The award-winning sports tourism event returns for the 8th consecutive year on October 16-18, 2020 in Messinia, Pylos and Costa Navarino. Through its global message “sports unite people”, the event will offer the opportunity of discovering the magic of the Messinian landscape and the history highlighted by the top sports celebration, to people of all ages from Greece and abroad.

Participants will have a chance of running one of the top 21.1km Greek Half Marathons, along with Greek-American ultramarathon Dean Karnazes. In addition, they can choose between the 10km route or the joyful 5km route which is also suited for dynamic walking. Athletes starting from the Navarino Dunes of Costa Navarino, will run along the picturesque coast towards Pylos and cross the magnificent Voidokilia beach while passing by the Gialova lagoon. This is one of the most significant wetlands in Europe. It is the southernmost station of migratory birds in the Balkans to and from Africa that has been designated as a Natura 2000 nature protected area. The Half Marathon is the only trail running route in Greece that combines soil, sand, and asphalt. The event offers race timing for all runners. All races are co-organized with Messiniakos Gymnastic Club and EAS SEGAS Peloponnese Region.

On the same day, the 1km children’s race will be held in two groups, for children 10-14 years old and kids up to 9 years of age.

The impressive 5km route that emerges by the sea, as well as all other routes, have been planned by the former marathon runner, current classic marathon course national record holder, running coach, and director of All About Running, Nikos Polias.

Navarino Challenge has remained at the forefront of the 2020 Tourism Awards, claiming the highest distinction in Greek tourism by winning the Platinum Award in the Sustainability category. The significant accolades received by the event, also include the Gold Award, once more, in the Sports Tourism category and the Silver Award in the Integrated Marketing Campaign category. The Platinum award is the first one to be received by a sports tourism event in Greece.

Distinctions do not stop for one of the top sports tourism events in Europe since it was also the first sports tourism event in Greece to win an award in the “Best In Wellness” category at the International Travel &Tourism Awards by WTM London last year.

In the context of this year’s recognition, Active Media Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Akis Tsolis stated: “Our most recent distinction highlights the innovative sustainability initiatives that we have implemented in a sports tourism event, for the first time in Greece. Our excellent collaboration with Costa Navarino, all cooperating bodies, the Municipality of Pylos-Nestor, businessmen from Pylos and Messinia as well as our sponsors, indicates more than ever, the importance and value of solid strategic relations. Despite the unprecedented conditions we are experiencing, sports tourism is not only an integral part of the Greek tourism product, that we all need to protect, but something even more valuable for the future. There is considerable room for growth in outdoor sporting activities, which promote economic and social development for local communities, while highlighting the unique cultural elements of each place”.

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Early bird 40% discount!
Register today!

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Runners can act promptly and take advantage of the early bird offer on registrations until July 31. Athletes can register in the Half Marathon with a 40% discount and find out about valid early bird offers in all other routes. Children’s race is held at no cost. The event, always prioritizing the participants themselves, offers a refund of their registration costs until August 31.

More information on premium accommodation packages will be announced in the coming weeks.

The event continues to innovate for another year by having Samsung Electronics Hellas as its Official Technology Partner. Following last year’s successful contribution towards the organization of a paperless event, Samsung returns with the top Galaxy S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra, which change the way videos and photos are captured through their 8K Video and the most advanced 100X Zoom, offering brand new features and impressive shots. At the same time, the Galaxy Z Flip, the first full screen folding smartphone, with flexible glass and excellent design, offers convenience and unique style.

Samsung and Navarino Challenge will offer all participants the opportunity to purchase the Galaxy S20, S20+, and Galaxy Z Flip, with a 20% discount.

Navarino Challenge is held under the auspices of the Greek National Tourism Organization and is co-organized by Costa Navarino , The Westin Resort Costa Navarino, and Active Media Group with the support of Pylos-Nestor Municipality.

As every year, the event will be held, in accordance with the strict standards set by the Greek Ministry of Tourism, the General Secretariat of Sports and the relevant sports Federations.

Always having the safety and health of all participants and staff as its main priority, Navarino Challenge will be planned and delivered based on the protocol of races, which will ensure public health and safety of all parties involved. Moreover, the event is already strengthened with top consultants specialized in this area.

