The mainland of Greece has plenty of dead stones to offer. Dead, however, only at first sight. Once you are standing in the magnificent mountainous landscape of Arcadia, watching over an ancient stadium, a line of re-erected columns to your left and the temple-like mausoleum of a rich family in front of you, the dead stones come more than alive. In your imagination you can see athletes sprinting and wrestling and hear the audience shouting in excitement. Yet Ancient Olympia is a visitor's magnet, the truly inspriational place to go to is Ancient Messene. Still not written about in major travel guides and ignored by most recommendations, this location can be considered a secret spot - and it's our favourite.

Whoever has the tiniest interest in history will freak out by what is to be discovered from Sparti to Macedonia - from Leonidas to Philip II - the founding father of the united Greece and the biological father of Alexander the Great. His tomb in Vergina in the North of Greece is the most spectacular museum we ever visited. Find some impressions about his crown, his complete suit of armour and - wow - his shield in our image gallery.

Besides stones and history, the mainland of Greece offers a great variety of stunning nature. High mountains, endless canyons, olive and figue groves, vineyards and - most splendidly - solitude. No mass tourism, no party people, no coaches full of selfie-junkies... just elderly ladies selling fir-honey, Kalamta olives and Grandpa's home-made Tsipouro (the Greeks' version of Grappa) in plastic bottles.

PS: The highlight for our Defender was undoubtedly climbing up the winding and rough path up the Mount Olympos - see the video: