Travel

Rhodes Island, located in Dodecanes  Archipelago in the Eastern Mediterranean, is the meeting place of west and east, with a wonderful nature that combines golden sand beaches with valleys, hills and mountains, lighted by the sun the whole year. The Romans, the Knights of St. John, the Ottomans and later, at the beginning of the XX century the Italians have stopped on this island, each leaving behind his fingerprint, but not managing to know the Greek roots of the island.
Rhodes Island has been inhabited since the Neolithic. From 1100 I.C. when the Dorriens arrived on the island, they founded the three localities of Lindos, Ialysos and Kamiros, which were developed as a commercial center and transit for goods. This made the island to develop as an important commercial node. The most well-known and brave mariners in antiquity, the inhabitants of the island, have developed the first navigation laws, laws on which the Nautical international code is based even today.

Around the year 800 I.C. the three localities along with the island of Kos and fortresses of Halicarnassus and Cnidus in Asia Minor have formed an alliance, political and religious called the Dorian Hexapolis, and in 408 B.C. is decided that the north town of the island should become the capital of present Rhodes. The new capital plans were designed by the architect Ippodamus, but a devastating earthquake destroyed the city in 227 B.C.
The 3rd century B.C. is the moment when the island is conquered by the Romans and later by the Gots. From the 3rd century A.C. during the Byzantine Empire, the island has passed from the Arabs to the Genoese. In 1309 the Order of the Knights of St. John conquered the island from Genoese and laid here for more than two centuries, during which time they have fought against Muslims and they have developed economy and commercial relations, building the castle and fortifications, which were kept in very good conditions until today.
The Ottoman Turks have dominated the island for approximately  400 years, for which reason the old city area is full of mosques. In 1912, the Italians come into possession of the island after a short war with the Ottoman Empire and make this “Pearl” an Italian colony. The Italians built many buildings with public interest: the new market, the aquarium, in a very particular oriental Mediterranean style. They rebuild walls of the fortress, but they are all partially destroyed during the Second World War.
Rhodes is the capital of island and was founded 2400 years now. The tour begins with the exploration of the ancient “Acropola” city, located on Smith Mountain, where there are ruins of the Temple of Apollo and the stadium. Near the Acropola you will discover a different world, with high walls and narrow streets typical of the medieval Knights fortress. Byzantine churches, built in Gothic style, palaces, inns and mosques coexist with the modern style of new buildings that surround the historic and ancient port bordered by the magnificent statue of Colosseum  ave ry long time symbol of the Rhodos.
A Greek  evening with different traditional food in the  Restaurant in the town of Pastida: vestibules for 4 persons, salad, tzatziki, humus, mainly as a mixed-grill, dessert made of season fruits and 1 bottle of wine.

Athens, divided between the old culture and the beach areas, is one of the great cities of Europe, which offers a unique vacation: museums, art galleries, historical monuments, and if you want a change of scenery, seaside resorts will wait shining and full of life. You can visit Athens only for its Acropolis, and the Parthenon Museum, where you will find some of the most beautiful traces of ancient Greece and you’ll feel the charm of the sacred monuments and art.
If u climb the Acropolis and you watch the view and the city, you will discover every time another city, full of contrasts and surprises: the ancient, the Byzantine, the neoclassical, the modern, the happy.
The city’s joy can be seen everywhere: in the ancient theaters, in the modern exhibitions, in sport competitions, near the columns of an ancient temple, at a concert or even near a glass of Raki in a taverna. Or, also here, you can enjoy the night life that this city offers you generously through its restaurants, bars and nightclubs.
Athens enjoys an excellent location, giving visitors the opportunity to know the ancient theater Epidavros, Mycenae and Delphi - home of King Agamemnon. Also, you can take cruises up to the nearby islands: Aegina, Poros and Hydra. Artistic Events, festivals, sports competitions, anniversaries and many other fun moments choose their hosts here in the town of the Olympic Games.
The best place to do shopping in Athens, and where you can find stores near stores, is Ermou street. Brands such as S. Oliver, Mark & Spencer, Benneton, Zara and more expect tourists to pass the threshold, and prices are up to 50% lower compared to other countries. Neither of souvenirs fans will get bored here. Some stores have incredible prices that skip your eye without even knowing. Here you can choose from dozens of pairs of shoes, from summer until winter. And if you have a few hours until the plane will go back home, just go back to Monastiraki. It’s time for a rich lunch and for souvenirs.
From Monastiraki there is not much and get up to ten minutes in Plaka, an old neighborhood with narrow streets, buildings that housing shops on the ground floor with souvenirs, clothing, jewellery and even restaurants. Street sellers will tempt you with watches and sunglasses. Linen blouses made for men, earrings and necklaces made of gold and silver for women, all kinds of articles that seem they want to disturb the tourits’ eyes with flashy colors , restaurants whose menu is in view, waiters bearing huge plates with unknown food. Everything is a wonderful mixture of life and color.
Tourists can find everything they want, but some souvenirs are to be doubted. Shops display copies of famous statues and Greek vessels, spread through the world’s museums.
After many hours of course that you have been hungry. If you wish, you can remain in Plaka, but due to the large number of tourists you might not find a place in a free meal or even if you find, you will have to stay cramped . You should better go to Psyrri, near the subway from Monastiraki, the area which is not so much circulated because there are just a few shops. A rich meal does not exceed ten euro with the drink included. The meal includes half of a chicken with gasket made of all sorts of vegetables. Do not be scared by the pitcher of water that no-one ordered: is just simple water, just for your thirst and will not appear on the bill.

