Release Athens 2022 welcomes Pet Shop Boys on Thursday, June 30, at Water Plaza. Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, the most successful duo in UK music history, are coming to Athens with their impressive "Dreamworld: The Greatest Hits Live" show, full of the most successful songs of their remarkable career.

From the day they signed to Parlophone Records, Pet Shop Boys started writing pop music history. The numbers are staggering: 42 Top-30 singles, 22 Top-10 hits, 4 no 1s, 14 Top-10 albums (including the excellent "Hotspot" released in early 2020) in the UK and equivalent, if not even greater, success throughout the whole world.

It's A Sin, West End Girls, Heart, Go West, Always On My Mind, Love Comes Quickly, Domino Dancing, What Do I Want To Deserve This, Suburbia, Being Boring, Can You Forgive Her, Left To My Own Devices, Se A Vida E (That Is The Way Life Is), are just some of the wonderful songs that have given us over the last 30 years.

More acts for this day to be announced soon!

Greece will forbid new road building and development in six of its mountain areas, taking the first step to protect its last remaining virgin habitats, Environment Minister Kostas Skrekas said on Tuesday, January 18th. 

Making the transition to green energy a key priority, the conservative government of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has promised to shut down nearly all its lignite-fired plants by 2025 and protect areas with native plants and animals.

Following devastating wildfires fuelled by a protracted heatwave last summer, the government has also promised to build better climate change defenses to protect its forests, which have a key role in reducing greenhouse emissions and attracting visitors.

“We have witnessed extreme weather phenomena and disasters in recent years which pose a great risk for nature and mankind,” Skrekas told an online news conference.

For that reason, Greece will not allow any new roads or any other kind of human construction in six mountains on the islands of Crete and Samothrace, on the Peloponnese peninsula, and in central Greece – which have a huge environmental value and are an integral part of our tourism, he said.

Mitsotakis has pledged to transform Greece’s economy through better use of its natural resources but has been forced to strike a balance between expanding wind parks in mountain areas with the need to protect forest habitats.

Environmental groups and locals have long opposed plans by private companies to build roads and allow the installation of wind turbines in mountain forests, arguing they would scar some of the country’s last remaining virgin areas.

Any permits of different stages for wind turbines that have been issued for wind projects in those mountains will be canceled, Skrekas said.

Originally published on: greece-is.com

Relatively heavy snowfall and ice prompted the Traffic Police to close off the top section of the road leading up to Mount Parnitha, on Wednesday, January 19th. According to the national weather service, Wednesday’s chill will ease on Thursday and Friday before returning with a vengeance on Saturday.

The country is currently being affected by a so-called Polar Jet Stream, fast-flowing, narrow, meandering air currents in the atmosphere coming from the North-West.

The weather system “Elpida” is expected to bring heavy snow and abnormally low temperatures that will remain at least until the middle of next week.

According to the director of the Hellenic National Meteorological Service, the first “wave” hits on Wednesday, January 19th, without significant effects. However, the second “wave” is expected to hit on Saturday with thunderstorms, snow, and a noticeable drop in temperature.

“Elpida” weather system will bring “polar” temperatures, with the country entering a phase of prolonged cold weather. The intensity and extent of these weather phenomena, however, are still unknown and entirely dependent on the exact location and course of the system.

According to the most recent forecast data, however, very heavy snowfalls are likely to occur on most of the Aegean islands.

To avoid frost damage on hydrometers and water pipes, precautionary measures should be put into action, such as covering/insulating hydrometers or emptying the water pipes overnight.

If you live in one of Greece’s mountainous areas, prepare yourself for an emergency by creating and storing a supply of water that will meet your family’s needs.

At a glance

• Weather deterioration during the weekend with heavy snowfall, not only in mountainous and semi-mountainous areas but even in lowland areas of central and northern Greece.
• The temperature will drop significantly by 8 to 10 degrees Celsius.
• The winds will blow 5 to 6 and 7 Beaufort in the Aegean and up to 8 and 9 Beaufort during the weekend.

Originally published in Greek on: protothema.gr

Translated by: Codico Lab 

FokiaNou Art Space has a fondness for Athens, especially when darkness falls and the hard walls of apartment buildings around us are softened and illuminated. Beyond the wires, cables and antennas, the neighboring marble stadium glows and the Acropolis and Lycabettus are bathed in light. Bars, clubs, theaters, cinemas and parks are buzzing with music,walks, kisses, love, sex, friends, and fun, but also loneliness and work. Nineteen artists were selected from an open call for an exhibition with the theme of Athens at night: stories and impressions of the night and the city. The exhibition includes painting, drawing, collage, sculpture, printmaking, photography and video. 

Participating artists: Athanasia Aarniosuo, Nora Cook, Mary Cox, Angeliki Douveri, Alexandros Georgiou, Dimitra Gounari, Eleni Kolliopoulou, Nina Kouklaki, Kalliope Kouklinou, Christiana Krasia, Sofia Kyriakou, Kostas Lales, Ilia Machaira, Yiannis Moustakalis, Alegia Papageorgiou, Geeta Roopnarine, Stella Sevastopoulos, Christina-Sylvia Simantira, Georgia Touliatou.  Curated by Mary Cox and Panagiotis Voulgaris.