Official technology partner: Samsung

Official sports supplier: Luanvi

Official supporters: Poseidonia, Pylos-Nestor Municipality

Partners: Fysiotek Sports Lab, Karalis Beach Hotel

Official rental partner: Avance 3

Athletic partners: Explore Messinia, FitnessArt, Navarino Golf Academy, Navarino Outdoors, Navarino Racquet Academy, Pilates by Mandy, Red Swim Academy, Swim Academy, Triantafyllidis Beach Arena, Vizantinos target sport club

CSR Partner: Captain Vasilis and Carmen Konstantakopoulos Foundation

Assisted by: VitaNTravel, Karalis City Hotel & Spa, Lifeguard Patrol, Pylos Association of Enterprises for Tourism Development, Maritime Athletic Pylos Association “Nestor”, Target Security

Sports Production: Active Media Group

 

YouTube Channel

Hashtags: #navarinochallenge #costanavarino #sportsunitepeople #eatwell #runwell #livewell

Photo Credit: Babis Giritziotis

Costa Navarino is the prime, sustainable destination in the Mediterranean, located in the Greek region of Messinia in the southwest Peloponnese. One of the most unspoiled and breathtaking seaside Mediterranean landscapes, this area has been shaped by 4,500 years of history.

Its philosophy is driven by a genuine desire to promote Messinia, while protecting and preserving its natural beauty and heritage. It will comprise a number of distinct sites featuring five-star deluxe hotels, luxury private residences, conference facilities, spa and thalassotherapy centres, signature golf courses, as well as a wide range of unique year-round activities for adults and children.

Navarino Dunes, the first area, is home to two luxury five-star hotels, The Romanos, a Luxury Collection Resort, and The Westin Resort Costa Navarino; Navarino Residences, a collection of luxury villas for private ownership; and The Residences at The Westin Resort Costa Navarino – fully furnished resort apartments for sale; the signature golf course The Dunes Course; Anazoe Spa, a 4,000m 2 spa and thalassotherapy centre; the state-of-the-art conference centre House of Events; specially designed facilities for children; and a variety of gastronomy venues, sports, outdoor and cultural activities.

Navarino Bay, the second area, is home to the signature golf course, The Bay Course and to the earth- sheltered Bay Clubhouse, while an ultra-luxury, all-suite and pool villas resort is currently under construction, alongside an upscale, vibrant, lifestyle resort at the nearby site Navarino Waterfront. At Navarino Hills, two new 18-hole signature golf courses are also being constructed.

From fashion insiders and digital marketers to financial analysts and fine art gallerists, Athens is attracting many international professionals, as they're discovering that the city is alive with creative possibilities and a feeling of community that is hard to beat, even during a pandemic.

Digital nomads are coveted by cities throughout the world in part because of the important role they play in the spread of knowledge and technology. Some of the most common roles include software developers, graphic designers, copywriters, and digital consultants. They bring new ideas, spark conversations, and contribute to the development of global perspectives.

The City of Athens is encouraging the creation of a digital nomad community by reinforcing innovation hubs and co-working spaces. The city is improving the accessibility of municipal services by putting them online, and the partnership between XpatAthens and This is Athens has been created with the intention of building a channel of communication with the city’s long-term visitors and expats.

Athens Mayor Kostas Bakoyannis welcomed the trend: “Athens has long been a destination for people who want to share ideas and learn from each other. This is one of the reasons that we focus on hospitality as the core of our cultural heritage. Cultural exchange is a guarantee of our freedom, and we are thinking a lot about this as we celebrate 200 years of Greek independence. We’re thrilled that so many people want to make Athens part of their life story.”

Athens is one of the world’s oldest destinations for travelers with thousands of years of recorded history. Long famous as a gateway to summer, Athens has become a window to the 21st century and a year-round destination for visitors from all over the world. For many professionals, work from home has meant the freedom to set up a virtual office anywhere in the world; now with the support of their international firms, and the more widely accepted ‘remote work’, Athens is getting noticed as a city that gives a healthy balance of lifestyle.

We can’t help but be excited by the fact that - even during the lockdown - Athens has given light to people of diverse cultures and different backgrounds. It gives us joy to read the stories of international professionals who feel good because they’ve (finally) found a healthy work-life balance in the simplicities of life in Athens.

As work and workplaces continue to change around the world, we know that Athens will always provide its long-term visitors with warm community, creative inspiration, healthy work-life balance, and sunshine that soothes the soul!

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This content was created by XpatAthens in collaboration with This is Athens. This is Athens features stories of adventure, travel insights and up to the minute updates, as well as a schedule of events created with visitors in mind. The web portal is published in English, French, and German, helping first-time visitors and life-long residents find their stories; it is a project of the Athens Development and Destination Management Agency.

