Travel To Nafplion Greece

Nafplion may not be as famous or as often visited as the popular Greek city of Athens or the charming island of Santorini, but it holds a beauty and magic on its own.

Located in a seaport town of Peloponnese, Nafplion features century old houses, marble paved squares, historical fortresses and attractive cafes and restaurants situated on a jutting peninsula overlooking the Argolic Gulf.

A mere 2-hour drive from Athens, Nafplion is often regarded as nothing but a short stopover spot for the nearby ancient sites of Argos, Corinth, Epidavros, Nemea and Myceneae. However, this charming little town offers more than just a convenient break from a long drive. It has its unique offerings that visitors to Greece will want to see.

The center square or platia of Syntagma is paved in marble and surrounded by inviting cafes, shops and hotels. Take a seat in one of the many delightful outdoor cafes, sip on a cup of frappe coffee and enjoy the sights of people casually strolling about or shopping for baked goodies or expensive jewelry. Nearby is Kathni, a cafeneon that retained the old world charm of the 60s, and the Ellas Taverna where great restaurants of mouthwatering sumptuous Greek meals abound.

If you want to watch the sun set in the turquoise blue waters of the sea, take a walk to the big square located at the waterfront beautifully landscaped with palm trees, lush greens, and pretty flowers and lined with many café-bars and restaurants. The Bourtzi or a fortified islet can also be seen from the many café-bars that line the waterfront.

The Bourtzi was originally built in 1473 by the Venetians to protect the harbor from pirate attacks. If you happen to visit in the months of May and June, see the Bourtzi for yourself while you listen to musicians from all over the world at Nafplio Folk Music Festival held on the premises of this island fortress.

Another must visit attraction in Nafplion is the walled fortress of Paladi. Originally built in 1714, this fortress offers a breathtaking panorama of the city against the sparkling sea. If you are up to the challenge, take on its 999 steps on foot. But, if you're just in it for the view, a taxi to the top will do the trick for you.

Don't leave the city without passing by its oldest part, the Akronapflia that was built way back in the 13th century. If you can afford it, Nafplion Palace Hotel offers the best view of the city and the Harbor and a great base to explore the fortifications above and the rocky shore of the Peloponnese on the southern part.

Take a stroll to the nearby fisherman's district of Psaromahalas and do some shopping for the famous Greek worry-beads known as komboloi or for musical instruments such as a hand-made flute, a guitar or bouzouki. Art shops selling original local arts are also aplenty in this area. Even if you are not planning to buy any of these, they all look pleasing to the eye and some window shopping is a fun way to while away the time.

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Greek Islands

I have just returned from two weeks in Paros and feel the need to share my news. My girlfriend and I were looking for somewhere different. We had never been to the Greek islands. A friend recommended them, so we decided to give this area a try.

Alaskan Cruise Destination: Have you received a call from the wild? If wilderness adventures are your idea of a dream vacation, then Alaska is waiting for you. The entire time you're drifting along, there are majestic mountains, glaciers and stately pines that will take your breath away. Even if you never got off the ship, you would be thanking your lucky stars just to be there, but when you add the land factor into the equation, you just can't afford not to go to Alaska.

During Summer time, cruises sail to Western and Northern Europe including the British Isles. Spain and Portugal are amongst the most remarkable destinations, with ports such as Cadiz and Lisbon on the Atlantic Ocean where tourist can have a great time onshore; also the Bay of Biscay and the Straits of Gibraltar are normally covered by these routes.

For the convenience of our guests, MSC Cruises offers alternate departure ports, such as Barcelona, Rome, Venice, Copenhagen, Dover, Amsterdam, Naples, Genoa, Bari, Marseille, and Kiel on many itineraries, which allows guests to custom-design their European experience.

Greece

Greece has certainly become one of the premier travel destinations in the world. This is where you can put your lessons in Greek mythology to good use. Explore the temples and sites where ancient Greeks used to worship their gods.

Sharing accommodation is a very good way to save money if you are travelling with friends, you can get some great deals and a bit of sharing will make the vacation all that more fun. If you can sort out between your friends the best time to go, off season is a good choice since an off peak cruise is definitely going to be cheaper and this will leave you more money to spend on your shore excursions at the places you see.

