Just in time to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Blue Flag project, Greek beaches have consecutively been listed in the top three spots of the highly coveted program, the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature (EEPF) said.

According to EEPF, which has been responsible for the Foundation for Environmental Education’s (FEE) Blue Flag program in Greece since 1992, its aim is to achieve the first place for Greek beaches and coasts. Of the 3,568 beaches awarded today, 430 are in Greece.

The Blue Flag Program labels beaches and marinas as well as sustainable boating tourism operators appropriate for swimming based on cleanness, water quality, organization, safety and services, environmental management and protection and certifies the best every year ahead of summer.

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Travel Pages

For the first time, the prestigious contemporary art exhibition Documenta 14 opened in a city other than Kassel, Germany, where it has been held every five years since 1955. The two locations of Documenta are at the heart of artistic director Adam Szymczyk’s concept.

Titled Learning from Athens, the exhibition wants viewers to in fact “unlearn what we know” and to “immerse ourselves in the darkness of not knowing instead of pretending to know enough in advance,” Szymczyk said.

Set against the backdrop of Greece’s social and economic woes, displacement, colonialism, violence and protest are among Documenta 14’s central themes.

In Athens, the Documenta team is collaborating with around 40 local institutions, including the Benaki Museum, the Archaeological Museum of Piraeus, the Numismatic Museum and as the First Cemetery of Athens where the American artist Pope.L will be performing his Whispering Campaign (2016-17) in which five performers will roam the city whispering their observations to the public.

Visitors to Documenta 14 at EMST are greeted by a large container of olives titled Payment of Greek Debt to Germany with Olives and Art by Marta Minujin, an explicit reference to the Greek financial crisis.

To read this article in full, please visit: The Art Newspaper

 

Photo Credit: taken by Stathis Mamalakis of Sergio Zevallos’ performance, 2016

While the islands and villages of Greece are known for their religious festivals during the period of resurrection, spending Greek Orthodox Easter in Athens is as memorable as it is spiritual. Athens is home to some of the most beautiful and historical churches in Greece and the city has its finest moments under candlelight for the traditional services during holy week.

On Easter Saturday, in a ritual conducted for over 1,200 years, the ‘Holy Fire’ is lit at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, where Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected. The light is then flown into Athens on a specially chartered flight and received by the “Metohi tou Panagiou Tafou” church in Plaka where candles are lit and then dispersed to churches throughout the Attica region in time for the start of resurrection services.

How to spend Greek Orthodox Easter in Athens? Hearing the haunting ‘Hymn of Kassiani’ on Holy Tuesday, take communion at a 1,000 year-old church on Holy Wednesday, or hear a Byzantine Choir and follow and a candlelit procession through the streets!

To read this article in full, please visit: Why Athens

 

Photo Credit: Why Athens

Corfu is again the top destination for the upcoming Easter holiday period in Greece and visitors from Athens, Thessaloniki and from every island, village and town around Greece will be making their way across to Corfu to celebrate Holy Week.

It has been said by many that if you only get one chance in a lifetime to visit Corfu, Easter week is the time to be there. Many visitors from overseas also arrive to see Corfu’s natural and cultural beauty come to life- as Greek Easter traditions are celebrated all around the island.

The Easter period begins in Corfu on Palm Sunday- At 11am the procession of the holy body of Saint Spyridon takes place. It is a custom dating back to 1630, in memoriam of the relief of the island of the Plague, which, in 1629, had claimed many victims from the people of Corfu. All 15 philharmonic bands of the island take part in that procession. At lunch people enjoy the traditional dish of the day- stock fish or haddock with skordalia (garlic mash potato).

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

The European Parliament has voted to end visa-free travel for Americans within the EU.

It comes after the US failed to agree visa-free travel for citizens of five EU countries – Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Poland and Romania – as part of a reciprocity agreement. US citizens can normally travel to all countries in the bloc without a visa.

The Commission is legally obliged to act to suspend the visa waiver for Americans, but the European Parliament or the Council of the European Union have the chance to object to the “delegated act” it uses to do so.

It was reported that the EU was considering the adoption of a US-style electronic travel permit scheme – a move that could create a new administrative hurdle for British tourists after Brexit.

Currently foreign travellers must pay a fee of $14 (£11) when they complete ESTA, an automated online system that determines their eligibility to travel to the US.

To read this article in full, please visit: Yahoo

As first official airline partner of the documenta 14 art show, Aegean Airlines has added two direct flights per week between Athens and Kassel, Germany.

“AEGEAN will link the two destinations by including Kassel in its international network, thus making a significant contribution to putting Athens on the map of the international cultural scene,” the airline said in an announcement.

As the official airline partner of documenta 14 and through its new flights, AEGEAN is expected to fly some 1,500 international media representatives to attend the exhibition opening in Athens and more than 8,500 visitors to the Greek capital throughout the duration of the exhibition.

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Travel Pages

Photo Credit: Greek Travel Pages

In an effort to improve the quality of life in the city center, the City of Athens is proceeding with its scheme to revamp Athens commercial district. Two new pedestrianized streets, Vyssis and Kairi in the area of Psyrri will be accessible to Athens’ residents and visitors.

According to an announcement by the City of Athens, traffic will be diverted and drivers will be able to reach Athinas street through Mitropoleos and Karagiorgi Servias streets. Xrysospiliotissis street is now banned to cars from the junction of Praksitelous street to Vyssis street.

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Travel Pages

Archaeologists have discovered the site where the Greek fleet gathered for the Battle of Salamis (480BC), the first great naval battle recorded in history and one of the most important ever fought by ancient Greeks. Taking place during the Greco-Persian Wars, the Greek naval troops managed to defeat a much larger Persian fleet.

The scientific team in Greece have discovered antiquities at the ancient port of Ampelakia Bay, believed to be at the spot Greek naval forces assembled before engaging in the historic battle.

Using aerial photography, photogrammentric processing, and topographical and architectural documentation, the archaeologists identified ancient harbour structures and fortifications, alongside the remains of other buildings.

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

Next time you see the waves crashing onto the beach, think of the goddesses of the oceans, rivers, lakes, fountains, streams, and underworld sea monsters noted in Greek mythology who create those swells.

There are two deities in particular who love to play in the sea and surf the waves, Benthesikyme and Kymopoleia, the daughters of the famed god of the sea, Poseidon.

Known as the 'lady of the deep swells' Benthesikyme was nymph of the African sea and later went on to become the first known queen of Ethiopia.

Kymopoleia was a goddess of the waves and was known as a ‘haliae,’ or nymph of the sea who made waves, violent sea storms and earthquakes.

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Reporter

In the new April edition of National Geographic Traveller, Greece is featured in ‘A Modern Classic,’ titled ‘Greece - A Creative Renaissance,’ where art, innovation, and fresh ideas are the focus.

The feature story highlights the arts scene of Athens and Thessaloniki, as well as the modernization and uniqueness of the Greek islands.

As the author writes, ‘In every crisis there are green shoots, and despite - or perhaps because of - its financial woes, Greece is enjoying a cultural bloom.’

 

 

Source: Greek Travel Pages