To learn more about This is Athens visit:

 

To learn more about XpatAthens and our mission to connect and create global community, visit: https://www.xpatathens.com/about-us

As Easter approaches, Greece bursts with a kaleidoscope of traditions and celebrations, each region boasting its own unique customs that captivate locals and visitors alike.

From the thunderous Rocket War in Chios to the colorful Hot Air Balloons of Leonidio, let's explore some of the most unique and vibrant Greek Easter customs.



Chios - Rocket War (Rouketopolemos)


@panos.mavrakis

Nestled amidst the intoxicating scents of mastic and the medieval charm of its villages, Chios welcomes Easter with a spectacle unlike any other - the Rocket War. Originating from the final years of Ottoman rule, this tradition sees parishioners from opposing churches, Agios Markos and Panagia Erythiani, engage in a thrilling exchange of shots using small cannons. These cannons, brought by sailors from merchant ships, are set up in churchyards and loaded with fireworks, aiming to create a cacophony of noise that reverberates through the night.

Kalamata - Saitopolemos


@g_tsafos

In the heart of Messinia, Easter bursts into life with the captivating custom of Saïtolemos. Crafted from cardboard and filled with a potent mixture of gunpowder and oil, saïtes take to the skies, resembling playful paper airplanes. While their origins are steeped in folklore, the tradition continues to captivate with its spirited competition and thunderous roar, echoing across the banks of the Nedontas River. As Easter unfolds across Greece, these unique customs serve as vibrant expressions of faith, culture, and community, inviting all to immerse themselves in the rich tapestry of Greek Easter traditions.

Leonidio - Hot Air Balloons


@aris.messinis

In the picturesque town of Leonidio, Easter takes flight with the mesmerizing sight of "afani" - vibrant paper balloons adorning the sky. As the priest proclaims "Christ is Risen," the air fills with anticipation as five parishes compete to release the most balloons. Locals light oil-soaked "kollemaras," sending over 600 balloons soaring into the night, symbolizing the resurrection with a breathtaking display. Alongside this spectacle, the burning of Judas ceremony adds a poignant touch to the Easter festivities.

Corfu - Botides 


@vince_alamanos

Corfu adds a splash of color to Easter celebrations with the lively tradition of "Botides." On Holy Saturday morning, young Corfiots gather at the Liston, bearing clay pitchers filled with water. With joyful exuberance, they toss these pitchers out of windows onto the cobblestone streets below, marking the end of Lent and the beginning of Easter joy. The crashing pitchers create a cheerful symphony, echoing the island's vibrant spirit and welcoming visitors to join in the jubilant festivities.

Tyros - Coastal Processions


@anemologiotiros

In Tyros, tradition runs deep, and Easter is no exception. On Good Friday, the coastal road comes alive with the solemn procession of the two Epitaphs, accompanied by fishing boats and throngs of reverent onlookers. From inland, thousands follow the Epitaphs, honoring the solemnity of the occasion and reaffirming the community's steadfast commitment to tradition.

Calling all female entrepreneurs, solopreneurs and mompreneurs looking for a tribe of inspiring women! Join us on Tuesday March 18th at 11:00 at THIS IS LOCO in Koukaki for a brunch meet up!

 

Whether you’re launching a new business, scaling (and maintaining) an existing one, or redefining your purpose for doing business, you’re welcome to join us! This is a nice and easy meet up for us to connect, listen and share among like-minded, intention-driven women who are all about thriving in life and business.

Seating is limited. Kindly RSVP your name and number of guests by email to innerbloomgreece@gmail.com no later than Friday March 14th. There’s no charge for attendance, while each of us will pay our own consumption directly to the venue.

 

THIS IS LOCO is a female-led, latin infused all-day brunch space in Koukaki. It’s a space that’s all about inspiring, connecting, experiencing and enjoying life as a community. Hospitality is at the heart of everything they do and it always comes with a huge smile too! Their warm, welcoming atmosphere compliments their distinct menu (see full menu). Come feel the warmth and genuine care - we’re sure you’ll love it as much as we do!

 

Led by Elena Tzavara Innerbloom is about supporting women on their entrepreneurial journeys. We create a nurturing, open and transformative space where we empower women to grow their dreams into thriving, sustainable ventures. We’re all about realizing your individual freedom—of thought, creativity, productivity, and abundance! Learn more about Innerbloom here.

Eager to please you more, Executive Chef Asterios Koustoudis and Pastry Chef Evgenios Vardakastanis with their epicurean Team present a new menu for the ultimate brunch experience at home, inspired by the famous Weekends at the Winter Garden.

