With its sparkling blue seas, sunny skies, spectacular landscapes, and rich history, Greece, over the years has inspired many filmmakers to choose the country as a backdrop to their movies. From action movies to rom-coms, here are our all-time favorite films set in glorious Greece!




Zorba the Greek (1964)


Stavros Beach in Crete. Credit: @the_pics_of_crete

Starring Anthony Quinn and Alan Bates, this iconic film follows the story of Basil, a wealthy, educated, English gentleman who forms an unlikely friendship with Alexis Zorba, an uneducated, coarse, Greek peasant. Based on a novel by Greek writer Nikos Kazantzakis, the film was shot in various locations in Crete, including Chania, Apokrounas, and Akrotiri. Quinn's iconic sirtaki dancing scene was filmed on the beach of Stavros. Mikis Theodorakis composed the film's music, which became legendary. 

Boy on a Dolphin (1957)


The Sophia Loren windmill in Hydra. Credit: @lucydodsworth

Sophia Loren’s English debut happens to also be the first Hollywood movie filmed in Greece. The majority of the film was shot in Hydra, but there were some scenes shot in Athens, Rhodes, and Delos as well. This was the first movie to showcase the stunning beauty of the Greek islands. On the western tip of Hydra Harbour lies Phaedra's Windmill, also known as Sophia Loren's windmill, and right opposite stands a statue of a boy on a dolphin to commemorate this historic cinematic event. 

Mamma Mia! (2008)


Agios Ioannis Church, Skopelos. Credit: @skopelos.gr

Skopelos, Skiathos, and Pelion provided the lovely scenery for the 2008 rom-com-musical blockbuster, starring Mery Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, and Amanda Seyfried among others. The church of Agios Ioannis in Skopelos, where the wedding scene was filmed, became the reason for many people to visit the small charming island of Sporades. 

Captain Corelli's Mandolin (2001)


Antisamos Beach, Kefalonia. Credit: @vibrant_kefalonia

Based on the book ‘Captain Corelli’s Mandolin’ by Louis de Bernières, is a romantic drama set during the Italian occupation of Greece during WWII. Starring Penelope Cruz and Nicolas Cage, the film tells the story of a Greek woman who is abandoned by her fiancé and an Italian captain stationed on the island. Exclusively filmed in Kefalonia, particularly in Sami, Antisamos, and Fiscardo, it goes to show how abundant and majestic this Ionian island is. 

The Big Blue (1988) 


Panagia Hozoviotissa, Amorgos. Credit: @giannistsou.1

Starring Jean-Marc Barr and Jean Reno this is a story of the rivalry between two childhood friends, but also an anthem to the endless blue Greek Sea. Directed by Luc Besson, this French film was mostly shot in the Cycladic island of Amorgos, though some scenes were also shot in the neighboring islands of Ios and Mykonos. The movie featured a lot of underwater scenes, wonderfully promoting the Aegean Sea and its seabed.

For Your Eyes Only (1981)


Kanoni, Corfu. Credit: @mykerkyra_com

Starring Roger Moore as Agent 007, the scenic shooting locations of this film will absolutely amaze you. The movie is shot in Corfu island and the tiny islet of Kanoni and in the impressive cliffs of Meteora and the Monastery of Agia Triada in particular. 

They look like children’s book illustrations; scatterings of small stone houses with tile roofs and flowering gardens, clinging to steep hills in the forest. Others dazzle in bright colors by the water’s edge – their doorsteps right on the quay. Some of Greece’s most picturesque villages will make you feel like you’ve stepped into a very well-curated theme park, portraying the worlds of your favorite fairy tales and dreams.

Here are a few of the villages we always return to whenever reality in the city gets too grim.

Two of the most famous stone-built villages in Epirus are Megalo Papigo and Mikro Papigo (big and small Papigo). Located an altitude of 950 and 1,050 meters above the sea respectively, they combine incredible landscapes with high-quality stays at top hotels and guesthouses, built from stone and with slate roofs, in the traditional style of Epirus. On visits here, we enjoy spectacular views of the rocky Astraka Towers and the Vikos Gorge, Zagori’s excellent local cuisine and products, spa experiences and, above all, the warm hospitality of the locals, who are deeply connected to the land.

