Caracalas Travel

The birthplace of modern democracy and the foundation of western civilization!

Athens

A trip to Greece has to include at least a day or two in the capital city.

A must see is The Acropolis, which is probably the most famous archeological site in Europe. Acropolis in Greek means “High City” and on the acropolis sits the Parthenon that once housed a gigantic gold statue of the goddess Athena.

Plaka, the old city at the base of the Acropolis is a maze of winding cobblestone streets, boutiques, jewelry stores and open-air tavernas. It’s a great place to shop and sip ouzo while you watch the locals and tourists wander by.

Syntagma Square, also known as Constitution Square, is located on the edge of Plaka and opposite the Parliament. There you can watch the changing of the guard by the Greek soldiers known as Evzones.

The Olympic Stadium that housed the first modern day Olympics in 1896 is worth a visit as is the National Archeological Museum.

Short trips from Athens can include the spectacular ruins of Delphi, the Temple of Poseidon at Sounion, the Corinth Canal, town of Corinth, Epidavrus Theater, Olympia and the ancient ruins of Mycenae.

The Greek Islands

Once you have explored Athens, head for the islands!

Greece has over a 1000 islands but we’ll only mention a few that are the most well known.

Santorini
This is our favorite island and when you visit it, you’ll see why. Legend has it that Santorini is the Lost City of Atlantis. It is true that about 1500 B.C. a monumental eruption of a volcano in the center of the island destroyed all the inhabitants and sent a tidal wave to the island of Crete, south of Santorini, that wiped out the Minoan civilization.

Modern day Santorini, is a beautiful crescent shaped island with steep cliffs that drop to the sea and offer a view of the volcanic cone, known as the caldera, in the middle of the bay. The main town is Thira, which can be reached by taxi if you fly into Santorini on the opposite side of the island. The most scenic way is to approach by sea on a private yacht or a cruise ship. The panorama of the island with the view of the cliffs and homes, restaurants and hotels spilling down, while you sail past the caldera is spectacular.

Mykonos