Travel Guide- Greece

 

Major tourist spots in Greece

Mount Pnyx in AtenasPrincipais tourist spots of Greece AtenasMonte Pnyx in Athens is a post that shows the birthplace of democracy in Greece. In Pnyx met the Athenian citizens , and in the fourth century BC demanded is a quorum of 6,000 citizens to vote important issues .

                                                                 Mount Pnyx in Athens

 

Tinos (Greek: Τήνος [ˈtinos]) is a Greek island situated in the Aegean Sea. It is located in the Cyclades archipelago. In antiquity, Tinos was also known as Ophiussa (from ophis, Greek for snake) and Hydroessa (from hydor, Greek for water). The closest islands are Andros, Delos, and Mykonos. It has a land area of approximately 194 square kilometres (75 sq mi) and a 2011 census population of 8,636 inhabitants.

 

Tinos is famous amongst Greeks for the Church of Panagia Evangelistria, its 80 or so windmills,[1] about 1000 artistic dovecotes, 50 active villages and its Venetian fortifications at the mountain, Exomvourgo. On Tinos, both Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic populations co-exist, and the island is also well known for its famous sculptors and painters, such as Nikolaos Gysis, Yannoulis Chalepas and Nikiforos Lytras.

The island is located near the geographical center of the Cyclades island complex, and because of the Panagia Evangelistria church, with its reputedly miraculous icon of Virgin Mary that it holds, Tinos is also the center of a yearly pilgrimage that takes place on the date of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary (15 August, "Dekapentavgoustos" in Greek). This is perhaps the most notable and still active yearly pilgrimage in the region of the eastern Mediterranean. Many pilgrims make their way the 800 metres (2,600 feet) from the ferry wharf to the church on their hands and knees as sign of devotion.

Tinos

 

The Acropolis of Athens (Ancient Greek: Ἀκρόπολις) Modern Greek: Ακρόπολη Αθηνών Akrópoli Athinón) is an ancient citadel located on a extremely rocky outcrop above the city of Athens and contains the remains of several ancient buildings of great architectural and historic significance, the most famous being the Parthenon. The word acropolis comes from the Greek words ἄκρον (akron, "highest point, extremity") and πόλις (polis, "city"). Although there are many other acropoleis in Greece, the significance of the Acropolis of Athens is such that it is commonly known as "The Acropolis" without qualification.

While there is evidence that the hill was inhabited as far back as the fourth millennium BC, it was Pericles (c. 495 – 429 BC) in the fifth century BC who coordinated the construction of the site's most important buildings including the Parthenon, the Propylaia, the Erechtheion and the Temple of Athena Nike. The Parthenon and the other buildings were seriously damaged during the 1687 siege by the Venetians in the Morean War when the Parthenon was being used for gunpowder storage and was hit by a cannonball.

The Acropolis of Athens

 

The Aegean Sea  Turkish: Ege Denizi Turkish pronunciation: [e̞ɟe̞ de̞n̪iz̪i]) is an elongated embayment of the Mediterranean Sea located between the Greek and Anatolian peninsulas, i.e., between the mainlands of Greece and Turkey. In the north, it is connected to the Marmara Sea and Black Sea by the Dardanelles and Bosporus. The Aegean Islands are within the sea and some bound it on its southern periphery, including Crete and Rhodes.

The sea was traditionally known as Archipelago (in Greek, Αρχιπέλαγος, meaning "chief sea"), but in English this word's meaning has changed to refer to the Aegean Islands and, generally, to any island group.

The Aegean Sea  Turkish

Santorini (Greek: Σαντορίνη, pronounced [sandoˈrini]), classically Thera (English pronunciation /ˈθɪərə/), and officially Thira (Greek: Θήρα [ˈθira]), is an island in the southern Aegean Sea, about 200 km (120 mi) southeast of Greece's mainland. It is the largest island of a small, circular archipelago which bears the same name and is the remnant of a volcanic caldera. It forms the southernmost member of the Cyclades group of islands, with an area of approximately 73 km2 (28 sq mi) and a 2011 census population of 15,550. The municipality of Santorini includes the inhabited islands of Santorini and Therasia and the uninhabited islands of Nea Kameni, Palaia Kameni, Aspronisi, and Christiana. The total land area is 90.623 km2 (34.990 sq mi). Santorini is part of the Thira regional unit.

