A week-long start-up accelerator program kicked off mid-September in London with the aim of finding an idea that will make an immediate contribution to the crisis-worn Greek economy.

Six short-listed companies worked with mentors and investors, including Google executive Steve Vranakis and George Kartakis of Paypal-owned Braintree, to refine their ideas before competing in a Dragons Den-style event at the end of the week.

The ideas included a chemical formula to protect historical sites from graffiti, a scheme to recycle unused hotel toiletries, a Mastiha liqueur importer, an online education manager, a digital diary for booking civil weddings and an internet shop for items handmade by Greek businesses.

The accelerator challenge, which was run in partnership with Watershed Entrepreneurs, was organised by Reload Greece, a non-profit organisation that encourages entrepreneurship from Greek expats and others that will have a social and economic impact in Greece.

"As we are based in London, we are tapping into the diaspora, the global community who are connected with Greece," said co-founder Effie Kyrtata, a 25-year-old Athenian who moved to London seven years ago.

"We’ve seen a lot of people leave Greece and come to other countries – the brain drain, the lost generation – and lose contact with Greece. We want to create a bridge between Greece and the UK."  

To read more, please visit: The Telegraph

 

Between Karpathos and the shores of Asia Minor, Rhodes shows evidence of Western European influence from the days of the Knights and Italian domination.

Corfu is considered the closest to Western Europe, both geographically and culturally. It was the first area of the country to be conquered by the Romans and then eventually passed through the hands of the Venetians, the French, and the British. The Corfiots have a long tradition in music, theatre, and intellectual pursuits.

Considered the Gibraltar of the Peloponnese, Monemvasia was fortified during the Middle Ages to protect the inhabitants from raids by the Avars, Slavs, and pirates. The town took its name from the Greek words meaning single approach, the point at which the rock is connected with the mainland. This medieval fortress-state is built on a rock 300 meters above the sea.

The villages here seem to have been discovered around 912, but the area was really developed during the Ottoman occupation because of the privileges awarded to its inhabitants by the conquerors. There is a chain of 46 traditional villages in the mountains north of Ioannina, whose natural boundaries are Mts Mitsikelli, Gamila, and the Aoos River. Thick pine and fir forests, crystalline streams and stunning scenery, this area never fails to awe its visitors with majestic natural beauty.

The chaos of Mani’s past history and the severity of its bizarre customs forced almost every family to have its own defensive town to live in, its own chapel, and their own cemetery. In Mani, there are 250 villages and hamlets, 800 towers, and six castles!

To read this article in full and for more old town destinations, please visit: Hip Greece

In recent years, microbreweries throughout Greece have been producing beers that come with their own Greek stamp of authenticity. From Argos, Messinia, Patras, Evia, Serres and Komotini to Crete, Santorini, Tinos, Chios, Corfu, Kefalonia, Rhodes and Piraeus, microbreweries are on the rise, creating distinctive, unpasteurized, unfiltered, aromatic beers, expanding production, raising new capital and trying to satisfy international demand as local interest in their beers also grows.

The competitive advantage of Greek microbreweries is the high quality of the tasty beers from unique recipes, achieved on account of the production of small quantities so as to enhance the flavour, the aromas and the nutritional value of the beer. They also produce organic beers using local honey and grains, just as they did thousands of years ago. Microbreweries apply environmentally-friendly processes which minimize the ecological impact and support the community through local employment practices, as well as the local economy by sourcing materials and services.

Greek brewers – once professors, pharmacists, chemists, enologists – decided to devote themselves to experimenting with beer. Their allies: the mild Greek climate, the natural fresh water springs, hops and grains, together with other ingredients used to make their beer taste good, such as pure aromatic Greek honey, citrus, spices and flowers. The first Greek microbrewery began in 1997, and today at least 20 more are operating in some of the most beautiful destinations in Greece.

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek News Agenda

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

“Athens is slightly lawless, but that’s one of the nicest things about it,” says Michael Landy, a British artist currently creating an ongoing exhibition in the city called ‘Breaking News - Athens.’ His exhibition will explore politics, culture, and the debt and refugee crisis in Greece. Landy and his eight assistants have so far created over 400 drawings, which are created from items Athenians send through the mail. Images range from pieces of graffiti to street signs, bank logos, newspaper headlines, and more.

In addition to Landy’s exhibition, BBC describes the booming arts scene in Athens and other exhibitions such as Documenta 14, which put Athens on the map in the international art world. The city attracts many, with low rents, a lively local scene, and good weather. Athens is especially attractive to artists who see the abandoned industrial buildings perfect for their next creative space.

“There is a hype around Athens, it’s true,” says Elina Kountouri, Neon’s director. “Athens is sexy now.”

As BBC says, “Perhaps, then, it’s time to stop saying that Athens is the new Berlin, and instead follow the lead of one Greek graffiti writer, who recently scrawled the following slogan in the city’s streets: “Athens is the new Athens.”

