A 2015 circulating commemorative €2 coin from Greece marks the 75th anniversary of death of runner Spiridon “Spyros” Louis.

Louis was known for being the first marathon winner of the modern Olympic Games, the summer event conducted in Greece in 1896.

Many sports clubs in Greece and abroad still carry his name, as does the main stadium at the Athens Olympic Sports Complex, where the 2004 Summer Olympics were held.

Louis’ fame reached Hollywood, as well, as the 1962 Jayne Mansfield movie It Happened in Athens was a heavily fictionalized account of Louis and the marathon.

The coin is being issued during the third quarter of 2015, according to the announcement from the European Commission.

The coin design shows Louis and the cup that he was awarded, against the background with the Panathenaic Stadium. Inscribed along the inner center are legends in Greek detailing the country of issue and “In Memoriam of Spyros Louis.”

To read more, please visit: Pappas Post

What to do in Greece during the Christmas holidays!? Fortunately, Greece is a terrific place to be at anytime during the year and especially during the Christmas holidays.

Hopefully you have a few days to experience some of the great ideas that we've suggested for you below. All of these ideas are great for the whole family, with friends or if you're traveling solo.

Find A Great Bakery Or Drop In At A Friend's House
Christmas in Greece brings many traditions from different parts of the country, but one tradition that is the same everywhere is all the great desserts! Visit a Greek friend's house during the holidays or a local bakery to try some of these traditional Christmas flavours:

Melomakarona - traditional Christmas cookies with delicious Greek honey.
Kourabiedes - traditional Christmas cookies covered in white powedered icing sugar.
Orange Cake - oranges are in season during the winter in Greece and many traditional recipes call for orange.
Diples - thinly folded pastry drizzled lightly with yummy Greek honey.
Vasilopita - traditional sweet bread baked for new years day.

This is a terrific combination for skiing and swimming! One day you can go skiing on the mountain of Voras (Kaimaktsalan), stay in the village of Old Agios Athanassios, and the next day (or even the same day) you can visit the Thermal Springs of Pozar.  If you're feeling adventurous, you can even hike along the river at Pozar too.
 

The ski center at Kaimaktsalan is very big, well organized and fun for the whole family. You may also want to rent a snow-bike and ride to the top where an ice church covered with snow stands. This church was constructed by soldiers - entirely build from war material, even bomb shells and barbwire.

Feeling a bit sore? Within 1 hour (or 1.5hrs if foggy) you can soak your body in the hot healing waters of Pozar (with temperatures nearing zero degrees). Feeling a bit risky? Try the hot/cold combination. Next to the thermal poll, there's a freezing waterfall that pours its waters over you. The benefits for the body are superb. 

As you leave Kaimaktsalan, do not forget to pass through the city of Edessa. There you will find the waterfalls located inside the city and it's a magnificent spectacle. You can even cross the narrow path that goes behind the waterfall - a great photo opportunity. Try walking to the waterfall base, then look up!

 
Explore The Dream City Of Drama
Drama is a city within a city and is a dream for adults and children alike. The city comes alive at this time of year with many traditional festivities from December to January. In addition to the whole city being decorated for the season, there are many cultural events and programs to enjoy for the whole family. Drama is close to many other great towns and villages to discover in norther Greece, so make sure that you book a couple days to make the most of discovering the area.

To read this article in full, please visit: A Greek Adventure

The Istanbul Biennial, one of Turkey's biggest art festivals, reached international waters with this year’s theme of ‘a good neighbor.’ As Lonely Planet reports, part of the biennial’s series of ‘neighboring events,’ Turkish art Volkan Aslan has installed his video work of ‘Home Sweet Home at the Municipal Art Gallery of Mytilini on Less.

The strong cultural and historical linkages between Turkey and Greece recur throughout the Lesvos exhibition. The gallery itself is housed in the restored former mansion of Halim Bey, the island’s last Ottoman governor and the great-grandfather of Turkish art collector Can Elgiz, whose family photos and mementos fill one first-floor room.

