Molivdoskepasti monastery (active even today) owes its name to the lead roof once had (molivdos means lead in Greek, molivdoskepasti means “with a roof of lead”). The lead was stolen by invaders and it was then replaced by slates.

The construction of the nave itself uncovers at least 3 phases: the small three-cornered space with the dome (11th century) the cross-roofed hall from the 14th century, and finally the open narthex which is separated from the main church by a wooden door carved with representations from the Bible, an exquisite symbol of Byzantine art. The stone remnants come from the 14th centrury onwards. The hagiographies are from the 16th century.

The monks there were very busy cleaning and preparing the Monastery for the big day – the 15th of August which is a Great Religious Day for all Christians. Many women from the village, but also from other places were busy also, helping the monks there.

We were offered (lukumia) delights and cold water. A plastic bag full of freshly cut tomatos were given to the driver of the coach by a monk, for any one of us who wished to have one.

Author: Greekcypriot; excerpts, edited by Greece Travel Blog
Source: Greecetravelblog.com

Pelion today is a perfect tourist destination for all seasons and tastes, as it combines mountain and sea beauties in a unique way. Its tourist infrastructure is constantly growing whereas there’s marvelous nature and picturesque villages.

Eastern Pelion is the part of Pelion facing the Aegean Sea, a place where nature is ‘wild’, rough and the vegetation is so lush that it slopes down to the sea

Information:

• Eastern Pelion embraces villages both on the mountain, like Zagora or Tsangarada, and near the sea like Horefto or Agios Giannis.
• Visitors can access the area through Western Pelion, and, depending on where they want to go they have to pass by Chania, Milies, Argalasti or Lafkos.
• The climate is influenced by the Aegean Sea, so it is cooler in summer and colder in winter than the one in Western Pelion.

Infrastructure:

• There are lots of big and small hotels, guesthouses and let rooms. There are also tourist camps.
• There are small marinas for sailboats and yachts to dock
• There is a bus service connecting the area with the rest of Magnisia prefecture.

Eastern Pelion offers:

• A unique combination of mountain and sea settings, in a most beautiful landscape all year round.
• A wide network of marked trails, ideal for all those who love hiking, at any age.
• Exceptional beaches in the waters of the Aegean Sea, organized ones for the many, and secluded for the few.
• Possibilities for alternative tourism activities.
• A variety of choices regarding accommodation, dining and entertainment.
• Lots of traditional villages built in the traditional architectural style of Pelion.

To read more, please visit  inthessaly.gr

The first traces of habitation go back to Prehistoric times. Ayios Efstratios was named after Saint Efstratios the Miracle-worker, who came from Vithynia during the Iconoclasm and became a hermit. The island was liberated in October 1912, and from 1928 until 1963, it was a place of exile for political prisoners. The 1968 earthquake altered the architectural features of the village. There are connections by boat to the ports of Lavrio and Limnos.

Agios Eftratios village, is the only one on the island, located on the North West side. The small harbour with a wonderful view of the sunset is suitable for fishing boats and small vessels. This is the departure point for trips to the Island's beaches.

Points of Interest:

Maraslios School operated as a primary school until 1968, having been built in the years 1906-1909, at the expense of the expatriate community in Egypt from Agios Efstratios. Today, it houses the "Museum of Democracy" with exhibits, photographs, original objects, hand written newspapers and video projections from the lives of people exiled on the island.

The churches of Christ, Ayios Nikolaos and Ayios Vassilios. The latter was built in 1727.

The rural Ayios Minas chapel was built on a hill where ancient relics have been discovered. In the same area, there is the Cenotaph of the Exiled (1941-1942) and the grave of a German officer who died during the Second World War.

The Nikos Sialmas Monument; he was a First Lieutenant in the Air Force, who died when his plane crashed in June 1992.

The Sea Caves and interesting geological formations along the coastline.

Source: Visitgreece.gr

Previously it had been known by its Slavic name, Tsimova.

In the last decade Areopolis has seen something of a boom. The central square, dominated by a statue of Petrobey Mavromichalis, has been repaved, a new police station and town hall built, a number of new bars and cafes have opened along with hotels to accommodate visitors and on the outskirts of the town are a number of recently built, huge stone shops and supply yards. However it has by no means lost its quality of an atmospheric gateway into Mesa Mani and no tour of Mani is complete without stopping here. At the very least it warrants a coffee stop or lunch. The main square is the centre of life in the town and is a great place to ‘people watch’.

There is a market every Saturday, mainly selling fruit and vegetables, turning the square into a hive of activity. However, Areopolis deserves a little more time. Its narrow alleys and cobbled streets are a photographer’s dream and, being a historic town, there are a number of places worth visiting. There is a great bookshop on the square, next to the cake shop. Its owner, Georgios, is a real Mani enthusiast and has a good stock of maps, books and recently a DVD as well as his own Mani magazine (in Greek). A Byzantine museum is located in the restored tower next to the church of Ioannis O Prodromos. It promises to ensure that local treasures housed in locked churches will now be on permanent display beyond the grasp of unscrupulous thieves.