To read this article in full, please visit: BBC

Greece is a beautiful country, with picturesque landscapes, amazing beaches and many more. Hence the fact it was voted one of the best countries in the world! Also, don't miss the chance to let some drone footage of Crete take your breath away!

On the occasion of World Animal Day, the Animal Welfare Department of the Municipality of Athens launched a website dedicated to the city's strays to raise public awareness.

 

The website aims to inform users about the municipality's efforts to protect stray animals, secure a home for them, adopt registered cats and dogs, and allow them to report animal abuse incidents.

 

Citizens can also register stray animals and lost pets; receive information about pet owners and municipalities' responsibilities towards animals, and seek advice if they wish to adopt a lifelong friend.

 

The City of Athens has also initiated a program to place free microchips on pets whose owners belong to vulnerable groups. Through the program, 157 dogs and 49 cats have acquired a microchip.

 

Furthermore, the municipality has placed seven outdoor cat and dog houses, seven feeders, and 42 water bowls in various parts of Athens. The municipality plans to create parks for dogs, a temporary shelter for strays, and the first municipal veterinary clinic.

To read this article in full, please visit: gtp.gr

Athens, Greece's historic capital, is a city brimming with culture, elegance, and energy, a city bursting with life all year round. If, however, you feel like escaping the hustle and bustle for a while, taking a dip in the sea, or relaxing on a sandy beach, there's nothing stopping you from hopping on a ferry to one of the many beautiful islands just a breath away from Athens. 



1. Spetses 

Spetses is not a typical Greek island. It's a place oozing with vintage charm, an affluent paradise where you'll find charming neoclassical mansions and narrow alleyways. Cars are not allowed there, so you'll only see bicycles and carriages - it's like being transported back to another era. Walk along the waterfront, have a leisurely coffee in Dapia, and visit the Bouboulina Museum. The islands' romantic cosmopolitanism is sure to take your breath away!

2. Agistri

A tiny, picturesque island in the Saronic Gulf, Agistri is a very popular weekend getaway among Athenians. Blessed with lush pine forests, its unspoiled natural setting makes it a camper's paradise. But, there's so much more to do there. Explore the quaint traditional villages, swim in scenic coves, relax on pebbly beaches, and pay a visit to the Folk Art Museum, if you want to get to know the past everyday life of the islanders. 

3. Hydra 

Hydra has been attracting international jet setters for a long time and its aristocratic charm is, indeed, unquestionable. There, you'll see traditional white houses with blue shutters, impressive mansions dating back to the 18th century, as well as numerous churches and monasteries, as the island boasts rich religious history. Once again, cars are officially banned in Hydra, as the island has been listed for preservation due to its architectural and cultural significance. 

4. Kea

Although part of the Cyclades island group, Kea doesn't have the typical Cycladic landscape and architecture. It's a verdant island, still untouched by mass visitors, brimming with elegant buildings. Kea has a vast network of paths with wooden signposts that cover most of the island, connecting its most important landmarks. Apart from the beaches, Kea has also a lot to offer in terms of sightseeing, as there you'll find four ancient cities, one of them being Ioulis, the island's enchanting capital. 

5. Andros

The greenest island of the Cyclades, Andros is the ultimate destination for nature lovers, hiking enthusiasts, and water-sports aficionados due to its strong winds. Except for its wild natural beauty and its incredible beaches, the island is also famous for its cosmopolitan vibe. The island's capital, Chora, is full of architectural masterpieces, like elegant mansions, neoclassical buildings, and, of course, the famous lighthouse of Andros. The island boasts a variety of museums as well, making it the perfect destination for art lovers! 

British rock star Sting will celebrate his 70th birthday in Greece by giving two concerts on September 30, October 1 at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus on the slopes of the Athens Acropolis.

The “My Songs Tour”, which took Sting to several cities around the world, is in support of his thirteenth solo studio album My Songs, released on 24 May 2019.

It features new renditions of previously released songs from his illustrious four-and-a-half decade career, including fan favorites “Desert Rose,” “Fields of Gold,” “Englishman in New York” and The Police mega-hits “Roxanne,” “Message in a Bottle” and “Every Breath You Take.”

His sell-out concerts at the Odeon were highlight events during the Athens and Epidaurus Festival in late summer 2018. This time, the multi-award-winning artist, who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003, will be accompanied by his musician son, Joe Summer, frontman of the rock band Fiction Plane.

Alongside his son, Sting will be accompanied by an electric, rock ensemble including Dominic Miller (guitar), Josh Freese (drums), Rufus Miller (guitar), Kevon Webster (keyboard), Shane Sager (harmonica) with Melissa Musique and Gene Noble (backing vocals).

Sting, born Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner, was the principal songwriter, lead singer, and bassist for the new wave rock band the Police from 1977 to 1984. He launched a solo career in 1985 and has included elements of rock, jazz, reggae, classical, new-age, and worldbeat in his music.

With the Police, Sting became one of the world’s best-selling music artists. Solo and with The Police combined, he has sold over 100 million records.