A dream in white and blue: our tips for Greece and its islands

Greece, the cradle of Western civilization and the birthplace of democracy. The country in the south of the Balkan Peninsula with its numerous island groups has an eventful past, which has strongly influenced today's life in Europe. Countless ancient ruins and sites still bear witness to the colourful history of the country, which according to myth was once ruled and guarded by Zeus and his gods from Mount Olympus. Yet the country is not officially called Greece, but the Hellenic Republic. Every two years, the torch is lit at the ancient site of Olympia to kick off the Olympic Games, a tradition that dates back to the second millennium BC and was revived in 1894. According to stories, the marathon also has its roots in Greece: the messenger Pheidippides is said to have run the distance from Marathon to Athens after delivering the victory over the Persians and to have died of exhaustion after delivering the good news.