The City of Athens has announced that the 2019 New Year’s Eve party will be held along the pedestrian way in the district of Thissio! Hosted by actor Vassilis Haralambopoulos, the evening will open with the City of Athens Philharmonic and the new year will be rung in by Athens Mayor George Kaminis.

Following the impressive fireworks over the Acropolis, the party will continue with live music and dance performances, followed by a DJ set by local radio station En Lefko 87.7.

The countdown to Costa Navarino’s 3rd International Messinia Pro-Am golf tournament to be held from February 20-23, 2019 has begun.

Registrations for the 30 participating teams at the two 18-hole signature pitches, The Dunes Course and The Bay Course of Costa Navarino , will continue through the event’s official website here until January 18, 2019. 

Messinia Pro-Am 2019 golfers will be able to get real-time updates on scores both at team and individual levels through the GolfBox live score service. The 30 participating teams (comprising a professional and three amateurs) will compete with each other at The Dunes Course on Thursday, February 21, The Bay Course on Friday, February 22, and The Dunes Course on Saturday, February 23, 2019. The pros will compete in a 54-hole Strokeplay individual competition at the tournament, claiming a total prize pool of 30,000 euros.

The 3rd International Messinia Pro-Am tournament will further enhance the work of SOS Children’s Villages Greece, a member of SOS Children’s Villages International, that creates families for children in need.  As last year, one can support SOS Children's Villages in two ways: a) through the charity night "A good cause to STRIKE", to be held on February 22 as part of the international tournament and b) online, through Messinia Pro-Am’s website, where one can support the SOS Children's Village project with online donations by clicking HERE!

AEGEAN, a member of Star Alliance, is the official airline partner of the event. Vodafone και Hertz are the official sponsors of the event. Erasmus is the official travel partner coordinating and ensuring the smooth registration & accommodation process. Official supporters of the tournament include J.VOURAKIS SONS EE , Nescafé Alegria and Kalamata Papadimitriou . The tournament is assisted by ECOLAB. The 3rd Messinia Pro-Am is organized in collaboration with the PGAs of Europe and is held under the auspices of PGA of Greece and the Hellenic Golf Federation . 

For special accommodation packages at The Westin Resort Costa Navarino and the full program of Messinia Pro-Am, please click HERE!

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Watch the Messinia Pro-Am 2019 video teaser HERE!

Photo credit: Elias Lefas

On New Year's Eve, SNFCC welcomes Italian soul  - jazz singer Mario Biondi, who, with his trademark deep voice and powerful stage presence will captivate the audience, singing in Italian and in English.  

Born in Catania, Sicily, Mario Biondi has been called “the new Barry White” due to his distinct voice. His father Stefano Biondi was also a singer. Mario´s passion for music began at the early age of twelve when he sang in his church choir. For a while, he worked as a session singer - then in 1988, he appeared as support act to Ray Charles´ Italian dates. His love for soul music helped shape his particular vocal styling that takes its cue from great vocalists like Lou Rawls, Al Jarreau and Isaac Hayes. His first big break came in 2004 with the release of the single "This Is What You Are". Originally planned for release only in Japan, the song got noticed by DJ Norman Jay, who began featuring it on his BBC1 show playlist. 

In 2006, Mario released his debut album Handful Of Soul, which went platinum in less than three months. In November 2007, he released a double album with the Duke Orchestra, called I Love You More recorded entirely live at the Smeraldo Theatre in Milano. In November 2009, he released If. The album shot up the charts and went triple-platinum. He has also released Yes You (2010), Due (2011), Sun (2013), Mario Christmas (2013), Beyond (2014) and Brasil (2018). Mario has taken part in Europe's largest jazz festivals and has collaborated with composers such as Burt Bacharach, and has appeared in sold-out concerts in venues including London's Royal Albert Hall and Rome's Parco della Musica.

His New Year's Eve Concert at the SNFCC will include songs from his latest album, Brasil, which blends jazz, soul and pop elements with well-known Brazilian tunes, as well as songs from his holidays-inspired album, Mario Christmas.

Public transport services in the Greek capital will be reduced over the holidays to allow workers the chance to enjoy Christmas and New Year's with their families, operator OASA has said.

 

On December 31, Athens buses and trolley buses will start pulling-off the streets at around 9 p.m. in order to be in their respective depots by 11 p.m. Between January 1 and 3, buses and trolley buses will run at less frequent intervals, according to the typical Sunday bus schedule.

On New Year’s Eve, the last ISAP electric railway service will be at 10.00 p.m. while the railway will run on a restricted weekend schedule through Sunday, January 6.

 

The same measures apply for lines 1 and 2 of the Athens metro which, on New Year’s Eve, will run its last service at 10 p.m. These changes will also affect service to and from Athens International Airport.

