DESTINATION
FACTS

Greece

• Over 6,000 Islands: Greece has around 6,000 islands and islets scattered across the Aegean and Ionian Seas – only about 227 are inhabited. The most known islands are Santorini, Rhodes, Lesbos, and Crete.
• Olive Legacy: Greece has been cultivating olives for over 4,000 years. Some olive trees planted in ancient times are still producing fruit today.
  
• Greece has one of the longest coastlines in the world. In total, 13,676 km coastline.
• Mount Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece. It is 2,918 meters high. In ancient Greek mythology, Mount Olympus was considered the home of the gods. It was believed that the 12 Olympian gods – including Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, and Athena – lived at its peak. The ancient Greeks viewed the mountain as a sacred place, with its highest point, Mytikas, reaching up to the heavens.
• Katerina Sakellaropoulou became the first female President of Greece on March 13, 2020. Sakellaropoulou is known for her progressive values, environmental advocacy, and strong support for human rights. Her presidency has been praised as a major step toward modernizing Greek society and promoting inclusivity in politics.
  
• Greece has 18 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including world-famous sites like the Acropolis of Athens, the Temple of Apollo, Meteora, and the Old Town of Corfu.
  
• No part of Greece is more than 137 kilometers away from the ocean.
  
• Wind and Solar Power: Greece has made big strides in renewable energy. It is one of the leading countries in Europe in terms of the share of electricity from renewables – especially wind and solar.
• Islands Going Green: Some Greek islands, like Tilos, are pilot areas for energy self-sufficiency using renewables and battery storage.
  
• Greece has the aim of becoming carbon neutral by 2050 aligned with EU goals.

Athens

• Named After a Goddess: Athens is named after Athena, the goddess of wisdom and warfare, who was believed to have gifted the olive tree to the city.
  
• One of the Oldest Cities: Athens has been continuously inhabited for over 5,000 years, making it one of the oldest cities in Europe.
  
• Home of the Acropolis: The Acropolis, perched above the city, was built in the 5th century BC and remains a symbol of classical spirit and civilization.
  
• Marathon Origin: The marathon race originates from a Greek soldier who ran from Marathon to Athens (about 42 km) to announce victory over the Persians.
  
• Athens has more theatres than any other city in the world. With 148 theatrical stages, the city has the most theatrical stages in the world, even beating out London’s West End and New York’s Broadway.
• The center of the modern city is Syntagma Square, where you can find the old royal palace, which now houses the Parliament, and other 19th-century public buildings.
• Athenian Oranges: Look, but do not Eat! The city is full of orange-like trees, however, do not eat their fruits. No matter how delicious they look, do not eat them. They are bitter oranges, not edible as they are.
  
• The World’s First Meteorological Station is in Athens. You can find the Tower of the Winds inside the Roman Agora. It is an octagonal marble building, known as the “Tower of the Winds”. The precise date of the tower’s construction is unknown, but most scholars suggest the 2nd century BCE. Each one of the eight sides corresponded to the eight wind deities.

Aegina

• Aegina is the largest of the Saronic Gulf islands and is situated in the center of the archipelago.
  
• First Capital of Modern Greece: For a short time after the Greek War of Independence, Aegina served as the capital of Greece (1828 – 1829).
  
• Aegina is well known for its pistachios. The quality of Aegina Pistachios, a name that was established as a product of Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) in 1996, is considered internationally excellent and superior to several foreign varieties, due to the special climatic conditions of the island (drought) as well as soil's volcanic characteristics. The island even hosts an annual pistachio festival.
• The island Aegina is named after the nymph Aegina. She was the daughter of the river god Asopus, and, according to Greek mythology, was seduced by Zeus who took her on the island. There she gave birth to Aecus, who became the first king of Aegina.
  
• The first Greek newspaper was published in Aegina.
• The first prison in Greece was established in Aegina.