The National Library of Greece, under the direction of Dr. Filippos Tsimpoglou, General Director, is methodically preparing for a historic relocation that will enable its transition into a new digital era of innovation and extroversion. From the Vallianeio historic neoclassical building in the center of Athens, which together with the University of Athens and the Academy form the Athens Trilogy, the National Library is moving its headquarters to a state-of-the-art building erected by architect Renzo Piano for the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC).

The entrance to the Library leads into a large open lobby that provides an immediate visual orientation to all the organization’s functions. The natural light creates an open hospitable environment for individual and collaborative learning. Within its new premises, the National Library of Greece will thus be able to strengthen its role in the field of Research, while expanding its focus from an exclusive research facility to an inclusive public resource, an active hub for knowledge, enterprise and innovation.

Starting from March 2017, the National Library of Greece has six months to complete the relocation process and two months to conduct pilot operation at the new building. Based on this framework, the library opening is being scheduled for Autumn 2017.

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek News Agenda

Photo Credit: Giorgis Gerolympos, Greek News Agenda

The Greek government has announced that development and renovation work on the country’s 14 regional airports will begin in November 2017.

More than 400 million euros are expected to have been invested in the development and upgrade works at the airports the German-Greek consortium Fraport Greece, by 2021.

Traffic at the 14 Fraport-run airports grew by 11.4 percent to some 4.2 million passengers in September 2017.

Fraport Greece is managing the airports at 14 regions across Greece that include three mainland gateways (Thessaloniki, Aktion, and Kavala) and 11 airports on Greek islands (Chania on Crete, Kefalonia, Kos, Mykonos, Lesvos, Rhodes, Samos, Santorini, Skiathos and Zakynthos).

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek City Times

The 1st Folegandros Sunset Trail running race was successfully organized, for the first time, on Saturday 3rd June 2018. The late afternoon route offered a unique and lovely experience to all participants.

The second race of the Cyclades Trail Cup 2018 was held in Folegandros island on 30rd June. The 1st trail running race: Folegandros Sunset Trail had one route, 10 kilometers long.

The starting point was at Ano Meria village in front of the Iliovasilema tavern and finish line was at the famous Pounta square of Chora village. The route followed the south-west coastline and all athletes run next to the gradient blue of the Aegean Sea while watching the sun set, “painting” the sky with his reddish colors.

Athletes form 6 countries of the world and many Greek islands had filled the registration form pretty early on. The total number of registrations almost reached the 100, which is a lot for a small island of the South West Aegean Sea. Athletes from islands like Andros, Sifnos, Milos and Syros came to run alongside visitors from Italy, Sweden, Ukraine, Australia, Canada and the USA! On Saturday 30 June, 53 athletes started the race.

The first runner reachenig the finish line and setting the official best time, was Daniel Parheden from Sweden, finishing in 1:09:21. The Ukraine-Russian athlete, Raman Burakov, came second just 3 seconds later with 1:09:24. In the third place of the 10km race, came Christos Kiriazakos from Mykonos island with the time of 1:10:20.

In the women category, Voula Katsavou won the 10km race with the time of 1:31:45. Katerina Koukaki finished in second place with 1:32:00 and in third place came Valentina Makri with the time of 1:37:00.

In a special category, the organizers awarded the 1st man and woman, local to Folegandros island. The first woman was Anastasia Dekavala and the first man Antonis Papadopoulos with the time of 2 hours and 7 minutes and 1 hour and 31 minutes accordingly.

Every race and course offers score points for Cyclades Trail Cup, determined by the new CTC_PointSystem. The athlete that earns the highest amount of points by the end of the year will be the winner of Cyclades Trail Cup 2018. The Folegandros Sunset Trail 10km race awarded all runners you 43 points

With summer just around the corner and the Athens & Epidaurus Festival offering plenty of shows and performances,don't forget to book your ticket as the pre-sale has officially begun! Also, if you are looking for someone to manage your brand's social media, digital content, graphic design and many more, then make sure you check out Codico Lab, XpatAthen's new sister company!

The Hotel Grande Bretagne has been included, one more year, among the Best Hotels in the World according to the well-known publication of Condé Nast Traveler magazine, as voted by its readers. The King George Hotel is also an honoree in the 2019 list for the second time.

Specifically, the distinguished publication of Condé Nast Traveler has selected the two most luxurious and historical hotels in Athens among the top 10 hotels in Greece and Turkey. The renowned “Readers’ Choice Awards” has honoured 1,800 winners, selected by more than 600,000 registered readers taking part in the 2019 Readers’ Choice Survey, voting for the best cities, islands, hotels and transportation in the world. The awards will be published in the November 2019 issue of the famous magazine.

