Greece is a unitary state. This means that local governments do not have the status of a state entity (their own parliaments, government, laws, and other state attributes).

The population of Greece is about 11 million people.
The capital of Greece is the city of Athens with a population of more than 3 million people.
The largest cities in Greece are Thessaloniki, Athens, Rhodes, Patras, Piraeus, Kastoria, Katerina, Heraklion. In total, there are 76 cities in Greece. Many middle islands are considered a city, for example, Kos or Mykonos.

Administrative division of Greece

Administratively, Greece is divided into 13 areas:
1. Attica
2. Central greece
3. Central macedonia
4. Crete
5. East Macedonia and Thrace
6. Epirus
7. Ionian Islands
8. North Aegean
9. Peloponnese
10. South Aegean
11. Thessaly
12. Western greece
13. Western Macedonia

Agios Oros, better known as Athos, has a special administrative status. This administrative unit within the Hellenic Republic is self-governing by a community of Orthodox monasteries. The legislation of Athos is based on a special document called Khrisovul, published by the emperor John Tsimisziy in 972 A.D.

Regions in Greece are called peripherals, from this Greek word, in fact, the term "periphery" came from, meaning "remote area, province." Peripherals, in turn, are divided into prefectures, or nomes. Each nom has its own serial number, which is used in state document management for abbreviations and standardization.

Nomes, in turn, are divided into Dima, territorial cells of local self-government. Dima is not uniform in the number of voters. So, in small towns or villages they are few in number, and in large cities they can consist of tens of thousands of people. Large dims can be further subdivided into communities. Thus, the vertical power in Greece begins, as it should be the oldest democracy of the planet, from the bottom.

Local government, despite the unitary nature of the state, have fairly broad powers. The central government is trying not to interfere in the internal affairs of the nomes, and those, in turn, provide the right of maximum self-government to the dim. This structure of the distribution of power has a beneficial effect on the situation in the regions, and also minimizes corruption, since direct elections are held in local authorities.

Central authority of Greece

The Greek Constitution has existed in its modern form since 1975, immediately after the overthrow of the Black Colonel regime. In 1983, the structure of the state system finally acquired a modern look.

Legislative power in Greece is exercised by the Chamber of Deputies, the Greek parliament. Like local governments, the Chamber of Deputies is elected by direct universal suffrage. Elections are held every four years by voting in all prefectures.

The number of seats in the Chamber of Deputies is constantly changing. By law, the legislature must have at least 200 and no more than 300 candidates. The regular session of the Chamber of Deputies meets once a year and lasts at least 5 months. At the beginning of each session, commissions are elected on various issues that study the state of affairs in certain areas of the law and submit new bills to the Chamber for approval.

The adoption of bills can be carried out at plenary meetings, general meetings of the Chamber of Deputies, or the so-called sections, abbreviated meetings. The need to convene a plenary meeting to adopt certain laws is determined by the Constitution.

President of Greece

The President of the Hellenic Republic has a veto over any law passed by the Chamber of Deputies. Therefore, Greece is a presidential republic. The president is elected for a five-year term and is vested with the highest legislative power. He appoints the prime minister, who forms the government.

The relationship between the Chamber of Deputies and the Government, consisting of ministers, is regulated by the Constitution. The President of the Republic has the right to convene a special emergency body, the Council of the Republic, in case the government has lost the confidence of the Chamber of Deputies.

The head of the armed forces of Greece is also the President. He also determines the foreign policy of the country, the priorities for the development of domestic policy and regulates the relationship between the subjects of state power. However, the powers of the President of Greece have a number of restrictions. Thus, the President practically cannot dissolve the Chamber of Deputies, declare a state of emergency and declare general referenda without the approval of the Chamber of Deputies.

Greek citizenship

Since the Greek Republic is a member of the European Union, Greek citizenship gives the right to visit all European countries without a visa, as well as live indefinitely in any of them. Greek citizens also have the right to work in most countries of the European Union.

Greek passport gives the right to visa-free entry to the USA, Canada, most countries Latin american and many other countries. Greece has a visa facilitation agreement with most countries in the world, which makes obtaining a visa an easy formality.

The right to obtain Greek citizenship is held by people who have lived in the country legally for at least 5 years. Returnees returning to their homeland have advantages in obtaining citizenship after two years, and their family members after three years of continuous residence in Greece.