FokiaNou Art Space is an artist-run project space in the intimacy of a small apartment in an old building in the center of Athens. The space encourages collaborative creative efforts between Greek and foreign artists, thereby promoting and supporting the local art community. The space hosts exhibitions, workshops and projects under the direction of two artists, Mary Cox and Panagiotis Voulgaris. www.fokianou247.gr

Duration:   20 January - 5 February 2022
Hours:  Thursday – Saturday 17.00-20.00
Special hours for 20 January:  17.00-21.00
FokiaNou Art Space, Fokianou 24, 7th Floor, Pagrati  Metro:  Evangelismos

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, one of Athens’ most iconic and visited monuments, turns 90 this year.

Both visitors and locals who gather in large numbers to see the change of the guard are likely not aware that its construction was hugely controversial throughout the seven years it took from planning to completion.

Building the monument required extensive landscaping, as the Parliament building behind it was previously level with the upper part of Syntagma Square.

The head of the National Gallery, novelist Zacharias Papantoniou, called the project an ‘aesthetic nightmare’ and many architects held similar views.

What the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Is

The Tomb of the Unknown soldier is located in Syntagma Square in Athens by the Hellenic Parliament building.

The tomb honors all those Greek soldiers who were ever killed in war and each day, there is a special ceremony performed here that further honors the following. While visiting the city, you absolutely don’t want to miss the chance to not only see the tomb itself but to view the ceremony if you are able.

The Hellenic Parliament building, however, is more than just the parliament. That building has a rich history, as well, since it was the palace when Greece was ruled by a monarchy.

Best Time to View the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

You can head to Syntagma Square at any time in order to view the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It is guarded by an Evzone soldier who is dressed up in the traditional uniform. Every hour, there is a changing of the guard ceremony located at the tomb where one Evzone soldier comes to relieve the other of his duty. If you have a chance to watch this ceremony, it’s worth the effort.

Every week at 11 AM on Sundays, there is an even larger ceremony where a group of soldiers marches to the tomb. There is also a band that marches with the soldiers, playing traditional Greek military songs. To get the full experience, you should try to not only watch the hourly changing of the guard ceremony at least once but also the event that takes place on Sundays.

To read this article in full, please visit: greekcitytimes.com

Is embracing a healthier lifestyle one of your New Year Resolutions? If not, then it should be! A healthy way of living not only can provide you with a higher quality of life, as well as more confidence and joy, but it can also prevent chronic diseases and long-term illnesses.

If you're wondering where to start, here are 5 tips on how to lead a healthier lifestyle, according to Ancient Greeks!

1. Eat meals in social settings & gatherings 

If you've ever been to Greece, you probably know that Greek meals are very communal, and it's only natural to witness large groups of people coming together to enjoy their favorite Greek dishes. This was the case in antiquity too, when dinner was almost always a social affair. Ancient Greeks used to dine with their friends, and after their meal, they would hold a banquet, known as a symposium, that involved drinking, dancing, recitals, and conversation. Engaging in intriguing conversations during their dinner would help them eat less and slowly, thus preventing indigestion.

2. Drink wine 

The ancient Greeks thought that wine was essential to good health, and they would accompany every meal with a glass of wine, often watered down to encourage moderation. Indeed, red wine is rich in phytonutrients that offer a variety of cardiovascular and cognitive benefits. According to studies, moderate wine consumption can reduce inflammation in the brain and help it clear away toxins, including those associated with various brain illnesses.

3. Embrace a healthy diet 

You are probably aware of the famous saying: "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." Well, according to Hippocrates, this is completely true. The Father of Medicine famously wrote: “Let thy food be thy medicine", to emphasize the importance of nutrition to prevent or cure a disease. A healthy diet, as the Ancient Greeks perceived it, would include a variety of foods such as fruits and vegetables, as well as fish, legumes, and poultry, whole-grain products, and healthy fats from olive oil, nuts, and seeds.

4. Engage in physical activity

Ancient Greeks used to say: "A healthy mind in a healthy body." They believed that our mind and our body are directly linked, so, to maintain a healthy mind, it is essential to maintain a healthy body, and vice versa. Physical fitness is particularly beneficial since it helps maintain a healthy body by regulating the blood flow, increasing the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood, keeping organs active, and eliminating toxins.

5. Pay attention to your dreams

When Freud proposed his psychodynamic theory a century ago, he emphasized the importance of dreams. However, thousands of years before, Ancient Greeks had highlighted that dreams can indicate the overall state of one's health. Hippocrates analyzed dreams to help make diagnoses, while, according to Galen, dreams could reveal specific problems someone could be suffering from.

The magnificent archaeological site of Phaistos where an imposing palace stood overlooking the Mediterranean for thousands of years is perhaps not as well known as the palace of Knossos, but it was a focal point in the long and illustrious history of Crete.

It is the second-largest Cretan palace founded by the legendary King Minos of Knossos, but it does not face the Peloponnese mainland like Kydonia does, but rather southward and outward, toward the Mediterranean.