Olympos, Karpathos


@samiappolonia

The traditional village of Olympos, on Karpathos, is special in many ways. Many travel here to experience the serenity of what seems to be a place where time has stood still; wandering around the village, you might see women working their looms, artists painting ceramic plates, or a cobbler at work on a pair of boots. But besides that, Olympos is also about as picturesque as villages come. The view of it from afar reminds us of legos on a hill, and the view from the balconies of the houses is unbeatable.

Pyrgi, Chios


@ozguroksuzz

On the island of Chios, there’s a group of traditional villages known worldwide as the “mastichohoria” (mastic villages), named for the mastic industry that long underpinned their economies. The most stunning of these villages is Pyrgi, famous for the black-and-white geometrical patterns on the village houses – “etchings” formed using the black sand from Mavra Volia and drawn with a fork on a thin undercoat of lime.

Makrinitsa, Pilio


@aba_tziz

Justifiably described as “the balcony of Pilio,” the views of Volos and the Pagasetic Gulf from Makrinitsa are unique, but your eyes are more likely to wander to the pretty stone buildings and the unusual rough stone paving on the streets, which is difficult to walk on (don’t wear heels here), but practical when it snows in the winter, and very pretty. In the square under the plane trees there is a marble fountain with four bronze lion heads; legend has it that its water confers immortality.

Mikro Horio & Megalo Horio, Evritania


@elladamesaapofotografies

On the hills above the town of Karpenissi, you’ll find the traditional settlements Megalo Horio (literally “big village’) and the old and new Mikro Horio (“small village”). The former is the most touristy, featuring cafés and pastry shops lining the main road as well as shops selling local products, catering mainly to the coach loads of visitors to the Monastery of Prousiotissa.

On the opposite hillside is the Palio Mikro Chorio (“old small village”), which was cut in two by a landslide in January of 1963, and retains architectural elements that make it much more interesting than Neo Mikro Chorio (“new small village”), which was built further down by the survivors who had lost their homes.

To read this article in full, please visit: greece-is.com

Experience Christmas magic at the largest and most exciting festive village in Athens! 

Santa Claus loads his sleigh and together with Mrs. Vasileina and the elves they put on their masks and get ready to land in Gazi - Technopolis ready to welcome locals and visitors!

Visitors will have the chance to wander around an open-air Christmas market where they'll find toys, candies, souvenirs, lucky charms and of course gifts for their dear ones.

A Christmas park wouldn’t be complete without a dreamy carousel, a bright wheel and an open food court filled with 15 restaurants serving hot dogs, souvlaki, pizza and much more!

Hard Rock Cafe® Athens is ringing in the season of giving by inviting guests to come together over its limited-time Thanksgiving plate available from Thursday, November 25 to Sunday, November 28.

From mouthwatering, slow-roasted turkey breast, to traditional home-style sides including classic stuffing and beyond, friends and families will want to give thanks together at Hard Rock Café Athens.

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Important Correction Notice: In our newsletter of November 19th, 2021, we incorrectly advertised a 20% off VIP card discount offered by the Hard Rock Cafe Athens. Although HRC Athens does offer a 20% discount to our readers, this discount is NOT APPLICABLE for special menus like the one outlined here for Thanksgiving.

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The limited-time Thanksgiving menu is available for four days only, so diners are encouraged to feast while they can!  

Delight Tastebuds with these Thanksgiving Classics:

- Slow-roasted Turkey Breast with Traditional Turkey Gravy
- Roasted Fresh Vegetables
- Home-Style Classic Stuffing
- Creamy Sweet Potato Mash
- Cranberry Sauce

Desserts and Drinks to Satisfy a Sweet Tooth:

-  Pumpkin Pie
- Chilled Espresso Martini

 

ECLIPSE, designed to reveal the diverse aspects of the transition we are experiencing now, aims to awaken the audiences’ imagination on the possible parallel worlds and different versions of the future. ECLIPSE features more than 80 artists, both up-and-coming and renowned, from North and South America, the Caribbean, Africa, and Europe, with 32 new productions and premieres, in iconic buildings at the heart of Athens.

