Greece – walking through history Back to News

There’s surely no better place than Greece to feel the history of millennia under your feet as you walk through ancient landscapes. Redolent of myth and legend, it is considered to be the birthplace of Western civilisation, and of course influenced the development of democracy, philosophy, science, art and sport.

On Foot’s four self-guided walking holidays in Greece explore different facets of the country’s landscapes, from islands to mountains. Whether you know this land well or have not yet visited it, there is so much to discover.

Arcadia, in the centre of the Peloponnese region, was home to Pan, the God of the Wild, one of the oldest and most colourful of the Greek Gods. Described by the poet Milton as ‘the bounteous Pan, the god of rural scenery, shepherds, and huntsmen’, he’s a character that is easy to imagine as you walk through woodland glades and mountain pastures along the Menalon Trail.

The peaceful island of Andros was not always so – in fact it has been invaded or pillaged by its Mediterranean neighbours from all directions over the centuries. Modern day visitors can still recognise Venetian and Byzantine architecture in the charming old town of Chora that is the heart of the island.

Beneath the surface of Naxos lies the unblemished white marble that has been beloved by sculptors since Neolithic times, and which adorned Classical Greece’s most holy places. One of the delights of this route is the discovery of ruined temples and half-finished statues along the way. On neighbouring Amorgos a highlight is the remarkable thousand-year-old Chozoviotiza monastery, clinging doggedly to cliffs above the sea.

The mountainous Zagori region is most remarkable for its recent history. The remote, stone-built villages around the Vikos Gorge were wealthy in the 18th and 19th centuries, but suffered from depopulation and poverty in the 20th until a spirited regeneration in recent years. Zagori families hold their heritage close, and are determined to maintain their traditions while quietly and sustainably opening up to visitors. The area is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognised for its unique cultural landscape.

Choose your Greek walking holiday here

Explore more On Foot Holidays around Europe