By following the map out of Areopolis on the road to Omales, it is possible to walk down to the pebbly beach of Pyrgos and then on the caves of Pyrgos Dirou. Once you come to the T-junction marked on the map of Areopolis, simply turn left and follow the road all the way down to the beach. The concrete gives way to a dirt road and as you near the sea, it swings right. To get to the beach you have to hop over the wall by the house and walk down some steps to get on to the rocks. You will see steps ahead of you on the other side of a very small beach that bring you out onto the tarmac road to the beach. It should take just over an hour to here from town. There is no café on the beach so you will need to take plenty of water. It is also possible to cut across the small headland at the far end of the beach to get to the caves of Pyrgos Dirou. An earth path runs around the back of the concrete hut – simply follow it for 5 minutes to get to the caves. The ticket office is 100m up the road.

Source: Insidemani.gr

Now the islands have become some of the world’s most recognizable tourist destinations. Most visitors flock to the same handful of places every year but there are hundreds of islands to choose from, many of which have maintained their village life. Here are five off the well-worn tourist track...

Folegandros
When an Athens travel agent told me to visit Folegandros I was skeptical. It was late July and boats to other islands were sold out. I hadn’t heard of Folegandros and had to be shown it on a map but I booked anyway. It turns out that was the best decision I’d make that summer. Folegandros is a hidden gem in the Aegean, with a cliff-hanging whitewashed village (known locally as hora), rugged but stunning landscapes and beaches hugging the side of high promontories. Visitors are mainly Greek with a smattering of French and Italians. The sleepy town wakes up in the night with tables spilling into the cobblestone streets filled with multilingual diners. Breakfast or dinner in the courtyard of Mimi’s restaurant is almost surreal in its charm.

Patmos

In 2009, Forbes magazine proclaimed Patmos the most idyllic place to live in Europe. It’s hard not to see why. The island coastline rolls and swirls forming bays and inlets with crystal blue water. Patmos is dominated by the imposing Monastery of St. John the Theologian under which is the cave where John wrote Revelations. The spiritual island has numerous beaches and a surprisingly vibrant nightlife for a place where monks make up a good portion of the population. George’s Place at Kambos beach is a good spot to get a drink while soaking up the sun. A visit to the three historic windmills, recently restored by a Swiss banker who vacations on the island, is a must.

Anafi

Anafi is stunning, but chances are you’ll overlook it once you realize how time consuming it is to reach. There’s no airport and it’s a 10-hour ferry ride from Athens . The population? Less than 300. Those who make the journey are rewarded with the island’s remoteness, serene beaches and its enchanting white cubist village that tumbles down from the mountains. The footpaths around the island linking the various settlements make it a perfect place to hike during the early morning or at dusk when the sun is not so strong. Take a tour through the island’s history on a hike from the hora (main town) to the 8th century BC ruins of Kastelli to the monastery Panagia Kalamiotissa built on Apollo’s temple. It also offers gorgeous views of the coast.

Samos

Popular with northern Europeans, Samos is one of Greece’s greenest islands known for its Muscat wines. Samians are undeniably proud of the their export and never forget to insist that it’s not just for drinking with dessert. Vineyards roll up and down the hillsides of Samos right down to the sea and can be visited on an informal basis. The Viticultural Union of Samos’ museum is a great place to taste the wines and learn more about the island. Samos is large and meant to be explored by car, which are easy to rent here. Stay in the picturesque port of Pythagorio with its shiny cobblestone streets and bustling, popular waterfront. The fish restaurants on the far left of the port are the best. The capital Vathy is mostly devoid of tourists but worth exploring on a Friday night when locals dine and stroll along the harbour where working fishermen (and women) tend to their vessels and string nets.

Samothraki

Steeped in mystery and lore, Samothraki is one of Greece’s most magical islands. With no natural harbour and no airport, it is mostly visited by northern Greeks – and, according to legend, witches. Rumour has it that the island is frequented by sorcerers and other practitioners of the dark arts, due to its ancient reputation for pre-Hellenic cults and its more mysterious atmosphere compared to the white-washed, austere islands in the southern Aegean. Whether that’s true, the island, once described as “taciturn” by author Lawrence Durrell, is lush and mountainous with hidden waterfalls and tropical vegetation. Towering Mount Fengari hovers like a dark cloud over the north Aegean from the Greek mainland and offers impressive views – if you’re up for a hike. The island is also home to the Sanctuary of the Great Gods, a pre-Hellenic and Hellenic historical site where the famous Winged Victory of Samothrace statue, now in the Louvre, once stood.

To read more, please visit The Globe and Mail

By Alexander Besant

The road leading to the village of Papigo is a feast for the senses.

