Greece is among the winners of the 2017 European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards, Europe’s top honor in the heritage field.

Greece received two awards in the 'Conservation' category for the Ancient city of Karthaia on the island of Kea and the Bastion of the Grand Master’s Palace on Rhodes.

With its two wins, Greece automatically has two entries in the Europa Nostra’s Public Choice vote for the 29 winners.

The project, directed by a Scientific Committee under directorate of the Greek Culture Ministry, offers visitors a glimpse into the past following the conservation, partial restoration and interpretation of the ruins of the ancient city of Karthaia, located on the island of Kea.

The site is one of few examples in Greece where both the unspoiled natural landscape and the planning of the city are well preserved.

The remains of the city include both temples and public buildings and are found on the southeast coast of the island which can only be reached by traditional footpaths or by sea.

People can now vote online for the Public Choice Award and rally support for the winning projects from their own or another European country. Vote now!

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

Navarino Challenge, the award-winning sports tourism event, which promotes sports and fair play, is yet again adding more activities for the entire family, in its program! Between October 13 and 15 2017, Costa Navarino, with the support of Swim Academy, will host already familiar water activities such as baby swimming (for babies and children ranging from 3 months to 3 years old) and aqua aerobic (considered the most popular aerobic exercise).

The Federal Technical Coach of Swimming and Swim Academy representative, Nikos Gemelos, who is taking part in the event yet again, stated, “It gives me great pleasure and honor to have been cooperating with the Navarino challenge event all these years. From the technical point of view regarding the swimming competitions, I have observed that more and more people are embracing the sport of open water swimming and I feel even more proud to be able, along with my team, to offer the necessary safety that is needed for these races, while leaving to the participants a great experience. With the help of Swim Academy and my close colleague, Silver Olympic Medalist and World Champion in open water swimming Spyros Gianniotis, we will be presenting for this second year, activities that gave to the parents and children great joy, such as baby swimming for children up to three years old but also aqua aerobic, which took place for the first time last year and proved to be extremely successful."

 

Furthermore, Navarino Challenge 2017, will also host another Olympic event, the sport of tennis. With the support of Navarino Racquet Academy, amateur and medium level athletes of tennis will have the opportunity to try out the Tennis Cross Training.

It’s a workout program which combines tennis and cross training (which is a type of workout that combines muscular empowerment and cardio respiratory toning, using one’s body weight but also actual weights – depending on the trainee’s level – accompanied by music). It offers a full body workout and improves strength, stamina and flexibility while creating a sense of teamwork for those taking part. Tennis Cross Training can apply to all levels of technical knowledge and physical ability. Meanwhile the experienced staff of Panellinios Agora Games will support the activity of a Padel Family Competition which is ideal for the entire family.

The Navarino Challenge will take place for another year with the support of Costa Navarino and The Westin Resort Costa Navarino as well as the Municipalities of Pylos-Nestor and Trifilia.

Official Sponsor: Vikos natural mineral water

Official Supporter: Wyndham Grand Athens

Assisted: Swim Academy, Navarino Racquet Academy

 

Photo Credit: Vangelis Patsialos @ Navarino Challenge

Greece is the ultimate summer holiday destination, with stunning beaches, Mediterranean cuisine, unique shopping, and incredible experiences. No matter what type of holiday you dream of, the perfect island awaits, be it the iconic Mykonos for endless partying or the hippie island of Ikaria for ultimate relaxation. 

But what happens when you're traveling with kids? Is Greece a family-friendly destination? The answer is YES! Greece is a fantastic destination for a family holiday. And, since Greece's unbelievable coastline may make it a bit hard to choose where to go, here's a list of our top 5 islands for the perfect family vacation!

Sifnos


@anna_sarika

This is an island where you can look forward to lazy days watching your kids play on sheltered, shallow-water beaches followed by leisurely strolls along labyrinthine streets or remote pathways overlooking the sea. To eat you’ll find simple, traditional Mediterranean cooking at its finest: crisp chickpea patties, juicy tomato salads, and fresh seafood in familial village squares. 

Indeed, a classic way to holiday here is to rent a small boat and spend days swanning around, stopping off anywhere and everywhere to plunge into the cool depths, getting your land legs back just long enough for a spot of lunch before returning to aquatic adventuring. That’s not to say that there aren’t plenty of child-friendly beaches to kick back on, with sun loungers and umbrellas for rent.

Naxos


@victor_manolito

Naxos, the largest island of the Cyclades, is definitely an ideal destination for families. It majestically combines long, sandy beaches with fertile valleys, stunning gorges, and a bit of history. Not to mention its delicious cuisine based on local products. Last but not least, Naxos incorporates the communities of four additional smaller isles, Donousa, Schoinousa, Iraklia, and Koufonisia, so you’ll get to enjoy a trip to an unspoiled paradise!

Alonnisos


@elaki26

On the edge of the Sporades archipelago lies the island of Alonissos, ready to captivate you with its green landscape and pristine beaches. The ideal destination for a relaxing holiday, there, you’ll find yourselves leisurely walking along scenic paths surrounded by pine forests, olive groves, and orchards. The island’s highlight is definitely its marine park, a refuge for rare seabirds, dolphins, and the Mediterranean monk seal, Monachus Monachus.

 

So close to Athens yet so far away, Andros, the second-largest and the greenest island of the Cyclades, has everything you need for the ultimate vacation. With lush vegetation, deep blue waters, and rushing rivers, Andros’ breathtaking natural beauty makes it the perfect island for a tranquil holiday. If you love spending time as a family, there are numerous experiences awaiting from hiking along the well-marked trails to visiting world-class modern art museums!

 

Two 20-year-old cyclists began a trip from Athens to Kassel during the opening of Documents 14 to convey a message of art and solidarity. They will ride their bikes for 100 days, traveling a distance of about 4,000km across 14 European countries to the German city of Kassel. They will arrive just in time for the second part of the Documenta 14 show.

From Greece, the cyclists will travel through Albania, FYROM, Kosovo, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Hungary, Slovakia, Austria and the Czech Republic with their message of unity and tolerance.

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

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