BUSINESS CENTRE
XpatAthens
Filmmaker Documents Greek Ghost Town Of Levissi
To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Reporter
See the Ghosts of Levissi trailer here:
April 4 - Practical Living In Athens
Two Of The World's Best Bars In Athens
Odd But True: Tennessee Has Its Own Full Scale Replica Of the Parthenon
Athens Quinta Hostel
Two 3,500-Year-Old Royal Tombs Discovered In The Peloponnese
It is worth mentiong that the Mycenaean era, which dates from about 1650 B.C. to 1100 B.C., was the foundation for many Ancient Greek myths and legends, including that of the Trojan War. The graves lie near the Palace of Pylos, which features in Homer's Odyssey as the seat of the wise King Nestor.
Enjoy An Athens Culture Trip From Home
A curated guide to experiencing Athens’ dynamic cultural life on-line—whether you want a full day fix, a half-day holiday, or just an hour’s escape.
Theatre, art, wine and song. Athenians have been culture-mad since antiquity. While we stay on the sidelines for the greater good, culture is one of the best escapes still left to us. From virtual museum and gallery tours to contemporary stage productions and feel-good concerts, here’s our constantly updated armchair guide to the best on-line arts and entertainment that cultured Athens has to offer for those times when you can't get here yourself. Best of all, it won’t cost you a cent.
History At Home
Skip back through the millennia to learn about Health, illness and treatment in Ancient Greece in the Museum of Cycladic Art’s digital classroom as part of their new Home Activities platform. What could be more timely? Just a few clicks more and you’ll fall under the spell of filmmaker Georgis Grigorakis’ hypnotic contemporary video sculpture as he depicts hyper real Aegean seascapes, inspired by timeless Cycladic Art. It’s also part of the Museum of Cycladic Art’s Home Activities series.
Get a jump start on your next Athens city break with a digital stroll through more of our riveting museums. Thanks to the Google Arts & Culture platform, you can eyeball ancient marvels like Pheidias’ 5th century BC Parthenon sculptures in high-definition detail on a virtual visit to the world-famous Acropolis Museum.
Next, snoop around all four of the Benaki Museum’s sites on 360 degree virtual tours. Start from the flagship Benaki Museum of Greek Culture which offers a one-stop panorama of Greek history from prehistoric times, and end with the stunning exhibits of the Benaki Islamic Art Museum collection. Bone up on your art education with Hellenic Together, and hear video talks about everything from wedding rituals in Classical Greece to the charmed 20th century lives of British grecophiles Patrick Leigh Fermor and John Craxton.
Affairs Of The Art
Step inside the mind of American art superstar George Condo as he leads a fascinating video tour through the light-filled spaces of the Cycladic Museum and explains how these ancient wonders inspired his recent collection.
Dive into the Neon Art Foundation’s colourful video bank and watch Athens-based dialogues with famous international artists who’ve staged recent projects in the Greek capital like Michael Landy and Lynda Benglis.
Ogle at one of the world’s most astounding private art collections (including a 1580s El Greco). The Basil and Elise Goulandris Foundation has uploaded a virtual exhibition of 198 masterpieces on display at their new Pangrati gallery. Flit between Van Goghs, Rodins and Picassos and give yourself a crash course in the leading lights of modern Greek art as well (such as Parthenis, Tsarouchis, Moralis and Tetsis). There are detailed descriptions and background to each work in English.
Soak up Athens’ red-hot street art scene with our slideshow gallery of the city’s most loved murals, such as WD’s piercing, all-seeing owl in Metaxourgio or the Praying Hands of Pavlos Tsakonas that descend God-like over Pireos Street.
Opera lovers and drama queens of all ages can roll back the clock with the Greek National Opera’s immersive photography archive of productions, spanning the last 80 years. Worth it for the incredible costumes alone!
Take a crash course in what to see (and why) at Greece’s new contemporary art temple EMST - then listen to the gallery staff talk about their favourite exhibits in English here. Or take the temperature of Athens’ hottest emerging art hub, Piraeus, with a virtual tour of new art space, Carwan gallery.
Contemporary & Alternative Culture
For the ultimate escapism, grab a front row seat at the history-making fashion show of Greek designer Mary Katrantzou, staged last year at Poseidon’s mighty temple at Cape Sounion, with an original score by the legendary Vangelis.
