LIFE & CULTURE
XpatAthens
Thursday, 01 September 2016 07:00
Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center - Arts & More
Author and blogger, Marissa Tejada, from My Greece My Travels visits the new Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center and shares her insights as to how it will change the city's landscape and influence Athens.
The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center is no doubt an imposing addition to the capital. From a certain angle on the busy Sygrou avenue, the center appears like a massive gleaming silver and glass paneled box was dropped onto the southern Athens skyline.
Such a project could only be possible with a sizeable investment, exactly €596 million. The grant was offered by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, the largest donation in recent Greek history. It was also one the most generous single donations worldwide in the art and culture realm.
We first walked through the grounds, a man made 170,000 m2 lush, green park complete with performance fields, playgrounds, impressive gardens and an outdoor café. As part of the project, a public athletic park was also built with a track and swimming pool. It is open to the public for use.
The playground also hit the senses. An unsuspecting piece of art made sounds to represent the Greek sea, for example. I stomped on some wooden planks set in the ground that chimed gleefully, so did some unsuspecting metal squares nearby.
The park is now one of the city’s largest green public spaces.
No matter where we stood, there was a view of either the city, including Lycabettus Hill and the Acropolis, or out to the sea.
Thanks to the design of the complex, built on the artificial hill, Kallithea (a quiet residential neighborhood) has bragging rights to one of nicest views in town. Kallithea actually means good view, in Greek. However, a view like this certainly didn’t exist before.
Tips for Visiting the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center
The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center is no doubt an imposing addition to the capital. From a certain angle on the busy Sygrou avenue, the center appears like a massive gleaming silver and glass paneled box was dropped onto the southern Athens skyline.
Such a project could only be possible with a sizeable investment, exactly €596 million. The grant was offered by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, the largest donation in recent Greek history. It was also one the most generous single donations worldwide in the art and culture realm.
We first walked through the grounds, a man made 170,000 m2 lush, green park complete with performance fields, playgrounds, impressive gardens and an outdoor café. As part of the project, a public athletic park was also built with a track and swimming pool. It is open to the public for use.
The playground also hit the senses. An unsuspecting piece of art made sounds to represent the Greek sea, for example. I stomped on some wooden planks set in the ground that chimed gleefully, so did some unsuspecting metal squares nearby.
The park is now one of the city’s largest green public spaces.
No matter where we stood, there was a view of either the city, including Lycabettus Hill and the Acropolis, or out to the sea.
Thanks to the design of the complex, built on the artificial hill, Kallithea (a quiet residential neighborhood) has bragging rights to one of nicest views in town. Kallithea actually means good view, in Greek. However, a view like this certainly didn’t exist before.
Tips for Visiting the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center
- You can’t buy opera tickets just yet. Both the opera and the library are in moving stages and those buildings of the arts complex are set to officially open in 2017.
- You can visit the rest. The beautiful park is great for a stroll and is quite close to the Flisvos Marina, another very scenic and walkable area of southern Athens.
- While at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, also visit the Agora, an outdoor space that connects the opera and the library. In the Agora lobby, there is an impressive gallery featuring notable Greek artists (most recently Panagiotis Tetsis).
- The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center Visitors Center also hosts programming for adults and children.
- Opening hours are from Monday to Sunday from 09:00 till 22:00.
- Admission is free
To read this article in full, please visit: My Greece My Travels
For more information about the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, visit: SNFCC website
Published in
City Discovery
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Tuesday, 30 August 2016 10:14
A Wake Up Call In Psirri
For many of us, it’s back to the city after some time in the sun. Back to ‘normal’, whatever that is for each of us. Back to our old routines – and hopefully a few new ones. And certainly back to our favourite Athens haunts…
Out with some friends the other night, we were wandering through Psirri, a favourite hangout for a lot of Athenians. Maybe it’s the time of year, maybe it was the weekend, but I’ve never seen Psirri so alive – apart from the usual spots, every square meter of the neighbourhood was full of people.
Something is bubbling in Psirri… There is a sense of renewal, of creativity, of buzzy energy. Of course, Psirri has always been full of creativity and buzzy energy, of that there’s no doubt. But in the past few months I’ve noticed more – more activity, more buzz, and some cool new spaces.
Psirri has lately become a hotspot of AirBnb-style room rentals, and on the must-see list for all the in-the-know visitors to the city. Despite what looks like a ‘resurgence’ of sorts, it seems that Psirri has somehow managed to retain its authenticity – it’s still real and raw, covered in graffiti, a mix of crumbling walls and cool spaces. Hopefully that part will never change…
iFeel is one of those places: part of the new fabric of Psirri, a bistro/tapas ‘all day’ wine bar, great for a coffee, great for a meal, and great for a drink. We popped in on Friday night, after walking by and agreeing that ‘we must check it out…’ This is a cozy, warm space, with a small and carefully prepared menu, offering tasty Greek tapas-sized plates with yummy choices like octopus fava and melted Metsovone cheese, and an impressive and eclectic Greek and international wine list. Their Facebook page tells the truth in describing “fresh ingredients and culinary imagination.” The music soundtrack was equally inspiring, the service warmly professional, and the whole evening was perfect.
Upstairs, the group also runs the new Andronis boutique hotel. Part of the high-end Adronis family of hotels in Santorini, this is the group’s new Athens presence – smack in the middle of the city’s graffiti-painted heart. With 4 rooms, modern interiors and a price tag to match, this is a special spot, like a secret mix of hipster cool and Greek design, with quality built in to every detail. Hotel guests disappear into their private upstairs spaces, and come down to enjoy their gourmet breakfast and delicious all-day menu. The overall effect is high end, but still edgy enough and definitely not in-your-face – tucked away and combining the best elements of Psirri’s energy with an updated, cleaned up attitude.
Beyond Psirri, other parts of the city are also waking up to a renewed sense of self. Just opposite the newly restored square of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens, you’ll find The Zillers – a boutique hotel with a fantastic rooftop patio, another of the ‘all day bar/bistros’ that are becoming the signature of Athens. In a building dating from 1895, this space has been totally renovated and re-designed with great attention to detail. A delicious menu, great cocktails, another great wine list, atmospheric music and a decidedly hip vibe – with a view of the acropolis that is tough to beat.
If this is what the autumn has in store for nights out in the city, I just might be able to forget the beach… at least temporarily…
Until next week,
Published in
My Week In Athens
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Monday, 20 September 2021 07:00
Homer: The World's First Environmentalist?
Homer’s Iliad is widely considered the founding text of western literature and is generally regarded as a piece primarily concerned with war and conflict. It has been compared to the Hebrew Old Testament in that it emphasizes the moral nature of man, his vices, flaws, fears, and finally, the redemptive, cathartic notions that allow its protagonists to achieve peace.
Apart from concepts dealing with man’s psyche, the Iliad also reveals ideas that would generally be considered more modern. These two profound passages reveal that Homer even dealt with ideas of animal activism and environmentalism.
In book 17 of the Iliad, Homer sings how the two immortal horses of Achilles cried for the death of Patroclus, his corpse covered in dust and blood. Zeus from his heavenly throne looks upon the suffering animals “Unhappy pair, why did we give you, ageless and immortal, to that mortal king, Peleus? Did we mean you to sorrow with these wretched men? For what is there more miserable than man, among all the things that move and breathe on earth?”
However, Homer did not just write about the nobility of animals but went on to script on environmental defense.
In book 21 of the Iliad, the warrior Achilles wishes to avenge his friend Patroclus and kills all the enemies he can, throwing their corpses into the river Xanthus. The river Xanthus stinks with the pestilence of rotten bodies and its waters run full of blood and flesh. The great river god asks Achilles to stop contaminating its waters, formerly clean and crystalline. Achilles replies that he will throw whatever he wants wherever he so chooses! The great river god then raises himself, pounding with turbulent waters and tides upon Achilles who begins to drown. Achilles is only saved thanks to the help of the god Vulcan who burns the river with fire.
Published in
Greek Language & Culture
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Monday, 29 August 2016 07:00
The History Of Olive Oil In Ancient Greece
Olive oil is always present at the Greek table and nearly every dish Greek cooks prepare uses this highly prized oil.
According to legend, Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom, is responsible for giving Athens the olive tree as a gift. It is unclear in some of the re-telling of this story whether other parts of Ancient Greece already had the olive tree or not. However, the story shows that the olive tree was highly important to the people of Ancient Greece.
In the legend, Athena and Poseidon were in competition over who would have the new city-state named after them. Poseidon struck the ground with his staff and gave the Athenians the gift of flowing salt water. Athena struck the ground with her staff and it turned into an olive tree.
Since the olive tree provided wood, nourishment, and trade, she won. The olive tree became a symbol of peace because of this victory.
Even though Athena is credited with giving the Athenians the gift of the olive tree, it is really the Early Minoan Civilization on Crete who displays evidence of being the first to cultivate the olive tree in 3500 BC.
Over time, the Minoans on Crete perfected the process of cultivating the tree and it became an important part of their culinary tradition and also helped generate income through trade. They were the first to export olive oil to both Africa and the Middle East.
The Ancient Greeks understood that olive oil was highly nutritious. Therefore, top philosophers and physicians in the 7th century BC in Ancient Greece explored the use of olive oil as medicine. Hippocrates, for example, used it for various things when he was treating his patients. Nowadays, olive oil is used to help with digestive problems, skin conditions, coughs, sore throat, congestion, and other respiratory complaints.
It’s also considered a health cure and essential beauty aid. The oil is used to combat dry skin, control frizzy hair, and even soothe irritated skin. It even played an important part in the Olympic games by becoming a symbol of the games themselves and part of the award given to winners. The olive tree, therefore, was not only important in history, but it also is still highly important today.
To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Boston
To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Boston
Published in
Greek Food & Diet
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Monday, 29 August 2016 07:00
Ancient Greece's Restored 'Tower Of Winds' Is Now Open To Public
After the restoration of the 2,000 year-old Aerides Clocktower, also known as the 'Tower of Winds,' is finally open to the public after 200 years. The Tower of Winds still stands at the bottom of Athens' Acropolis hill despite attempts by Lord Elgin to move it to Britain.
It is said to be the world’s first weather station and was used by merchants to tell the time – even in darkness. At nearly 14 meters (46 feet) tall, it is credited to the architect and astronomer Andronicus of Cyrrhus, but all these years later no one knows exactly how it worked.
Stelio Daskalakis, head of conservation, said “It was of great value for the merchants to read the weather and also tell the time their goods would arrive.”
Based on the most prominent theory, a hydraulic mechanism powered a water clock device with water flowing from a stream on the Acropolis hill.
“It’s unique in that such an important work was not a temple but had a utilitarian use,” Daskalakis said. “We don’t know who funded it, whether it was private or a high-ranking official.
Over the years, the Aerides Clocktower transformed from a weather station to a place of worship. Restorers discovered fragments of frescoes with Christian subject matter, including an angel and a saint on horseback. In addition, a mihrab niche was carved in the direction of Mecca and Ottoman inscriptions decorate its walls.
The monument has been largely shut to the public since the Dervishes left in 1828, barring brief use to store antiquities in 1843. The years took their toll, as did natural disasters, and pollution, prompting a full restoration, which began in 2014.
To read this article in full, please visit: Ekathimerini
To read this article in full, please visit: Ekathimerini
Published in
Local News
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Tuesday, 30 August 2016 07:00
Traditional Dance Festival In Greece Wins European Award
The traditional dance festival called ‘Diamantis Palaiologos,’ held on Skopelos island this August, won a European award by the EILEEN (Enhancing Intercultural Learning in European Enterprises) project. There were over 600 participants and volunteers this year from Greece, Cyprus, Ukraine, and Nepal.
The Festival of Traditional Dances ‘Diamantis Palaiologos’ is a member of European Folklore Festival Association and is organized by Konstantina Angeletou, President of the Plegma, a nonprofit organization, along with the Thessaly Region.
The Greek National Commission to UNESCO, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Education, Research and Religious Affairs, the Greek National Tourism Organisation and the Municipality of Skopelos embrace this big cultural event, putting the Festival under their auspices.
To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Reporter
To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Reporter
Published in
Greece In The News
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Thursday, 01 September 2016 07:00
Ancient Grave Site Found Could Point To Earliest Date In Athenian History
What archaeologists found at the ancient Cemetery of Phaleron in Athens were at least 80 skeletons with their wrists clamped together in iron shackles.
