Greece is a southeastern European country with miles of islands in the Aegean and Ionian Seas. It was influential in ancient times and is often called the "cradle of Western civilization". Athens, its capital, preserves emblematic monuments, such as the citadel of the Acropolis from the 5th century BC. C. with the temple of the Parthenon. Greece is also famous for its beaches, from the black sands of Santorini to the event resorts in Mykonos.