Vista Point. 26 Minutes. Otherwise known as The Pearls Of Greece, the Cyclades Islands are located in the heart of the South Aegean that flows around its former centre, the holy island of Delos. Of more than two hundred and twenty islands, only twenty-five are populated. Situated in the centre of the Cyclades group of islands, Mykonos is a former pirate village and for some years has been a meeting place for artists, V.I.P.'s and the international glitterati. Five old windmills dominate the picturesque bay of Mykonos. In earlier times the town's millers supplied flour to soldiers, merchants and even pirates. A special attraction is the district of Little Venice, the style of its buildings serving as a reminder of when the Venetians took possession of the island. Delos is known as the Pompeii of the Aegean and its deserted temples, public buildings, houses and streets still conjure up the atmosphere of this once-flourishing cultural and trading town. On Naxos, the largest of the Greek islands, the Greek gods have created a masterpiece of nature with bubbling springs and gently-flowing streams, colourful fields and fertile valleys and an abundance of water, fruit and vegetables. Santorini is the most southerly of the Cyclades islands and the location of the mythical lost island of Atlantis. It's also a breathtaking island paradise of rock, lava, sea and light. The unique proportions of Santorini are due to a natural disaster that had a devastating effect when over 3,500 years ago a volcanic eruption sank most of the island beneath the sea. Was it not the Greek god, Poseidon, who threw a handful of rocks onto the seabed that took root and created the Cyclades? It is no wonder that these dreamy islands are a place of myth and legend!

DVD. 7 Days. 52 Minutes. Known as the `Pearls Of Greece,' the Cyclades Islands are located in the middle of the South Aegean Sea. The picturesque former pirate village of Myknos is a meeting place for artists, V.I.P.'s and the international glitterati. Five old windmills dominate its picturesque bay. Cyclades villages are characterized by brilliant white houses with green, blue, red and yellow window frames and doors set off by the deep rich blue of the Aegean. A special attraction is the district of Little Venice- the style of its buildings serve as a reminder of when the Venetians took possession of the island. Birthplace of Apollo and Artemis, Delos is known as the `Pompeii Of The Aegean,' its long since deserted temples, public buildings, houses and streets conjuring up the atmosphere of this once-flourishing cultural and trading town. Naxos is the largest of the Cyclades islands, with bubbling springs and gently-flowing streams, colorful fields and fertile valleys plus a wealth of water, fruit and vegetables. On Paros, the jewel of the Greek Orthodox church, Katapoliani is the island's oldest and largest church and dates back to the 6th century. Legendary location of the mythical lost island of Atlantis, Santorini is the most southern of the Cyclades Islands, a breathtaking paradise of rock, lava, sea and light where survival has meant a constant battle against the forces of nature. Its unique dimensions are due to a natural disaster of devastating proportion when over 3,500 years ago a volcanic eruption sank most of the island beneath the sea. With places arid, with places fertile, all sights are a feast to the eye. It was the Greek god, Poseidon who threw a handful of rocks onto the seabed, which took root and created the Cyclades.

Global Treasures. 10 Minutes. During ancient times the Cyclades island of Delos was the flourishing centre of Greek culture. Greece's most extensive archaeological site covers the entire island and since 1872 has been frequented by countless archaeologists. Greek legend has it that this now-deserted island was the birthplace of the gods Apollo and Artemis. Offering wonderful ocean views, the amphitheatre dates back to the third century B.C. and accommodated around 5500 spectators. Not all of the island's temples were dedicated to Greek gods and a particularly well-preserved sanctuary of the so-called `foreign gods' formed part of a beautiful temple that was dedicated to the Egyptian goddess, Isis. The lower plateaus on the western side of Kithos Hill contain numerous important cult sites. One of these sanctuaries was the centre of the Hera Cult, the Archaic Heraion, that established itself in 500 B.C. Beautifully restored mosaics with the Phoenician symbol of the goddess Tanith decorate one of the most impressively furnished houses on the island, the House Of Dolphins. The island's ruins indicate its former cosmopolitan nature with its Egyptian, Italian, Phoenician and Jewish traders but due to the destruction of its buildings and the creation of new centers of trade elsewhere, Delos gradually became deserted.