Having received these important distinctions, Hotels Grande Bretagne and King George are committed to continue delivering exceptional, indigenous experiences for their guests. Both Hotels have the best location in the heart of Athens with spectacular views to the Acropolis and set a significant example in the international hotel industry, offering exceptional services and memorable experiences.

 

There's so much information circulating regarding the Coronavirus disease that it's imperative to be able to distinguish what's true and what's not.

The senior director of infection prevention at Johns Hopkins puts things straight to keep you and your family can stay healthy and well.

FALSE. Right now, there is no vaccine for the new coronavirus. Even though scientists have already started working on one, developing safe vaccine will take many months.

 

 

FALSE. None of these practices will protect you from COVID-19; in fact, some of them can be very dangerous. CLICK HERE to find out how to stay protected.

FALSE. It is a known fact that viruses can change over time. Occasionally, a disease outbreak happens when a virus that is common in an animal undergoes changes and passes to humans, which is likely how the new coronavirus came to be.

 

FALSE. Researchers are still studying to find out more about how the coronavirus infects people. Scientists have noted that most viruses like this one do not stay alive on surfaces for very long. Consequently, it is not likely to contract the virus from a package that was in transit for days or weeks.

FALSE. Specific models of professional, tight-fitting respirators can protect medic as they care for infected patients. For the general public wearing disposable surgical masks is not recommended. However, people with a respiratory illness can wear these masks to lessen their chance of infecting others.

Greece has many beautiful sights for you to check out while you are visiting the country. One thing you want to be sure to add to your itinerary is visiting some of the ancient, historical Greek monasteries. Here are 10 must-see monasteries in Greece.

Evangelistria Monastery, Skiathos 


@lauren.galtress

This historical structure, on the Greek island of Skiathos, which was first founded in 1794 by a group of monks from Mount Athos played a crucial role in the 1821 Revolution which brought independence to Greece. Also, the first-ever Hellenic flag was made on a loom at this very location.

A monastery built in a cave is what you will find when you visit the Monastery of Panagia Spiliani. It sits at the top of a hill in northwest Mandraki, while the largest portion of the monastery is built inside a cave. A truly unique experience, the cave is divided into two churches and is definitely worth a visit.

Mega Spileo, Kalavryta


@marian.rptk

Another breathtaking monastery, Mega Spileo stands eight stories tall and is actually built on the sheer cliffs, at a cave opening where it almost appears to become one with the surrounding landscape. Considered to be the oldest monastery in Greece, dating back to 362 AD, it has survived four fires. It played an important role during the Greek War of Independence in 1821 against the Ottomans. The monastery is also home to countless Byzantine icons, frescoes, copper plates, manuscripts and other unique treasures, such as its library featuring more than 3,000 books.

This UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the most important monuments of Middle Byzantine architecture and art. Dating back to the early 10th century, it is built on the slopes of Mount Helicon and was founded by the hermit, Venerable (Greek: Hosios) St. Luke, whose relics are kept in the monastery to this day.

One of the most popular destinations on the island of Patmos, the Monastery is situated near the cave where Saint John wrote the Book of Revelation. This UNESCO World Heritage site was founded in 1088 in Chora, Patmos by soldier-priest John Christodoulos, who heavily fortified the exterior of the structure to protect it from threats of piracy and Seljuk Turks.

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

For more information visit the embassy's official website

With one in three students bullied at school, one in two verbally and some isolated from the entire class, the Education Ministry has drafted a bill exhorting victims and their families to speak up.

The basic idea is the disclosure and recording of each incident and the provision of a framework for interventions by teachers, psychologists, and sociologists.

The main aim of the proposed measures is to address the problem within the school community, without a punitive approach to children who themselves become perpetrators after having been victims.

To this end, the core of the relevant bill, the basic provisions of which Kathimerini has seen, is the creation of a platform for reporting incidents of school violence.

On this platform, students will be able to report incidents, anonymously or not. Parents must give their names when doing so.

It will be necessary to log in with Panhellenic School Network codes (for students) or Taxis (for parents). This will enable more bullying victims to speak up and be supported. The platform will be developed by the Diophantus Institute of Computer Technology and Publishing in cooperation with the Central Expert Committee of the Education Ministry.

Recipients of the reports will be the school violence and bullying officers at each school. The role will be assumed by the head teachers of the school together with a teacher appointed by them.

For each incident, the two school leaders will be in direct contact with a four-member task force that will produce annual reports together with their recommendations and submit them to the regional director of education, who will in turn report regularly to the Ministry of Education with a view of formulating future data-based policy to combat school violence.

An expert committee will be established at a central level to oversee and monitor the program and draw conclusions. It will be responsible for the development of specific protocols for the prevention and management of school violence and bullying.

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