We welcome September in this issue with local news updates, latest strike information, and all you need to know about local Greek farmer's markets.

 

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A new initiative has been developed by the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, which promotes Greek culture and heritage in a digital E-learning platform. YouGoCulture creates images that allows us to travel to Greece from across the world, all through its online platform.

YouGoCulture is a free access, public and nonprofit platform, which captures the charm of unique destinations in the Peloponnese and in Attica. This new digital platform is committed to highlighting the character of cultural heritage and modern lifestyles all over the country. So far, their work includes 9 destinations, dozens of videos and interviews, thousands of photos and panoramas, and much more.

"The site is designed for international visitors to Greece and is entirely in English. It has been operational for almost a year, currently offering nine digital destinations: Mystras, Lavrio-Sounio, Elefsina, Marathon, Mycenae, Ancient Olympia, Messene, Epidaurus and Athens. Five more are set to be added in the near future (Limnos, Delos, Knossos and Delphi), while another 16 are in the pipeline."*

YouGoCulture, supported by Act4Greece and the National Bank of Greece, is seeking to raise €65,000 to produce more original audiovisual material to promote Greece's culture and heritage to international audiences. So far, over €41,000 euros have been raised.

For more information on how to donate, please visit: Act4Greece

Please click HERE to visit YouGoCulture's website.

*Source: Ekathimerini

There are countless aspects of Greek culture that make it so unique. One of them is its ''Liquid Gold'', or Olive oil! It has a long history dating back to Ancient Greece, has won a variety of awards and many interesting facts about it which you probably didn't know! So don't waste any time, learn all about them in this week's Newsletter.

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Getting the cameras rolling in the Greek capital, however, has not always been easy. Red tape and a shortage of competitive incentives have often driven filmmakers elsewhere. But now the stage has been set to transform Athens into a “Film Friendly City” with the launch of an Athens Film Office and boosted cash rebates from the Greek Government. In the best practice of major European cities, the new Athens Film Office will be a one-stop-shop for receiving and managing film and television requests, facilitating filming requirements, and acting as a go-between to clear bureaucratic obstacles for overseas productions.

According to the Athens Film Office website, makers of films, television episodes, or advertisements will soon have over 70+ Athenian locations to choose from. Current options span from landmark squares like Syntagma and Omonia and Athens’ emblematic National Garden, to the Maria Callas Municipal Theatre with its magisterial lobby, and contemporary urban hub, Technopolis, in Gazi.

The new approach is already paying off. More than 10 international audiovisual works (movies, TV series, and advertising) will take place this year despite the pandemic and two-month lockdown; with work already underway on several. 

Athens Mayor Kostas Bakoyannis Says: "The Municipality of Athens, through the Athens Film Office, aspires to play a leading role in the effort to better utilize the development potential of the city, so that in the near future, Athens becomes a key pole of attraction for new investments - and hosts more and more international film productions.”

 

In the city’s bid to lure more big movie makers to the city, the Athens Film Office - which comes under the "umbrella" of the Athens Development & Destination Management Agency (EATA) - will also work closely with the This is Athens Convention & Visitors Bureau to ensure that international film executives have access to premium facilities and services throughout their stay.

Anaktora, the area between Vasilissis Sofias and Vasileos Konstantinou Avenue, may appear like a demure residential neighborhood. But there’s nothing humble about it. Within a two-kilometer perimeter, you’ll find more blockbuster museums than any other area in Athens.

At the Benaki Museum, soak up a panorama of Greek history, folk art, and culture from the prehistoric era to the 20th century. If you’ve got a little more time, head a few doors down to see the world’s most extensive collection of ancient artifacts from the Cyclades at the Museum of Cycladic Art. Also on Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, the Byzantine and Christian Museum is a trove of religious art and artifacts from icons to altarpieces, surrounded by one of the city’s loveliest secret gardens. If you’re into military paraphernalia, the National War Museum tracks Greek history through its military conflicts. (Allow for a bias towards success rather than defeat; the museum was erected by the junta as a “monument to Greek valor and military prowess”.)