Archaeologists have speculated and suggested that the skeletons appear to be the victims of a mass execution, but their crime still remains to be unknown.
What archaeologists are now saying with a new theory is that the skeletons came from the ‘Cylonian Affair’ from 632 BC, the earliest reliably dated event in Athenian history.
The event refers to a failed coup attempt led by aristocratic Cylon, who once plotted to overthrow the Athenian elites with the help of his tyrannical father-in-law. This was during a time of civil unrest in the ancient society.
The grave site of the Phaleron Delta necropolis is thought to date back between 8th and 5th centuries BC and is from a time of great social turmoil.
To test this theory, Dr. Stella Chryssoulaki who is head of excavations, said that more research is needed to confirm if the skeletons are the remnants of Cylon’s failed coup attempt. DNA tests could confirm this theory.
Over 1,500 bodies were buried in the Phaleron Cemetery, but unlike the renowned occupants of the Kerameikos cemetery where many elite Greeks were buried, the Phaleron Delta necropolis appears to be the final resting place of Athens’ everyday inhabitants from ordinary backgrounds.
Article Source: Euro News
Article Source: Euro News
Published in
Local News
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Tuesday, 23 August 2016 07:00
Point - A Bar Restaurant
Author and blogger, Rebecca Hall, from Life Beyond Borders blog, shares her experience at Point, a restaurant and bar at the Herodion Hotel.
You don’t have to be a guest at the Herodian in order to enjoy an evening at Point a Bar Restaurant. Because of its proximity to the Parthenon and New Acropolis Museum, apparently the construction of the new restaurant and decor had to be approved by the Minister of Culture, in keeping with the ancient surrounding and so as not to stick out like a sore thumb. I’ll think you’ll agree that they managed it successfully.
Guests can expect an eclectic menu and cocktail list when they go to wine and dine here. With tapas dishes such as Olive oil sorbet ice-cream, Loukamades, and eggplant stuffed with onions, garlic, and tomatoes, visitors don’t leave hungry.
The view from Point a Restaurant and Bar is worth coming for alone, watch the full moon rise and relax with a drink.
Point is great for couples and groups as their rooftop bar and restaurant caters up to 80 people. You can sit on a communal dining table, intimate table arrangement or relaxing easy chairs, the choice is yours.
To read this article in full, please visit: Life Beyond Borders
To read this article in full, please visit: Life Beyond Borders
Published in
Restaurants In Athens
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Monday, 22 August 2016 17:40
Stunning Pictures Of Greece From Above
An innovative site called TripInView hopes to change the way tourists perceive travel by presenting a bird’s eye view of the best sites that destinations have to offer. Their mission is to inform and offer the latest information on weather, location, and details regarding each destination from above.
TripInView takes geotagged aerial photographs and video of the entire coastline of countries that offer the best beaches and sun in a unique way. Here, they present Greece in a phenomenal way, from a bird’s eye!
Article Source: Greek Reporter
To view the FULL gallery of Greece from above, please visit: TripInView
Article Source: Greek Reporter
To view the FULL gallery of Greece from above, please visit: TripInView
Published in
Travel Greece
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Thursday, 18 August 2016 07:00
Spiros Gianniotis Wins Silver For Greece In 10k Open-Water Swimming At Rio Olympics
After chartering through an Olympic course that avoids Brazil’s most controversial waters, Greek swimming legend Spiros Gianniotis proved that he had the endurance required, winning the Silver medal for Greece. Gianniotis was just shy of winning Gold, coming in behind Dutch Ferry Weertman by just a few milliseconds. Weertman swam the event in 1 hour 52 minutes and 59.8 seconds. Gianniotis came within a hair’s breadth of winning at 1:52:59.8.
About Gianniotis
Born in Corfu and half-English, Gianniotis is 35 years old and is a senior veteran of the Greek Swimming Federation. He enjoys a track record of success on the international stage after having won two FINA World Championships in the 10km marathon swim while also being a strong contender in every international competition he has participated in. Having participated in the Olympics for 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2016, he was armed with extra motivation in what was his final opportunity to win an Olympic medal.
To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Reporter
To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Reporter
Published in
Greece In The News
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