Greek Islands Pictures
The Islands of Greece
The
islands of Greece offer tourists with a variety of ways to
enjoy
themselves.
From relaxing on the many beautiful beaches, enjoying the sun drenched
climate and outdoor patios to visiting the many archaeological sites
and
cultural attractions. I visited Santorini, Crete, Paros, Hydra and Ios.
Santorini
The
volcanic island of Santorini is my favorite. This island has something
for everyone.
Natural
Beauty
This
is an island that it is difficult to describe in words. You have to
visit
it to really appreciate it's beauty and your Greek
holidays should include a few days on this ancient and
panoramic island. The volcanic eruption around circa
1500
BC showered the island with pumice and ash leaving a huge caldera in
the
middle of the island and sheer steep cliffs. This is the reason for
spectacular
colors of the sediment and rock strata of the cliffs composed of
reddish-brown,
black and grey striations. You can also take a tour to the caldera
where
you can still see and smell sulfur coming out from the earth.
On
top of these sheer cliffs you have small villages such as Thira,
Imerovigli and Oia. Oia is a great place to view sunsets or
have a romantic dinner. While on the island you can see vineyards and
farmland
growing various crops such as olives and pistachios.
History
Civilization
thrived in Santorini from 3000 BC to around 1500 BC. Remnants of this
ancient
civilization can be found at Akrotiri on the south western tip of
Santorini.
The influence of Minoan Crete is evident in this city especially in
their
colorful frescoes, pottery and customs. This city was buried by the
pumice and ash
from the volcanic eruption. Only a tiny portion of it has been
excavated so
far revealing 2 and 3 story buildings.
On
the south eastern coast of the island on a cliff overlooking the sea
you'll
find Ancient Thira. It is accessible by a road. The ruins here are
impressive
and date from the Hellenistic and Roman periods.
Beaches
To
relax, you can spend some time on the beach. There are plenty of them
and
I found the black sand beaches to be very beautiful and different, but
very
hot.
Crete
A trip
to Greece must include Crete. A few places of interest are the Palace
of
Knossos, the city of Herakleion and the Herakleion Museum.
Palace
of Knossos
The
most important archaeological site in Create and perhaps all of Greece.
The Minoan site and civilization flourished till around approximately
1450 BC. There are many theories concerning
why Minoan civilization collapsed. One of them surrounding the massive
volcanic
eruption in Santorini. The site is impressive. It has yielded
incredible artifacts, pottery and beautiful frescoes. The palace itself
was multi-storied, contained running water and has a throne room.
City
of Herakleion
The
Archaeological Museum of Herakleion is an impressive museum containing
many ancient artifacts from various Minoan cities and periods of Cretan
history. Some of the more memorable finds include the beautiful Minoan
frescoes and the bull's head from the Palace of Knossos and
the Roman finds from Gortyn.
While
staying in the city you can view the impressive well-preserved Venetian
walls and fortifications still standing. You can also visit the 16th
century
Venetian castle at the harbor entrance.
Island
of Crete
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Palace at
Knossos, Crete
Leaping Bull
fresco,
at Herakleion Museum, Crete
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Throne room,
Palace of Knossos
View of temple complex
at Knossos, Crete
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Sculptures
from Herakleion Museum
Coffin from Gortyn,
Herakleion museum, Crete
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Bull's
Head, Minoan
Venetian Fort, Herakleion
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View
of Heraklion harbour and walls from Venetian fort
Temple of Aphaia,
Island of Aegina
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My
short video on Greece and the Greek Islands
