The sprawling, modern city of Athens is built around the Acropolis ("upper city"), an imposing natural fortress selected by the city's first inhabitants, the Pelasgians, back in the Neolithic age for its strategic elevated position. The symbol of Athens since time immemorial, the Acropolis is crowned by the legendary Parthenon. In the northern part of the city, the National Archaeological Museum houses impressive collections of antiquities.

Nestled on the Peloponnesus, Greece's southernmost peninsula, connected to the mainland by the Isthmus of Corinth, is the mythical city of Mycenae, from which King Agamemnon set out to conquer Troy. Also here are Nauplia (or Nafplion), with its two museums; Epidaurus, known for its glorious theatre; Sparta, which is home to an interesting archaeological museum; Mistra (or Mystras) and its Byzantine monuments; Messenia, with its back to the slopes of Mount Taygetos and fringed with magnificent beaches; and Olympia, site of the original Olympic Games.Crete Crete is the largest island of Greece, with which it was united in 1913. Moreover, the island is a history lesson in itself. Over the centuries, Crete's strategic yet vulnerable geographical position in the Mediterranean made it a prime target for repeated invasions, which left their mark on the island's architecture. The centre of the ancient Minoan civilization, Crete fell under the yoke of the Romans, who left behind an assortment of public and religious buildings. It then became part of the Byzantine Empire, as evidenced by the numerous chapels from the period, then fell into the hands of the Venetians in 1204 and remained so for more than 400 years. It was then absorbed into the Ottoman Empire and remained under Turkish rule for two centuries, as manifested by its houses with wooden balconies, as well as its handful of minarets and mosques.The Cyclades Consisting of 40 islands, of which 25 are inhabited, the Cyclades derive their name from the circle (kyklos) they seem to form around the sacred Isle of Delos. A group of islands scattered across the Aegean Sea, the Cyclades are one of Greece's most popular tourist destinations.

The archipelago was inhabited as early as 7000 BC and is the birthplace of the Cycladic civilization (3000 to 1000 BC), which is distinguished by particularly modern-looking, geometric-shaped idols and statues. Today, the Cycladic Islands' architecture is characterized by blue-shuttered, whitewashed houses, Byzantine churches crowned with bright-blue domes, and windmills.The Dodecanese Islands A 12-island archipelago (hence its Greek name, meaning "12 islands") located in the Aegean Sea, along the southeastern coast of Turkey, the Dodecanese notably comprise the islands of Patmos and Rhodes. The Dodecanese Islands were ceded to Greece in 1947-1948.

Patmos was made famous by St. John the Evangelist, who wrote the Apocalypse while in exile here. Chora, the island's main town, is very appealing, with its medieval-style mansions, Byzantine churches and narrow alleyways.

The largest of the Dodacanese Islands, Rhodes, has something for everyone, from lush vegetation and beautiful beaches to a rich history and impressive monuments.