The 7^th Athens Biennale offers an arena to interrogate many of the ideas, queries, concerns, and desires that are frequently not platformed within a Biennial format. In an effort to activate a dynamic cross-cultural discourse, ECLIPSE will highlight the works of artists from the African Diaspora in addition to other artistic voices that have historically been pushed to the periphery. This engagement will be articulated through the use of a “Black Lens” as one of the frameworks. This approach seeks to engage the varying perspectives and artistic practices percolating within the African diaspora. This dialogue will be situated alongside a complimentary framework of artistic interventions that use dynamic manifestations to compose unique practical narratives. Their aim is to strategically address the viewers imagination of potential parallel worlds and futures. Composing a set of spaces that platform ideas such as radical care, interspecies friendship and sonic viewing strategies, ECLIPSE presents a translocal chapter of contemporary thought on how to co-exist within a world differently.




Venues:

Former Department Store
FOKAS, 41 Stadiou Str.

Former Santaroza Courthouse
48 Stadiou & Arsaki Str.

Justice Square
Arsaki & Panepistimiou Str.

Schliemann-Mela Hall
46 Panepistimiou Str.

Onassis Stegi
107-109 Syngrou Avenue

A long, long time ago, before there was football, there was episkyros, an ancient Greek ball game. Highly team-work oriented, the game was played with one ball, between two teams each consisting of around 12 to 14 players.

The field was marked with a central white line called the ‘skyros’ dividing the two teams, and another white line behind each team to mark the ends of the field. In the game, which was often quite violent, particularly in Sparta, each team would attempt to throw the ball over the heads of the opposing team. The objective of the game was to play until one team was forced behind the line at their end, with agility and speed being a player’s most useful skills.

However, it wasn’t easy as it sounds as players had to pass within their own team several times whilst also evading the defenders from the other team before they were able to toss the ball over the opponent’s line. If a team had possession of the ball on their own line, defenders could gang tackle him back over the line for a point.

A very similar game to episkyros was phaininda, which takes its name from Phaenides, who first invented it, or derived from the Greek word ‘phenakiein’ (to deceive) because the players would show the ball to one man but then throw it to another, contrary to expectation.

These Greek games of episkyros and phaininda were later adopted by the Romans.

FIFA has acknowledged the ancient Greek game of episkyros as an ancient version of modern-day rugby league. 

“ The Greek Episkyros – of which few concrete details survive – was much livelier, as was the Roman Harpastum. ” FIFA.com explains.

A vase on display at the National Archaeological Museum, Athens shows a depiction of a young Greek athlete, balancing a ball on his thigh. It is this same vase that inspired the design of today’s European Cup football trophy.

To read this article in full, please visit: greekcitytimes.com

The Municipality of Athens created the first-ever Japanese garden in Greece, located in Nereidon Park, in Pangrati, just behind the National Gallery.

With a total area of ​​3,500 sq.m, the new thematic park is fast becoming one of the most important recreational areas in the Greek capital. Part of Athens' "Adopt Your City" program, this project was realized with the support of JT International Hellas, under the auspices of the Embassy of Japan in Greece. The idea behind the design of such a special meeting point between Greek and Japanese culture was inspired by the President of the Greek - Japanese Association, Demosthenes Vratsanou.

Based on the “biophilic design”, an architectural concept aiming to increase connectivity between people and the natural environment, the garden includes various elements from different eras of the Japanese tradition, featuring spots with lush vegetation and water, set in accordance with the principles of Japanese culture for a balanced shift between earth, water, and fire. 

The selection of plants has been based on the local climate. The garden includes both Japanese and Mediterranean plants. Japanese maples, cherry blossoms, and bamboos coexist in harmony with laurels, myrtle trees, and daphnes. The garden also features shrubs, rocks, and pebbles forming beautiful paths, as well as charming relaxation areas made from granite. 

A ceremony to lay the foundation stone for the project was held last week in the presence of the Mayor of Athens, Costas Bakoyannis, the Ambassador of Japan, Yasunori Nakayama, and other officials.

“Athens is dynamically evolving into a metropolis that looks forward. The newly upgraded park of the city, covering an area of ​​3.5 acres, creates a green "oasis" in the dense urbanscape of Athens, radically changing its appearance. We invite Athenians to visit the park, walk along its paths, and discover the feeling of peace that this special place offers. Big projects for the city are ahead. Athens will continue to become greener, more beautiful, and more sustainable.", Costas Bakoyannis stated. 