From digital dives down black holes, to an immersive new world of BioArt, glimpse a future where art meets science as trippy visual arts platform, Athens Digital Arts Festival (ADAF), broadcasts live highlights for both adults and kids. Tune in on their ADAF Live YouTube channel.
From sold-out shows and virtual cinematic experiences to secret concerts, the Onassis Stegi has launched a brilliant free library of content through its We Stay Close, Not Closed showcase (some of it never before seen). New content is made available every week but here are some current highlights:
• In these dystopian days, what could be more cathartic than tumbling down the rabbit hole with the scriptwriter who lit the spark for a new golden era of Greek Cinema with Dogtooth and The Lobster? Get lost in Efthimis Filippou’s bizarre Emata (Bloods), a performance-concert about our open wounds that’s ripe with oddness and black humour (Greek and English sub-titles available).
• Hear hot New York author Daniel Mendlesohn riff on the Narcissism of Homoerotic Relationships or Hollywood star Paul Giamatti ponder Narcissus and Acting in front of a live audience.
• Dose up on the exquisite melancholy of Rebetika: The Blues of Greece as Lena Kitsopoulou and her band of traditional Greek musicians transport you to the backstreets of Athens and Piraeus from Joe’s Pub in New York.
Thank you This is Athens for your contribution as an XpatAthens Partner.
Greece’s Solid Tourism Dynamic Attracting Investments
“Eight in 10 investments made in Greece now concern tourism, either hotels or infrastructure,” said Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias in an interview this week with SKAI television.
The minister referred to a 17 percent increase in travelers to the South Aegean islands in the first week of August compared to the same period in 2019, adding that Greece was doing very well given the challenges: the Russian-Ukraine war, inflationary pressures, Covid-19, and the energy crisis.
Kikilias went on to add that the strong demand for Greece was reflected in a 26.5 percent increase in Airbnb-style holiday rentals for stays in July, August and bookings for September compared to the same months in 2019.
In efforts to keep tourist flows coming, the minister referred to an ongoing campaign to attract mostly seniors from Northern European countries to spend their winters in warmer Greece.
Lastly, Kikilias said he would be visiting major cities in Germany in the coming weeks and meeting with tour operators there in order to promote one- to three-month stays in Greece during the winter for pensioners at destinations such as Crete, Rhodes, Kos, Corfu, Thessaloniki, and Athens.
Originally published on: news.gtp.gr
Glyfada Maritime Pro-Am: The First Maritime Pro-Am Tournament In Glyfada
Photo by Boo Productions
Dimitsana Library - The Oldest Library In Greece
Established in 1764 by two esteemed monks, Gerasimos Gounas and Agapios Leonardos, hailing from the School of Smyrna, Dimitsana Library stands as a testament to resilience and scholarly pursuit. Initially serving as a priestly school, it nurtured the minds of notable hierarchs, including Ecumenical Patriarch Gregory V and Old Patriarch Germanos, during the turbulent years of Turkish occupation.
As the flames of revolution ignited, Dimitsana Library bore witness to sacrifice and valor. Enriched by the tireless efforts of scholars and expatriates, the library amassed a collection of 5,000 volumes, only to see much of its wealth sacrificed during the Greek Revolution of 1821. Yet, amid the ashes, around 600 ancient volumes endured, preserving fragments of the past for generations to come.
Today, Dimitsana Library, officially known as the Public Library and Museum of the Hellenic School of Dimitsana—the Local Historic Archive of Gortynia, stands as a beacon of knowledge and heritage. Located in the historic square of Agia Kyriaki, it houses a treasure trove of manuscripts, codices, and artifacts, chronicling the region's rich history.
Within its hallowed halls, visitors encounter a myriad of treasures, from a rich collection of manuscripts to poignant relics of the revolution. The library's vast collection, totaling approximately 35,000 volumes, includes rare documents, patriarchal decrees, and a fascinating array of folk art objects.
Honored by the Academy of Athens in 1977 for its significant contributions, Dimitsana Library continues to serve as a bastion of learning and exploration. With its lending department, information center, and welcoming atmosphere for scholars and researchers, it remains a vital hub of intellectual exchange and cultural preservation.
As visitors immerse themselves in the timeless beauty of Arcadia, a journey to Dimitsana Library promises an enriching encounter with Greece's storied past. From the saddle of Papaflessas' horse to the solemn urn containing the bones of Metropolitan Germanos, each artifact whispers tales of courage, resilience, and the enduring spirit of the Greek people.
Originally published in Greek on: newsit.gr
Translated by Codico Lab