Recent years have delivered three more compelling reasons to add the city’s museum district to your itinerary. First came the long-awaited Goulandris Museum of Contemporary Art which opened its doors in Pangrati in October 2019. There, visitors to Athens may gaze upon masterpieces by the likes of Cézanne, Van Gogh, Gauguin, Monet, Degas, Rodin, and Picasso, alongside works by famous Greek painters. Unearthed during construction at the gallery’s initial intended site was Aristotle’s Lyceum - one of the three famous philosophy schools of ancient Athens. It was here that Aristotle once strolled, discussing philosophy and mathematics with his students. And finally, cementing the district’s status as a nexus of both ancient and contemporary culture, the country's flagship art repository, the National Gallery, reopened in spring 2021 after a bold makeover.

This downtown neighborhood isn’t just about museums though. It’s also a corridor of political and financial power, lined by the city’s most exclusive real estate. These local sights and landmarks are definitely worth checking out in between museum-hopping.

Executive power is concentrated in two splendid mansions midway down Irodou Attikou, a surprisingly tranquil street running alongside the National Garden. It’s subtly symbolic that the premier’s quarters sit just inside the gated grounds—and thus more directly accessible to the people—while the more aloof presidency is separated from the street by a wide lawn.

Evzones stand sentry outside the Presidential Mansion, designed in 1890 by Ernst Ziller as the palace of Crown Prince Constantine, but used as the president’s ceremonial residence since the monarchy’s abolition in 1974. Between state visits, the building lies dormant, except for visitors outside taking snaps of the hourly changing of the guard. Next door, the Prime Minister’s office is a hub of activity, with the media often camped outside. Known as the Maximos Mansion, it was built in 1924 as a private home. While nominally the premier’s official residence, no head of government has ever lived in it.

The Athens Conservatory


Credit: Georgios Makkas

This sleek marble paean to the Bauhaus style was left to languish for nearly 50 years before its 5,000-square-metre music halls and stunning 150-meter porch teemed with melodies and people. Commissioned in 1959 from Jan Despo, a Greek student of Walter Gropius, the Conservatory (or Odeio, as it’s known locally) had the bad luck of being completed in 1971, four years after the junta seized power in Greece. Deemed too ‘foreign’ by the dictators, it was tainted by their brush and was not officially inaugurated until 2016.

Student activity often spills out of the 35 classrooms and two auditoria, with impromptu performances delighting young visitors to the small Hellenic Children’s Museum, housed on the ground floor. Occasional exhibitions and art fairs (such as the annual Art Athina) in the lower-level gallery add to the creative vibe.

Commuters streaming from Evangelismos metro station trample Samuel Beckett’s Cascando, whose verses are used in an installation by artist David Harding, oblivious to the delights of this small urban park. Originally the grounds of the Rizarios Seminary, this wedge of greenery contains Roman remains, works by top contemporary artists like Giorgos Zogolopoulos, and one of the city’s oldest modern sculptures—a marble bust of Enlightenment scholar Neophytos Doukas by Christian Hansen. The Rizarios seminary was founded in 1841 by an Epirot merchant in Odessa who helped to fund the Greek War of Independence. The silver-domed Agios Georgios church next to Evangelismos station was part of the seminary. As well as interior murals by the 19th-century Corfiot artist Eleni Prosalenti, the church crypt contains Rizarios’ remains.

To read this article in full, please visit: thisisathens.org

Athens may be best known for its food scene, since there's a huge tradition of eating out in Greece, however, it also has a slew of amazing juice bars.  

Taking advantage of the seasonal fruits and vegetables, these spots deliver a variety of healthful and nutritious juices and smoothies to cater to every taste!



Pure Juice Bar


@purejuicebargr

With the goal of improving the food habits of the customers, Pure Juice Bar provides a menu of high nutritional value and an array of different flavors. Not only do they offer fresh fruit and veggie smoothies, but also mouthwatering açai and buddha bowls, energy balls, almond milk, and turmeric lattes, and a variety of super-healthy snacks!