Despite the deadlines established by law, the issue of granting citizenship is decided individually by a special commission. Compliance with the established parameters, somehow the necessary period of residence in the country, marital, financial status, lack of citizenship of other countries, etc. does not guarantee the granting of Greek citizenship unconditionally.

In some cases, citizenship of the Hellenic Republic is granted to foreigners for special services to the country, by decree of the President or by decision of the Chamber of Deputies. A residence permit gives the right to live, work and study in Greece. The owner of a residence permit has the right to social assistance, medical care, is required to pay taxes. Persons holding a residence permit do not have the right to elect and be elected to the authorities.

Regions of Greece are called decentralized administrations. There are seven of them in the country; they unite plots of mainland lands of Greece and aggregations of islands. The main purpose of this division is the decentralization of government in the country. The following regions of Greece with names and cities of the regions will allow you to better understand the structure of the country.

Northern regions of Greece

Macedonia and Thrace

In the north, this region borders on Bulgaria and Macedonia, and in the south it is washed by the waters of the Aegean Sea. It is to this part of Greece that the famous Halkidiki peninsula is divided into three “prongs”. One of them is the holy land of Athos. The central city are, one of the oldest cities in Greece. In addition to it, there are many picturesque cities with a rich history - Xanthi, Kilkis, Serre.

Epirus and Western Macedonia

This northern region borders with Macedonia and Albania. The west coast of Epirus overlooks the Ionian Sea. The coastal city of Igoumenitsa stretches along it. This part of Greece is particularly teeming with monuments of the Byzantine era. Its center is Ioannina, once the property of Turkey.

Central regions of Greece

Thessaly and Central Greece

This region overlooks the Aegean Sea from the east. These lands can rightfully be called the center of the history of Greece. After all, many of the local names are familiar to us from ancient Greek myths. Thebes, Chalcis, Lamia - all these names are well known even to those who have never been to Greece. In addition, in central Greece there is the town of Karpenision, popular with ski lovers.

Peloponnese, Western Greece and Ionia

The huge Peloponnese Peninsula is washed from the west by the Ionian Sea, and from the east and south by the Mediterranean. Western Greece is divided into two parts by the deep and narrow Gulf of Corinth. This area is full of picturesque cliffs and a great beach holiday. You will see mythological cities - Corinth, Sparta and Argos. The center of this region is Patra, the third largest city in Greece. The region includes the Ionian Islands - Lefkada, Kefalonia, Zakynthos and Corfu.

Attica

This region is probably the first thing they remember when it comes to Greece. with their Acropolis, many ancient statues and temples, hills made of marble and limestone. The waves of the Mediterranean Sea merge here with the Aegean, creating one of the most wonderful water areas in the world.

They, in turn, are divided into 51 nome: Achaea, Aetolia Kai Akarnania, Argolida, Arcadia, Arta, Attica, Halkidiki, Hanion, Chios, Dodecanese, Drama, Evros, Eurytania, Evoia, Florina, Phocis, Fthiotida, Grevena, Ileia, Imatia, Ioannastha, Idrea , Kavala, Kefalonia, Kerkyra, Kilkis, Corinthia, Kozani, Cyclades, Laconia, Larisa, Lassithi, Lefkada, Lesbos, Magnesia, Messinia, Sang, Pieria, Preveza, Refinnis, Rhodope, Samos, Serrai, Thesprotia, Thessalonica, Threesota, Bessalonica, Three , Xanthi, Zakynthos and one autonomous region of Mount Athos. Nomes consist of dioceses, and dioceses are divided into Dima (municipalities), kinotites (communes).

Minister of Internal Affairs appoints prefect nomes to whom local officials are subordinate (elected by residents). Monasteries on Mount Athos have a special autonomous status.

The capital of Greece is Athens. Largest cities: Athens (3,693,000 people, Thessaloniki (378,000 people), Piraeus (170,000 people), Peloponnese (155,000 people), Heraklion (117,000 people), Larisa (113,000 people).

A variety of natural conditions, features of historical development and economic specialization make it possible to highlight in Greece five districts: Central, Northern, Western, Southern and Eastern (Island) Greece.

