Greece has something for everyone--fascinating history and culture; enduring archeological sites; interesting art, drama, and music; and sparkling seas surrounded by sun-drenched beaches. A fascination with the history and culture of Greece drew the first travelers. Human remains from over 700 thousand years have been found in Greece, and the ancient Cycladic, Minoan, and Mycenaean civilizations dating back over 5,000 years were the first Greeks to sail the Mediterranean. Those of us who love ancient history are familiar with many of the famous Greek citizens who made their mark on the world. Even those who have been out of school a long time can probably still recognize Greek names like Alexander the Great, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Pythagoras, Euclid, Archimedes, Hippocrates, Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripedes.
Greece has also played a key role in modern history. Greece was occupied by the Nazis from 1941 to 1944, and the Greek resistance effort was highlighted in several books and movies about the war. Remember The Guns of Navarone? After World War II, a civil war broke out in Greece, which decimated the country. More citizens were killed during the civil war than during World War II, and hundreds of thousands were left homeless and penniless. Almost a million Greeks left the country and immigrated elsewhere, sometimes leaving whole villages--and even whole islands--uninhabited. Although some Greeks have returned and people from other countries have immigrated to the islands seeking their own paradise, most have stayed away.
The last half of the twentieth century was a tumultuous one for Greece. Greece had rampant inflation and major political and economic problems. Greece's sensitive relationship with Turkey, the break-up of neighboring Yugoslavia, and the continuing unrest in the Balkans dominates its foreign policy. In the late 1990's, Greece pushed to join the European Union, and is the only member of the EU who does not share a border with any other member. Greece adopted the euro as its currency in March 2002. Thousands of years of documented history certainly make Greece a desirable travel destination.
Let's take a look at the other things Greece has for travelers.