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Officially known as the Hellenic Republic, Greece is situated at the end of the Balkan Peninsula. It lies at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa. As a developed country, Greece is a member of European Union. Other than this it is also a member of Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union. To know more about Greece, scroll down and read the following.
Official Languages:
The official language of Greece is Greek. It is one of the oldest languages of the Indo European language family. Not only Greece, a large number of people from other countries also speak this language. As the official language of the country, it is not only used during the political meetings and during the political conventions but also used in the newspapers, media, schools, colleges and universities as well. Other important language of the country is English. This is also spoken by a large number of people in Greece.
Independence, Republic and Government:
Greece received its independence from the Ottoman Empire in March 25th, 1821 and this independence was recognized in 1829. According to the constitution of Greece, it has a parliamentary republic. As it is a parliamentary republic, it has given a large number of civil liberties to a people. The main power of the government lies in the hands of the head of the state. The head of the state is the President. The President is elected by the parliament for a term of five years. The structure of Government in Greece is similar to that of other Western democracies. In Greece, some of the executive, legislative as well as ceremonial functions lie with the President, whereas Prime Minister plays the main role in the political process. The Prime Minister is the Head of the Government and the major executive powers lies in his hands. The legislative powers are given to the government as well as in the hands of Hellenic Parliament. The judiciary is independent in Greece. There are three Supreme Courts in Greece- Court of Cassation, the Council of State and the Court of Auditors. The legislature in Greece is elected through the universal suffrage. The voting age for all citizens is 18 years.
Top Cities of Greece:
Athens:Located in the Attica periphery of Central Greece, Athens is the capital and the largest city of Greece. It is one of the oldest cities in the world. This city is the center of economic, financial, industrial, political and cultural life in Greece.
Thessaloniki: This is the second largest city of Greece. It is the capital of Macedonia and is a major transportation center in Greece. The city is famous for its International Trade Fair.
Patras: It is the third largest city of Greece and is the capital of Achaea. Situated at the foothills of Mount Panachaikon, it overlooks the Gulf of Patras. It has a Mediterranean climate and is known as the European Capital of Culture.
Volos: Situated in the center of Greece, it is the capital city of Magnesia Prefecture. It is one of the port cities and is famous for its modern buildings.
Culture and Heritage:
Over the past thousand years or more the culture and heritage of Greece has evolved. Speaking of the culture and heritage of Greece, we have to speak of architecture, painting, sculpture, pottery, coins, cinema, language, literature, religion, dance, music, history, philosophy, cuisine sports, etc. All this are the important part of the heritage of Greece. Greece is world famous for its architecture and paintings. The Greek temples are the great examples of architecture. Byzantine architecture can also be found here. In Athens you can also find the examples of modernist and post-modernist architecture. Speaking of Greek literature, we have to speak about the Byzantine period which has influenced the literature. The classical literature of Greece is also famous for its epic poems of Homer and Hesiod. Theater is also an important part of the heritage of Greece. Various playwrights have written a large number of important plays which are famous till today. Music and dance are also important here. The tradition of music and dance are well known from time immemorial. The various costumes of Greece are important part of their tradition and history. Presently, the costumes in Greece are a mixture of tradition and modern.
Tourism
Greece is known for its various tourist spots all over the world. Various tourists from different parts of the world visit this place to have a look at the heavenly beauty. There are various mountain ranges which also attract a large number of people. The climate of the country is so beautiful that people enjoy visiting this place. Here you can find mild wet winters and hot and dry summers. Temperatures never reach the extreme. There are numerous islands and isthmus which is a main geographical feature of the country. Various marine species which are rarely available can be found in Greece which includes Pinniped Seals and Loggerhead Sea Turtle. It is also home to various animals like brown bear, lynx, roe deer, wild goat. There are various churches and museums in Greece which is an important part of tourism. The architecture of these churches is world famous and people mainly visit Greece to have a look at them. Every nook and corner of the country is important from a tourist’s point of view.
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