Things To Do
Mountain chains, bougainvillea-speckled islands, green olive groves, and the brilliantly blue Aegean comprise the refuge of
mythological heroes and beasts. This varied land of isolated villages and majestic ruins satisfies even the pickiest visitor
with its infinite diversions. Check out the Suggested Itineraries boxes that begin each chapter by outlining regional bests,
but don’t be afraid to plot out your own route: the famous Greek hospitality will make you feel welcome wherever you go.
Let’S Go Picks
- Best Place To Conduct A Census: The number of people in the village of Agios Achillios in Prespa can be counted on 1 person’s fingers and toes.
Counting the citizens of Megalo Horio in Evritania, however, would require 10 people’s digits.
- Best Place To Think Deep Thoughts: Take your most profound questions and ideas to Athens’s Agora , where master philosopher Socrates once taught. In
Vikos Gorge , any thought can be considered deep.
- Best Place To Recreate A Battle: Each October, a 1571 naval battle is recreated at Nafpaktos’ Old Port, complete with pyrotechnics .
- Best Place To Pretend You’Re An Olympic Athlete: At ancient Olympia , you can take a lap around the stadium where Greek athletes competed 2300 years ago.
- Best Places To Get Dirty: The mud from Messolongi’s lagoon is said to have healing properties. The small town of Galaxidi marks the start
of Lent each year with a flour fight .
- Best Place To Take A Bath: You can bathe nude in the springs at Therma , a daytrip from Kamariotissa. Relax in the naturally radioactive waters
at Agios Kirykos , renowned for their healing powers.
- Best
Objects M.I.A.: Greeks Have Been Longing For Their Colossus Of Rhodes
Since It Tumbled Into The Aegean In 226 Bc. The Celebrated
Winged Victory Of Samothrace Resides In The Louvre In Paris.
Ever Since Lord Elgin Shipped Its Marble Reliefs To The British Museum
In London, The Acropolis In Athens Has Been Missing Some Key
Parts.
- Best Evidence Of Inbreeding: The Prespa Lakes’ dwarf cows were bred small so that they wouldn’t sink in the area’s plentiful swamps. The midget
elephants whose bones were found in Livadia on Tilos evolved to be small on their own.
- Most Well-Preserved Bodies:
Mary Magdalene’s hand is kept in Simonos Petra monastery on
Mt. Athos. The Osios Loukas monastery keeps its namesake saint’s body
in a Snow White-esque glass coffin. If you peek through the
reliquary at Patras’s Agio Andreas cathedral, you may see the top of
Saint Andrew’s head .
- Best Multi-Purpose Buildings:
The San Marco Church in Iraklion doubles as a venue for
rotating art exhibits. Edessa’s nighttime hot spot Kanavourgeio (p.
295) was once a hemp factory.
Overview