Vista Point. 26 Minutes. Dodecanese is the name of a group of Greek islands that is located in the south east of the Aegean just off the Turkish coast. It warrants more than its name of `Twelve Islands' as it contains more than nineteen inhabited and around fifty small uninhabited islands. K?s is the green pearl of the Aegean, an historic oasis beneath the Greek sun. Not the largest of the Dodekannissa Islands but certainly one of its most fascinating. The capital of the island is Chora K?s. Following their arrival from Jerusalem in the 14th century, the Order Of The Knights Of Malta built a huge fortified complex in the town. The city's spacious square is surrounded by numerous buildings plus a museum and there are stone busts and statues of the Roman and Hellenistic eras that offer a good insight into the imaginative culture of a golden age. In the square a number of steps lead up to the city's cathedral, the Agia Paraskevi. Not a large structure but extremely modern and well located in the centre of the town. Only four kilometers from the city high in the Dikeos Mountains is one of the island's most important sights, the Asklipion, an ancient hospital and sanctuary. It was here that the Greeks worshipped the god of medicine who was later named ?skulap by the Romans. Rhodes was one of the most important cities in antiquity and fended off attack due to its impressively tall defensive walls. The mighty-looking fortification was in reality a deception as it was far from sturdy but its many defensive towers and pinnacles had their desired effect. Lindos is the most beautiful village in Rhodes with Paulus Bay and an acropolis that is located high above the sea. It was here that the sun was born and where the gods, knights and tourists have always sought good fortune and been captivated with the enchanting islands of the Dodekanissa.

DVD. 7 Days. 52 Minutes. Dodekanissa is the name of a group of Greek islands that is located in the south east of the Aegean just off the Turkish coast and it contains more than 19 inhabited and around 50 small uninhabited islands. The island of K?s is known as the `green pearl of the Aegean', an historic oasis beneath the Greek sun. Although not the largest of the Dodekannissa Islands it is certainly one of its most fascinating. The capital of the island is Chora K?s and nearly half the island's inhabitants live there. A modern collection of sculptures point to the island's most famous son, Hypocrates, whose greatest legacy is the Hippocratic Oath of today. Four kilometers from the city high in the Dikeos Mountains is one of the island's most important sights, the Asklipion, an ancient hospital and sanctuary. It was there that the Greeks worshipped the god of medicine who was later named ?skulap by the Romans. Symi is a beautiful island only four sea miles away from the Turkish coast and 42 kilometers north west of Rhodes.The island is characterized by its yellow Neo-Classical houses with their shutters and doors in blue and red as well as their tiled roofs. Rhodes is the largest island of the Dodekanissa. Since antiquity this special location has brought it both power and wealth. On the northernmost tip of the island is the fascinating metropolis of Chora R?dos whose harbor entrance was once adorned by the Seventh Wonder Of The World, the Colossus of Rhodes. For more than 200 years the Grand Master Palace and the Knight's Hospital were the island's most important buildings and today the Order's well-preserved hospital is open to the general public. It was in Rhodes that the sun was born and where gods, knights and tourists have always sought good fortune and have been captivated by the enchanting islands of the Dodekanissa.

Vista Point. 26 Minutes. K?s is an historic island oasis beneath the Greek sun. Not the largest of the Dodekannissa Islands but certainly one of its most fascinating, with endless sandy beaches and an ancient heritage. The capital of the island is Chora K?s and for two thousand years it has been the nerve centre of the island. The city once suffered devastating earthquakes and the island was plagued by numerous invaders including the Romans, Byzantines, Venetians, the Knights of St. John and finally, the Turks. The Platia Elefther?as is the main square of today's K?s and contains the Archaeological Museum that is housed in a futuristic looking Italian building that dates back to the 1930's. Four kilometres from the city high in the Dikeos Mountains is one of the island's most important sights, the Asklipion, an ancient hospital and sanctuary. A winding road leads to the village of K?falos that from below looks like a small fortified complex. Its white houses and narrow alleys are free of traffic and it's as though time has stood still. Formerly a village of fishermen, agriculture is now the main source of income for the local people. K?falos has much historical significance as it was built on the ruins of the first capital of the island and Hypocrates was born here in 460 B.C. Antim?chia Castle was built in the 13th century by the Venetians and later expanded by the Knights Of St. John. Its mighty external walls are most impressive but only a few cisterns and two small chapels remain. Fascinating landscapes and the historic monuments of many ?poques make the Greek island of K?s a sparkling jewel of the Aegean.