Let us dwell on a brief description of the characteristics of each of the regions in order to better represent the diversity of this unique country. Central Greece includes the peninsula of Attica, Thessaly and the island of Euboea. These ancient lands along with the Peloponnese and Crete were the cradle of ancient Greece.

It stands out for its vastness and fertility. Thessaly lowland - breadbasket of the country. Mount Olympus rises north of it. The world famous "abode of the Greek gods" is becoming a kingdom of tourists and climbers.

Along the western borders of the area stretch pind mountains. The famous Thermopylae Gorge is a convenient passage in the mountains from north to south with richly warm healing springs.

Here in 480 BC e. a handful of Spartan warriors stood to death, defending their homeland from the invasion of the Persians. Nowadays, a motorway runs through Thermopylae Athens – Thessaloniki. The names of mountains and cities of Central Greece say a lot to any educated person: Parnassus, Helikon, Thebes, Marathon, Delphi.

IN Central greece concentrated the most important centers of modern life in the country. On the peninsula of Attica, near the coast of the Aegean Sea, among the hilly plain irrigated by the Kifissos and Ilyssos rivers, are located Athens - The capital of Greece, its largest city, the main political, economic, cultural and scientific center.

Livadia, the main city of the town of Boeotia, is surrounded not only by cotton, tobacco and wheat fields, but also by a whole ring of ruins of ancient settlements, shrines and other memorable places. To the northwest of Levadia lies the famous Parnassus massif.

The center of the fertile Thessaly plain - Larisa is interesting for its preserved oriental flavor.

Part Central greece includes the island of Euboea, the second largest after Crete, its area exceeds 3600 square meters. km Euboea is covered in wooded mountains.

Northern greece includes two historical areas: Aegean (Greek) Macedonia and Thrace - and stretches an arc between the land borders of Greece and the coast of the Aegean Sea. Northern Greece is located at an important historical crossroads of land and sea routes leading from Europe to the Middle East.

The largest city of Northern Greece - Thessaloniki located on the hilly shore of the Thermaikos Gulf, near the confluence of the r. Vardara.

Western greece located between the Ionian Sea and the inaccessible, sparsely populated Pind mountains. The Ionian Islands belong to the same area. Ioannina - administrative and shopping center Greek Epirus and the largest city of Western Greece.

Off the coast Western greece there is a group of rocky Ionian islands with a total area of \u200b\u200b2 thousand square meters. km The Ionian Islands have never been part of the Ottoman Empire. Culturally, they gravitated toward Western Europe - Italy, France and England.

Located south of Ithaca is the legendary homeland of Odyssey. There are traces of ancient structures - the poetic grotto of Nymph and the fountain of Arethusa, which attract many tourists.

South greece occupies a mountainous, slightly populated Peloponnese peninsula. The largest city, with 100 thousand inhabitants, is Pakhra, or Patras, located in the northwest of the Peloponnese, on the shores of Patraikos Gulf.

Over a thousand islands of the Aegean Sea covers Eastern Greece. Some islands delight the eye with vegetation, others amaze the wildness of their rocky, steep banks.

The largest island of Eastern Greece - Crete. On its territory of 8.3 thousand square meters. km live 450 thousand people. Crete became part of Greece only in 1913 after numerous uprisings of the local population against the Ottoman yoke.

Greece - the most detailed information about the country with a photo. Sights, cities of Greece, climate, geography, population and culture.

Greece (Ελλάδα)

Greece is a state in southern Europe on the Balkan Peninsula. The country is washed by the waters of the Aegean Sea in the east, the Ionian in the west, the Mediterranean in the south. Greece borders on Albania, Macedonia, Bulgaria and Turkey. It is a unitary parliamentary republic, the state religion of which Orthodoxy is recognized. The population speaks Greek.

Greece is known for its wonderful nature, fascinating history and rich culture. The country is considered the cradle of civilization, the birthplace of democracy and philosophy, mathematics and physics, as well as the Olympic Games. Ancient archaeological sites, a rich cultural heritage, mild climate and sandy beaches make Greece one of the main tourist destinations Of Europe.

