Interesting & Fun Facts About Greece

Introduction

I’m sure you already know that Greece is a very sunny, full of sea and islands country but there is more than that. Is a country with a long and rich history and a thoroughly fascinating place to learn about. The total land area of Greece is comparable in size to England or the U.S. state of Alabama (that’s something I didn’t know either and it’s a bonus fact)! I don’t want to keep you waiting any longer so let's dive in! 

10 Interesting & Fun Facts About Greece

1. Athens is the oldest capital in Europe.
   Its earliest human presence started somewhere between the 11th and 7th millennium BC. It was formed when King Theseus united several settlements of Attica into a state and the first one was built on the rock of the Acropolis. Athens was named after Athena, the Greek Goddess of wisdom.
   
   

2. In Greece It’s illegal to wear high heels.
   Well of course it’s not illegal to wear them when you are out for coffee or drinks BUT when you are touring around historical monuments it is! The reason why it’s illegal to wear heels for example in the Acropolis is because you could damage the monument. Due to the fact that all these historic places are thousands of years old, we have to protect them and not wearing heels is one way to do it. So next time you visit an ancient monument in Greece wear your amazing travel sandals or shoes!

3. Santorini grows more than 100 varieties of grapes.
   Santorini is the oldest vineyard in Europe. It is actually the only one that continuously produces grapes for more than 3000 years. Around 1650 B.C., give or take, a volcanic eruption covered the island in lava and ash, and today the resulting volcanic soil contributes significantly to the character of Santorini wines.

4. Mykonos is miserable during winter.
   The reason why this is true is because Mykonos is the smallest island of Cyclades complex and most of its investors’, restaurants’, hotels’ and shops’ owners are from different places of Greece (mostly Athens). The summer season in Mykonos starts around May and ends around the beginning of November. That means that six months of the year the island is full of people and parties and the other half year everything is closed. Trust me, when I’m saying everything I mean E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G!

5. In Greek Mythology Zeus, the father of all Greek Gods, was born in Crete.
   Two caves high in the Cretan mountains contest the honor of being known as the birthplace of the greatest god of ancient Greece: the Dikteon Cave in south-central Crete and the Ideon Cave on the highest mountain in Crete, Mount Ida or Psiloritis. 

6. Greece has over 6000 islands and ONLY 227 are inhabited.
   The islands are the main characteristic of Greece’s morphology and an integral part of the country’s culture and tradition. Now the reason why only 227 islands are inhabited, is because most of the islands are too small and too rocky. Unfortunately not so many people know that 80% of Greece is made up of Mountains. Crazy right?

7. Corfu is the Greenest island.
   Well Corfu is the Greek Island on the north west side of the mainland that belongs to the Ionian complex. Is surrounded by a range of mountains due to which the environment is always humid and wetter, thus making it a perfect place for the growth of trees in a huge number.

8. The chic island of Hydra is car-free.
   On Hydra island, you won’t see any cars! Everyone uses their feet, boats or donkeys to get around the island. The cars ban, along with the elegant stone mansions of the island, create a charming atmosphere and make the island one of the most serene destinations near Athens.

9. 90% of Greeks are Greek Orthodox.
   The Orthodox Church has been strongly connected to the Greek Nation since the Byzantine times when the Patriarch of Constantinople had a strong power over the national matters. During the Ottoman rule, from 1453 to 1821, the Orthodox religion was an important element for the conservation and the definition of the Greek Nationality. During the several occupations, the Orthodox Church made a great effort to preserve the Greek language, culture, traditions, and the Orthodox faith. 

10. Cleopatra was actually Greek, not Egyptian.
    While Cleopatra was born in Egypt, she traced her family origins to Macedonian Greece and Ptolemy I Soter, one of Alexander the Great’s generals. Ptolemy took the reigns of Egypt after Alexander’s death in 323 B.C., and he launched a dynasty of Greek-speaking rulers that lasted for nearly three centuries. Despite not being ethnically Egyptian, Cleopatra embraced many of her country’s ancient customs and was the first member of the Ptolemaic line to learn the Egyptian language.
    

Closure

To tell you the truth, even though I’m Greek some of these things I didn’t know either. It’s fascinating how many things someone can learn about Greece with a little research. Well that is because we are talking about a country which is more than 4000 years old and still counting. What surprised me the most were numbers 3 and 6. What was that that made you feel shocked while reading it? Share your thoughts in the comments below and why not share it with your travel buddy and let me and other readers know what you think.

If you enjoyed reading this, check out some of the followings:

Link to Articles "Greek Mythology", Geography of Greece", "Biggest cities in Greece