Santorini is essentially what remains after an enormous volcanic eruption that destroyed the earliest settlements on a formerly single island, and created the current geological caldera. A giant central, rectangular lagoon, which measures about 12 by 7 km (7.5 by 4.3 mi), is surrounded by 300 m (980 ft) high, steep cliffs on three sides. The main island slopes downward to the Aegean Sea. On the fourth side, the lagoon is separated from the sea by another much smaller island called Therasia; the lagoon is connected to the sea in two places, in the northwest and southwest. The depth of the caldera, at 400m, makes it impossible for any but the largest ships to anchor anywhere in the protected bay; there is also a fisherman's harbour at Vlychada, on the southwestern coast. The island's principal port is Athinias. The capital, Fira, clings to the top of the cliff looking down on the lagoon. The volcanic rocks present from the prior eruptions feature olivine and have a small presence of hornblende.

It is the most active volcanic centre in the South Aegean Volcanic Arc, though what remains today is chiefly a water-filled caldera. The volcanic arc is approximately 500 km (310 mi) long and 20 to 40 km (12 to 25 mi) wide. The region first became volcanically active around 3–4 million years ago, though volcanism on Thera began around 2 million years ago with the extrusion of dacitic lavas from vents around the Akrotiri.

The island is the site of one of the largest volcanic eruptions in recorded history: the Minoan eruption (sometimes called the Thera eruption), which occurred some 3,600 years ago at the height of the Minoan civilization. The eruption left a large caldera surrounded by volcanic ash deposits hundreds of metres deep and may have led indirectly to the collapse of the Minoan civilization on the island of Crete, 110 km (68 mi) to the south, through a gigantic tsunami. Another popular theory holds that the Thera eruption is the source of the legend of Atlantis.

Santorini

Economy

The Greek economy, having achieved high growth rates until 2008, showed signs of recession in 2009 as a result of the global financial crisis, and from 2010 onwards the recession intensified considerably due to country’s fiscal imbalances. The need for consolidation led the country to embark on a trilateral mechanism of financial support, comprised of the EU, the IMF and the ECB. The restrictive income policy and drastic limitation on public expenses during the past five years have had a negative impact on GDP growth, leading to its decrease by 5.4% in 2010, 8.9% in 2011, 6.6% in 2012 and 3.9% in 2013 (constant prices of year 2010). During 2014, the Greek economy returned to positive growth rates of 0.8%.

The public deficit decreased from 15.3% in 2009 to 11.1% in 2010, 10.2% in 2011, 8.7% in 2012, whereas in 2013 was increased by 12.3%. In 2014, the public deficit decreased significantly reaching 3.5% of GDP, while in 2013 and in 2014 a primary surplus was achieved.

A significant improvement in the development trends of economic indicators is expected this year through the acceleration of reforms aimed at the development of a more attractive investment and business environment, including liberalisation of a number of markets, faster licensing procedures, the Investment Law, flexibility in the labour market, and a reduction in the cost of production factors due to the crisis. In 2014, the Greek economy returned to positive growth rates of 0.8%.

Major Economic Indicators

Employment - Unemployment
Unemployment in Greece, up to 2008, was relatively low at 7.6%, approximately the Eurozone average. up to 2008, was relatively low at 7.8%, approximately the Eurozone average. During 2009, unemployment rose as a result of the international crisis that also affected Greece and reached 9.6%. In 2010 unemployment showed a further increase, at 12.7%, as a result of the restrictive fiscal policy due to the debt crisis. In 2011, unemployment rose further to 17.9%, in 2012 exceeded 24% and in 2013 reached 27.5%, as a consequence of the general economic crisis and the measures applied towards fiscal consolidation. In 2014, for the first time since the beginning of the crisis, a slight decrease in unemployment is noted, however it remains at the very high levels of 26.5%.Youth unemployment, which exceeds 50%, is one of the major problems arising from the domestic economic crisis.

Investment 
In 2014, the gross fixed capital formation in Greece reached 20.7 billion Euro at current prices, showing an increase of 1.3% compared with the levels of 2013 (20.5 billion Euro). This slight increase is noted for the first time in recent years, following a series of significant decreases due to the drastic reduction of public expenses and the restrictive fiscal policy resulting from the economic crisis in Greece.

