Greek history
Modern Greece, which emerged in the 19th century from 500 years of Ottoman rule, lies in a rocky pile of peninsulas and islands at the bottom of the Balkans in the eastern Mediterranean, with a language and landscape redolent of its pre-eminent place in the development of the western world.
History, drama, politics, philosophy: the words as well as the concepts have their roots here. Around its rugged terrain are the names of the city states which vied for supremacy in this region 2,000 years ago: Corinth, Sparta, Mycenae, Thrace, Athens. And here too are Delphi , the Parthenon and Mount Olympos, forever associated with the ancient gods.
Visiting Greece
Whether you arrive in Greece by boat, train or plane, your first impression as you stretch your legs is likely to be of the sun. Glimmering on the water, reflecting off metal and glass, casting shadows, the Mediterranean sun is omnipresent. Like the flash of a hidden camera, the brilliant light catches you unawares and transfixes you.
From that minute, you seem effortlessly to become a part of the Greek landscape - blue sky above, white sand below, ancient ruins, olive groves, a wine festival... It is easy to fall in love with this radiant country, not least because so many of its 11 million people are emotionally open, unafraid of shedding a tear, either in sorrow or in joy.
The country's membership of the European Union and its capital's hosting of the 2004 Olympic Games have done much to accelerate modernisation. A sense of history and a respect for tradition, however, remain powerful, and most Greeks are proud to share their culture with visitors. The Greek word xenos means not only 'stranger' but also 'guest', and a fortunate xenos will be invited into a Greek family's house to be lavishly supplied with food and drink and questioned with genuine curiosity.
Athens
East and West converge in this vibrant metropolis, lively and brimming over, just like its inhabitants. Greece's capital city is also home to some of the country's - indeed, the world's - most important historical sites. Athens' main streets are loud and best avoided in the peak hours, when the roar of traffic and pollution become overwhelming.
Wander down the side-streets though, to see Athenians emerging from their afternoon siesta: watering the plants in their underwear, chatting to their neighbours, sharing an ouzo over a game of backgammon, or just quietly reading the newspaper.
Read more about Greece.