希腊十大旅游胜地（下）

提到希腊，人们脑中就会浮现出圣托里尼岛上的蓝白房子和美丽的爱琴海。其实，作为最受欢迎的旅游目的地之一，希腊还有很多值得一游的风景胜地。 

5. Delphi 德尔菲

Second to the Acropolis in Athens, Delphi is Greece’s most popular archaeological site. Located about two and half hours from Athens along the slopes of the awe-inspiring Mount Parnassus, Delphi was once revered by the ancient Greeks as the center of the earth. Dedicated to the god, Apollo, Delphi was an important oracle. In ancient times, people would come to this sacred spot to inquire of the priestess for advice on a wide range of topics from farming to relationships and politics. Significant ruins and structures at Delphi include the Temple of Apollo, the Athenian Treasury, the theater and hippodrome that once hosted events of the ancient Pythian Games.

除了雅典卫城外，德尔菲是希腊最受欢迎的考古遗址。德尔菲距离雅典大约两个半小时的路程，沿途是令人敬畏的帕纳苏斯山的山坡，它曾经被古希腊人尊崇为地球的中心。德尔菲城供奉太阳神阿波罗，这里的德尔菲神谕曾经是希腊重要的神谕。在古代，人们会来到这个神圣的地方，向女祭司寻求建议，话题广泛，涉及耕种、感情到政治等各方面。德尔菲的重要遗迹和建筑包括阿波罗神庙、雅典国库、剧院和曾经举办过古代皮西安运动会的竞技场。

oracle[ˈɔːrəkl]: n. 神谕；预言；神谕处；圣人

hippodrome[ˈhɪpədroʊm]: n. 竞技场；跑马场（古希腊）

4. Meteora 美特拉

The Greek word meteora means “suspended in the air,” and this phrase aptly describes the spectacular cliffs that rise more than 1,200 feet (366 meters) into the air overlooking the villages of Kalambaka and Kastraki in the north central mainland of Greece. What makes these cliffs even more inspiring are the historic monasteries perched along the summits. Dating back to the 14th and 16th centuries, the monasteries at Meteora were built by monks seeking spiritual isolation and freedom from religious persecution.

“Meteora”在希腊语中的意思是“悬浮在空中”，这个短语恰当地描述了美特拉的壮观悬崖景观。它海拔超过1200英尺（366米），俯瞰希腊中北部大陆的卡兰巴卡和卡斯特拉基村庄。更令人惊叹的是，悬崖最高点上坐落着的历史悠久的修道院。建造时间可追溯到14世纪和16世纪，是僧侣为了寻求精神孤立和免于宗教迫害而建造的。

persecution[ˌpɜːrsɪˈkjuːʃn]: n. 迫害；烦扰

3. Crete 克里特岛

The largest of the Greek islands, Crete is a spacious land of pleasing contrasts where landscapes range from stunning coastline to rugged mountains and rolling countryside dotted with olive trees. Bustling metropolitan cities spread beyond to quiet villages centered around outdoor coffee shops. Steeped in history, Crete still bears archaeological traces of the many civilizations that inhabited it down through the centuries.

克里特岛是希腊最大的岛屿，土地广阔，这里有着令人心旷神怡的风景反差。从美丽的海岸线到崎岖的山脉，再到点缀着橄榄树的绵延起伏的村庄。熙熙攘攘的大都市一直延伸到以户外咖啡店为中心的僻静的小村落。克里特岛历史悠久，至今仍保留着几个世纪以来许多文明的考古遗迹。

rolling: （山丘）绵延起伏的

2. Athens 雅典

Inhabited for more than 3,000 years, Athens is widely known as the cradle of Western civilization and the birthplace of democracy. The city presents a confusing blend of historical and modern features. Athens is famous for its archaeological ruins and monuments such as the famous Acropolis, the Parthenon, the Ancient Agora and the Theatre of Dionysos just to name a few. However, Athens is not just about ancient ruins. This bustling city is also an important center for business, culture and nightlife.

雅典有3000多年的历史，被誉为西方文明的摇篮和民主的发源地。这座城市呈现出的是历史和现代特征的一种神秘融合。雅典以其考古遗迹和纪念碑而闻名，这里只列举一些，例如著名的雅典卫城、帕特农神庙、古犹太教堂和狄俄尼索斯剧院，等等。然而，雅典不仅仅有古老的遗迹。这座繁华的城市也是商业、文化和夜生活的重要中心。

1. Greek Islands 希腊群岛

The beautiful and exotic Greek islands lure droves of tourists every year, making them one of the world’s top travel destinations. With more than 2,000 islands to choose from they may initially be bewildered by their number and variety. From gorgeous beaches, ancient ruins, colorful harbors and active volcanoes the Greek islands have it all.

美丽而充满异国情调的希腊群岛每年都吸引着大批游客，使之成为世界顶级旅游目的地之一。游客一开始可能会对岛屿的数量和多样性感到眼花缭乱，因为这里有2000多个岛屿可供游览选择。从美丽的海滩、古老的遗迹到多彩的港口和活火山，各种景观，希腊群岛应有尽有。

Part of the Cyclades group, Santorini is among the most picturesque islands and definitely one of the best places to visit in Greece. Also part of the Cyclades, Mykonos features a modern, cosmopolitan society blended with traditional whitewashed houses and maze-like streets. Located in the Aegean Sea near the coast of Turkey, Rhodes is the capital and largest island of the Dodecanese archipelago, popular for its great beaches and historical significance. The northernmost of Greece’s Ionian Islands, Corfu was controlled by many foreign powers, notably the Venetians and British, which is reflected in its culture and the architecture on the island.

圣托里尼岛是基克拉迪斯群岛的一部分，是希腊风景最美的岛屿之一，也是希腊最好的旅游胜地之一。同样作为基克拉迪斯群岛的一部分，米克诺斯岛则以现代化、国际化为特色，传统的粉刷过的房子和迷宫般的街道在此交织。罗德岛位于爱琴海，靠近土耳其海岸，是多迪卡群岛的首府和最大岛屿，因其美妙的海滩和悠久的历史而广受欢迎。科孚岛位于希腊爱奥尼亚群岛的最北部，曾经被许多外国势力控制，尤其是威尼斯人和英国人，这些反映在了科孚岛的文化和建筑上。