Despite the domestic crisis of public debt and Greece’s inclusion in the IMF- EU - ECB support mechanism, total (gross) inflows of foreign investment capital, which essentially reflect the real performance of the country in attracting investment, decreased by 24,4% in 2014 in comparison with 2013 , but are still higher by 30.7% in comparison to 2012. 

Net FDI inflows of foreign investment capital during the same year decreased in comparison to 2013, by 22.9%, however in comparison to 2012 they remain increased by 20,9%.

International trade
The export of Greek goods during 2014 decreased by 1.5% in comparison to 2013, reaching 27.2 billion Euro. Imports to Greece in 2014 amounted to 47.7 billion Euro whereas in 2013 they reached 46.9 billion Euro, increasing by 1.7%. The increase in imports in 2014 and the slight decrease of exports have resulted in the slight increase of the trade deficit of Greece, in 2014.

Culture of Greece

The culture of Greece has evolved over thousands of years, beginning in Mycenaean Greece, continuing most notably into Classical Greece, through the influence of the Roman Empire and its successor the Byzantine Empire. Other cultures and states such as the Persian Empire, Latin and Frankish states, the Ottoman Empire, the Venetian Republic, Genoese Republic, and British Empire have also left their influence on modern Greek culture, but historians credit the Greek War of Independence with revitalising Greece and giving birth to a single entity of its multi-faceted culture.

 

 

In ancient times, Greece was the birthplace of Western culture and democracy. Modern democracies owe a debt to Greek beliefs in government by the people, trial by jury, and equality under the law. The ancient Greeks pioneered in many fields that rely on systematic thought, including biology, geometry, history, philosophy, and physics. They introduced such important literary forms as epic and lyric poetry, history, tragedy, and comedy. In their pursuit of order and proportion, the Greeks created an ideal of beauty that strongly influenced Western art.

The Arts

Greek Architecture

Greek architecture refers to the architecture of the Greek-speaking peoples who inhabited the Greek mainland, the Peloponnese, the islands of the Aegean Sea, the Greek colonies in Ionia—coastal Asia Minor—and Magna Graecia—Greek colonies in Italy and Sicily. Greek architecture stretches from c. 900 BCE to the first century CE, with the earliest extant stone architecture dating to the seventh century BCE. Greek architecture influenced Roman architecture and architects in profound ways, such that Roman Imperial architecture adopts and incorporates many Greek elements into its own practice. An overview of basic building typologies demonstrates the range and diversity of Greek architecture.

Temple

The most recognizably “Greek” structure is the temple, even though the architecture of Greek temples is actually quite diverse. The Greeks referred to temples with the term ὁ ναός (ho naós) meaning dwelling; the word temple derives from the Latin term, templum.

 

The earliest shrines were built to honor divinities and were made from materials such as a wood and mud brick—materials that typically don't survive very long. The basic form of the naos emerged as early as the 10th century BCE: a simple, rectangular room with projecting walls, antae, that created a shallow porch. This basic form remained unchanged in its concept for centuries. In the eighth century BCE, Greek architecture began to make the move from ephemeral materials such as wood, mud brick, and thatch to permanent materials, namely, stone.

 

During the Archaic period, the tenets of the Doric order of architecture in the Greek mainland became firmly established, leading to a wave of monumental temple building during the sixth and fifth centuries BCE. Greek city states invested substantial resources in temple building—as they competed with each other not just in strategic and economic terms, but also in their architecture. For example, Athens devoted enormous resources to the construction of the acropolis in the fifth century BCE—in part so that Athenians could be confident that the temples built to honor their gods surpassed anything that their rival states could offer.

 

Cinema

Cinema first appeared in Greece in 1896 but the first actual cine-theatre was opened in 1907. In 1914 the Asty Films Company was founded and the production of long films begun. Golfo (Γκόλφω), a well known traditional love story, is the first Greek long movie, although there were several minor productions such as newscasts before this. In 1931, Orestis Laskos directed Daphnis and Chloe (Δάφνις και Χλόη), contained the first nude scene in the history of European cinema; it was also the first Greek movie which was played abroad. In 1944 Katina Paxinou was honoured with the Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for For Whom the Bell Tolls. 