The finest sweet & savor delicacies and handmade pastries compose another unforgettable culinary experience! The menu includes a variety of freshly baked croissants, traditional mastiha scented ‘tsoureki’, brioche and caramelized puff pastry ‘baton’ served with fresh local butter, pine honey and homemade forest fruit marmalade. The experience goes on with a unique appetizer of smoked salmon and ‘balik’ with avocado, quail egg, king crab and crisp green salad. For main course, the ‘candele’ pasta filled with slow cooked beef, mushrooms, winter truffle gratinated with Cretan ‘graviera’ cheese and the seafood –shrimp and scallops- with fennel and spinach, citrus and grill-smoked eel will carry you away. A delicious pear tart with almond cream, hazelnut praline and lemon seals the sweetest epilogue of your family brunch. While opening the boxes, you will find an exquisite menu for four people uniquely presented in ovenproof porcelain tableware, which will enrich your home collection, as well as the authentic white linen napkin embroidered with the crest of the historic hotel.

To fascinate even the most discerning palates, Chef introduces the Caviar & Champagne Brunch featuring the exclusivity of a TAITTINGER BRUT 750ml and a ROYAL GOLD RESERVE CAVIAR 30gr.

Hotel Grande Bretagne promises to deliver exquisite flavors and aromas at home creating for you the most elegant brunch.

Hard Rock Café Athens opens its doors and welcomes young and adults, to come and enjoy our Children's Sundays special menu!

A unique Sunday afternoon awaits our little Roxtars from 12 pm-4 pm, full of creative work and face painting, along with a delicious children's meal to enjoy!

The entrance for each child is €15 including the meal.

Socrates: Let us turn aside here and go along the Ilisos; then we can sit down quietly wherever we please.
Phaedrus: I am fortunate, it seems, in being barefoot; you are so always. It is easiest then for us to go along the brook with our feet in the water, and it is not unpleasant, especially at this time of the year and the day.
Socrates: Lead on then, and look out for a good place where we may sit.
Phaedrus: Do you see that very tall plane tree?
Socrates: What of it?
Phaedrus: There is shade there and a moderate breeze and grass to sit on, or, if we like, to lie down on.
Socrates: Lead the way.

FokiaNou Art Space is pleased to present the work of Sebastian Boulter, an Athens-based painter from Finland whose work often refers to environmental issues. He is interested in manipulated landscapes by human beings and other traces and tracks that humans leave behind them in nature. This exhibition of a series of drawings and paintings takes as its subject the river Ilisos, from the area between Kaisariani and Kallithea. Although this part of the river has been covered, that does not preclude one from having a philosophical discussion with a friend next to the river.

Boulter holds a Master degree in painting from The Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Brussels, Belgium. In Athens for the past year he has served as a cultural attache in the Finnish Institute at Athens, acted as a curator and has been involved in cultural exchange between Finland and Greece.The exhibition has been organized by FokiaNou Art Space and The Finnish Institute at Athens, with a grant from VISEK.

Opening: Thursday, 9 May 2019, 19.00
Duration: 9 May – 1 June, 2019.
Opening hours: Thursday to Saturday 17.00 - 20.00.

On Friday, December 19th, the Athens Singers and orchestra, conducted by Roger Tilley, will once again present a joyous and interesting Christmas programme, featuring the Messe de Minuit pour Noël by Marc-Antoine Charpentier, the famous Gloria by Antonio Vivaldi and some beloved sing-along carols.

As in previous years, the festive reception after the concert is included in the ticket price.

The concert will begin at 8:30PM at the War Museum Amphitheatre at Rizari 2, conveniently located near the Evangelismo Metro stop.

Tickets are €15, CASH ONLY.

Dance, theatre, literary walks, performances in unexpected places, off-the-beaten-track tours of Athens, and music under the stars are only some of the numerous activities in which Greek Festival's lovers will be able to participate and enjoy this summer, free of charge.

For the third consecutive year, “Opening to the City”, a mini-festival which aims to take us on an unforgettable journey to uncover the city’s hidden gems and secret corners, takes place in Athens and Piraeus, actively promoting art and providing high-quality cultural opportunities. The festival's appeal and huge success were proven by the positive responses from the audience, which participated in performances, public lectures, and other festivities.

Many performances are available at no charge, however, even if the performance requires purchasing a ticket, you can find admission tickets at the cheapest prices. Opening to the City - Free Admission (specific events require entry tickets which you can request from our cashiers' desks)

Check out a detailed list of the events HERE!