Greece

Greece is a country in southeastern Europe comprising a mainland peninsula and around 6,000 islands in the Aegean and Ionian seas. It borders Albania, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, and Turkey, and has extensive coastlines and archipelagoes. The capital and largest city is Athens.

Greece is a unitary parliamentary republic. The president is largely ceremonial, while the prime minister is the head of government and exercises executive power with the cabinet. Legislative authority rests with the Hellenic Parliament, a unicameral body of 300 members elected for four-year terms. The country is divided into 13 regions, which are further subdivided into regional units and municipalities.

Historically, Greece is the cradle of Western civilization, with ancient civilizations culminating in city-states such as Athens and Sparta. Classical philosophy, drama, and democratic ideas originated here. Modern Greece gained independence from the Ottoman Empire in the 1820s and was declared a kingdom in 1832; it became a republic in 1974 and joined the European Union and the euro area in 2001.

Greece has a developed economy characterized by services, particularly tourism and shipping, and by a diversified manufacturing sector. It is a member of the European Union and the eurozone, and its economy has faced cycles of crisis and recovery since the late 2000s. Major economic centers include Athens and Thessaloniki, with Piraeus as a key port.

Greek culture includes distinctive architecture, literature, music, and cuisine. The official language is Greek, and the country has a long Orthodox Christian tradition. Notable sites include the Acropolis in Athens, Delphi, Meteora, and the islands of Santorini and Crete.