Welcome to the birthplace of democracy and the Olympic Games—Greece, a country located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. There are around 10 million people living here, and the capital is Athens, one of the world’s oldest cities with a recorded history spanning over 3,400 years. The official language is Greek, which has one of the longest documented histories of any Indo-European language.

Greece covers about 131,957 square kilometers (50,949 square miles). That’s like the same size as the state of Alabama in the U.S., or approximately the same size as England. It is famous for its incredible geography, consisting of a mountainous mainland and thousands of islands—though only about 200 of them are inhabited.

The most popular sports are Football and Basketball, with the national basketball team being a consistent powerhouse in Europe. Their national animal is the Dolphin, which has been a symbol of luck and connection to the sea since ancient times, while the Little Owl is the traditional symbol of wisdom.

The flag consists of nine horizontal stripes of blue and white with a white cross on a blue square in the top left corner, where the blue represents the sea and sky, the white symbolizes the purity of the struggle for independence, and the cross stands for Eastern Orthodox Christianity.

The food is a centerpiece of the “Mediterranean diet” and is incredibly fresh. You must try Moussaka, a layered dish of eggplant, minced meat, and béchamel sauce, or Souvlaki, grilled meat skewers served with pita and Tzatziki. Greece is also the world’s leading producer of Kalamata Olives and is famous for Feta Cheese, which has a protected status and can only be called “Feta” if it is made in Greece.

Greece is home to the Acropolis of Athens, topped by the Parthenon, a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena that has stood for over 2,400 years. It is a land of myth, where you can visit Mount Olympus, the legendary home of the twelve ancient gods. For something truly unique, the Meteora monasteries are built on top of towering natural sandstone rock pillars, looking like they are suspended in the air. If you head to the islands, Santorini is world-famous for its blue-domed churches and spectacular sunsets over a volcanic caldera. Greece also has more archaeological museums than any other country in the world, ensuring that its ancient past is never far from the modern surface.

From the white-washed villages of the Cyclades to the deep blue waters of the Aegean, Greece is a land of philosophy, sun, and timeless history. Efcharistó! That means “Thank you!”