The couple, who own the Elgiz Museum of contemporary art in İstanbul, helped bring Aslan’s work to Lesvos as part of an on-going cultural-exchange agreement with the local municipality.

To read this article in full, please visit: Lonely Planet

With the amount of harmful plastic litter in our oceans and seas, the EU has proposed new EU-wide rules to target the 10 most used single-use plastic products, as well as abandoned fishing gear, most often found on Europe's beaches and seas.

The single-use plastics campaign, which launched on World Environment Day in June 2018, will introduce more readily available, affordable, and sustainable alternatives to the these products, as well as banning some from the market. For products that don't necessarily have a good alternative, the focus will be to limit their use through national consumption reduction and implementing design and labelling requirements, as well as waste management/clean-up obligations for producers.

According to this EU fact sheet and the single-use plastics campaign, 43% of all marine litter polluting our oceans is made up of these 10 types of single-use plastic items:

The campaign is aimed at young, dynamic adults who are always on-the-go, who are concerned about the environment, but continue to make daily choices that affect it. Enjoying take-away coffees and single-use straws are just a few examples. Part of the marketing efforts of the single-use plastics campaign includes a video, which you can watch below.

Plastics make up 85% of marine litter across the world and 70% in Europe. Plastics are also reaching people's home, with micro-plastics in the air, water, and food affecting people's health. With this new campaign that will help tackle the plastics issue, we will see new opportunities for innovation and job creation.

The campaign is addressing all Europeans and is offered in all official EU languages. There will be special focus placed on Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, and Spain.

So, are you #ReadyToChange?

For more information, please visit: Be Ready To Change

When we think of the Cyclades islands, the traditional white houses of Mykonos and Santorini immediately spring to mind, yet not many have heard of Kea – an unsung destination, the closest Cyclades getaway to Athens, but one that feels much further away. Within an hour from the port of Lavrio, you reach a haven of serenity, an island of distinct charm and surprisingly varied landscape. Wild, rugged slopes and steep mountains contrast with vast green valleys interspersed by almond groves and oak forests. Kea or Tzia has always been popular among Athenians but still remains a hidden gem waiting to be discovered.

Kea is a hiker's paradise with a large circuit of exciting trails that lead to fascinating coves and the ruins of ancient cities. Walking is the best way to explore the island, starting from the capital, Ioulis, a traditional Cycladic settlement amphitheatrically built on the slopes of two hills, with stone-paved streets and picturesque cobbled paths that offer the ideal setting for atmospheric strolls. Some of the major attractions include the island’s mascot,  the imposing statue of the Lion of Kea, and the Venetian castle. Kea has also been blessed with lovely off-the-beaten-track beaches. The long sandy beaches of Otzias and Gialiskari are the most popular, while Koundouros is yet another incredible beach, awarded with a blue flag. The fishing village of Vourkari as well as the port of Korissia, which teems with souvenir shops, cafes and restaurants are worth exploring. Last but not least, the monastery of Panagia Kastriani located at the northeastern part of the island, structured on precipitous rocks offers sweeping vistas.

The well-preserved network of footpaths provided the ultimate setting for Kea Challenge, a trail running event that took place on 13 and 14 of April 2019. In order to promote the traditional trekking paths and the cultural history of Kea, the island participated in the Cyclades Trail Cup 2019, a series of running events in Greek islands, aiming to provide incentives for athletes to explore the Cyclades islands via unique routes, specially tailored to the topography of each area.

Kea Challenge, the first event of the Cyclades Trail Cup 2019, welcomed 120 athletes from Greece and abroad and comprised 3 unique running routes. The athletes had to combine a downhill race on the first day with either a 5 km or 18 km route on the next day. The Karthaia downhill race took place on Saturday, April 13, under pouring rain. From the Stavroudaki settlement, the participants followed the traditional paths and dirt road that led steeply down to the ancient theatre of Karthaia. After a total descent of 240 meters, the athletes were rewarded with a landscape of impeccable beauty; an unspoiled beach and the remaining fragments of columns that proved the city’s former glory. On Saturday night, the participants visited the Folklore Museum of Milopotamos village in order to listen to traditional music, mingle with the locals, and get to know Kea.

