Destination 》Europe 》Southern Europe
There are many definitions of Southern Europe, though once again I will use EuroVoc definition of Southern Europe.
The region of Southern Europe, also called Mediterranean Europe, extends along the Mediterranean Sea on the Southern edge of Europe. Southern Europe encompasses countries of Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Malta, Northern Cyprus, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Turkey, and Vatican City.
The region of Southern Europe, because of its proximity to the Mediterranean Sea, enjoys a Mediterranean climate. These countries are my favorite, people here are generally warm, more relaxed and friendlier. The cultures in the region have some similar and some unique traits. All of these nations have their own official languages, Andorra is the only nation that does not have a native language, as it shares the Catalan language with portions of Spain.
Click on any country to view my travel photos and stories.
Greece is considered the cradle of Western civilization, being the birthplace of democracy, Western philosophy, Western literature, historiography, political science, major scientific and mathematical principles, Western drama and the Olympic Games.
Surrounded by the Aegean Sea, the Ionian Sea, the Cretan Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, Greek sovereign land includes 6,000 islands and islets, of which only 227 islands are inhabited.
Italy is a country in Southern Europe, with a long Mediterranean coastline, has left a powerful mark on Western culture and cuisine. Together with Greece, it is acknowledged as the birthplace of Western culture. It is also famous worldwide for its delicious cuisine, its trendy fashion industry, luxury sports cars and motorcycles, diverse regional cultures and dialects, as well as for its beautiful coast, alpine lakes and mountain ranges.
The island country of Malta is located in the center of the Mediterranean Sea, south of Italy, it consists of three islands: Malta, Gozo, and Comino, of which Malta is the largest island. Malta has been inhabited since approximately 5900 BC. Its location has historically given it great strategic importance as a naval base, with a succession of powers having contested and ruled the islands; including the Phoenicians and Carthaginians, Romans, Greeks, Moors (Arabs), Normans, Aragonese, Knights of St. John, French, and British.
Cyprus is an island country in the Eastern Mediterranean, located south of Turkey. Although the island is geographically in Asia, it is politically a European country, part of the Southern Europe and a member of the European Union. Northern Cyprus, is a de facto state that comprises the northeastern portion of the island of Cyprus. Recognized only by Turkey, Northern Cyprus is considered by the international community to be part of the Republic of Cyprus.
Portugal is the oldest nation state on the Iberian Peninsula, in Southern Europe. Portugal is 900 years old country, though its territory having been continuously settled, invaded and fought over since prehistoric times. As of today, it is the oldest country in Europe with the same borders. Even though it has a relatively small area, Portugal played a crucial role in world history. During the 15th and 16th centuries Portugal established a sea route to India and colonized areas in Africa, South America, Asia, and Oceania.
San Marino, a mountainous enclaved micro-state in Southern Europe surrounded by north-central Italy. It is the third smallest country in Europe. The official founding date of Republic of San Marino is 3 September 301. San Marino lays claim to being the oldest extant sovereign state, as well as the oldest constitutional republic.
Spain (España), officially the Kingdom of Spain, is the largest country in Southern Europe, and the second-largest country in the European Union, sharing the Iberian Peninsula with Portugal at the western end of the Mediterranean Sea. It is the country with the third-largest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, after Italy and China.
The Vatican City is a distinct territory, an enclave within the city of Rome, under “full ownership, exclusive dominion, and sovereign authority and jurisdiction” of the Holy See. With an area of 0.49 km2 (0.19 sq mi, one-seventh the size of New York’s Central Park) and a population of about 800, it is the smallest sovereign state in the world by both area and population.
Turkey is a transcontinental country, that occupies a unique geographic position, located mainly in Western Asia, with a smaller portion on the Balkan Peninsula in Southern Europe.
Window on the World 