Interestingly, the official name of the state is Hellas. The Greeks themselves use the word "Greece", which has Latin roots, only in communication with foreigners

Useful information about Greece

The official language is Greek.
Religion - Orthodoxy.
The population is 10.7 million people.
Area - 131,957 km².
Currency is Euro.
Time - UTC +2, in the summer +3.
The capital is Athens.
Public Holidays: January 1 - New YearJanuary 6 - baptism, March 25 - Independence Day, May 1 - labor day, August 15 - Assumption of the Virgin Mary, October 28 - Ohi Day, December 25-26 - Christmas. Religious holidays: clean Monday - 41 days before Easter, Easter, Pentecost - on the 50th day after Easter.
Electric network - 230V (50Hz).
The visa is Schengen.
Greece is a safe country. Theft and fraud are the most dangerous.

Geography and nature

Greece is located in the south of the Balkan Peninsula. The country is washed by the Mediterranean Sea, in particular: the Ionian, Aegean and Libyan Seas, which are part of its water area. 20% of Greece is located on numerous islands.

Geographically, the territory of the country can be divided into three parts:

Continental Greece (Greek Macedonia, Thrace, Thessaly, the central part of the country).
Peloponnese is a large peninsula occupying the southern part of the Balkans.
Islands of the Aegean Sea (Crete, Euboea).

The relief of Greece is quite diverse. Mountains occupy about 25% of its territory. The highest point is the legendary Olympus (2917 m).

The fauna of Greece is not very rich. In the country, very few wild animals have survived. The most common are: hares, badgers, porcupines, turtles, numerous snakes and lizards. Also found are foxes, bears, lynxes, wild boars. Flora of Greece is typical of the Mediterranean: olive, cypress, plane trees, etc.

Climate

In most of Greece, the climate is warm Mediterranean with hot summers and mild winters. In the mountains and foothills - moderate and alpine.

Best time to visit

The best time to visit Greece will depend on the purpose of your vacation. The beach season begins in May. In most resorts, the sea warms up to 21-22 ° C. The hottest months are July and August. Sea water during this period - 25-28 ° C. The most comfortable season for a beach holiday is September. It’s not so hot during the day, and the water is still as warm as in the summer. March and April are perfect for exploring the rich cultural and historical heritage of Greece.

History

Traces of man in Greece date from the Paleolithic era. In the third millennium BC on the island of Crete, the Minoan civilization arose, which subsequently spread to the continent. During this period, early states, writing appeared, crafts, navigation, and trade developed. The Minoan civilization is being replaced by the Hellas and Mycenae. Mycenaean culture was destroyed by the invasion of the Dorian tribes. This also led to the decline of the early Greek cities and the loss of writing.

After the Dorian invasion, Greek culture began to develop from scratch. The next period in the history of ancient Greece is called Polisny. In the 8-6 century BC, the legendary city-states began to arise - polises, as well as Greek colonies throughout the Mediterranean and even on the Black Sea. The heyday of ancient Greece occurred in the 5-4 century BC This period in history is called the classic. It ended with the rise of Macedonia and the loss of independence of policies.

Antique Greek civilization is called Ancient Greece. She is considered the cradle of all Western civilization. The Greeks themselves then called their country Hellas, and themselves the Greeks.

After the defeat of the united army of policies, the Corinthian Union was created, led by Macedonia. A new period of Greek history begins - Hellenistic. The campaigns of Alexander the Great are considered to be its beginning, and the end is the conquest of the Hellenistic states by Rome. Interestingly, after the conquest of Greece, Macedonia adopted its culture. Alexander himself was a big fan of Greek civilization, so Greek culture spread to all the conquered countries.

The Romans owned Greek territories from the 1st century BC. until the 3rd century AD Many Roman emperors admired the culture of Greece and borrowed a lot from it. In the 1st century AD Christianity began to spread here. In 324, Emperor Constantine made Constantinople the capital of the Roman Empire. Byzantium later arose, and Greece became a part of it. In the 13th century, Constantinople was taken by the crusaders. Greek territory was divided into zones of influence between Western European states. In 1453, Byzantium fell under the onslaught of the Ottomans, and Greece was occupied by the Ottoman Empire.

Greece gained its independence in 1830 after a long national liberation war. During the Balkan wars, the state even expanded its territories. After the First World War, Greece entered the war with Turkey, led by Atatürk, which ended in 1923. In 1940, Italy demanded that the state provide a bridgehead for the troops. Greece answered no and was occupied by German forces until 1944. Denial to the Nazis, the country celebrates October 28 as Ohi Day.

