Famous cities & landmarks

Famous cities & landmarks

Famous cities The largest cities in Greece are Athens, Thessaloniki, Patras, Heraklion and Larissa. Some other famous cities are Chania,Volos,Kavala,Ioannina, Rhodes and Corfu.

Rank

City

Population

Region

3.074.160

Central Greece

1

Athens

2

Thessaloniki

790.824

Macedonia

3

Patras

214.580

Peloponnese

4

Heraklion

173.450

Crete

5

Larissa

163.380

Thessaly

Famous cities

Landmarks

The Parthenon There are many landmarks in Greece, most of which are archeological monuments and museums. o In Athens, there is the Acropolis with the Parthenon, a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena. It was built in 432 BC and it is the symbol of Greece.

Today there is a new archeological museum about the Acropolis of Athens.

Landmarks

The White Tower

o In Thessaloniki, there is the archeological museum as well as the castles and the old town but the most famous landmark is the White Tower.

During the Ottoman Empire it was a prison but when Thessaloniki became a part of the Greek State in 1912 they painted it white to symbolize its cleansing from the old times.

Landmarks

The Tomb of Philip II

o In Vergina, there is the tomb of Philip II of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great. The Greek archeologist Manolis Andronikos found there the golden larnax (small coffin) and the golden grave crown of Philip II.

Landmarks

Ancient Olympia

o Ancient Olympia is the place where the 1st Olympic Games took place in 776 BC. Today the Olympic Flame is lit in Ancient Olympia and the Olympic torch is relayed to the country organizing the Olympic Games.

Landmarks Delphi

o Delphi is an archeological site in central Greece. Legend has it that Zeus let two eagles go to opposite directions and they met in Delphi, meaning that this is the centre of the earth. In Delphi you can see the remains of the temple of Apollo. In ancient times, people came to Delphi to consult the Oracle.