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MUSIC
GREEK ECONOMY
POPULATION
HISTORY
MUSEUMS
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
TRAVELLING FORMALITIES
MUSIC
Popular Orchestra "Mikis Theodorakis"
NIXTA MAGIKIA ΤΑ MAGIA
ISOUNA PARAPONO I HARTAETI ΚITAME STA MATIA ZORBAS
TIN PORTA ANIGOΜΙΑ MERA THA STO PO
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The Greek economy is a market-oriented economy with limited state intervention. The Greek legislation favors the granting procedures of licenses for new businesses since by providing a reduction in the number of administrative stages, it requires the approval of six, rather than 11 government agencies.
As a result, new businesses willing to establish their operation will get benefit from the:
1. Reduction of the cost concerning the administrative stages for licensing procedures by almost 30 %.
2. Reduction of the time required for the completion of the licensing procedures from twelve months to one month.
Moreover, the procedure of small-medium enterprises to access financial aid programs is no longer an obstacle to business development in Greece.
This is reinforced by the new legislation that came into power at the beginning of 2005 and gives motives for private investment.
Finally, the new legislation gives further access to financial intermediation to small-medium enterprises and opens new horizons for further development of enterprising spirit in Greece.
| | Gross Domestic Product | | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | Source | growth rate (real GDP) | 4.70% | 3.70% | 3.70% | -1 | Final domestic demand | | 4.60% | 2.40% | 3.40% | -1 | Exports of goods and services | | 11.70% | 3.10% | 7.90% | -1 | Imports of goods and services | | 9.30% | -1.20% | 5.90% | -1 | Unemployment Rate | | 11.00% | 10.40% | 10.00% | -1 | Harmonised index of consumer price | 3 | 3.5 | 3.3 | -1 | | | | | | | 1) OECD National Accounts of OECD countries |
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Self-employment rates: total | | | Norway | 7.4 | | Denmark | 8.7 | | France | 8.8 | | Sweden | 9.9 | | Switzerland | 11.3 | | Netherlands | 11.6 | | Germany | 11.8 | | Austria | 12.8 | | Finland | 12.8 | | United Kingdom | 13.6 | | Iceland | 14.1 | | Hungary | 14.3 | | EU15 | 15.7 | | Czech Republic | 16.9 | | OECD total | 17.4 | | Belgium | 17.8 | | Ireland | 18.0 | | Spain | 18.1 | | Portugal | 25.9 | | Poland | 26.7 | | Italy | 27.5 | | Greece | 40.3 | | Turkey | 49.2 |
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THE PEOPLE (population - religion - language)
| | Population: | 10.964.020 (2001 - census) | | | It is estimated that more than 4 million Greeks live abroad, including over 2 million in America. | | | Sex distribution: | Male 49,49% , female: 50,51% (2001). | | | Population by areas: | Urban: 58,8%, Semi-rural: 12,8%, Rural: 28,4%. | | | Area (sq. km): | 131.957 | | | Density: | 82,9 inhabitants per sq. km. (2001) | | | Birth rate: | 9,6 per 1000 inhabitants (1999) | | | Life expectancy: | males 74,6 years (1990), females 79,40 years (1990) | | | Capital city: | Athens (3.192.606 inhabitants - 2001) |
| | | Population of main cities | | | | | Year | 1991 | 2001 | Athens | 3.072.866 | 3.192.606 | Thessalonica | 749.048 | 788.551 | Patra | 170.452 | 191.508 | Iraklio | 126.907 | 150.434 | Volos | 116.031 | 122.458 | Larissa | 112.777 | 124.376 | Hania | 72.092 | 78.589 | Ioannina | 68.072 | 77.349 | Halkis | 62.837 | 62.854 | Kavala | 56.571 | 63.774 | Agrinio | 52.896 | 58.618 |
| (Source:National Statistical Service of Greece, Results of year 2001 Census, Athens 2001)
Language: The Greek language with a documented record spanning three and a half millennia is a strong element of national continuity and heritage. Modern Greek derives from the same idiom used by Homer. Greek is also the language of the Gospels. The Greek alphabet and the Greek language have greatly contributed to the development of all western languages. However, Greeks today are the only ones who ensure this linguistic continuity. In this respect, the Greek language differs from Latin, which generated numerous neo-latin languages from Rumanian to Portuguese before it became itself extinct.
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HISTORY
History - An outline
Greece has a long history stretching back more than 4.000 years. The people of the mainland, called Hellenes, organised great naval and military expeditions and explored the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, going as far as the Atlantic Ocean and the Caucasus Mountains. One of those expeditions, the siege of Troy, is narrated in the first great European literary work, Homer's Iliad. Numerous Greek settlements were founded throughout the Mediterranean, Asia Minor and the coast of North Africa as a result of travels in search of new markets.