On Sunday, April 14, the athletes had a choice to participate in either the 5 km or the 18 km race. The starting point of the race was next to the Municipality building of Kea, in Ioulis. The first kilometer was along the sun-drenched streets of Chora and then the runners followed amazing hiking trails to discover Kea’s verdant and diverse landscape, green covered hills, and lush foliage. The traditional, local treats at the finish line were undoubtedly a delicious reward!

Whether you enjoy hiking, exploring historic sites, strolling down stone-laid trails, sailing or swimming in crystalline waters, the island’s distinctive morphology and amazing coastline offer unlimited options. Kea is an underrated, enchanting destination that will definitely seduce nature lovers, and is just a stone's throw away from Athens!

Photo Credit: Ypatia Kornarou - GreekTV.com

Three Greek university students won one gold and two silver medals, at the 2019 International Mathematics Competition (IMC), that took place in Bulgaria, last week.

The 2019 competition was organized by University College London and hosted by the American University of Bulgaria.

Athens in home to thousands of activities and events for people, as well as families to enjoy. If you're curious to find out, nothing beats our children's activities list, filled with fun and educational family outings in the city!

Ancient Greek architecture was produced by the Hellenic people who thrived on the Greek mainland, the Peloponnese, the Aegean Islands, and in the colonies in Anatolia and Italy from around 900 BC until the 1st century AD. The earliest remaining architectural works dating from about 600 BC.

 

Ancient Greek architecture is famous for its temples–the Parthenon being a prime example–that are found throughout the country, mostly in ruins, but a few surviving surprisingly intact. Other types of ancient Greek buildings still surviving today are open-air theaters, processional gateways (propylaea), public squares (agoras), storied colonnades (stoes), town council buildings (bouleuteria), monumental tombs (mausoleums), and stadiums.

 

There are 3 distinct orders in Ancient Greek architecture: Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian. The Romans adopted all 3 orders around the 1st century BC, and since then, they have been continually used in European Neoclassical architecture.

Even though sometimes the Doric order is considered the earliest, there is no concrete evidence to support this. In fact, the Doric and Ionic orders seem to have made their appearance at around the same point in time; the Ionic in eastern Greece and the Doric in the west and mainland.

 

The Temple of Hera in Olympia is the oldest, well-preserved Doric style temple dating back to about 600 BC. The Doric order later spread throughout Greece and Sicily, where it continued to be the leading monumental architectural style for 800 years.

The Doric order originates in the mainland and western Greece. It is the starkest architectural order and is characterized by short, organized, massive columns with plain, round capitals, and no base. With a height that is just 4 to 8 times its diameter, Doric columns are the shortest of all orders. The shaft of the Doric order columns is channeled with 20 flutes, while the capital consists of a simple ring necking or annulet. The echinus is convex, or circular cushion-like stone and the abacus is a square slab of stone. Above the capital is a square abacus that connects the capital to the entablature. The frieze of the Doric entablatures is consists of triglyphs and metopes. A triglyph is a section that consists of 3 vertical bands, separated by grooves, while a metope is the plain or carved relief located between 2 triglyphs. The Greek forms of the Doric order come without an individual base, and they are placed directly on the stylobate.

The Ionic order originates from eastern Greece and is distinguished by slender, fluted columns with a broad base and two opposed volutes or scrolls in the echinus, which is adorned with an egg-and-dart motif. The Ionic shaft comes with 24 flutes, 4 more than its Doric counterpart. At its base, an Ionic column has two convex mouldings called tori, separated by a scotia. A column of the Ionic order is 8 times its lower diameter. The architrave of the entablature usually consists of 3 stepped bands, and its frieze is sometimes adorned with continuous ornamental carved figures.

