies about halfway between Athens and Thessaloniki. Towering over the surrounding countryside at an impressive 2,918 meters, this mountain is a top recreation destination in the summer.It’s three hiking trails lead to its summit, although most people take the two-day, one-night Priona trail. From the top, the views are unparalleled and well worth the effort expended to get here. You didn't need any special equipment to do this hike, just a good assortment of clothing, sturdy hiking boots, and a taste for adventure. 

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Travel to Greece

Hi, in this blog we want to share various things about Greece such as interesting places, culture and food in the country of Greece. This is because, we have been traveling and want to share new and interesting things about what it is like in Greece. Please support us. Thank you.