During the Classical period (5th century B.C.), Greece was composed of city-states, the largest one being Athens, followed by Sparta and Thebes. A fierce spirit of independence and love of freedom enabled the Greeks to defeat the Persians in numerous famous battles - Marathon, Thermopylae, Salamis and Plataea. In the second half of the 4th century BC, the Greeks, led by Alexander the Great, conquered most of the then known world and sought to Hellenize it. In 146 BC Greece fell to the Romans. In 330 AD Emperor Constantine moved the Capital of the Roman Empire to Constantinople, founding the Eastern Roman Empire which was renamed Byzantine Empire or Byzantium for short, by western historians in the 19th century. Byzantium transformed the linguistic heritage of Ancient Greece into a vehicle for the new Christian civilisation. The Byzantine Empire fell to the Turks in 1453 and the Greeks remained under the Ottoman yoke for nearly 400 years. During this time their language, their religion and their sense of identity remained strong. On March 25, 1821, the Greeks revolted against the Turks, and by 1828 they had won their independence. As the new state comprised only a tiny fraction of the country, the struggle for the liberation of all the lands inhabited by Greeks continued. In 1864, the Ionian Islands were returned to Greece; in 1881, parts of Epirus and Thessaly. Crete, the islands of the Eastern Aegean and Macedonia were added in 1913 and Western Thrace in 1919. After World War II the Dodecanese islands were also returned to Greece.
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Visiting Greek museums and archaeological sites throughout the country one can admire flourishing Greek art during a four-thousand-years history. Neo-lithic, classical, Hellenistic, Byzantine or post-Byzantine, as well as modern pieces of art, are exhibited in more than 240 state or state-controlled museums, including galleries, historical or folk-lore museums. Hours: Unless otherwise indicated, all state museums are closed on Monday. Opening hours are also subject to change, so, you are advised to check the hours by phone, just to make sure they are still applicable. Public Holidays: Museums and archaeological sites are closed on the following public holidays: 25th December, 26th December, New Year's Day, Good Friday (closed until 12:00 a.m.), Easter Day, May 1st and Independence Day (March 25th). For other holidays, call the museum you intend to visit to check. Cameras: Taking pictures is generally allowed, as is the use of a video camera, provided that you do not use a tripod or flash light. However, check with the museum first as there might be an extra charge and/or a special permission may be required. If you wish to find out more information about museums in Greece, click here. http://www.culture.gr/ top
Electric Current The standard in Greece is 220V AC (50Hz). Appliances from North America require a transformer and British ones an adaptor.
We recommend that you pack one together with your electrical appliances, so that you do not have to spend valuable time looking for adaptors and transformers during your stay.
Greek time is two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time, an hour ahead of Central European Time and seven hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time. Along with the rest of continental Europe, the clock is advanced one hour during summer -from the end of March to the end of September- almost a month earlier than the UK, the US and Canada. Therefore, keep in mind that the time difference with these countries is one hour greater for some weeks in April and October.
If you want to find out what is the exact time call 141 (recorded message in Greek).
New Year's Day: January 1st
Epiphany: January 6th. The sea around Piraeus are blessed. A Cross is thrown into the sea and young men dive to retrieve it.
Ash Monday: 41 days before Easter. Lent begins. On Ash Monday, Greeks fly kites, eat according to the tradition of lent and celebrate the koulouma.
Independence Day and the Feast of the Annunciation: March 25th , Military parade.
Easter: Good Friday-Easter Monday. Vesper evening is on Good Friday and every church decorates an Epitaphios (bier). The Epitaphios processions, followed by people holding lit candles and chanting hymns, fill the streets of every city, town and village in the country.
Anastasi (Resurrection): celebrated with fireworks and lit candles at midnight, on the eve of Easter Day. Pascha (Easter): on that day, Greeks traditionally eat lamb, spit-roasted on charcoal. The festivities include singing and dancing through the day.
Labour Day: May 1st. Many Flower Festivals take place all over Greece.
Whit Monday: 50 days after Easter.
Assumption of The Virgin: Religious celebration on August 15th. Also a public holiday.
October 28th: rejection of the Italian ultimatum in 1940. Military parade.
Christmas: December 25th -26th.
Using OTE (the Hellenic Telecommunications Organization) offices is the cheapest way to make local or international calls. To do so, just walk in and wait for a booth to become available.
At the end of the call, the desk operator will present you with a bill. OTE offices are open from 08:00 to 14:00.
Local and international calls can also be made from public card phone booths and kiosks (periptera) equipped with meters.
Telecards can be purchased from kiosks and OTE offices.
Signs denoting post offices are usually bright yellow, as are post-boxes.
If you need to send a letter, there are stamp vending machines and post-boxes outside all central post offices. Parcels sent abroad must be inspected, so do not wrap and seal them beforehand. Brown paper, soft padded envelopes and cardboard boxes can be bought at the post offices themselves.
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FOR E.U. CITIZENS Travel documents :
Passport is not a compulsory requirement for E.U. citizens travelling from or to Schengen countries. (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Spain, Italy, Portugal). Currency :No limit Customs Formalities :None Forbidden substances :
Drugs, explosives etc. Travellers in possession of codeine-based medication are subject to severe penalties, unless they declare their possession. Health:
Vaccines are not required for E.U. citizens. FOR NON E.U. CITIZENS Normally, for all non E.U. citizens willing to travel to Greece, valid passport is required. Visa formalities are required for visitors from certain third-world countries. For their convenience, regarding the currency, custom formalities etc., all eventual visitors, are advised to contact the nearest Greek Embassy or Consulate. ANIMALS TRAVELLING TO GREECE Animals require health and rabies inoculation certificates issued in the country of origin before being allowed into the country. The certificate must be issued not more than 12 months before arrival in the case of dogs, 6 months in the case of cats and no less than 6 days before arrival. Birds must have a certificate stating that they are free from psittacosis.
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