The Corinthian order is the most intricate of the Greek orders. It is distinguished by a slender fluted column and an ornate capital, which is decorated with 2 rows of acanthus leaves and 4 scrolls—the Corinthian order is widely considered the most graceful of the 3 orders. The shaft of a Corinthian order pillar has 24 flutes, which is usually 10 diameters high. According to the Roman writer Vitruvius, the invention of the Corinthian order is attributed to Callimachus—a Greek sculptor of the 5th century BC. The oldest known Corinthian style building is the Choragic Monument of Lysicrates in Athens that was erected between 335 and 334 BC.

Have you ticked off the Acropolis and already done Plaka? If you're looking for some great must-do experiences in Athens, don't miss out on these fascinating Athenian experiences.

We’re thinking movies in open-air theatres, hillside strolls at sunset and lunches by the sea!



Find The Greek Islands In Anafiotika
How so many visitors to Athens manage to miss out on romantic Anafiotika—even though it’s just below the Parthenon—is a complete mystery. A serene Cycladic village smack in the city centre, Anafiotika was built in the mid-19th century by stonemasons from the island of Anafi, summoned by King Otto I to build his palace (today’s Parliament building). By night, the islanders knocked up these humble, whitewashed dwellings for their own families. Once illegal, these flower-framed cottages are now an essential element of Athens’ architectural heritage. A perfect escape for those who don’t have time to hit the Greek islands, Anafiotika is Insta-heaven. Getting lost in the meandering, nameless lanes is half the joy.

Watch The Sunset
Athenian sunsets never grow old. The higher you go, the more impressive the show. So join the stream of locals racing up to Areopagus Hill as dusk falls. Just opposite the gateway to the Parthenon, this rocky outcrop was where the ancient city elders presided. It later served as a criminal court where murders were tried. These days, it’s a popular spot for courting couples and young friends, simply known as Vrahakia (“little rocks”). From up here, you can see get a sense of the modern city’s topography as well as its ancient iconography. Wear sneakers—the rocks have been worn smooth by countless bottoms perched here over the centuries.

Catch A Concert At A Roman Amphitheatre
There are music venues and then there’s the Odeon of Herod Atticus (or rather, the Herodion, as every Athenian calls it). Some pretty stellar names have played at this epic 2,000-year-old arena on the southern slopes of the Acropolis. Frank Sinatra, Elton John, Andrea Bocelli, Liza Minnelli, and, of course, Maria Callas. Put them all together and they still can’t outshine the star quality of the Herodion. From May to October, it’s the main open-air venue for the Athens Festival, an international bonanza of arts and culture. On stage, global icons like Sting gaze up at the moon rising over the glowing Parthenon, as if to say: “Holy cow”.  And so will you.

Wrap Your Chops Around A Souvlaki
Leaving Athens without sampling our finest street food? We don’t think so. With a history dating back centuries, these moreish skewers of char-grilled meat are Athens’ answer to the hot dog in New York or fish and chips in London. Beloved by locals-on-the-go as a cheap and hearty snack between shopping, meetings, or bar-hopping, souvlaki comes in all kinds of tasty guises. You can even get vegetarian options these days, wrapped in pita bread and drizzled with secret sauces. You really can’t go wrong, especially if you go to one of the locals’ favourite souvlaki joints.

Do An Olympic Workout
There are plenty of scenic running routes in Athens but the most heart-racing one is the 500-metre, pine-shaded track that runs above the Panathenaic marble stadium on Ardittos Hill. Grab your Nikes—they were named after the Greek Goddess of Victory, you know—and slip through the green gate on Archimidous Street (just behind the stadium in Pangrati) to access this hidden running track with rousing Acropolis views. It’s free to use and overlooks the gleaming stadium that kicked off the modern Olympic Games in 1896, the world’s only athletic arena built entirely of marble. There’s a running track inside the stadium too, if you really want to act the sporting champion.