Corfu is the most northern island which is part of the Ionian Islands and it has the second size after Cephalonia. Along the years, the island covered in proportion of 80% of the mountains full of forests which go down to the blue waters of the sea, with a population which today has reached about 100 thousand inhabitants, has never known the Turkish domination, which had a decisive influence in its cultural evolution. Although they have participated in the common struggle against the Romans, along with Sparta, Athens and Corinth, they have finally fell under the domination of Rome, like the rest of Greece. Then, they passed successively under the domination of Byzantines, Venetiens, for nearly 4 centuries and for a short time of the Ottomans, after which they were disposed to France in 1797. After a brief period of Russian occupation, they returned to French, from 1807 until 1814, when they passed under the British domination. From 1863 the Ionian Islands were annexed to Greece by the Treaty of London. The first thing you will notice here is the architecture which is typically Venetian for Corfu, the capital of the island, in which live the third part of the inhabitants of the island. The city patronage of St. Spiridon preserved in a large part the venetian specifics. Visiting Corfu today, with its crowded streets, full of shops with souvenirs, with picturesque markets, Esplanada is above them all. It is the most pleasant opportunity to discover its cosmopolitan air.

Corfu offers tourists the chance to enjoy the water and beaches in the region. Here visitors can find anything from a simple tavern up to a magnificent resort rest. Corfu Town includes an extensive area villages, farms and a real flora and fauna. Many come here to enjoy the natural beauty of the island. Over the years, Corfu has won the reputation of being a tourist hot spot among British tourists.

The night life…
Corfu offers a variety of restaurants, bars, nightclubs and attractions which to enjoy during your stay on the island. One of the most interesting places where you should stop is the Old Town, where many streets and buildings awaits you with adventure and emotion. When you get to Liston you will be met by substrings cafes that are safe to allow a proper rest, relaxation before you start a new adventure. In Corfu there are many places waiting to be visited and with which you can become familiar through the discovery of the surroundings. A visit to the Achilleon palace allow tourists to know the Gastouri village. On this cosmopolitan and sophisticated island, you’ll be able to relax and to combine with entertainment and with an intense night life. Corfu is an international tourist centre which meets all the needs of the most difficult visitors. It is an island of incomparable beauty that has inspired many painters, sculptors and even men of letters including Goethe, Oscar Wilde and Lawrence Durrell.

Main attractions…
Paleokastritsa is situated at 26 km west of Corfu town, being a miniature paradise with its crystal waters, luxury vegetation and charming gulfs increasing directly from the sea.
Angelokastro, situated near Paleokastritsa, it’s a Byzantine fortress of the XIIIth century.
Pelekas is situated at 13 km west of the town, a charming village located on a rocky hill, whose peak is the ideal place from which you can watch the sunset.
Kanoni & Mouse Island - at 4 km south of the city, the most popular place of the island. Here a narrow dig leads over the visitor to the Monastery of Vlaherna, where he can take a boat to visit the wonderful Pondikonissi and its church of the XIIIth century.

Gastouri is a picturesque village, the capital of Achillion and the summer palace of Queen Elizabeth of Austria (Sissy). The palace has many gardens, ideal for romantic walks. Part of it hosts a museum.
Aqualand is one of the largest aqua-parks of Europe, built on an area of 700 thousand square meters, with an incredible number of attractions for all ages.
Kalipso Star - a wonderful ride on a boat with bottom of glass where you can admire the rich flora and fauna of the Ionian sea and a special performance of the sea divers.