The feature of this road, crossed by the Voidomatis River, is picturesque, creating great natural scenery that attracts the visitor’s eye. The view of the Vikos gorge is also stunning. However, if you drive, it is important to pay attention on the road, because it is narrow and very zigzagging. Once in Papigo, great strolls around its stone-alleys can be held, as its two-stored mansions have been declared a national historical monument. Their construction materials are mainly stones. In fact, this is the main material on the village and is used almost for everything. These constructions are also unusual because they do not have a balcony.

Another interesting point is the natural fountains –also made of stone, located close to the village. They are ideal for refreshing in the hot days. Another interesting activity that can be held in Papigo, more specifically in Megalo Papigo, is to visit the personal library of Micheal Anagnostopoulos. It includes around 1250 volumes of books –most of them in foreign languages, published between 1750 and 1906.On the other hand, Mikro Papigo is 3 km further up after Megalo Papigo. It is amphitheatrically built on the steep slopes of the mountain and leads to the popular Dragon Lake, placed on the edge of a great limestone cliff overlooking the Aoos Valley.


To read more, please visit greeka.com

The tasteful thyme honey and the fresh fish are also some of the great gifts of nature to the lucky island.

The history of Lemnos is lost in the mists of time. According to mythology, Hephaestus had his forge on the island and taught its first residents, the Sinties, the art of processing copper. The Island flourished during prehistoric times. In 512BC it was conquered by the Persians, but it regained its liberty after the end of the Persian Wars. Since then, it had been subjugated consecutively by the Romans, the Venetians and the Turks, until its definitive liberation in 1912 during the 1st Balkan War.

Capital of the island is Mýrina, a town beautiful for its traditional paved alleys, its old stone mansions, its promenade by the sea, and last but not least for its Byzantine Castle. The impressive castle that overlooks the town lies on a rocky and steep peninsula, on the hillside of which small deer roam free.

Touring around the island is as much an enviable experience as choosing only some of its beauties to write about is a nasty task. Still, a visit to Lemnos is not complete without having been to:

• The Petrified Forest near the town of Moudros, where one has the chance to see fossilised trunks, leaves, fruit and palm-tree roots aged 20-22 million years.
• The prehistoric settlement of Poliochni which is thought to be the oldest Neolithic city in Europe. Actually, a rectangular building with a double row of stepped seats that had been found on the site resembles a parliamentary architectural structure; that’s why it is presumed to be the oldest parliament discovered in the world!
• The archaeological site of Hephaestia, the prehistoric capital of the Pelasgians, whose glory days lasted well over 2000 years (1000BC to 1200AD). Admire the ruins of a complex of a city built and rebuilt in 10 layers, including palaces, baths, Christian churches, a Hellenistic-Roman theatre, a necropolis, and a sanctuary dedicated to the great goddess Lemnos.
• The two small lakes Alyki and Chortarolimni which constitute wetland habitats, refuge and breeding places for rare and endangered bird species.
• The ideal for skin conditions and urinary system problems thermal springs of Hephaestus, at only 4km from Mýrina.
• The waterfalls near the village of Káspakas, where the waters rush off a height of 15m to create an appealing natural site dotted with small plateaus and tiny ponds.
• The village of Kontiás, one of the biggest and most beautiful ones, which is built on a pine-clad hill and is decorated by traditional stone houses, deserted windmills, and the picturesque church off Ághios Dimitrios with the stone bell tower.
• The gorgeous sandy beaches of the islands, which range from peaceful, remote, romantic to busy and well-organised ones. Especially the water sports lovers will go crazy for the beaches of Thanos, Gomati (treat yourself with the pleasure of rolling on the sand dunes there) and Keros, with the last one being a well-known centre for aquatic pleasures and sports activities. Nevertheless, the repeaters of the island and the locals would answer Platý or Chavoúli should they be asked to choose a beach to appear on a postal card from Limnos.

Source: Visitgreece.gr

The island experienced exceptional economic growth in the past thanks to its great naval and commercial activity. The Hydriots contributed significantly also to the 1821 War of Independence as their powerful fleet participated in crucial sea battles. It is a rather impressive fact that such a tiny island is the birthplace of five Greek Prime Ministers!

Lavish stone mansions owned by important families (Voulgaris, Kountouriotis, Tombazis, Kriezis, Bountouris, etc), and built by Italian artisans reveal the wealth that experienced the island in the past. Today most of these mansions house the island’s museums. 300 churches and 6 monasteries spread around the island as well as the cannons and the statues of the Independence War heroes still standing at the balconies of the islands create a romantic mosaic.

As you walk along the waterfront, the heart of the town, you encounter monuments, churches, canons, museums, old mansions, statues of famous heroes, the old gunpowder store, shops and cafes, while picturesque winding streets lead you to neighborhoods located at the upper part of the town, as well as to the old neighborhood of Kiafas.


To read more, go to visitgreece.gr