It provokes the ideas of the spirit and civilization of one of the most well known ancient cultures, famous for providing modern ideas, artistic and architectural marvels and deep philosophical thought to our world today and throughout history.

Perched approximately 150 meters above city level over the city of Athens, the Acropolis is visible from many points in the city below and it almost appears to be quietly watching over the city, keeping a silent wisdom that only comes from a great history and age. The meaning of the word acropolis comes from the Greek words ἄκρον (akron, “edge, extremity”) and πόλις (polis, “city”). There are many acropoleis throughout Greece, however, this is the most well known and therefore is just simply referred to as “the Acropolis”.

Evidence suggests that the hill of the Acropolis was inhabited many years before the structure was built, even as far back as 4,000 BC. From the 2^nd millennium BC the area served as a fortress protecting places of worship and royal palaces, with a wall known as the Pelasgicon providing protection from invaders. Up until the mid 5^th century BC there were various attacks and the wall was destroyed.

Following a victory against the Persians and the establishment of democracy, Athens became a leader among the other city-states of the time. Philosophy, thought and artistic expression flourished during this time period and Pericles, an Athenian statesman, dreamed up construction of a unique monument. Through the help of artists and designers in the 5^th century BC, especially the sculptor Pheidias, Pericles began construction of the sites most important structures.

Though they have suffered much damage throughout the years, today, visitors can see the remains of four ancient buildings including the Parthenon, the Propylaia, the Erechtheion and the Temple of Athena Nike.

For me, visiting the Acropolis was a great experience on two levels. First, the ruins of the buildings are still so stunning, with small details still visible in some parts. Also, they are much larger than I would have imagined. It almost felt as you were in another universe. Secondly, it was astounding to conceive how long these buildings had stood. Essentially it was impossible, but if felt so incredible to know that you were standing in the same place that humans had for thousands of years.

We visited the Acropolis during the middle of July, which was very, very hot. Since it is perched above the city, there is little sun protection. I would recommend going in early morning or during a different part of the year such as late winter/early spring or late fall/early winter. It is open from 8 am to 6:30 pm everyday, with hours subject to seasonal change. It costs about 12 euros to enter, but with a European student card you can enter for free.

It is also relatively easy to access the Acropolis on foot from the plaza near Monastiraki. It takes about 45 min to 1 hour to walk up the winding hills (getting lost a few times of course), but it was relatively pleasant when there was shade.

[UNESCO], [Wikipedia], [The Athens Guide]

If you think of Greece, this image has to instantly pop into your head:

Ahh, so beautiful, right?

Well actually, there is a much more practical purpose behind the architecture and paint choices of the homes in the Cyclades. And while different islands have different traditions, there are many similarities among them.

If you’ve ever been the Greek Islands in summertime, you know how hot it can get. The sun beats down the entire day, rarely a cloud in the sky and there are few, if any, trees for protection. Therefore, maintain a cool comfort level was a major factor in how homes were not only built, but decorated too!

Homes were built into the cliffs to provide insulation from harsh sea winds and bright summer sun and were originally constructed from stone, many times a dark, volcanic stone. This provided a sturdy protection, especially when piracy was a threat during the medieval era. The stone also acted as a really great insulator, the only problem being that the dark color absorbed a lot of sunlight, making the interior of the homes even warmer. As a solution, residents began painting their homes white to reflect the sunlight and stay cool.

As white paint was not readily available, especially in the middle of the ocean, the residents of many of the islands used asbestos to produce a white color for a low price. This was also used to paint roads and kill pests. In Santorini, however, they covered the stone in a layer of plaster made from limestone. Many people also used many different colors as an accent to the white color. Over time, blue became the cheapest and most readily available.

While blue and white homes have become synonymous with the Greek Cyclades islands today, this isn’t true off all of them and even the most famous, Santorini, used to be full of vibrant, vivid colors.

During the period of 1967-1974, however, Greece was under rule of a military government. For political reasons, such as to show support and unification, the government ordered that all new homes be painted with this blue and white concept and those that were already built must be repainted.

Here are some of my favorite photos of homes during my visit to the Cyclades islands of Santorini and Ios:

[Trip Advisor], [Greeka]

Founded in 315 BC, Thessaloniki is considered to be Greece’s culture capital, as it is well known today for a vibrant nightlife, many festivals and events as well as its metropolitan development.

Thessaloniki is a major part of Greece’s economic, industrial, commercial and political core. However, you can say the backbone of the city is the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), the largest in Greece, with approximately 80,000 students. With the current situation in Greece, public services such as the universities are definitely feeling the strain. For a school project we had the opportunity to collaborate with students from the AUTH University and you could definitely tell that they felt their campus was lacking a strong pulse.

Going just a short walk into the heart of the city, however, you can easily see how the students have shaped the way Thessaloniki has developed. Nightlife there is some of the best in Europe, with numerous bars, clubs and restaurants to choose from. Just walking outside on any given weekend night, there are people spilling out onto the sidewalks, chatting, dancing and drinking cocktails. It’s no wonder that Thessaloniki was named the European Youth Capital in 2014.

As you can expect from a location considered a “culture capital”, what Thessaloniki brings in terms of nightlife, it equally matches in terms of historical monuments, ancient sights and cultural traditions. Thessaloniki was a major metropolis during the Roman period, and the second largest and wealthiest city of the Byzantine Empire, which is evident today in the many monuments you can see there.

Some of the top sites in Thessaloniki include:

The ancient forum, which dates back to 2^nd or 3^rd century AD, an archeological site which features many monuments, temples and other buildings as well as the Triumphal Arch of Gelerius, built in 305 AD and a Rotunda built in the early 4^th century.

The various Byzantine monuments dating back as far as the 5^th century. This includes many churches as well as the byzantine walls of the city, the byzantine bathhouse and the Heptapyrgion castle.

The Ottoman monuments located throughout the city, the most famous perhaps is the White Tower from the 15^th century. You can also find the Mosques of the Hazma Bey Cami, the Hamams (Turkish bathhouses) and the Bezesteni, a rectangular building that operated as a cloth market in the late fifteenth century.

Also, I would recommend visiting the Ano Polis (old city), the historical quarter of Ladidika, the traditional markets and the central Aristotelous Square.

Lastly, Thessaloniki has some of the best food I’ve had in my life! Compared to more northern countries, it is also really cheap and exceptionally fresh and delicious. We tried many restaurants during our trip and were only disappointed by one that was right in the heart of the tourist center.

Overall, considering Thessaloniki’s rich cultural heritage, excellent nightlife, terrific food options and, of course, its picturesque location on the water, you can see why Thessaloniki must be on your travel destination list!

[Visit Greece], [Wikipedia]