DVD. Cities of the World. 60 Minutes. The Cyclades are the small group of islands surrounding Delos in the middle of the Aegean Sea. On these islands the Cycladic culture thrived well before B.C. This lifestyle is sought by the millions of visiting tourists: the narrow, winding alleys, the many characteristic Cycladic houses protected from the sun by venetian blinds and ornamented by geranium and leander. From the taverns resting in the shade of vine-arbours one can see the boats and yachts floating on the sea. The wind from the sea slowly turns the wheels of the windmills, while the beaches are full of happy people.

DVD. Media Lab. 60 Minutes. In the South of Europe, the islands of Greece form the eastern border to Asia. The Peloponnese has much to offer culturally and as a reminder of our civilization and its ancient history. This is an area that brings the by-gone age to life and offers a different perspective on our own thinking. It brings the whole of civilization into perspective and makes us THINK. It also gives us the chance to enjoy a beautiful landscape, its coastal areas, its history, its culture and its friendly and welcoming people. It's no wonder that so many visitors from all over the world return again and again.

DVD. Cities of the World. 60 Minutes. The characteristic white-walled buildings of Santorini are standing upon each other in happy disorder. The narrow alleys show us a new miracle at each turn. The top of our house is the other house's balcony, from where there is a perfect view of the dark blue water of the Aegean Sea. The venetian blinds summon the color of the blue sky, the rows of cubic houses are sometimes broken by a blue-domed temple or a windmill. The balconies are full of geraniums. The smell of gyros is in the air, and from the cafes we hear the bouzouki. The sight of the sunset from the taverns is unforgettable. The sun is scorching, one can smell the salty air and hear the seagulls, while down below the white boats sail towards their unknown destination.

Vista Point. 26 Minutes. Rhodes is the largest island of the Dodekanissa, a group of Greek islands located in the south east of the Aegean just off the west coast of Turkey. Since antiquity its unique location has brought it both power and wealth. On the northernmost tip of the island is the fascinating metropolis of Chora R?dos whose harbour entrance was once adorned by the Seventh Wonder Of The World, the Colossus Of Rhodes. But the legendary lighthouse has long since gone and today excursion boats and yachts crowd the island's former trading harbour that has a rich and dramatic past. Byzantines, Arabs, The Knights Of The Order Of St. John, Ottomans and Italians, each one influenced the ever-changing history of the island that was first settled in 400 B.C. At the city's highest point is the huge palace of the Grand Master, the monumental junction of the Street Of The Knights and the command post of the Christian order. The Grand Master was the highest dignitary of the Order Of The Knights Of Malta, a lifetime office. The Street Of The Knights leads from the Grand Master Palace down the hill to the Hospital, a unique ensemble of Gothic medieval architecture set amid the Mediterranean. The main buildings of the various groups of knights were erected along the main street and it was here that the knights met and conferred according to their membership of various European regions. Rhodes is an island steeped in history as well as the calm lifestyle of the Mediterranean.

DVD. Cities of the World. 60 Minutes. Two thousand years ago, the Colossus, one the ancient world's seven wonders, stood in the bay of Rhodes. Now, there are other miracles here: the Palace of the Grand Master, the street of the knights, the golden-brown Acropolis of Lindos, which stands out from among the white-walled houses, the Valley of the Butterflies, and the seven fountains where it is said the Nymphs used to live. One can lie on sandy beaches, bathe in the sun, dive under water, and take a boat to Cos, the birthplace of the father of medicine, Hippocrates. Let us take an excursion to the romantic village of Zia, where while drinking Greek wine and listening to Zorba's unforgettable tune we can watch one of the most beautiful sunsets in the world.

