general information

Republic

Capital: Athens

Area: 132 000 km2

Population: 9,9 millions

Population density/km2: 75

EU member since: 1981

National holidays:

March 25, October 28

National anthem: Ymnos stin eleftheria

• Only men aged over 18, who are interested in the Orthodox religion way set foot on Mount Athos. Women are not allowed to go there. These regulations are even specifically enshrined in the EU Treaty.

• Romans called the inhabitants of Southern Italy who came from the city of Graea Graecus, Greeks. Then, the word "Greek" would be used to refer to all those with origins in the country renamed Greece. In the West, this root would come to be used in: Greece, Grece, Griekenland and Grecia.

• It is only at the 18th century that the Greeks called themselves "Hellenic" and no longer "Roman". 

• Feta, the Greek cheese, comes from the Italian "Fetta", slice.

• Greece is the only country, with exception of France and Australia, to have always participated in the Olympic Games.

• There is no place in Greece that is farther than 100 km from the sea.

The birthplace of democracy, free speech and the Olympic Games, Greece is an ancient land with many mighty gods like Zeus, Poseidon and Aphrodite who once protected the sun-kissed islands of Crete, Santorini and Kythira. If you want action, head to the party islands of Corfu, Ios and Mykonos where you will down many Ouzos after you have enjoyed the traditional Gyros with some homemade tzatziki.