Greece has launched the Covid Free Gr Wallet, a new app allowing citizens to easily save Greek and European Covid-19 certificates on their mobile phones and tablet devices.

Already available on App Store and Google Play, the app aims to facilitate the storage of digital health certificates for vaccination, recovery, and testing as well as simplify verification procedures.

Storage is possible both for the EU Digital Covid Certificate and national certificates and for as many people the user wants – for example, the whole family.

The app is similar to other digital tools already used by citizens to store and verify documents including air boarding passes and event tickets.

Users can save their documents on the Covid Free Gr Wallet simply by scanning their QR code or by uploading them in a pdf format.

The new app is also available through GOV's website.

Originally published on: news.gtp.gr

Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis launched on Friday, November 5, the GR-eco project on the island of Halki, scheduled to turn the island green.

The project, which will include other islands in the future, aims at providing residents with lower electricity bills, reducing environmental pollution, and upgrading energy and telecommunications infrastructure.

Halki is a little island in the Dodecanese archipelago, located just 6 km west of Rhodes. Still untouched by mass tourism, Halki is the perfect destination either for relaxing vacations away from the bright lights or for a quick getaway from Rhodes island.

The benefit of the project for Halki is estimated to be a total of 180,000-250,000 euros per year, while the “green” energy from the solar energy power plants replaces the electricity production from oil resources from the Rhodes units, resulting in the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions by 1,800 tons per year, the Greek government says.

Halki and the Dodecanese Islands will become sites of dynamic investments in green and cyclical economies, Mitsotakis said, which means cheap electricity and new jobs for the residents.

Residents will work with municipalities to produce the energy they consume, practically nulling the cost of the energy, he explained. “This model of energy democracy can and must become an example for every island, reducing costs on residential bills,” ushering in the era of prosumers, or producers/consumers who take advantage of natural energy sources without additional expense, Mitsotakis noted.

The crisis can become an opportunity under these circumstances, while Greece’s strategic location makes it a hub of energy transfer. “This is the meaning of the recent agreement with Egypt – such agreements turn into shields defending our borders as well,” the premier underlined, urging additional islands and their councils to join the GR-eco islands model.

Earlier in the week, during a speech at the United Nations Conference on Climate Change COP26, he noted that “our pioneering strategy, GR-eco, will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 10 million tons, gradually turning our islands into 100% green and sustainable, autonomous destinations.”

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

Stunning digital reconstruction of the site of the ancient Olympic Games by Microsoft’s Augmented Reality app “Ancient Olympia: Common Grounds.” the project allows visitors to travel back in time, to the site of the Ancient Olympic Games and find Common Ground in values inspired by Ancient Olympia.

The digital revival project allows viewers around the world to explore the site of the Ancient Olympia as it was more than 2,000 years ago. It is an exciting experience through an interactive mobile app, the PC, and the exhibition of Microsoft HoloLens 2 housed in the Olympic Museum of Athens.

The project restores digitally and in 3D a total of 27 monuments in the area, among them, a Gymnasium where athletes trained and a Stadium that was home to the Olympic Games in honor of Zeus, the Temples of Zeus and Hera, the workshop of Pheidias.

To download the Microsoft Augmented Reality app “Ancient Olympics" please visit the Microsoft website or olympiacommongorunds.gr

Digitally recording and accurately representing all the details of everyday life in Ancient Olympia was no small task. In the 3D experience, buildings are recreated in lifelike detail, painstakingly researched by the Hellenic Ministry’s expert archaeologists to be as true as possible to their original forms. This includes historical timelines of the site’s changes over time and depictions of artifacts from each period, the Microsoft notes.

Through its AI for Cultural Heritage initiative, Microsoft partnered with technology company Iconem, which specializes in digitizing historic sites in 3D, to create the foundational model of Ancient Olympia. Using both on-the-ground cameras and drones to take hundreds of thousands of images of the site, Microsoft AI then processed the pictures to create models so precise, they render as photo-realistic, the company said.

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. 

---

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.

Trams will start serving the recently extended line to Piraeus in the next few days, according to the Athens Urban Rail Transport Company (STASY).

The two routes that will serve the expansion are the N6 Syntagma-Pikrodafni and the N7 Asklipieio Voulas – Akti Poseidonos Piraeus. Both routes can be accessed by commuters in southern Athens at the Pikrodafni stop on Poseidonos Avenue, between the Edem and Marina Alimou stops.

Passengers who start their journeys from Syntagma will have to switch trams at Pikrodafni to get to Piraeus.

In the meantime, the test runs for the link to Piraeus port have been reportedly progressing smoothly over the past two weeks, and the only pending issue is the announcement of the exact start date of the itineraries. ​​​​​​

The contract for the 5.4-kilometer route connecting the center of Athens to the port was signed in 2013 and the project was beset by snags and delays.

