The largest cities in Greece: overview, features and interesting facts

Greece is a country with a rich history. Since the ancient era, Hellas has developed, giving people works of art, the best scientists and thinkers. Currently, this country attracts a large number of tourists. About the largest visited cities located in Greece, read in the article.

Administrative division

Greece is a state with an interesting administrative division. As such, there are no official borders between the settlements on its territory. The concept of "city" is rather vague in relation to this country. The status of the place where people live depends on the number of people.

In Greece, many cities, but only a small part of them can be called large. This category includes such settlements as Thessaloniki, Patras, Heraklion, as well as Piraeus. Of course, this is not all the major cities in Greece. The capital of the state - Athens - one of the most famous megacities.

Athens

The capital of Greece is simply amazing with its beauty. Athens is covered with myths and legends, familiar to everyone in the school literature. The city is located on a plain called Attica, and its coast is constantly washed by the waters of the Saronic Gulf.

In its limits is located a huge number of world-famous monuments. So, here are preserved the ruins of the most ancient sanctuaries and temples. Tourists and residents have the opportunity to enjoy works of art, visiting museums, becoming participants in excursions and festivals.

The largest city of Attica in Greece attracts travelers not only with its sights. It is also considered one of the warmest in the country. A man who has ever been to Athens, can never forget the sunny city, every stone of which breathes an antiquity.

Thessaloniki

This city, like St. Petersburg in Russia, can be called the cultural capital of Greece. Its history is measured in three millennia. Therefore, it feels the influence of such empires as the Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman. It is believed that the first of its inhabitants were Neanderthals. This is evidenced by the results of numerous excavations.

The large cities of Greece attract tourists primarily with their sights. The central point of the city of Thessaloniki, like its environs, is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Thessaloniki can be charged with positive energy and have a good time. For example, a lot of festivals and other events take place here. People can participate in them, if, of course, they want.

Heraklion

The island of Crete is known all over the world. The capital is a city called Heraklion. Here is located not only the airport, but also the sea gate of the island. This settlement is considered the fifth largest among all cities in Greece.

People who come here can find what to do. The archaeological museum enjoys great popularity among tourists, in which there are collections of Minoan artifacts, as well as frescos found during excavations of ancient palaces. In general, the city of Heraklion - a place where you can get to know the oldest history best, and if you are lucky - to touch it.

Piraeus

The capital and major cities of Greece attract tourists. There are special cruise liners, which are an excellent means of transportation on the sea. So, Piraeus is a port city, which is located a few kilometers from Athens.

Here you can become a participant in the sea voyage and get to other populated places where the greatest number of attractions is. And within the city you can find entertainment: take part in an event, visit a museum or just take a walk.

Patras

The large cities of Greece are places where not only connoisseurs of beauty gather, but also the people who create it. Therefore Patras became a refuge of artists. Favorite subjects are scattered houses near the coast, emerald gardens, golden sand and a crystal-blue sea.

Patras - not only a rich historical city, but also a major port. Its foundation dates back to the 6th century BC, so there are many attractions on its territory. Visiting the cathedral of St. Andrew the First-Called, a bridge called Rio Antirio, seeing the Upper Patras, any person will penetrate the atmosphere of this city.

Ancient Greece

Ancient civilization was called "Ancient Greece" thanks to the Romans. The name given to it by the Greeks themselves is: Hellas. This state has become the cradle of European civilization. Many scientists, philosophers, architects and sculptors were born and worked in those times. It was their work that gave rise to the work of their followers. Hellas is surrounded by a lot of myths and legends. Till now people study, what gods were worshiped by ancient Greeks, in what trusted.

Currently, Greece is one of the most popular destinations for tourism. There are many monuments of ancient culture preserved here, so people come here from all corners of the world to touch history.

Cities of Ancient Greece

There are a large number of settlements that have appeared very, very long time ago. However, in Greece there are the largest cities, preserved from ancient times. These include Miletus, Corinth, Thebes, Olympia. These settlements served as ports, political and cultural centers of the state.

The large cities of Ancient Greece now, for the most part, have turned into ruins. However, some of them thrive so far, for example, Athens, about which was told a little earlier.

Corinth

The largest city of ancient Greece, certainly, is Athens. However, there were other significant places that could rival the capital of the state in its importance. For example, Corinth. This city-state was economically strong. Deliveries of black-figured ceramics to all the cities of Greece were carried out exactly from here, and the volumes of exports were impressive for that era.

The acropolis of this city became the place where the main temple dedicated to Aphrodite was located. It is interesting that here confused, because of which the people were constantly crowded near the temple. There was a belief that the long hair of priestesses possess miraculous properties.

The large cities of Greece are known for the fact that they constantly held various competitions. Thus, the Isthmus games in honor of Poseidon were held in Corinth. Participants competed not only in gymnastics and equestrian sports, but also demonstrated a poetic and musical gift.