Athenian churches lose nothing in comparison with those of the Greek countryside; the majority can boast a rich heritage and great architectural beauty! Here are a few of the most beautiful churches to experience Easter in Athens!

Just a few metres away from Evangelismos metro station is the picturesque chapel of Agios Georgios. The ascent on the paved street is all part of the ritual, as for a few moments the anonymity of the metropolis disappears and every single person in the procession, candle in hand, becomes united in one sacred purpose: to pass on the message of the resurrection. Whitewashed, as if from an Aegean island, Agios Georgios offers a spectacular experience with dozens of fireworks painting the sky red and a view of the whole city.

Situated in one of the most beautiful and picturesque districts of the city center, a visit to this church will combine worship and sightseeing! The church itself is on Erehtheos Street and the Holy Light actually arrives there first before it makes its way to the Diocesan Church. If you are not a fan of fireworks, perhaps this is the best place for you as the Easter celebration here is a little less pyrotechnic.

This church, the only one of its kind in the city, is on Bohali Street and offers an original spectacle on Easter Sunday. To enter the Ethiopian Coptic temple, you must take off your shoes. Also according to custom, Copts are dressed in white, so do not hesitate to wear something in keeping with the occasion. After the Easter bells ring, there is a celebration accompanied by the sound of drums and various other percussion instruments, while the choir recall moments from the life of Christ with a great sense of drama and reverence.

Kapnikarea is a landmark on Ermou Street and a meeting point for Athenians. The low wall around the churchyard makes an ideal place to rest for shoppers traipsing up and down the longest commercial street of the city. Though small, it is one of the prime choices for celebrating the Resurrection in Athens. It dates back to the 11th century and if you do visit during the holidays, do not forget to look at the impressive murals painted by Fotis Kondoglou, which enhance the feeling of reverence that these solemn days bring.

To read more about the most beautiful churches in Athens, please visit: Discover Greece

Navarino Challenge, the award-winning sports tourism event, which promotes sports and fair play, is yet again adding more activities for the entire family, in its program! Between October 13 and 15 2017, Costa Navarino, with the support of Swim Academy, will host already familiar water activities such as baby swimming (for babies and children ranging from 3 months to 3 years old) and aqua aerobic (considered the most popular aerobic exercise).

The Federal Technical Coach of Swimming and Swim Academy representative, Nikos Gemelos, who is taking part in the event yet again, stated, “It gives me great pleasure and honor to have been cooperating with the Navarino challenge event all these years. From the technical point of view regarding the swimming competitions, I have observed that more and more people are embracing the sport of open water swimming and I feel even more proud to be able, along with my team, to offer the necessary safety that is needed for these races, while leaving to the participants a great experience. With the help of Swim Academy and my close colleague, Silver Olympic Medalist and World Champion in open water swimming Spyros Gianniotis, we will be presenting for this second year, activities that gave to the parents and children great joy, such as baby swimming for children up to three years old but also aqua aerobic, which took place for the first time last year and proved to be extremely successful."

 

Furthermore, Navarino Challenge 2017, will also host another Olympic event, the sport of tennis. With the support of Navarino Racquet Academy, amateur and medium level athletes of tennis will have the opportunity to try out the Tennis Cross Training.

It’s a workout program which combines tennis and cross training (which is a type of workout that combines muscular empowerment and cardio respiratory toning, using one’s body weight but also actual weights – depending on the trainee’s level – accompanied by music). It offers a full body workout and improves strength, stamina and flexibility while creating a sense of teamwork for those taking part. Tennis Cross Training can apply to all levels of technical knowledge and physical ability. Meanwhile the experienced staff of Panellinios Agora Games will support the activity of a Padel Family Competition which is ideal for the entire family.

The Navarino Challenge will take place for another year with the support of Costa Navarino and The Westin Resort Costa Navarino as well as the Municipalities of Pylos-Nestor and Trifilia.

Official Sponsor: Vikos natural mineral water

Official Supporter: Wyndham Grand Athens

Assisted: Swim Academy, Navarino Racquet Academy

 

Photo Credit: Vangelis Patsialos @ Navarino Challenge

As part of the World Book Capital initiative and Athens‘ role as the UNESCO World Book Capital for 2018, the municipality created a mobile library and is bringing books to every neighborhood in the city.

The areas of Zapio, Agios Panteleimonas, Petralona, Avdi square, Pagkrati and Syntagma Square are just some of the locations the library will visit in June.

The mobile library is offering residents and visitors the opportunity to become members and borrow up to two books at a time for free. Books offered are in Greek, English and French.

For more information (in Greek), please visit: City of Athens

Article source: Greek Travel Pages

Following the decision to ban 10 single use plastic items in the European Union in 2021, an innovative idea has been presented by a group of volunteers from the city of Kilkis, as an eco-friendly alternative to plastic straws.

Scuderie Del Quirinale, Rome
October 11 to January 06, 2020

 

To read this article in full, please visit: Scuderie Del Quirinale

Summer is the season children enjoy most because they have a lot of free time. So much so that they often spend several hours in front of a screen. I get lots of questions from concerned parents asking me how to handle this, how to set a schedule. After all the pressure children faced during the quarantine period parents are a bit confused. Should they push their kids or should they just let them free to do what they want?

 

So what do you do? I’d say “yes” to a flexible schedule. What does that mean? Make a relaxed daily program but do not push your children or yourself. No need to follow it to the letter, just have fun. We all need vacation; we all need to relax!

It’s an absolute must to “plan” free time without activities during the day. We leave time so that both kids and parents get bored. This way we will all get into the process of thinking about what we like, what we want to do, and actually get into doing what we want. Leaving our imagination free we can relax and at the same time get ideas, find solutions.

