Subscribe: Grecia, Costa Rica
Grecia is a picturesque rural town nestled around the fertile slopes of the beautiful Poas Volcano. Its "eternal spring"- like climate is always pleasant and locals are very helpful and friendly. Mostly farmers by profession, they are relaxed and laidback. Family is the only priority here. You can still see teenage boys and their moms holding hands.
Grecia is undoubtedly the best base point to visit the Poas Volcano, Sarchi, and Bajos del Toro. Grecia is a popular destination for the first few nights in Costa Rica for tourists heading to the Pacific Coast, Monte Verde, or Arenal.
The natural scenery that can be found in Grecia is breathtakingly beautiful and is the place to visit if you want to feel close to nature. Grecia is situated in a valley surrounded by beautiful mountains on all sides. The fertile soil and spring-like climate ensure lush greenery all year round. With its green and unspoiled environment, this area is a great place to explore. If you plan to drive, don’t forget to bring your GPS (if you don’t have one, you can rent it).
General Info
Location: 12 miles northwest of the airport and 27 miles west of San Jose.
Weather: Warm days; mild nights. The dry season runs from late November to mid-May.
Temperatures: Daily averages are 68 to 82ºF (20-28ºC); average humidity is 81%.
Altitude: 3060 feet above sea level.
Grecia holds the title of "the cleanest city of Latin America".
The region mostly grows coffee, but it was the sugarcane that contributed most to the region’s prosperity. You can visit several coffee farms as well as a traditional sugar plant, where almost everything is still done by hand.
The picture-perfect small town is noted for its unusual metal church, which is painted a deep red and has a white gingerbread trim. The Cathedral de la Mercedes is a gothic style church made from metal pieces that were imported from Belgium in 1897. This church is also very impressive inside: it’s altar is made of solid marble.
The story goes that the metal pieces were supposed to go to Grecia (Greece), but were delivered to Grecia, Costa Rica, by mistake. When the captain of the ship was notified about the mistake, he became furious and refused to take the cargo back to Europe.
Grecia offers a good hospital, a brand new shopping mall, a modern movie theater and countless restaurants and bars.
>>Driving times to the closest and the most popular tourist attractions
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August 9, 2009 8:41 am
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