Location: Sina 21, Kolonaki
Phone: 213 0363671 

Happy Blender


@happyblender 

Just a heartbeat away from the Ancient Agora, Happy Blender’s philosophy is to offer high-quality and healthy products, made in an environmentally friendly way. They serve delicious juices and powerhouse smoothies and bowls, promising to revitalize you. Another highlight is authentic strained greek yogurt with homemade toppings!

Location: Ifestou 39, Athina
Phone: 21 0363 8484 

Fontana Living Well Store


@fontana_athens

Nestled on a tree-lined pedestrian street, Fontana Living Well Store offers a delightful selection of freshly pressed juices and creative, made-to-order ice teas and smoothies that will help you boost your detox routine!

Location: Aiolou 17, Athina
Phone: 21 0325 4112 

Join Juice Bars


@joinjuicebars

With a positive philosophy that encourages self-care and well-being, JOIN juice bars in central Athens offers energizing juices and smoothies, upbeat music, and an inexhaustible supply of positive vibes. Rambo (almond milk, whey protein, pear, spinach, organic matcha, and rice) and Hulk (almond milk, banana, avocado, lime, goji berries, and organic matcha) are two of the most adventurous flavors on the menu!

Location: Romvis 24, Athina
Phone: 21 0323 6264

Xymopoieio


@mgdlnvlgr

Located in the Monastiraki flea market, less than a minute from the metro station, this is the ideal spot to take a break from exploring Athens, re-energize, and hydrate with a smoothie, to escape the heat for a while. Countless tasty combinations await you!

Location: Pandrossou 64, Athina
Phone: 21 0325 4186 

 

Summer may be over (technically, at least) but that doesn't mean we're going to stop visiting our beautiful Greek beaches - at least as long as the weather permits it. 

 

As the temperature begins to drop, a beach in long-suffering North Evia offers us the opportunity to enjoy a swim throughout the autumn.

 

This beach is no other than the beach of Ilia in North Evia, the ideal choice for all those who dream of winter swimming but shudder at the idea of the ​​freezing waters. 

 

Ilia beach is located near Aidipsos, next to the coastal village of the same name, which is great for a holiday on a budget, with would-be vacationers in September able to find a double room in front of the sea just for 35 euros per night.

 

But why are the waters of this particular beach so warm? The reason is simple. The village’s thermal springs, the temperature of which can climb up to 60 degrees Celsius, flow into the beach of Ilia. Of course, when the water meets the sea the temperature drops, but the water remains quite warm even until the end of autumn!



Originally published in Greek on: ieidiseis.gr

Translated by: Codico Lab 

Athens is set to welcome 2025 with a vibrant celebration at Syntagma Square, featuring a blend of music, theater, and innovative displays. The festivities will commence at 10 p.m. on December 31, with a performance by the Athens Philharmonic Orchestra. The main event, titled "Roof of Time," is a time-machine-themed show that will take attendees on a journey through Athens' history from 1945 to the present. This performance is crafted by musician Foivos Delivorias and director Angelos Triantafyllou, with Delivorias serving as the host and performer. He will be joined by artists Natassa Bofiliou, Martha Frintzila, and Thanasis Alevras, who will embody various iconic figures from each era. The show will also feature dancers, soloists, and emerging singers. 

In a first for the city, the night sky will be illuminated by silent fireworks, designed to minimize noise disturbance, particularly for pets and individuals sensitive to loud sounds. Complementing this will be a drone show, adding a modern touch to the traditional celebrations. 

The event is free to the public and will be broadcast live on the City of Athens' official Facebook and YouTube channels, complete with Greek sign language interpretation, ensuring accessibility for all. Following the main performance, a DJ set will keep the energy high as attendees dance their way into the new year. 

As Athens prepares to usher in the new year, these celebrations promise a memorable night filled with culture, entertainment, and community spirit.