A visit to the holy city of Jerusalem is a worthwhile excursion from both Israeli ports - Haifa and Ashdod - on a Mediterranean cruise of the Middle East. Egypt's Port Said is well worth a visit too. Port Said provides access to the world famous Suez Canal, which takes vessels into the Red Sea and onwards in to the Arabian Sea.

Cyclades Islands These are the most well-known islands and they include Santorini and Mykonos which are the most famous areas in Greece. A lot of people go island hopping in this area and it is these islands that turn up the most visitors. Popular in the summer, it is definitely the best place to be during the hottest of days.

Croatia has plenty to offer holiday makers looking to see come culture too. In the cities of Split and Dubrovnik you can find medieval forts, graceful churches, and gothic palaces. A visit to the historic City of Trogir will show you a well preserved example of buildings from the renaissance and the preceding Greek and Roman empires. It's once of six historical sites in Croatia protected by UNESCO because of its cultural importance.

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Read About Seychelles Attractions Also Read About Greek Islands and Italy Islands

Embrace the Wonders of the Past in Athens

Athens, Greece is a favorite vacation spot by tourists from all over the world. This is because of the perfect blend of history and modernization that the city exudes. Upon setting foot on this beautiful city, you will be greeted by the stunning Acropolis where civilization started and on the other side, you can see roads packed with taxis and modern shops.

Filled with breathtaking archeological sites, Athens can make you feel like you're traveling back in time - back to the Neolithic Era. According to studies, that was the time when the first efforts for the organization of Athens started. It was in the year 1834 when Athens was inaugurated as the capital of Greece. This took place after the first municipal elections.

The Pelasgoi were said to be the first inhabitants of the city. And during the 1400 BC, these inhabitants started the restoring the rock of the Acropolis with walls. This went on until the Copper Age and until the 800 BC. That is the time when the big feast of Athens is taking place to honor their Goddess named Athena. During those times, she was dearly admired to the extent that the capital of Greece was named after her. Up until this time, there are still two standing structures at the Acropolis - the Pantheon and Erechtheion. Both of these structures boast of a significant history and rich culture behind it.

Upon seeing the Pantheon, you cannot help but be impressed by the efforts of the Greeks to build such stone structure. The Erechtheion will also keep you in awe because of the Caryatids - the columns that comes in a form of female figures. When you're up in these structures, you will be amazed at how the city reveals its majestic wonders to your bare eyes.

This majestic city has so much more to offer besides the Acropolis. In fact, countless books and novels were written to discuss the wonders of this beautiful city.

Where do you want to travel in the world? For an idea of where to go on your next vacation, visit famouswonders.com. While you are on the site, also take a look at Athens luxury hotel.

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Athens the Capital City Of Greece

Any visitor going to Athens, this beautiful ancient city, will naturally visit the Acropolis and its well-preserved marble structures,which is a must-see while in Athens. It is a nice hike from the base up to the top where you can see the ruins.

The views from the top are phenomenal and you can catch a nice breeze on a hot day. Also in August, several archeological sites in Greece stay open late for a full moon festival and if you are fortunate enough to be there on that time, you'll have the opportunity to visit the Acropolis and the Parthenon under the light of the moon, while being surrounded by various classical musicians and opera singers.

Parthenon: The most Holy Temple

The architects Iktinos and Kallikrates are mentioned in History as the creators of Parthenon, the most famous Greek temple, which was built in honour of Goddess Athena, the protector of the city of Athens. Admission to all participating sites is usually free and the public may visit from 7 pm to 1:30 am while some sites close as late as 3 am.

The New Acropolis Museum

Located at the foot of the Acropolis, the modern museum's five-stories of exterior glass walls reflect images of the Parthenon and surrounding ruins. The museum is the new home for hundreds of statues from the Archaic and Classical eras, but the Parthenon Gallery on the top floor is the museum's showcase The Acropolis Museum is an archaeological museum focused on the findings of the archaeological site of the Acropolis. The museum was built to house every artifact found on the rock and on its feet, from the Greek Bronze Age to Roman and Byzantine Greece. It also lies on the archaeological site of Makrygianni and the ruins of a part of Roman and early Byzantine city. It opened to the public on June 21, 2009. Nearly 4,000 objects are exhibited over an area of 14,000 square metres.

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