Costa Rica is well-known for its diverse ecosystem and natural wonders, but sometimes tourist just want to see picturesque town where they can settle down and feel the history of the region. That may not be that possible with modern Costa Rica.
A few places offer you that chance, though. One of them is the city of Grecia, the capital of the canton of Grecia in the Alajuela province. The name of the city is directly taken from that of Greece.
For some reason, Grecia has the reputation for being one of the cleanest, if not the cleanest, cities in the world. Located around 20km north of Alajuela City, this small farming city is accessible via private car and bus trip less than an hour away. It is located inside the Central Valley, where it is surrounded by mountain landscapes and lush sceneries.
Perhaps the most popular reason why tourists flock here in Grecia is the Iglesia de la Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes, a Gothic-style church whose body is made out of pre-fabricated steel plates imported from Belgium and painted brick red. Urban legends say that the church was donated by some foreign country and was intended to ship to Greece, but was wrongly delivered here instead. However, historical records show that this project is a collaborative effort of the Catholic church and the Grecian citizens in the late 19th century.
Of course there's always that eco-adventure angle to any Costa Rican destination. One cannot remove that inherent trait in Costa Rican tourism. Aside from the church, another popular attraction here in Grecia is the "World of Snakes" serpentarium, which houses at least 50 species of snakes coming from various parts of the world. It makes a perfect way to see these reptiles move around in their natural habitat.
Add to that a local Tico community that makes visitors especially welcome and you will have a perfect destination for a Costa Rican day trip. Head on over here after that long day at the beach.