After World War II, the monarchy was restored in Greece, which was overthrown during the military coup in 1967. In 1980, Greece joined NATO, and a year later to the European Union.

Greece is currently divided into 7 decentralized administrations and the autonomous monastic state of Mount Athos.

Administrative division of Greece:

Attica is the administrative center of the city of Athens.
Macedonia - Thrace - the administrative center of Thessaloniki.
Epirus and Western Macedonia are the administrative center of the city of Ioannina.
Thessaly and Central Greece is the administrative center of the city of Larisa.
Peloponnese, Western Greece and Ionia - the administrative center of the city of Patras.
Aegean Islands - the administrative center of the city of Piraeus.
Crete is the administrative center of the city of Heraklion.

Population

93% of the Greek population are ethnic Greeks. They speak Greek and profess Orthodoxy. Large ethnic groups: Albanians, Turks, Macedonian Slavs, Aromuns, gypsies. The Greeks themselves are polite, religious, hospitable and lazy. They do not really like to work, but they love relaxation and leisure. Greeks take politics and sport very seriously, value their culture and history. They are also very sensitive to the issue of Macedonia and their relations with Turkey. Therefore, in conversations it is better to avoid disputes on these topics. It is also better not to raise the topic that Greece is Eastern Europe or a typically Balkan country. In a conversation, the Greeks can gesticulate a lot.

Transport

The largest airport in Greece is located in Athens. Its passenger flow is more than 20 million people. Other large international airports located in Thessaloniki, Heraklion, Corfu, Rhodes. The largest national carriers are Olympic Airlines and Aegean Airlines. Easy Jet (London, Berlin, Paris, Milan), SkyEurope (Vienna, Bratislava, Prague, Budapest and Krakow) and many others also fly to Greece.

The largest railway junction is Thessaloniki, where trains run to Budapest, Istanbul, Sofia, Bucharest. By bus, Greece can be reached from many major cities in southern Europe, as well as Bratislava, Prague and Munich. The most popular car routes are car trips to Italy and further by ferry across the Adriatic. By ferry, Greece can also be reached from Venice, Trieste, Bari, Ancona.

Cities of Greece and popular destinations

The capital of Greece, the largest city in the country, its economic, cultural and financial center. It is considered the cradle of the classical period of the ancient Greek state and of all Western civilization. The appearance of the city was formed under the influence of the ancient Greeks, Romans, Byzantines and Ottoman. Interestingly, after the decline in the Middle Ages by 1830, Athens was a small provincial village until it was chosen as the capital of an independent Greek state.

The second most populated city in Greece and the largest in Central Macedonia. It is considered the cultural capital of the country with many festivals, outstanding events and a rich cultural life. Thessaloniki - ancient city with many artifacts of the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman past. Ancient Byzantine churches and the historical center are included in the list of objects World Heritage UNESCO.

Kerkyra

Kerkyra is a city on the island of Corfu, the historical center of which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. For several centuries it belonged to the Venetians, therefore it is famous for its elegant Italian architecture, Venetian fortresses and beautiful streets.

Nafplion is one of the most beautiful coastal cities of the country, located in the east of the Peloponnese. It is the first capital of independent Greece with a beautiful promenade and old town with neoclassical mansions.

The third largest city of Greece and the "gateway" to Italy. Located in the west of the Peloponesse Peninsula. Patras is an ancient city founded in the 6th century BC. Unfortunately, only the Odeon has survived from antiquities.

The capital of the island of Crete and one of the oldest cities in Greece. Here you can touch the antiquities of the Minoan civilization, see the legendary ruins of the Knossos palace, in the underground labyrinths of which the mythical minotaur lived, as well as Byzantine churches and Venetian fortifications.

Volos is the sixth largest city in Greece, a large industrial center and port. Located at the foot of the legendary Pelion Mountain and is known for interesting ancient sights - the ruins of the oldest acropolis and Neolithic settlement.

Santorini or Thira is an island in the Aegean that is part of the Cyclades archipelago. It is one of the most beautiful and romantic places in Greece. This volcanic island is known for its white houses, unique beaches, luxurious resorts and wine.

Rhodes is one of the largest Greek islands, part of the Dodecanese archipelago. You should definitely visit the city of the same name, which is surrounded by impressive fortifications built by the knights of St. John in the 14th century.

