Greece is a country of a rich cultural heritage. Democracy was invented in Athens, Greek culture is the mother of Roman culture and has very much influenced other civilisations. Famous places to visit include the coast of the Aegean Sea, the Peloponnesus with antique Olympia, the host of the next Olympic Games Athens with its Pantheon and the Acropolis, or Thessaloniki in the north. On the island of Crete are great beaches.