Greece | The Best Travel Destinations

Mykonos Island – Greece

Mykonos (Greek: Μύκονος) is a Greek island, part of the Cyclades, lying between Tinos, Syros, Paros and Naxos. The island spans an area of 85.5 km2 (33 sq mi) and rises to an elevation of 341 m (1,119 ft) at its highest point. There are 9,320 inhabitants (2001) most of whom live in the largest town, Mykonos, also known as Chora (i.e. the Town in Greek, a common denomination in Greece when the name of the island itself is the same as the name of the principal town), which lies on the west coast.

Mykonos is world famous for its beautiful golden sandy beaches and transparent waters. There is a beach for every taste and mood. Nudists, round-the-clock party people, families and those seeking a break from the madness of Mykonos will all be able to find a beach that fits their taste.
The beaches on the south shore of the island have the best sand, view and are protected from the Meltemi, the local Cycladic wind. Keep in mind that most people begin to arrive in the early afternoon, and you can avoid the worst of the crowds by going in the morning. The north coast beaches are less developed but just as beautiful. They are less organized and crowded and most suitable for those in search of a bit of calm.

Mykonos Beaches

Megali Ammos Beach: The closest beach to Chora, reachable by a 15 min walk, ideal for those who only have a few hours to spend.

Psarou Beach: Situated within walking distance and just to the right of the Plati Gialos bus terminus. A fully organised beach, offers glamour and prestige. It’s the place to see and to be seen. Nammos the beach restaurant offers the same glamour and prestige as long as you are willing to pay the price. In high season you might have bribe your way to gain access to your spot on the beach.

Platis Gialos Beach: About 4 km from Mykonos town, a very popular beach on the south side. It is also one of the longest on Mykonos. It was once a family beach, but nowadays it’s becoming more cosmopolitan. From here one may hire a small boat to visit other beaches like Paradise, Super Paradise etc. That was the only way to visit those beaches before roads were built. Good connection by bus with Mykonos town, till very late at night.

Paranga Beach: One of the smallest beaches, a combination of two sandy beaches separated by a headland. Although organised, it has a new-age feel about it, with fine sand and huge rocks juxtaposed with blue water. In the spring time it reminds you of the old days, but in the summer it’s crowded with Italians.It can be reached by bus or by a 15 minute walk from Platis Gialos.

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The sanctuary of Athena Pronaia – Delphi

The sanctuary of Athena Pronaia – Delphi – Greece

The sanctuary of Athena Pronaia is the first that would met the ancient visitor, as the present one, as he comes via land to the Delphi. This fact gave also the name to the temple as pronaia means that her temple is found before the temple of Apollo in the main sanctuary.

And this sanctuary is surrounded by surrounding wall of the classic years in which the sacred buildings are enclosed as well as a part of a smaller archaic wall which is a rare example polygonal wall building. The surrounding wall has here openings for access from all the sides. And here the evidence of worship is related to the last Mycenaean period due to female figurines that were found under the archaic temple and the altars.

Entering the temple we see on the left about two small archaic buildings that consider to be treasures. Right to us exists a total of altars that most belongs in 6th cent B.C. The large one belongs to the temple of Athena while the smallest, according to the inscriptions found, are of Zeus, Athena, the Eileithyias and Ygeias (Health).

The first large building of the sanctuary is an archaic temple of Athena. The one that we see in front of us built at the end of 6th c.B.C. was Dorian peripteral with 6 x 12 columns and had embossed metopes and relief sculptures of which where saved only little pieces. It is interesting that in its foundations found built column parts that belonged to an older temple, of middle 7th cent. which is one of the older monumental temples of ancient Greek architecture. The temple that we see should also have been destroyed in the big earthquake of 373 B.C. when it begun to built the new temple of Athena in the western side of the sanctuary.

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Melissani Lake and Cave

Melissani Lake and Cave

Melissani caves in Kefalonia are located about 10 km from Argostoli and 2 km Sami, in the east coast of Kefalonia (Cefalonia). The caves are surrounded by forests, while a mountain slope is located to the west of them. In mythology, Melissani was the cave of the Nymphs.

Melissani cave is the most spectacular lake on the island. The cave is 100 meters long and the lake takes about one third of its length. It was first discovered in 1951 and was opened for the public in 1963. However, locals were aware of its presence much earlier. The water is a mixture of sea water and sweet water.

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The Corinth Canal

The Corinth Canal

The famous Corinth Canal, which separates the Peloponnese from mainland Greece, connects the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf. The Corinth Canal, though only completed in the late 19th century, was an idea and dream that’s dates back over 2000 thousand years.

The strip of land that connects the Peloponnese and mainland Greece is called the “Isthmus”. At it’s narrowest point, it is only 4 miles wide, and in ancient times, one could see from one side to the other. Before the Corinth Canal was constructed, ships had to travel all around the Peloponnese, which added approximately 185 nautical miles, and several days more travel to their journey time.

The Ancient Greeks devised a solution to the problem of the extra length of the ships’ journey when the “Diolkos” was constructed. This was a stoned path, paved with limestone, which ran along from Schinous on the Saronic Gulf to Poseidonia on the Corinth Gulf. The name “Diolkos” means a “movable platform”.

The tyrant of Corinth, Periander, was the first who envisioned the Corinth Canal in 602BC, but the technical capabilities in ancient times made his idea impossible to carry out. Instead, he developed the “Diolkos”, which more than served its’ purpose. Along the “Diolkos” ran the “olkos”, which was a wheeled vehicle onto which ships were actually lifted onto, and taken over land from one side to the other. Not all ships could use the “olkos” due to their size, but in many cases, the cargo of ships was taken off at one side, and transported to the other, where a second ship would be waiting to load on the cargo. Today, there are still sections of the “diolkos” that one can still see.

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