Crete is the largest island of Greece, which is famous for its magnificent beaches, impressive natural landscapes and traces of ancient civilizations.

Mykonos is the most glamorous island of Greece with many luxury hotels, expensive restaurants and sandy beaches. Very popular with celebrities.

Greece Attractions

The Acropolis is a symbol of Greece and one of the most famous monuments of ancient Greek civilization. It is a high rocky hill located right in the heart of modern Athens. The Acropolis is crowned with three ancient temples that date back to the 5th century BC. The main pearl of this archaeological site is the Parthenon - a magnificent ancient Greek temple, consisting of 58 columns and dedicated to the goddess Athena. Nearby are other ancient attractions - the ancient agora (market square), the Roman Forum and the temple of Zeus.

Knossos is an ancient city on the territory of Crete, the center of the Minoan civilization and one of the most significant archaeological sites of Greece. It is famous for the ruins of a huge ancient palace built in the second millennium BC. According to myths, there was a labyrinth of a minotaur.

Delphi is an ancient Greek city at the foot of Mount Parnassus and an important religious center of Ancient Greece. Known as the location of the Oracle of Apollo. It is the ruins of numerous temples, a theater and a stadium, built in the period from the 8th century BC. 2nd century AD The adjacent archaeological museum contains all the most interesting finds.

Olympia is one of the most famous archaeological sites in Greece, the place where the first Olympic Games were held. This ancient city is located in the western part of the Peloponesse and is known for the ruins of an ancient stadium, temples of Zeus and Hera. The archaeological museum houses many interesting ancient artifacts.

Epidaurus is an ancient Greek city in the northeastern part of the Peloponesse Peninsula. It is famous for the ruins of the temple of Asclepius and the ancient theater built in the 4th century BC. The theater was very well preserved. He is known for his acoustics and is still used for performances.

The Temple of Poseidon - the ruins of an ancient Greek temple at the southernmost tip of the Attica Peninsula, 70 km from Athens. This building was built in the 5th century BC. In this case, the first temple was destroyed by the Persians. According to myths, it was in this place that King Aegeus jumped into the sea when he thought that his son Theseus was killed.

Delos is the mythical place where Artemis and Apollo were born. In ancient times, the island was considered sacred. Now it is an open-air museum where you can look at the ancient Greek ruins.

Mount Athos is a peak in northeastern Greece, which is one of the most significant Orthodox shrines. According to legend, in 49 A.D. the ship on which the Mother of God sailed to the mountain She was so struck by the beauty of this place that she asked God to give him an inheritance. Since that time, the mountain is called Holy and is considered the earthly inheritance of the Virgin Mary. It is a huge monastery complex, which houses many Christian shrines.

Meteora Monasteries are a complex of Orthodox monasteries in the northwestern part of Thessaly, built on top of picturesque sandstone cliffs. This is one of the most striking sights of Greece, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. According to scientists, 24 monasteries were built on the cliff tops from the 14th to the 16th centuries. Only 6 monasteries have survived to our time.

Monemvasia is a middle-aged Byzantine fortress located in the southeastern part of the Peloponnese. Built in the 6th century and used by the Byzantines, Venetians and Ottomans.

Zagorohoria is a region in the north-west of Greece, which is known for beautiful landscapes and charming old stone villages (there are 46 of them). One of the main attractions of this region is the Vikos Gorge.

Patmos is a large ancient monastery of St. John the Evangelist on the island of Patmos. It is believed that here (in the cave) John wrote the book of the Apocalypse.

Accommodation

Greece is one of the most popular countries in the world, included in the TOP-20 in the world in terms of tourist flow. Here you can find a huge number of options for accommodation from expensive hotels and luxury villas to small modern hotels and affordable hostels. The cost of living and housing offers depends entirely on the season and the popularity of the place (resort). The highest season is July - September.

Kitchen

Greek cuisine is a synthesis of traditional culinary traditions with prominent Italian and Turkish influence. Traditional Greek cuisine - a lot of vegetables, cereals and herbs, fish and seafood. One of the main ingredients is olive oil and tomato paste. Any meal accompanies bread and wine.