Say A Little Prayer
Wandering the streets of Athens, you’re likely to spot locals making the sign of the cross—a telltale sign that there’s a church nearby. They may not be obvious at first glance, but the magical Byzantine churches of Athens are peppered among the city’s apartments and squares. Athenians throng to church in the week before Easter on the Assumption of the Virgin Mary on August 15. But step inside a Byzantine chapel any time of day or year and you’re transported to medieval Athens. Light a candle, say a prayer or make a wish, and watch the flames flicker over the frescoed dome and gold-tinged icons. You might stumble upon a church service, christening or wedding in progress. Don’t hesitate to join in. The musky, meditative world of Greek Orthodoxy is open to everyone.

Sunday Lunch By The Sea
Most Athenians don’t care a jot about the shops being shut on Sundays. They’d much rather be indulging in one of their favourite pastimes: the marathon Sunday lunch by the sea. Year-round, you’ll find Athenians enjoying high-spirited feasts all along the Athens Riviera, from the fancy seafood restaurants of Mikrolimano, near Piraeus, to the laid-back, seaside tavernas of Varkiza and Kavouri. To lunch like a local: go late (never before 2 pm), order dozens of meze to share, and squabble at length over who gets to pay the bill.

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Whether you’ve just arrived in town – or have been here for years – Athens always has new secrets to share! This is Athens is the official guide to this captivating city of ancient energies and booming urban culture. Compiled by a team of specialist local writers, This is Athens brings you an authentic and intimate portrait of a living Athens beyond the guidebooks – along with daily curated listings of all the best events and great weekend inspiration all-year round. From must-know neighbourhoods and emerging art hubs, to gourmet hotspots, cool shopping and the buzziest bars, This is Athens will help you to get the most out of living in Athens!

Thank you This is Athens for your contribution as an XpatAthens Partner.

Five of Europe’s best rooftop bars are located in Greece: in the city of Athens and on the island of Santorini, according to a study released by entertainment site MrQ.

To determine its 2022 European Rooftop Bar Index, MrQ analyzed 145 rooftop bars in 30 European cities. Based on five metrics that can “make or break” a great rooftop bar experience, the study examines average rating, number of reviews, the popularity of Instagram hashtags, and average temperatures in the summer.

MrQ includes five Greek rooftop bars on its Top 10 list:

3rd spot – PK Cocktail Bar, Santorini


@pkcocktailbar 

PK Cocktail Bar, Santorini’s longest-running cocktail bar ranks third. Clearly popular with its customers, PK Cocktail Bar has secured an impressive five-star rating and the hashtag #pkcocktailbar has been used 2,583 times, MrQ says.

7th spot – Thea Terrace Bar, Athens


@athenshotspots

Thea Terrace Bar may be one of Athens’ hidden gems, with just 134 Instagram hashtags, however, reviewers rate it 4.5 stars.

8th spot – V Lounge Cafe & Cocktail Bar, Santorini


@santorini_vlounge_cocktailbar

On the top floor of the Panorama Boutique Hotel, V Lounge Cafe & Cocktail Bar ranks in eighth place and gets reviewed well, scoring 4.5 stars with 1,092 reviews.

9th spot – Metropolis Roof Garden, Athens


@electrametropolis

With just 138 reviews so far and 187 hashtags on Instagram, Metropolis Roof Garden has secured a near-perfect 4.5-star rating.

10th spot – Acropolis Secret Bar Restaurant, Athens


@divanipalaceacropolis

Rounding off the top 10 is another location in Athens, the Acropolis Secret Bar Restaurant with breathtaking views of the Acropolis Museum. Another one of Greece’s best-kept secrets, this rooftop restaurant located on top of the five-star Divani Palace Acropolis, has a fantastic rating (4.5 stars).

Originally published on: news.gtp.gr

Main image: @santorini_vlounge_cocktailbar