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GREECE |
WELCOME TO GREECE
Greece's Official Name is: Hellenic Republic.
Greece is located in the Southern part of Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, the Ionian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey.
Passport/Visa Requirements: Passport needed by citizens of the U.S. and Canada. A tourist visa is not required for a visit of up to three months. Reconfirm travel document requirements with your carrier before departure.
Capital: Athens
Population: 10,700,000.
Languages: Greek(official), english and french.
Predominant Religions: Greek orthodox for the most part.
Time Zone: 1 hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (+1 GMT). Daylight Saving Time is observed from the end of March to the end of September.
Voltage Requirements: 220 volts.
Telephone Codes: country code is 30, and city code for Athens is 01.
Greece achieved independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1829. During the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, it gradually added neighboring islands and territories, most with Greek-speaking populations. In World War II, Greece was first invaded by Italy (1940) and subsequently occupied by Germany (1941-44); fighting endured in a protracted civil war between supporters of the king and Communist rebels. Following the latter's defeat in 1949, Greece joined NATO in 1952. A military dictatorship, which in 1967 suspended many political liberties and forced the king to flee the country, lasted seven years.
The 1974 democratic elections and a referendum created a parliamentary republic and abolished the monarchy. Greece joined the European Union in 1981, it became the 12th member of the euro zone in 2001.