Popular food:

Gyros - Greek shawarma.
Souvlaki - small kebabs.
Zaziki - finely chopped cucumbers, dill or mint with the addition of olive oil, garlic and yogurt.
Greek salad - a mixture of tomatoes, cucumbers, feta cheese and onions with olives, green pepper and oregano, seasoned with olive oil.
Fried octopus.
Musaka - a baked puff dish with eggplant, stuffed meat, tomatoes and white sauce.
Tiropita - cheese cake.
Saganaki - fried cheese.
Stifado - braised beef in sauce.
Specials - stewed sausages with peppers and tomatoes.
Galaktobureko - custard pie.

Popular drinks:

Frappe - iced coffee with milk and sugar.
Local wine produced in Santorini, Crete and the Peloponesse Peninsula.
Ouzo is a Greek aniseed brandy.
Rakia - grape vodka, an analogue of Italian grappa.
Coffee and iced tea.
Beer - Mythos and Alpha.

- a state in southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula.

The official name of Greece:
Hellenic Republic

Territory of Greece:
The area of \u200b\u200bthe state of the Hellenic Republic is 131940 km².

Greece population:
The population of Greece is more than 10 million inhabitants (10964020 people).

Ethnic groups in Greece:
Most of the population of Greece are Greeks - 92%. The only official minority are the Muslims of Thrace and the Dodecanese Islands, including Turks - 0.8%, Pomaks (Bulgarian-speaking Muslims, 0.3%) and Roma Muslims (0.1%). Other minorities stand out mainly on linguistic grounds and are not officially recognized in Greece: Albanians (1%; including Arvanites), "Greek Slavophones" or Macedonian Slavs (close to Macedonians, 1.6%), Aromuns (1.1% including meglenites), gypsies (1.8%), Serbs (0.3%), Arabs (0.3%), Armenians (0.3%), Jews (0.05%), etc.

Life expectancy in Greece:
The average life expectancy in Greece is - 78.89 years (see the rating of the countries of the world by average life expectancy).

The capital of Greece:
Athens.

Major Cities of Greece:
Athens, Heraklion, Thessaloniki.

The official language of Greece:
Greek.

Religion in Greece:
Article 3 of the Greek Constitution states: "The religion of the East Orthodox Church of Christ is the dominant religion in Greece." The absolute majority (98%, according to 2006 data) of the Greek population are members of the Greek Orthodox Church.

Geographical position of Greece:
The Greek Peninsula, located in southeastern Europe, covers an area of \u200b\u200b131944 km². Greece is located in the southern Balkan Peninsula and on the islands adjacent to it and to the coast of Asia Minor. Greece borders on Albania, Macedonia, Bulgaria and Turkey.

Greece is washed by:
The Mediterranean Sea, including: the Ionian, Aegean, and the southern coast of Crete - the Libyan Sea. Greece includes about 2,000 islands, which account for almost 20% of the entire country.

The territory of Greece is divided into three parts.
Mainland Greece includes: Macedonia - the northern region of Greece, bordering Albania (Ioannina, Igoumenitsa), Bulgaria (Rhodope) and Macedonia (Kastoria, Chalkidiki); Thrace - the northeastern region bordering Bulgaria and Turkey (Alexandropol, Komotini); Epirus is a northwestern region bordering Albania (washed by the Ionian Sea); Thessaly is the most flat region, from the east it is washed by the Aegean Sea (Larisa, Volos, Trikala);

Central Greece - the central part of Greece (Chalkida, Lamia, Amphissa):
Attica is the area around Athens; The Peloponnese - the largest peninsula of Greece (area - 21.4 thousand km²), is connected to the mainland by a narrow Corinthian isthmus (5 km wide), through which a canal was dug at the end of the 19th century (length 6500 m, width 23.5 m, depth 40 m).

The third region of Greece is formed by the islands of the Aegean:
Euboea - the second largest, after Crete, the island of Greece (3.9 thousand km²), connected to the continent by a bridge; Lesvos - one of the largest islands in Greece (1.6 thousand km²); Northern Sporades - the islands of Skyros, Skopelos, Jura, Iliodramia and others in the northwestern part of the Aegean Sea; Cyclades - "Cyclos" in Greek - forming a ring, an archipelago in the central and southern Aegean Sea (Amorgos, Andros, Sifnos, Santorini, Timos, Kitnos, etc.); Southern Sporades - Dodecanese - an archipelago of 12 islands in the southeastern Aegean Sea, off the coast of Turkey (Rhodes, Samos, Astypalea, Kalymnos, Karpathos, Leros, etc.).

