Unveiling Greece: Where Antiquity Meets the Beauty of the Aegean

When Keats wrote these lines in his Ode to a Grecian Urn, he had not visited Greece. Neither were the lines intended to describe that country. Yet, in that odd, serendipitous manner, in which time brings things together, today they may well have been. Nestling in the Balkans, caressed by the brilliant blue waters of the Aegean and Ionian Seas, and kissed by the gentle Mediterranean sun, the historic cradle of Western civilization and cultural and intellectual accomplishment, is indeed one of the most pristinely beautiful places you can visit.

The family and I explored Greece recently and the experience was ode-worthy, to say the least. Just stepping off the plane on to the tarmac was exhilarating. Greece has the reputation of being one of the friendliest countries in Europe and hardly a moment goes by when you don’t see a smiling face. Our first stop was, of course, the capital city of Athens, which is virtually a living museum, with magnificent ancient monuments standing shoulder to shoulder with their contemporary counterparts.

Modern Athens was built in the mid nineteenth century by then Emperor, Otto of Bavaria, who had the good sense to instruct his architects to adopt a neoclassical style. Athens is a city brimming with antiquity, where monuments from Greece’s glorious past stand in aweinspiring splendour.

If you are a history ostrich, who enjoys burying your head in the past, there are two museums in Athens that you can lose yourself in. The Acropolis Museum and the National Archaeological Museum. Both are home to a wealth of Grecian antiques that bring alive the nation’s hoary heritage. The Panathenaic Stadium is another ancient marvel.

Present day Athens is just as captivating. Syntagma Square, or ‘Constitution Square’, the broad open area that faces Greece’s Parliament Building, which was formerly the Royal Palace, is a popular gathering place and hangout. A spectacle worth watching is the hourly changing of the Presidential Guard conducted before the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier that stands in the Square.

The Parliament House is not open to the public but the National Gardens that surround it are and are worth strolling through as well. While Athens is the most famous of Greece’s cities, there are many smaller towns and villages in the country’s myriad islands that are equally rich in history and blessed with beauty both natural and manmade. One such place we visited was Delphi, the ancient seat of Pythia the priestess and oracle. Perched on Mount Parnassus, overlooking the Gulf of Corinth, it is as picturesquely charming as it is mysteriously alluring.

We stayed at the Santa Maria, a Luxury Collection Resort just 10 minutes away from the airport and town. With a gorgeous private beach, infinity pools and a gingko spa it is a heavenly sanctuary at Ornos Bay. Must do restaurants, bars and clubs at Mykonos include, the Mykonos Social by Jason Atherton, a Michelin starred restaurant, Oasis Pool and Lounge, the ultimate destination for serenity and socializing, the simply named but totally chic and bohemian Beach Bar, Scorpios, the night club on Parga Beach, Buddha Bar, legendary for its exotic atmosphere and Asia fusion menu, and Nammos Mykonos, the stunning seaside restaurant serving show stopping Mediterranean cuisine. One can get happily lost in the narrow and winding, typically Greek, streets of Little Venice that are lined with whitewashed fishing houses with balconies overhanging the sea.

Then there is the quaint settlement of Chora, located in the middle of the Island’s Western shore and is also called “Mykonos Town”. Chora is known for its proliferation of historic windmills, with as many as sixteen of them on its landmark hill

Our next stop was the island of Santorini, which offers, arguably, the most jaw-dropping natural scenery in all of Greece. Naturally, as it were, romance permeates the air here. Santorini is also popular for adrenalin boosting activities like scuba diving and mountain hikes but only in season – from late March to early June and early September to late October.

If you are in a mood to enjoy a quiet evening, Santorini offers much. You can head for Oia, for instance. A quiet, idyllic village, with houses dug out of volcanic rock, it presents some simply awesome and spectacular sunsets.

Then there is Amoudi Bay, which is situated in an idyllic cove with turquoise water and delicious seafood restaurants. Not to forget the coastal village of Perissa as well, which offers respite on its black sand beaches, where tranquillity dances with the sound of the gentle waves. After the breathtaking experiences, our Grecian holiday wound to a close. And we departed, almost in a trance. Such is the spell that Greece’s passion, culture, warm hospitality and ancient history cast on you.