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XpatAthens extends a warm thank you to the City Of Athens for sharing news and inspiring stories about how Athens aspires to be a clean, friendly, and welcoming city to live in.

Prior to the lockdown, travel had become so affordable and easy that distances seemed to have disappeared. The pandemic dramatically changed the way we travel, making it almost prohibitive. At this point in time, as people begin to travel again, albeit with restrictions, FokiaNou Art Space has invited artists to contemplate anew the whole idea of travel. In various media including painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, photography, collage and video, 23 artists  have ruminated on travel and how it has been affected by the pandemic, the internet, Google Earth, climate change, and nostalgia.

Participating artists: Clemence B.T.D. Barret, John Bicknell, Clancy Cavnar, Mary Cox, Sarah Anne Cox, Susan Daboll, Jane Grover, Chris Hawtin, Werner Hermann, Maria Karachristou, Nina Kotamanidou, Kathryn Laing and Iliana Theodoropoulou, Loula Leventi, Dimitra Maltabe, Lea Petrou, Eleftheria Rapanaki, Stella Sevastopoulos, Maaike Stutterheim, Angel Torticollis, Georgia Touliatou, Alina Tsompanelli, Kiveli Zachariou. Curated by Mary Cox and Panagiotis Voulgaris.

FokiaNou Art Space is an artist-run project space in the intimacy of a small apartment in an old building in the center of Athens. The space encourages collaborative creative efforts between Greek and foreign artists, thereby promoting and supporting the local art community. The space hosts exhibitions, workshops and projects under the direction of two artists, Mary Cox and Panagiotis Voulgaris. 

Opening:  Saturday 20 November, 18.00
Duration:   20 November - 18 December 2021
Hours:  Thursday – Saturday 17.00-20.00

CNN Travel has included Greece’s Nafplio on its list of Europe’s most beautiful towns.

The online magazine’s list includes some of the most attractive small towns across Europe, from humble fishing towns to hilltop medieval power bases.

A town in the area of Argolis in eastern Peloponnese, Nafplio was selected for its history, castles and impressive old town.

“Gorgeous Nafplio straddles the Aegean Sea in the Peloponnese, with its Venetian-built castle thrusting into the water (there are three castles to visit there) and a pretty Old Town spooling out behind the old walls,” the article says.

CNN Travel also refers to the town’s long history: Nafplio was the first capital of modern Greece. Furthermore, it suggests that travelers visit the archaeological museum which contains items dating back to the Mycenean age.

Other European towns included on CNN Travel’s list are Giethoorn, Netherlands; Guimarães, Portugal; Roscoff, France; Anghiari, Italy; Mostar, Bosnia and Herzigovina; Mazara del Vallo, Sicily; Clovelly, UK; Dinkelsbühl, Germany; Korčula, Croatia; Kenmare, Ireland; Piran, Slovenia; Reine, Norway; Regencos, Spain and Tarnów, Poland.

Originally published on: news.gtp.gr

Greece has moved up 10 spots in the Climate Change Performance Index’s 2022 ranking released last week.

Greece went from the 24th to 34th place in the CCPI’s 2022 report. The authors note that Greece was able to rise the ranks of the index partially because of its plan to eliminate lignite, a form of coal that is less carbon-dense.

The improvement was also attributed to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ climate law presented at the COP26 summit, as well as the latest edition of the country’s National Plan for Energy and Climate, which aims to hit the European Union’s emissions goals for the end of the decade.

The Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) analyzes the impact 64 countries and the European Union (counted as a whole) have made on the world in their response to the issue of climate change, ranking them based on their positive engagement with the environment.

Greece lands in the “yellow” zone of this year’s Climate Change Performance Index

The team behind the index stated that none of the countries evaluated met their standard for the top three spots in the index this year which qualify a country’s positive effect on climate change as “very high.”

Leading the group at number four, however, is Denmark, with an overall index rating of 76.92. The country was joined at the top by fellow Northern European countries Sweden and Norway — which ranked fifth and sixth, respectively – -all meeting the standards of “high” performance in working atop ameliorate the climate crisis.

Of the countries so evaluated, Greece landed somewhere in the middle, coming in at number 24 on the index, a yellow coded ranking that denotes a “medium” amount of engagement with climate change.

To read this article in full, please visit: greerkreporter.com