The Greek landscape is an alternation of rocky, usually treeless mountains, densely populated valleys, numerous islands, straits and bays.
Picturesque cliffs, beaches, exotic grottoes provide great opportunities for relaxing on the sea and mountain hiking. The wide distribution of limestones, especially in the western part of Greece, led to the formation of karst craters, caves, giving the landscape a peculiar wild appearance and attracting fans to test their strengths in caving. Mountain ranges occupy almost a quarter of the surface of Greece. These are mainly mid-altitude mountains (up to 1200-1800 m). The highest point in Greece is Mount Olympus (2917 m). Pind, Parnassus, the mountain range in the north of the Peloponnese and Taiget also rise above 2000 meters. There are few plains, they are concentrated in the eastern half of the country, with the exception of the Peloponnese, where the plains prevail on the west coast. Under the forest and shrubs about 44% of the territory. National Parks of Greece: Vikos-Aoos, Mikra Prespa, Eta et al. When hiking in the mountains, you need to remember that in Greece there are many reptiles (turtles, lizards and snakes, including a horned viper).

Rivers of Greece:
Large river systems could not form on the narrow and mountainous Greek peninsula. Mountain rivers predominate, short, turbulent, with picturesque rapids and waterfalls, often flowing to the sea in narrow canyons. The longest river in Greece is the Allakmon (almost 300 km). Other major rivers are Ebros, Nestos, Strimon, Vardar, Aheloos. Rivers are not suitable for navigation, but play a rather large role as sources of energy.

Administrative division of Greece:
The administrative division of Greece comprises 13 administrative districts (regions, or peripheries), which are then subdivided into 54 nomes, or prefectures. In addition to these 13 districts, Greece includes 1 autonomous region - Aion Oros in the Mount Athos region. Thirteen regions are governed by secretaries general appointed by the government. Secretary Generals are government representatives. They support central government functions and services, and also assist the government in developing regional development policies.

Government of Greece:
Greece is a unitary state, consisting of 13 administrative units - regions. In 1983, it was legally established that local councils were governed by councils elected by the people through direct elections. Under the 1975 constitution, Greece has a parliamentary form of government. The head of government is the prime minister - the leader of the party, which has the most seats in parliament. The government, led by the prime minister, is accountable to parliament.

Legislative power in Greece belongs to the Chamber of Deputies, a unicameral representative body, which is elected by general direct election for a term of 4 years.
The composition of the Chamber of Deputies includes at least 200 and no more than 300 people. The chamber meets once a year for the next session, which lasts at least 5 months. In order to prepare and study draft laws and legislative proposals, at the beginning of each session, it forms parliamentary commissions from its members. Legislative activities are carried out during plenary meetings.

The head of state is the president, who is elected by parliament for a term of five years and can be re-elected for another term.
The President is empowered to declare war and conclude treaties with other countries. He appoints the prime minister and, on the recommendation of the latter, other members of the government. The President may convene special parliamentary meetings and dissolve it upon the proposal of the government or by agreement of the Council of the Republic. The Council consists of the Prime Minister, the head of the parliamentary opposition, the speaker of parliament, and former prime ministers and presidents of democratically elected governments.

The government exercises executive power, represented by the Prime Minister and ministers (one or more of them may be appointed vice-prime ministers).
The government is formed by the party, which won the majority of seats in Parliament. The leader of this party becomes the prime minister. Within 15 days from the moment he takes the oath, the Government must raise the question of trust before Parliament. The Chamber of Deputies has the right to “take back its confidence” to the Government or one of its members. A censure resolution may be introduced only 6 months after the Chamber rejects the previous resolution. The censure resolution must be signed by at least 1/6 of the deputies.

The government pursues the general policy of the state in accordance with the Constitution and laws.
According to the provisions of the laws on the responsibility of ministers, members of the Council of Ministers and state secretaries are liable for omissions made in the performance of their functions. The system of government in Greece is based on the principle of decentralization. There are local authorities of the first and second levels and regional administration. First-level local authorities consist of municipalities and communities that are responsible for resolving local issues. The total number of communities and municipalities is less than 1000. The second level of local government is 51 prefectures, headed by prefectural councils and prefects, which since 1994 have been elected directly by citizens. Local authorities of the second level solve more general issues.