Around Greece

The Koule castle in the entrance of old heraklion harbour

Heraklion is the capital of the region of crete, and the biggest city on the island. It is a mainly metropolitan area, very densely populated. There are many sites to visit like knossos (the ancient cretan capital, where the original labyrinth was created) and others. In the last few years there has been an effort to promote heraklions' medieval city centre, and the overall visitor experience has been greatly improved.

Searches for greece and the greek islands skiathos and skopelos are up 70% according to online hotel booking site hotels.com.
The rise is attributed to the release of the film Mamma Mia, staring merryl streep, julie waters, pierce brosnan and colin firth.
The film was shot in various locations in greece, both greek islands and mainland. It is not a first time that a film affects tourism: After the release of the lord of the rings trilogy, new zealand also reported a dramatic increase of visitors.

Traffic increased by 10% on the largest greek airport, Eleytherios venizelos in athens.
A total of 16.5 million passengers used the airport, while 10 new destinations and 15 new airlines where added.

Read more here

August of 2007 will be remembered for the most devastating series of forest fires ever. More than 60 people and a huge number of animals have been killed, while many forests and villages do not exist anymore.

Graffiti on the walls of plaka, athens

The island of spinalonga is located at the entrance of the bay of elounda, crete. A former italian fortress controlling the entrance to the bay - one of the last to fall under the ottoman rule, later a leper colony for the first half of the 20th century, is today a tourist attraction, as well as the setting for Victoria Hislop's "The Island".

The island of spinalonga is a small island in the bay of elounda, crete