Best of Greece: Beautiful places and tastiest foods

<strong>Pidima Tis Grias: </strong>Greece is full of must-visit spots. This spectacular beach is located on Andros, a luscious island near Athens. According to legend, Pidima Tis Grias is named for an old woman who betrayed a nearby town to Saracen pirates, jumped off a cliff to her death and was turned into a vertical, isolated rock.<br />

Pidima Tis Grias: Greece is full of must-visit spots. This spectacular beach is located on Andros, a luscious island near Athens. According to legend, Pidima Tis Grias is named for an old woman who betrayed a nearby town to Saracen pirates, jumped off a cliff to her death and was turned into a vertical, isolated rock.

Alamy

<strong>Naxos Portara:</strong> Naxos, the largest island of the Cyclades, combines Caribbean-looking sugar-sand beaches and a stunning mountain, perfect for hikers. Looking like a gateway to another universe, the Portara is the scene of a mythical betrayal.

Naxos Portara: Naxos, the largest island of the Cyclades, combines Caribbean-looking sugar-sand beaches and a stunning mountain, perfect for hikers. Looking like a gateway to another universe, the Portara is the scene of a mythical betrayal.

Suzanne Plunkett

<strong>Sarakiniko: </strong>The volcanic island of Milos is known for its natural geothermal heat and multi-colored beaches -- none more impressive than Sarakiniko, an all-white limestone spot.

Sarakiniko: The volcanic island of Milos is known for its natural geothermal heat and multi-colored beaches -- none more impressive than Sarakiniko, an all-white limestone spot.

Aristidis Vafeiadakis/ZUMA

<strong>Santorini volcano walk: </strong>Crescent-shaped Santorini faces a submerged crater on the west side, while on the east it has boundless stretches of black sand. Visitors can hike the two slopes and see the still active volcanic islands inside the crater.

Santorini volcano walk: Crescent-shaped Santorini faces a submerged crater on the west side, while on the east it has boundless stretches of black sand. Visitors can hike the two slopes and see the still active volcanic islands inside the crater.

ZEPPELIN/Sipa/Newscom

<strong>Mycenae:</strong> This spectacular setting of the Homeric epics became one of the first excavated sites in Greece when archeologist Heinrich Schliemann discovered several grave mounds here in the 1870s.

Mycenae: This spectacular setting of the Homeric epics became one of the first excavated sites in Greece when archeologist Heinrich Schliemann discovered several grave mounds here in the 1870s.

DeAgostini/Getty Images

<strong>Karpathos</strong>: Karpathos is one of the Aegean's most mysterious islands -- home to ancient underground chambers and shrines.

Karpathos: Karpathos is one of the Aegean's most mysterious islands -- home to ancient underground chambers and shrines.

Kalliopi Mallofti

<strong>Ios:</strong> Ios is a sun-drenched island and its capital Chora is home to iconic windmills, pictured.

Ios: Ios is a sun-drenched island and its capital Chora is home to iconic windmills, pictured.

Courtesy Anna Evsyukova

<strong>Fresh seafood: </strong>Greek seafood is fresh and delicious. Many fish tavernas in the smaller islands or coastal villages have their own fishing boats and serve the catch of the day.

Fresh seafood: Greek seafood is fresh and delicious. Many fish tavernas in the smaller islands or coastal villages have their own fishing boats and serve the catch of the day.

Courtesy John Malathronas

<strong>Skopelos: </strong>ABBA<strong> </strong>fans might recognize the church of Agios Ioannis at Kastri -- it featured in the finale of "Mamma Mia." With the sequel to this movie musical out in 2018, there's never been a better time to visit the iconic island.

Skopelos: ABBA fans might recognize the church of Agios Ioannis at Kastri -- it featured in the finale of "Mamma Mia." With the sequel to this movie musical out in 2018, there's never been a better time to visit the iconic island.

Courtesy John Malathronas

<strong>Mykonos, Little Venice</strong>: Little Venice in Mykonos has beautiful houses built all the way to the wave line. It's a spectacular place to watch the sunset over the water.

Mykonos, Little Venice: Little Venice in Mykonos has beautiful houses built all the way to the wave line. It's a spectacular place to watch the sunset over the water.

Athanasios Gioumpasis/Getty Images

<strong>Pyrgos the marble village: </strong>The island of Tinos sits on marble quarries -- its inland village of Pyrgos has no fewer than three museums devoted to marble.

Pyrgos the marble village: The island of Tinos sits on marble quarries -- its inland village of Pyrgos has no fewer than three museums devoted to marble.

Courtesy Municpality of Tinos

<strong>Nafplio Bourdji castle: </strong> Nafplio is defended by not just one but three separate forts -- no wonder that Nafplio became the first capital of modern Greece.

Nafplio Bourdji castle: Nafplio is defended by not just one but three separate forts -- no wonder that Nafplio became the first capital of modern Greece.

Courtesy John Malathronas

<strong>Pottery:</strong> The island of Rhodes has been known for its ceramics since antiquity. Local crafts remain a key part of the island's culture, known for their bright colored designs and patterns.

Pottery: The island of Rhodes has been known for its ceramics since antiquity. Local crafts remain a key part of the island's culture, known for their bright colored designs and patterns.

John Malathronas

<strong>Thessaloniki:</strong> Thessaloniki was the second most important city in the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires after Constantinople. The famous White Tower on the promenade, pictured here, was built by Suleiman the Magnificent and served as a notorious jail until the 19th century.

Thessaloniki: Thessaloniki was the second most important city in the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires after Constantinople. The famous White Tower on the promenade, pictured here, was built by Suleiman the Magnificent and served as a notorious jail until the 19th century.

Courtesy Thessaloniki Tourism Organization

<strong>Agios Dimitrios:</strong> Most cities in Greece have their own saint. In Thessaloniki, it's St Dimitrios -- a Roman commander said to be martyred around 305AD. The modern church stands above an earlier one -- which was built on the alleged spot of his martyrdom.

Agios Dimitrios: Most cities in Greece have their own saint. In Thessaloniki, it's St Dimitrios -- a Roman commander said to be martyred around 305AD. The modern church stands above an earlier one -- which was built on the alleged spot of his martyrdom.

Courtesy John Malathronas

<strong>Melissani Lake:</strong> The stunning turquoise lake of Melissani is on the Ionian island of Kefallonia -- and can be found below ground, in a secluded, tranquil cave.

Melissani Lake: The stunning turquoise lake of Melissani is on the Ionian island of Kefallonia -- and can be found below ground, in a secluded, tranquil cave.

Courtesy D. Kouris - Region of Ionian Islands

<strong>Shipwreck beach, Zakynthos island, Zante:</strong> In 1980, the ship MV Panayiotis was washed up on this beautiful beach. This mysterious shipwreck and golden sands make this beach one of the Greece's most photographed spots.

Shipwreck beach, Zakynthos island, Zante: In 1980, the ship MV Panayiotis was washed up on this beautiful beach. This mysterious shipwreck and golden sands make this beach one of the Greece's most photographed spots.

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