The 1950s and early 1960s are considered by many as the Greek Golden age of Cinema. Directors and actors of this era were recognized as important historical figures in Greece and some gained international acclaim: Mihalis Kakogiannis, Alekos Sakellarios, Melina Mercouri, Nikos Tsiforos, Iakovos Kambanelis, Katina Paxinou, Nikos Koundouros, Ellie Lambeti, Irene Papas etc

Dance and Music

Dancing has always been important to the Hellenic (Greek) people. In ancient times, dance, song, and music were all integral parts of the theater. In fact, the Greek word 'XOPOC', (HOROS), referred to both dance and song. The English words chorus, chorale, choir, and choreography all come from this same Greek word. Furthermore, there are numerous references to dancing in ancient literature. In the myth of Theseus, for example, Theseus and the Athenian youths dance the Yeranos, or Crane dance. In the Iliad of Homer, the youths depicted on a shield dance what seems to be a dance similar to the Syrtos in handhold and movements.

Furthermore he wrought a green, like that which Daedalus once made in Cnossus for lovely Ariadne. Hereon there danced youths and maidens whom all would woo, with their hands on one another's wrists. ... sometimes they would dance deftly in a ring with merry twinkling feet..., and sometimes they would go all in line with one another... There was a bard also to sing to them and play his lyre, while two tumblers went about performing in the midst of them when the man struck up with his tune. (Homer. The Iliad. book xviii.)

                             Today, Greeks dance for many reasons. For example, they use dance as a means of celebrating, as a form of self expression, and also as a part of ritualistic drama. In effect, dance is just as important to the Greeks of today as it was in ancient times. First, dancing is a part of the celebration of the important occasions in the lives of the Greek people; it is an important part of weddings, baptisms, name day (Saint's day) celebrations, and all religious holidays. Dancing also occurs spontaneously at taverns or in homes, often even without musicians. All that is needed is singing and fellowship. If the mood is right, dancing and singing will take place. The celebration is an expression of the joy of the moment. Dance is also a form of self expression. The dancer can "create a dance" by mixing various step variants with the basic step of a dance to make something new or different at that moment. This improvisation by individuals is an exciting part of Greek dance. In fact, each time the Greeks dance, the dance is different in some way from the way it was done before, or from the way it may be done in the future. These differences are not great; they are subtle and are the result of the self expression of the individuals as they dance. The dancers can express joy, heroism, sadness, grace, strength, pride, anger, rejection, sensuousness, humor, and almost any other emotion through dance. In Greek literature for instance, Zorba, in Zorba the Greek by Nikos Kazantzakis, must dance when his joy or sorrow are overwhelming. Just as in the ancient Greek drama, the emotions are purged or expressed through the catharsis of the dance and music. We can see such emotions expressed in a sad, heavy Zeibekikos, the happy, exuberant Syrtos, or the heroic, masculine Tsamikos or Beratis.

There are also other uses of dances as parts of rituals. The various dances which are used as bride's dances (Horos Tis Nyfis), Greek Thracian fire walkers' dances (Anastenaria), and for other uses are usually dances from the basic village repertoire which are used ritualistically on that occasion, sometimes to a special song. For instance, one of the national or pan-Hellenic dances such as the Syrtos can be used as a wedding dance (Horos Tou Gamou), a bride's dance (Tis Nyfis), or for many other purposes. Thus, Greek dances are also used ritualistically for those "rites of passage" which mark important occasions in the lives of the Greek people.

Sculpture

Ancient Greece

Ancient Greek monumental sculpture was composed almost entirely of marble or bronze; with cast bronze becoming the favoured medium for major works by the early 5th century. Both marble and bronze are fortunately easy to form and very durable. Chryselephantine sculptures, used for temple cult images and luxury works, used gold, most often in leaf form and ivory for all or parts (faces and hands) of the figure, and probably gems and other materials, but were much less common, and only fragments have survived. By the early 19th century, the systematic excavation of ancient Greek sites had brought forth a plethora of sculptures with traces of notably multicolored surfaces. It was not until published findings by German archaeologist Vinzenz Brinkmann in the late 20th and early 21st century that the painting of ancient Greek sculptures became an established fact. Using high-intensity lamps, ultraviolet light, specially designed cameras, plaster casts, and certain powdered minerals, Brinkmann proved that the entire Parthenon, including the actual structure as well as the statues, had been painted.

