|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Greece Study Abroad
Study Abroad in GreeceStudying Abroad in Greece is available in a variety of different forms.Greece OverviewThe peninsula of mainland Greece is surrounded by more than 1400 islands, 169 of which are inhabited. This land of ancient sites and architectural treasures offers much more than age-old spectacular natural sites, including an extremely rich flora, and cultural and modern diversions ranging from elegant museums to luxury beach resorts. Modern Greece is the result of a diverse mix of influences: Romans, Arabs, Latin Crusaders, Venetians, Slavs, Albanians, Turks, Italians, not to mention the Byzantine Empire. The best time to visit Greece is late April to mid-June just before it becomes a popular vacation spot. Roughly four-fifths of the country is mountainous hence it is the perfect backdrop for trekking. During the winter months, a delightful and less expensive alternative to the Alps, skiing and other winter sports are the attraction in the mountains, southern mainland and on the island of Crete. Acropolis and the Parthenon- The Acropolis, a 260 foot hill with flat oval top only accessible from the west, is the main architectural landmark of Athens, visible from almost everywhere in the city. Beginning in the New Stone Age, it marked a religious ceremonial site, walled before the 6th century. Now displaying the ruins of several ancient Greek cities, the Acropolis held some of the world’s greatest architectural and sculptural monuments of its day. The remains of the Parthenon, or The Temple of Athena Parthenos (meaning ‘virgin’), the Propylaea and the Erechtheum stand proudly on its perch. On the southeast corner of the Acropolis, stands the Acropolis Museum, housing some stone excavations found at the site. Theatre of Dionysus- Europe’s first theater, the Theatre of Dionysus, was an open-air auditorium re-built from stone in the late fourth century BC. Below the Parthenon in Athens and built into the southern slope of the Acropolis, it was the birthplace of Greek tragedies. Used to pay homage to the religious god of Dionysus, during ancient times, this theatre could hold up to 17,000 spectators comfortably. At the end of 2003, the partial restoration of this theatre was begun to allow seating for about 4,000 people and may be completed by the end of 2004. Even during its reconstruction, it remains a fascinating remnant of ancient Greek entertainment and history. The Greek Islands- Accessible by ferry, airplane and hydrofoil, the Greek Islands have something for everyone whether you’d like to escape to a private island or enjoy bustling nightlife. To name a few of the Greek island groups, two of the most widely visited groups are the Cycladic Islands and the Dodekanese Islands. The Cycladic Islands epitomize the postcard image of the Greek Islands, with dazzling white buildings offset by bright-blue church domes and golden beaches that meet a clear blue sea. The Northeast Aegean Islands are very lush and have some of the most beautiful beaches. And don’t forget the big islands of Crete, Evia and Cyprus which all require about a week of exploration because of their size. If you’d like to sample more than one island during your visit, you can certainly “island hop” from one to another. 
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
