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Greece - Continentale with a local agency !

Who doesn't know Zeus, Aphrodite and company? Greek mythology seems familiar to us, so much it is part of our culture. Here, the genesis of the universe is first and foremost a matter of myths. Another charm of Greece is to reread these epic stories in the places that inspired them. While his brother Poseidon reigns on the seas, Zeus, true master of the universe, dominates his world from the peaks of Olympus in Macedonia. At the foot of the Acropolis, how could we not think of Athena, the city's protective war goddess?

To date, no less than 18 Greek sites are classified as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including 12 in mainland Greece. They include of course the Acropolis, but also the early Christian and Byzantine monuments of Thessaloniki, the temple of Apollo in Bassae, the archaeological sites of Vergina, Olympia, Delphi, Mystras, Patrons or Philippi (the last, distinguished in 2016). In addition, there are two exceptional religious complexes: the suspended monasteries of the Meteors and Mount Athos.

Another charm of Greece: despite their economic difficulties, the Greeks keep a real elegance - and pride - with tourists. Their sense of hospitality remained intact. Better still: to our knowledge, few have tried to inflate their prices because of the difficult economic situation. Even today, many restaurateurs still offer desserts (halva, watermelon slices...) to their customers. The class.

Its great geographical diversity allows Greece to offer its visitors a wide variety of climatic conditions, with a dominant Mediterranean climate, also known as the "olive tree climate". The sun, o Ilios, will not fail you. Greece boasts 3,000 hours of sunshine per year. Present from the first days of spring, it shines until October, illuminates the winter and is fierce in the summer months. Be careful, when the wind blows in summer, the feeling of heat is less noticeable while the sun is still blowing... You can always take a nap in the shade of a large fig tree.

A land of contrasts and multiple ecosystems, you will find in Greece a delicious variety of landscapes, and will easily pass from small mountain villages to large stretches of beaches. 15,000 km of coastline, hundreds of islands and all kinds of beaches await you, all within a three-hour flight from Paris. For those who want to discover places that are not very popular with tourists but whose cultural value is nevertheless enormous, Greece, a link between Europe and Asia, is an excellent starting point for trips to the Balkans or Turkey.

Did you know that? In 2017, the rebétiko, Greek popular music, was classified on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The previous year, the momoeria, a typical celebration between December 25 and January 5 in Kozani, northwest Greece, western Macedonia, was distinguished. Everywhere, Greece's historical and artistic heritage is absolutely colossal. You will not be able to return home feeling as if you have seen everything, because the smallest village is full of ancient treasures, Byzantine chapels, ruins, cloisters, traces of the feet of a Cyclops or caves hiding invincible hyrdes...

Greece is a country of celebration, it is in the culture of its inhabitants to have fun until late at night. Any occasion is a good time to dance and listen to music, with friends or family. Traditions are conscientiously respected by all and celebrated as they should be: weddings, baptisms, religious holidays are all good excuses for celebrating.

Invited to the table of this people with a strong personality, you will taste original wines, from syrupy reds to resin-coated whites, and taste excellent mezze cooked under the patronage of the venerated olive oil, nectar of the sacred tree of the Olympian country. And it will be festive! Indeed, any occasion is a good time to dance and listen to music with a glass of ouzo or tsipouro.