The Peloponnese, Greeces southern penninsula, is rich in history and scenically diverse. In its north-eastern corner are the ancient sites of Epidaurus, Corinth and Mycenae, all easily reached from Nafplio. The city of Mystras clambers up the slopes of Mt Tayetos, its winding paths leading to deserted palaces and fresco adorned churches. Further south you can explore the Mani, a region of bleak mountains and barron landscapes broken only by austere and imposing stone towers which are mostly abandoned, but still standing sentinel over the region. Other attractions in the region include ancient Olympia, the beautiful medieval town of Monemvasia and the thrilling Diakofto- Kalavrita rack and pinion railway, which winds its way through the deep Vouraikos Gorge.
 

The world heritage monasteries of Meteora, in the province of the Thessaly, are one of the most extraordinary sights in mainland Greece. Built into and on top of huge pinnacles of smooth rock with cheese-like holes in it, the monasteries provided monks with peaceful havens from increasing bloodshed as the Byzantine Empire waned at the end of the 14th Century. The earliest monasteries were reached by climbing removable ladders. Later, windlasses were used so monks could be hauled up in nets, a method used until the 1920’s. These days access to the monasteries is by steps hewn into the rocks and the windlasses are only used for hauling up provisions.
 

The Cyclades islands epitomize the postcard image of the Greek islands: bright blue church domes, dazzling white buildings, while golden beaches meet an aquamarine sea. Some of the Cyclades islands such as Mykonos, Santorini, Paros and Ios have vigorously embraced the tourist industry, while others such as Andros, Kea, Serifos and Sikinos are visited infrequently by foreigners but are favourites with holidaymakers from Athens.
 

Strung along the coast of western Turkey, the Dodecanese archipelago is much closer to Asia Minor than to mainland Greece. Because of their strategic and vulnerable position, these islands have been subjected to an even greater catalogue of invasions than the rest of Greece. Egyptians, the knights of St. John, Turks and Italians have all done their bit as Conquerors.

Rhodes is the largest of the Dodecanese islands and its town is the largest inhabited medieval settlement in Europe. The Avenue of the Knights is lined with magnificent medieval buildings, the most impressive of which is the Palace of the Grand Masters, was restored, but never used as a holiday home for Mussolini. The imposing Acropolis of Lindos shares its rocky outcrop with a crusader castle above winding streets and whitewashed, elaborately decorated houses.

Other popular islands in the Dodecanese include Kos, Symi, and Patmos. The unspoilt islands of Lipsy and Tilos have fantastic beaches without large crowds, and the far  flung Agathanosi, Kastelorizo and Kasos are great places to experience traditional island life.

The Ionian group consists of seven main islands including Corfu, Paxi, Kefallonia, Zakynthos, Ithaki, Lefkada and Kythira. Situated along the west coast of Greece, the Ionian islands are in many ways more reminiscent of their close neighbour Italy. Corfu with its landscape of vibrant wildflowers and cypress trees rising out of olive groves, is considered by many to be the most beautiful of the Greek islands.
 

There are seven major islands in the north eastern group, these include: Samos, Chios, Ikaria, Lesvos, Limnos, Samothraki and Thasos. Huge distances separate them, so island hopping is not as easy as it is within the Cyclades and Dodecanese. Most of these islands are large and have very distinctive characters. Samos, which is the birthplace of philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras, is lush and humid with mountains skirted by pine, sycamore and oak forested hills.
 

There are four inhabited islands in the mountainous and pine forested northern archipelago, these include: Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonisos and Skyris. These islands are popular with tourists as well as being expensive. People go to Skiathos for the nightlife and exquisite beaches. Skopelos is less commercialised than Skiathos, but is rising in popularity. There are some lovely sheltered beaches, but they are often pebbled rather than sandy. Alonisos is still a serene island, partly because the rocky terrain makes building an airport runway impossible.
 

The five Saronic Gulf islands are the closest of all to Athens and Salamis is virtually a suberb of the capital. Aegina, Hydra, Spetses and Poros are all surprisingly varied in architecture and terrain, but they all receive an inordinate number of tourists and are expensive. Hydra was once the rendezvous of artists and writers, but is now overrun with tourists. Even so it still manages to retain an air of grandeur. Mopeds and moter vehicles are banned from the island.