One of the trademarks of modern Greece is the palpable clash between ancient myth and modern-day spirit: souvlaki joints are adorned by marble busts, Byzantine churches built from pieces of ancient Greek temples are voraciously engulfed by trendy bars, abandoned dusted industrial districts are revamped into modern art exhibition centers, picturesque Cycladic villages and medieval castles are increasingly dotted with delightful little museums, while in Athens the majestic Parthenon reigns serene above a ragged expanse of flat-roofed cement blocks and apartments with concealed swimming pools. In Greece you will witness many towering monuments to ancient Greek gods like Zeus, Athena and Hephaestus still standing tall, testifying of the great architectural prowess of the ancient Greeks. Byzantine vestiges epitomized by fortified monasteries located in the most remote sites you can imagine, with magnificent frescoes and icons, are a testament to the great era of the Byzantine empire, while in Crete children will contemplate the adventures of the Minotaur, when they face the ox-blood columns of the Knossos Palace, one the most important sites of Minoan civilization. If you enjoy theater or concerts, brace yourself for a unique experience. Ancient Greek and Roman amphitheaters with their matchless acoustics still host performances during the hot summer nights, where internationally acclaimed artists, both Greek and foreign, recreate the unique atmosphere of classical tragedies or modern dance shows and concerts. Maybe castles are more your thing? No problem. Imposing medieval fortresses, often enfolding entire cities such as Rhodes and Corfu, constructed by the Venetian Knights and later reinforced by the Ottoman Turks, still guard many ports or hilltops all around the country, boasting an old-world romantic castle-and-knights' atmosphere, as well as panoramic views to the surrounding areas. And between Mycenae, where King Agamemnon and his wife Helen of Troy used to hang out, the ancient sport complex and temples of Olympia, the site of the Olympic games where you can still run on the original stadium, the tombs of the Macedonian Kings where the father of Alexander the Great is buried at Vergina, the mystical ruins of Delphi where the stoned Oracle was foreseeing the, often grim, future of warriors and the Agora in Athens, where philosophers used to debate while casually walking, you will have your hands full. Welcome to modern Greece…a muse for classical scholars, art lovers and culture zealots, as much as for party animals and beach bums.