 

Greek Painting

The antiquated Greeks finished their sanctuaries and royal residences with painting or divider painting. We can tell from antiquated artistic sources and from Roman duplicates of Greek craftsmanship that Greeks painted little pictures and made mosaics. The names of the Greek expert painters and something of their lives and works are additionally known, albeit almost no Greek painting has survived the impacts of time and wars.Unlike the cavemen, they did not draw on the walls of the tombs, so their works were not preserved and many people had their hands on it.

Painted vases are about all the remaining parts of Greek painting. Earthenware making was a huge industry in Greece, particularly in Athens. Holders were in awesome interest for fares, for example, oil and nectar, and for family purposes. The most punctual style of vase painting was known as he geometric style which rose up out of 1100 to 700 B.C. Vases were embellished with groups of geometric shapes and human figures in a chestnut coating on light-hued earth. By the 6th century, vase painters were utilizing the dark figured style, in which people figures were painted in dark on the characteristic red earth. The points of interest were cut into the earth with a sharp instrument. This permitted the red underneath to show through. 

The red-figured style in the end supplanted the dark. It is the polar opposite; the figures are red and the foundation dark. The upside of this style was the painter could utilize a brush to make the diagrams. A brush gives a more liberated line than the metal instrument utilized as a part of dark figured vases. 

The Greek and Romans likewise painted representations. A little number of them, for the most part mummy representations done in the Greek style by Egyptians specialists, have made due around Alexandria, in northern Egypt. Established in the fourth century B.C. by Alexander the Great from Greece, Alexandria turned into a main middle of Greek and Roman society.

 

Greek Cuisine

Greek cuisine is a Mediterranean cuisine. It has some common characteristics with the traditional cuisines of Italy, the Balkans,Turkey and the Levant.

Contemporary Greek cookery makes wide use of vegetables, olive oil, grains, fish, wine and meat (white and red, including lamb, poultry,rabbit and pork). Other important ingredients include olives, cheese, eggplant (aubergine), zucchini (courgette), lemon juice, vegetables, herbs, bread and yoghurt. The most commonly used grain is wheat; barley is also used. Common dessert ingredients include nuts, honey, fruits, and filo pastry.

 

 

Greek euro coins



Greek euro coins feature a unique design for each of the eight coins. They were all designed by Georgios Stamatopoulos with the minor coins depicting Greek ships, the middle ones portraying famous Greeks and the two large denominations showing images of Greek history and mythology. All designs feature the 12 stars of the EU, the year of imprint and a tiny symbol of the Bank of Greece. Uniquely, the value of the coins is expressed on the national side in the Greek alphabet, as well as being on the common side in the Roman alphabet. The euro cent is known as the lepto (λεπτό; plural lepta, λεπτά) in Greek.

 

Greece did not enter the Eurozone until 2001 and was not able to start minting coins as early as the other eleven member states, so a number of coins circulated in 2002 were not minted in Athens but in Finland (€1 and €2 – mint mark S), France (1c, 2c, 5c, 10c and 50c – mint mark F) and Spain (20c – mint mark E). The coins minted in Athens for the euro introduction in 2002, as well as all the subsequent Greek euro coins, do not carry any mint mark.

 

 

Refuge and leisure in Grecia

There are many leisure facilities and hotels in Greece, with a beautiful view of the big blue sea, which is a major tourist postcards.

 

Transportation in Greece

 

TRAIN - in Greece the best way to travel is definitely the subway . The network has been all modernized and expanded.

 

 

 

Plane- Like in Brazil, the domestic flight market in Greece is dominated by only two companies: Aegean Airlines and Olympic Air .

 

BUSES - in some towns, buses are the only option. The comfort level is not very different from what you have here in Brazil.

 

 

 

The boats  passenger transport - have

an extensive travel network between

the most different islands.

 

 

 W6 part 1

Teacher Priscila

Jhonatas Fonseca de Souza

Marcelo Rodrigo Lopes dos Santos

Matheus Marfori de Lima dos Santos

Talita Loiola Silva

 

 

 

 

 

 

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