DVD. 7 Days. 52 Minutes. Rhodes is the largest island of the Dodekanissa, a group of Greek islands located in the south eastern Aegean just off the west coast of Turkey. Since antiquity, its special location has brought it both power and wealth. On the northernmost tip of the island is the fascinating metropolis of Chora R?dos whose harbor entrance was once adorned by the Seventh Wonder Of The World, the Colossus of Rhodes. Byzantines, Arabs, The Knights Of The Order Of St. John, Ottomans and Italians each influenced the ever-changing history of the island that was first settled here in 400 B.C. In 1320 the Knights Of St. John discovered an old fortified town here and immediately began to expand its fortress into the Grand Master Palace. In its present form the building is a reconstruction of the original palace that was first built on the site of a temple for the Sun King, Helios. After a total of seven Christian crusades were unable to defeat Islam and the re-conquering of Jerusalem failed, the Knights Of the Order Of St. John were driven out of Palestine. First they sought shelter in Cyprus and next conquered the island of Rhodes that was then under the rule of Portuguese pirates. To protect themselves from the Turks as well as from the pirates the new owners of the island built several mighty fortresses. Fil?rimos is located on the island's west coast close to the city of Rhodes. An avenue of pine trees leads to a huge concrete cross. Petalo?des, The Valley Of Butterflies has for many years been a popular attraction for tourists who usually arrive in organized groups. A creek that contains water throughout the year flows through a narrow valley and forms romantic waterfalls, cascades and small pools. At the foot of Tsambika Mountain there's a small church, one of many that are scattered across the island. The Greek Orthodox Church and its nuns, monks and patriarchs have helped to preserve the region's language and culture. Rhodes is an island that bewitches all who experience it.

Global Treasures. 10 Minutes. According to legend the Colossus Of Rhodes once towered above the picturesque harbour of Rhodes, a Greek island located off the south west coast of Asia Minor. The huge statue was one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Under the rule of the Knights of the Order of St. John, the Palace Of The Grand Masters, that is located next to the Knight's Hospital, was the most important building on the island for more than two hundred years. The Palace Of The Grand Masters was not only the administrative centre of the Order of St. John, it was also of great social importance. Many years previously the Knights' Road was the most important street in the medieval city and it was there that most of the Knights and Orders resided. Marble reliefs depicting the knights' coats of arms adorn the impressive and proud facades of the buildings. Ever since the Knights of the Order of St. John took over the city Rhodes has been dominated by various towers. Most of them were used for defensive purposes while others are the remains of Turkish occupation. When the sun sets above the Aegean, Rhodes is revealed in all of its magical and historic glory.

Global Treasures. 10 Minutes. Its unique location is not the sole reason that the picturesque town of Lindos has become known as one of the most fascinating locations on the Greek island of Rhodes. Its narrow, intimate lanes are flanked by centuries-old houses, the former residences of captains, ship-owners and wealthy traders. During the Ottoman period Lindos was one of the country's most important ports and it still has a strong association with the sea as do the cultural treasures of this enchanting town. Lindos' famous landmark, the Acropolis, is located above the town. The Acropolis was important not only for those of ancient Greek religious belief but also for those of the Christian faith. According to legend the apostle Paul came ashore beneath the temple in 51 A.D. Its shoreline location as well as the beauty of the town plus its combination of medieval buildings and ancient ruins all add up to why Lindos is such a popular destination. Lindos was once a great maritime power that possessed its own colonies in the Mediterranean and the enchanting atmosphere of this special place can still be experienced today.

DVD. Europe After Dark. 24 Minutes.

DVD. Globe Trekker. 60 Minutes. Angela May's culinary journey through Greece takes her from the bustling capital of Athens, to historic Thessaloniki, and to the islands of Lesvos and Crete, on an exploration of Greece's delicious and healthy Mediterranean cuisine. The classical civilization of the Ancient Greeks still influences modern Greece, and in Athens, a melting pot of tastes and traditions, Angela is treated to a feast served in the elegant style that Athenians would have been accustomed to 2000 years ago. Angela visits the central food market in the busy streets beneath the Acropolis, sampling souvlaki and learning how to prepare and the Greek favorite, moussaka. Traveling to the island of Lesvos, Angela discovers how the aniseed-based Ouzo came to be created here when all the local vines were wiped out by the phylloxera plague in the 19th century. Angela then heads out to sea with a local fisherman to catch octopus for dinner, before finding out from a local cooking expert the secret of making the finest "spoon sweets". In Greece's second largest city Thessaloniki, Angela meets Greek TV cook and singer songwriter F.T. Bletsas, who explains how the city's historic position on the major trade routes between East and West has influenced the regional cuisine. He demonstrates one of his favorite recipes, learned from his grandmother, using spicy stuffed peppers and other vegetables. Heading on to the island of Crete, Angela discovers how the local people have one of the healthiest diets in the world. Angela joins a shepherd tending a flock of sheep in the mountains, before ending her trip learning how to make a delicious rabbit stifado, a traditional stew.