The palatial fortress, located in a seismically active zone, was rebuilt twice after it was first constructed in the Late Bronze Age.

Later, the palatial city, which archaeologists believe was a dependency of Knossos, was tragically destroyed a third time by the nearby Minoan people known as the Gortynians.

Phaistos site of Minoan-era palace with rooms made of alabaster

Located 62 km from Heraklion, Crete, the Bronze Age site lies on the outskirts of the modern-day city of Faistos. Unlike the more well-known and visited site of Knossos, which sees many thousands of visitors every year, Phaistos is more difficult to reach, accessed by grand stairs; but its mountain fastness, with its commanding views over the Mediterranean, is especially impressive because of its location.

The grand staircases at Phaistos hint at its former grandeur. There is evidence of an amphitheater, and basins used for religious rituals still dot the site. Visitors to Phaistos can still take in the views from its courtyards and terraces. A closer look at its ruins reveals reconstruction repairs over the three phases of destruction, while the tombs of rulers are located a respectful distance from the palaces.

The Bronze Age ruins of Phaistos were first described in the modern era by Thomas Abel Brimage Spratt, as part of the Mediterranean Survey of 1853, which included the topography, settlements, and monuments of Crete. But of course, the once-elegant city was well known by the ancients; the Greek geographer Strabo, who lived from 64 BC to 24 AD, stated: “Of the three cities that were united under one metropolis by Minos, the third, which was Phaestus, was razed to the ground by the Gortynians; it is sixty stadia distant from Gortyn, twenty from the sea, and forty from the seaport Matalum; and the country is held by those who razed it.”

The extensive palace complex contained a theater, grand staircases, rooms with views of Mt. Psiloritis

Spratt and his crew found homes at the site that have since been removed, as well as the fortification walls of the palatial city.Federico Halbherr later began to uncover the remains of an extensive palace complex at Phaistos.

Pottery unearthed at Phaistos dates back to the Middle and Late Minoan periods, including polychrome items and embossing in imitation of metal work. Bronze Age works from Phaistos include bridge-spouted bowls, eggshell cups, tall jars, and large pithoi.

The levels of the theater area, flanked by two splendid staircases, made for a grand entrance to the main hall of the propylaea through tall doors. A twin gate led directly to the central courtyard through a wide street.

The upper floors of the west sector had spacious ceremonial rooms, although their exact restoration has not been possible.

The spectacular entrance from the central courtyard led to the royal apartments in the north part of the palace, with a view of the tops of Psiloritis. The rooms were constructed from alabaster and other materials. The rooms for princes were smaller and less luxurious than the rooms of the royal apartments, however.

The Phaistos Disc

One of the most remarkable artifacts in Greek history was found at Phaistos in 1908, when Luigi Pernier, an Italian archaeologist and academic working with the Italian School of Archaeology in Athens discovered the Phaistos Disc in a basement in the northernmost ruins of the palace complex.

The disc features symbols stamped in clay; measuring 15 cm, its hieroglyphic script has been dated to between 1950 and 1400 BC. One of the most striking displays at the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, its 241 tokens with 45 symbols, or characters, are arranged in a clockwise spiral. One guess is that it is a recording of military or hunting exploits. However, most academic attempts to decipher a syllabary or logogram for the Disc have had disappointing results; it is generally agreed that more examples are needed to break its code. 

To read this article in full and discover more interesting facts about Phaistos, please visit: greekreporter.com

With the daily number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Greece being steadily high, many children are stuck at home. This consequently means that they are stuck with their tablets and mobile phones all day long. So, why not make the most out of this situation? Binge-watching Netflix is fast becoming a beloved activity for many kids, but instead of watching silly shows, why not watch something educational?

Here are some of our favorite Netflix shows to watch with your kids, spend some quality time together, and engage them in meaningful conversations.

Julie & The Phantoms

This is the story of Julie, whose mother's death led her to discover her passion for music. When she meets three ghost boys, who encourage her to chase her dreams, they all form a band together. This musical series deals with issues like loss, friendship, dreams, and both male and female protagonists are very positive role models for young children.

Alexa & Katie

The story follows Alexa, a girl who fights cancer, while at the same time is trying to adapt to high school life with the help of her friend Katie. Although the plot is sad, the series itself is neither sad nor scary but focuses on the power of friendship and hope that always dies last.

Ashley Garcia: Genius in Love

This comedy series proves that no job should be gender-stereotyped, that men aren't essentially better at science, that women should have equal rights at work, and that they can become prominent members of the scientific community. The series follows Ashley Garcia, a charismatic child, the only 15-year-old girl in the world who is a rocket scientist and robotics engineer, who moves to her uncle's house in America to work for NASA. A series that can inspire any child who watches it to pursue their dreams, whatever they are.

Our planet

This documentary presents the beauty of our planet while explaining, in a way that children can understand, how climate change affects all living organisms. Through watching the documentary, children can learn to appreciate our planet and get acquainted with the importance of environmental awareness.

Anne with an E

This series follows the story of 13-year-old Anne, an orphan girl who has faced abuse at the orphanages she lived in and is now searching for love and acceptance. The show has a strong anti-bullying character and touches on sensitive topics, such as mental health and psychological resilience.