The Cyclades - Κυκλάδες

Another place that I would have loved to visit while Greece is the Cyclades - a group of Greek islands in the Aegean Sea. After some research I found out that they are the most beautiful Mediterranean islands and part of its beauty comes from the coexistence of white and blue in the Cycladic architecture, the traditional way of life, the island songs, the warm hospitality, the stark landscape embroidered with deserted country churches, the stunning coasts, and the beautiful beaches.

The name means ‘the islands' refers to the circle the islands form around the sacred island of Delos. According to Greek mythology, the Cyclades were created by the God Poseidon, who turned the Cyclades nymphs into islands after the nymphs had provoked the god’s wrath. 

An interesting fact that I learned was that the Cyclades is where the native Greek breed of cats first came from. I found this to be considerably interesting since I had no idea Greece had its own breed of cats!

Olympia - Ολυμπία

Another city that I would have loved to go to is Olympia, the sanctuary of ancient Greece. In classical times, this is where the Olympic Games took place in honor of Zeus.

Olympia is also known for the gigantic ivory and gold statue of Zeus, named one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. There is much to see in this city, since there is a vast of archaeological remains.

I thought Mount Olympus was IN Olympia, but apparently that is not the case. After some research I realized I am not the only one who thought that since there is great confusion between the two.

- Olympia is the home of the original Olympic Games, and it is located in the Pelopponesse, the large peninsula forming the southwest of Greece.

- Mount Olympus is home to Zeus and the other Olympian gods and goddesses. It is located in Central Greece, on the Greek mainland. It is known fro its rich flora and national park.

Meteora - Μετέωρα

For ten days I was able to enjoy and admire a country that is so rich in culture. As we flew back to NY, I realized that although we visited several important and beautiful places in Greece, there were many cities and archeological sites we were not able to go to because of time and distance. One of the sites I would have loved to visit is Meteora.

Meteora means: ‘suspended rocks’ – ‘suspended in the air’ or ‘in the heavens above’.

This is one of the largest and most important sites of Eastern Orthodox Monasteries in Greece. There are six monasteries that are built on natural sandstone rock pillars.

This is the kind of place that even though you are not religious, you are going to want to visit. According to UNESCO, “these monasteries represent a unique artistic achievement and are one of the most powerful examples of the architectural transformation of a site into a place of retreat, meditation and prayer. The Meteora provide an outstanding example of the types of monastic construction which illustrate a significant stage in history, that of the 14th and 15th centuries when the eremitic ideals of early Christianity were restored to a place of honor by monastic communities, both in the Western world and in the Orthodox Church.”

From the pictures I got to see in the brochure and the ones I found on Google, this site looks breathtaking and picturesque! Looks like it is a great place for reflection and peace.