DVD. Legacy of Ancient Civilizations. 30 Minutes. If you look at a map of Greece, you will see that nearly a quarter of its territory consists of dozens and dozens of islands in the Aegean Sea. In ancient times, one of these islands was Thera. It would not be especially notable -- except for one thing. This island was the site of one of the most massive volcanic eruptions in history. After it happened, Thera was no longer one island, but three -- one of which is today known as Santorini. When the eruption occurred in about 1500 BC, a civilization was wiped out. It was a sophisticated culture much influenced by the Minoan civilization on Crete some 60 miles away. Thera's artists painted colorful frescoes of animals, sport, and war, its women had a passion for jewelry and bright clothes and its engineers constructed a remarkable system of running water piped into each dwelling. Yet although volcanoes destroy, they also preserve. The eruption on Thera buried an entire city under a layer of ash and pumice, and when that city was rediscovered in the 1960s, it proved to be almost perfectly preserved, thus giving archaeologists a fabulous window into life in ancient times.

DVD. Legacy of Ancient Civilizations. 30 Minutes. Though it is today a region of Turkey, the coastal area of Anatolia, or Asia Minor, was a thriving center of Greek culture in ancient times. Two cities there especially stand out -- one for its connection to a work of literature, one for its connection to a work of art. The fabled city of Troy and its legendary ten-year siege by forces from mainland Greece became the subject of one of the cornerstones of western literature, Homer's Iliad. The frieze of the Great Altar of the city of Pergamum, now in a museum in Berlin, is one of the finest surviving examples of Hellenistic sculpture. These cities flourished many centuries apart, but their combined legacies give us today a remarkable glimpse into ancient Anatolian civilization.

DVD. Legacy of Ancient Civilizations. 30 Minutes. Archaeological evidence has shown that the Phoenician civilization began to develop around 3000 BC and that it was trading with the Egyptians shortly after that. But it wasn't until about 1200 BC that the Phoenicians began to establish the great commercial empire that has made them celebrated. Their ships, equipped for both commerce and war, dominated the Mediterranean, some say that they sailed as far as Britain and may have even voyaged all the way around Africa. Two of the most important products they traded were a purple dye made from the murex, a type of shellfish, and the timber of cedar trees. The Egyptians used the cedars of Lebanon for coffins, ships, and other artifacts, and King Solomon used them to build the Great Temple in Jerusalem. Originally the Phoenicians ruled from several city-states located in what is now Lebanon, but they went on to establish colonies in the western Mediterranean. Their most illustrious colony was the city of Carthage in North Africa, which waged war against Rome until being defeated in 146 BC. The Phoenicians' greatest contribution to civilization was the refinement of a standardized phonetic alphabet that they passed along to the Greeks. The Greeks introduced it to Europe, where it became the basis for the alphabet we use today.

DVD. Legacy of Ancient Civilizations. 30 Minutes. One of the most powerful myths handed down by the ancient Greeks tells of the fabled King Minos, who ordered the construction of a vast, mazelike building called the labyrinth. Within this structure, he imprisoned the monster known as the Minotaur, a creature with the head of a bull and the body of a man that was fed on human sacrifice. For centuries this tale remained no more than legend. And then in the 1890s an archaeologist named Arthur Evans began uncovering, on the island of Crete, the remains of a civilization that flourished between 2500 and 1350 BC. To Evans's surprise, he found the ruins of a great palace with hundreds of interconnected rooms and hallways -- a building so complex that it could easily have impressed visitors as having been as bewildering as a maze. Not only that, the sacred animal of the people who lived there was a bull! Evans called these people "Minoans," after the legendary monarch, and today, thanks to the studies of Evans and others, we know a great deal about them. For centuries, the Minoans had a thriving maritime trade as their ships controlled the sea lanes between Greece, Syria, and Egypt. Their crafts workers were experts in pottery, ivory, metal, and gemstones, their artists painted colorful frescoes and their architects built great palaces, such as the one discovered by Evans at Knossos. The Minoan civilization disappeared rather suddenly for reasons that are still unclear. Some experts believe they may have been the victims of a gigantic tidal wave that was unleashed by the explosion of a volcano on an island nearby.