 

"But then my child won’t study at all during summer and he/she will forget everything" is a typical comment I often get. I’d say another big “yes” to reading extracurricular books that attract their interest and let their imagination run wild! But children need rest, just like adults do. Would you want to work during your vacation? And please do yourselves a favor and go back to the time when you were a child. Do you remember how you enjoyed spending your summer vacation? Let them play, run, bike, enjoy the sea, the mountains. This way they will “recharge their batteries” so they’ll be ready to go back to schooling and studying from September onwards.

Summer also offers an excellent opportunity to observe your child as a personality without time or school restraints. What is the activity or activities they choose to spend more time with? How does he/she behave when they are relaxed? How does he/she like to be treated? What are the areas they need your help with and what not? What do they like to do together with you?

Summer gives us a good opportunity to get to know our children better and to help them become independent and make their decisions on some of the issues that concern them.

If there’s a topic you’re interested in and would like to learn more about you may contact me via email. For more information about me and my work check the XpatAthens Directory or visit my website. Because this is your life!

Greece ranks 6th in the World’s Most Popular Places for Destination Weddings list, according to Google search data analysis recently published by money.co.uk, an online financial product comparison service.

By analyzing Google search data from the last 12 months for ‘wedding in + [destination]’ in nearly every country around the world, experts at money.co.uk discovered that Greece was the most googled wedding destination in Armenia, Brazil, England, Hungary, South Africa, and Wales.

The country ranked 3rd most popular destination to tie the knot in Europe and came in 5th place among South Americans wanting to get married.

The most popular country that the world is googling to get married in is India, as it takes the top spot for 38 countries around the globe including Australia, Canada, Mexico, and the US.

The second-most popular place for a wedding destination is Italy, with 28 countries choosing it as their top nuptial haven including France, Greece, and Sweden.

Wedding destinations sum up approximately $16 billion in annual spending of visitors according to Ampers and Travel while 2022 is set to be the biggest year for weddings since the 80s, the Wedding Academy International says.

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

This May, the Maria Callas Museum of the City of Athens presents a rich and diverse program of cultural events and activities that bring audiences closer to the art of music and voice. Highlights include concerts in collaboration with the Athens State Orchestra and the Piano City Athens festival, a special vocal workshop with singer Maria Papageorgiou, as well as interactive guided tours, family programs, and the launch of the Museum’s first-ever summer camp.

Tuesday, May 13 | Musical Walks – Eastern Roots

The Maria Callas Museum proudly continues its collaboration with the Athens State Orchestra, hosting the string quartet concert Eastern Roots, featuring works by Borodin, Shostakovich, and Kurtág. The program explores the contrasting musical currents of romanticism and modernism from Eastern Europe, offering a unique musical journey.

🕖 19:00 | 🎟 €10 (includes optional museum visit)
📍 Reservations via phone or more.com

Saturday, May 17 | Travelling Through the Eras of the Piano… at the Maria Callas Museum! | Piano City Athens

As part of the Piano City Athens festival, young pianists aged 8 to 15 will perform at the museum, showcasing a wide-ranging repertoire on the museum’s grand piano—from Viennese classicism and romanticism to modern Russian and American composers.

🕛 12:00 | 🎟 Free entry (concert only, museum visit not included)
📍 Pre-book your ticket at more.com

Sunday, May 18 | International Museum Day 2025 – Free Entry & “POV: My Take on the Maria Callas Museum”

To celebrate International Museum Day, the museum will offer free entry all day. Visitors are invited to explore the legacy of Maria Callas and enjoy video-reels created by participants (ages 16–106), who share their personal perspectives and reflections on the museum through creative storytelling.

🕙 10:00–19:00 | 🎟 Free entry (with registration at more.com)

Monday 26 & Tuesday 27 May | Vocal Freedom: Rediscovering the Joy of Singing

Maria Papageorgiou leads a two-day vocal workshop open to all, regardless of experience. Through breathing exercises, voice work, and collective singing, participants will explore their own vocal potential in a safe, expressive environment—far from perfectionism and focused instead on connection and joy.

🕖 19:00–22:00 (Arrival: 18:30) | ⏳ 6 hours total
🎟 €100 | 📍 Register at more.com

GUIDED TOURS

The museum offers a variety of interactive and themed tours designed for adults, families, seniors, and special groups—each aiming to provide a deeper, multisensory understanding of Maria Callas’ life and the world of opera.

🗓 Free Tours as part of Athens City Festival
📅 Sunday, May 11 & 25 | 🕐 13:00 | ⏳ 50 mins | 🎟 Free with pre-booking

🗓 Friday, May 16 | Thematic Tour: “Maria Callas – Icon & Myth”
🕕 18:00 | 🎟 €18 (reduced rates available) | ⏳ 50 mins

🗓 Saturday, May 31 | Adult Tour
🕛 12:00 | 🎟 €14 (reduced rates available) | ⏳ 50 mins

🗓 Saturday, May 31 | Family Tour
🕝 13:30 | 🎟 €7 (child), €14 (adult), €30 (family package) | ⏳ 50 mins

🗓 Every Thursday in May | Tours for visitors 65+
🕧 12:30 | 🎟 Museum Entry: €7, Tour: Free
📍 Phone reservations at +30 210 44 04 204

FAMILY PROGRAMS – MCM KIDS

Sunday, May 4 | Young Creators at the Maria Callas Museum: Nature

Inspired by the famous aria Casta Diva from Norma, this family workshop connects children (ages 4–8) and parents with nature through music. Participants will compose their own original musical phrases and create a sonic portrait of nature—no prior music education needed. The resulting compositions will be recorded and sent to families as a personal keepsake.

🕦 11:30–12:30 & 13:15–14:15
📍 Led by educator Markella Skourti