Originally published on: ekathimerini.com

Lamda Development announced that on December 20, just six months after the listed construction company signed the contract for the development of the plot at the old Athens airport, it will open a part of the Elliniko Metropolitan Park to the public.

The “Experience Park” covers an area in excess of 70,000 square meters and constitutes an integral part of the Metropolitan Park. Five hundred trees have been planted on the site alongside 55,000 other plants – all Mediterranean species.

It further features a water fountain, a children’s playground, and the Zen Garden, ideal for relaxation.

It also has a Christmas tree, which will remain in place until January 9.

Originally published on: ekathimerini.com

A new 400-square meter ice rink opened on Tuesday, December 14th, in Kotzia Square in Athens, as part of the festive events organized by the City of Athens. Skating at the rink, which will be open until January 6th, will be free of charge, though electronic pre-booking is required, through here (beware, link only in Greek).

Several more ice rinks have already opened around the city. Worth visiting for example is the rink set up in the middle of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center canal, which will be open until February 6 this year (skating there is also free, with obligatory pre-registration here), and the rink at Village Shopping & More, in Renti, which will also stay open until February (skating here costs €10 including skate rental, and you can skate for as long as you want). You’ll also find rinks at many malls, at the Megaron Music Hall, and at the some of city’s Christmas markets.

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

The transformation of Athens into a smart and sustainable city, where citizens enjoy living and working in it, is one of the top priorities of the Municipality. In the last two years, the Municipality of Athens has developed a series of bold interventions, creating new digital infrastructures and services that make the daily life of the citizens easier.

The Municipality of Athens has already created 118 easy-to-use digital services, which cater to the needs of both citizens and local businesses. Thousands of citizens can now receive certificates and documents online, thus avoiding the need to visit state services and helping prevent overcrowding.

In the past month, the Municipality of Athens took another important digital step, enabling residents and visitors of the capital to enjoy free internet access in 11 parts of the city. Available in some of the city’s busiest neighborhoods, these free wifi hotspots allow citizens to save internet data and money.

During the first three months of its operation, the program has offered free wifi access to over 100,000 users with almost 300,000 unique connections recorded so far.

The areas where free internet access is provided are the following: Syntagma Square, Lycabettus Square, Iroon Square (Psyrri Square), Kotzia Square, Seraphio of the Municipality of Athens, Central Library of the Municipality of Athens (Domokou 2), Cultural Center (Akadimias 50), Liosion 22, Karamanou Square, 1st Cemetery of Athens, and KEP Victoria.

Athens’ citizens and visitors can access the WiFi4EU network from the list of available wifi hotspots on their mobile devices. By selecting “WiFi4EU” and pressing “Login”, they gain free internet access for the next 12 hours, without having to enter any personal information to use the network.

"This initiative marks the beginning of a new era, in which free digital services, focusing on citizens, are being developed every day. Our goal is to extend the program to all 129 neighborhoods of Athens, so that every citizen and every visitor of the city has the opportunity, within the framework of equal opportunities, to use the internet. Athens has entered dynamically into the new digital age.", emphasized the Mayor of Athens, Costas Bakogiannis.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, one of Athens’ most iconic and visited monuments, turns 90 this year.

Both visitors and locals who gather in large numbers to see the change of the guard are likely not aware that its construction was hugely controversial throughout the seven years it took from planning to completion.

Building the monument required extensive landscaping, as the Parliament building behind it was previously level with the upper part of Syntagma Square.

The head of the National Gallery, novelist Zacharias Papantoniou, called the project an ‘aesthetic nightmare’ and many architects held similar views.

What the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Is

The Tomb of the Unknown soldier is located in Syntagma Square in Athens by the Hellenic Parliament building.

The tomb honors all those Greek soldiers who were ever killed in war and each day, there is a special ceremony performed here that further honors the following. While visiting the city, you absolutely don’t want to miss the chance to not only see the tomb itself but to view the ceremony if you are able.

The Hellenic Parliament building, however, is more than just the parliament. That building has a rich history, as well, since it was the palace when Greece was ruled by a monarchy.

Best Time to View the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

You can head to Syntagma Square at any time in order to view the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It is guarded by an Evzone soldier who is dressed up in the traditional uniform. Every hour, there is a changing of the guard ceremony located at the tomb where one Evzone soldier comes to relieve the other of his duty. If you have a chance to watch this ceremony, it’s worth the effort.

Every week at 11 AM on Sundays, there is an even larger ceremony where a group of soldiers marches to the tomb. There is also a band that marches with the soldiers, playing traditional Greek military songs. To get the full experience, you should try to not only watch the hourly changing of the guard ceremony at least once but also the event that takes place on Sundays.

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