 

Tram commuters are advised that service will be less frequent through January 4, while the last service on New Year's Eve will be at 9 p.m. 

 

For details and schedules, visit www.oasa.gr or call 11 185

Article Source: Greece-is.com

Once again hotels King George and Grande Bretagne have brought the Christmas spirit in the most central part of Athens!

With a magnificent Christmas tree and festive decorations, we invite you to visit our renovated concept store ''GB Corner Gifts & Flavors'' at the Grande Bretagne, to discover amazing gift ideas and world famous sweets from our award winning pastry chef, Arnaud Lahrer.

Next door, at the entrance of King George, check out our ''KG Perfumery''. You will find top quality perfumes, ideal your friends and family.

At the ''Winter Garden'', the best lounge in town, a magnificent buffet of festive sweets will be waiting for you to enjoy them with your coffee, hot chocolate or our great variety of tea.

And of course, on Christmas and New Year's Eve visit our restaurants ''GB Roof Garden'' and ''Tudor Hall''. Our Executive Chef Asterios Koustoudis has created a special menu for you and your loved ones to enjoy, all while admiring the view of a festive Athens.

Read our Christmas Festivities brochure HERE!

And don't forget to check out our Christmas package deals for an unforgetable stay at our hotels!

Set in Gazi, the brightly lit Christmas Factory looks like a real wonderland right in the middle of the city center and promises to get both young and old into the magical spirit of Christmas!

First stop, the small train that takes visitors around the village. Even though the village is set up in an industrial space - dating back to 1857, Gazi was the first coal gas factory in Greece - the result is actually very beautiful and festive. The cobbled alleys are lined with market stalls, selling everything from candy and accessories to toys and magic props!

 

Next stop, the Carousel. This old-fashioned ride it's sure to make you smile! If you want to enjoy some absolutely stunning views of the city the giant Ferris Wheel is a must-see attraction. You will also have fun in the bumper cars, the tube slide, and the mini roller coaster. There is also an ice skating rink, an indoor play area with bouncy toys, and a bunch of other funfair rides.

 

One of the main reasons to visit the village is for your little ones to write and post a letter to Santa and, of course, meet him in person. All you have to do is buy a Christmas postage stamp, write the letter, and post it in one of the red post boxes outside Santa’s headquarters. Santa's impressive headquarters feature a big fireplace, a beautiful tree, and bags filled with gifts scattered all over the room. You'll find him sitting in his chair, often surrounded by his loyal workers, the elves!

 

The Christmas Village in Gazi will run until January 6, 2022, from 10:00 to 22:00 and tickets cost 6 euros each or 20 euros for a family of 4.

Important Note: Admission to the park will be available to all adults with a Vaccination or Recovery Certificate. Children can enter upon presenting a negative Self Test result. 

All nations are welcome to attend our 'Friends of Canada' (FoC) New Year's Canada Night at 7.30pm on Thursday, January the 3rd. Lots of fun and frolic, so reserve a spot to attend via e-mail by December 28th.

La Piazza pizzeria will once again be offering a FoC special for two people (14€, 7 € each) for a shared Set pizza, salad, dessert & glass of house wine, but orders can also be made from the menu (10% off).

We are also asking guests to kindly donate items, if possible, for the Salvation Army’s ‘Green Light Project’ (for the sexually exploited):  

- Baby wipes 
- Adult women’s socks (new, any size) 
- Adult women’s underwear (new, any size).

It's the Hot spot to be for a New Year's celebration!

The editors of ARCHAEOLOGY, the publication of the Archaeological Institute of America, revealed the 10 most compelling archaeological finds of the year. Among them is a Greek relic discovered near Ancient Olympia.

 

Scientists have dated the newly discovered excerpt back to the third century A.D. at the latest and believe it is likely the oldest inscribed section of the Odyssey ever to be found in Greece.

The inscription consists of the first 13 verses of the poem’s 14th book, in which Odysseus finally returns home to Ithaca. “I think the brick was inscribed at some point, and later it was used for construction,” says Erofili-Iris Kolia, director of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Ilia.

Greece is getting ready to host its first ever Ironman 70.3 triathlon race in April 2019! Scheduled to take place at Costa Navarino in the Peloponnese on April 14, 2019, the event will welcome athletes from all around the world, who will travel to Greece to experience the renowned Greek 'philoxenia' (hospitality) and test their limits and strength in one of the most demanding sporting events in the world.

 

Ironman events are held in 55 countries around the world, while the community numbers about 1 million athletes and 5.5 million sports fans. Organized by the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC), the one-day event consists of a 4km swimming race; a 180km bicycle ride and a 42.2km marathon run.

 

Thanassis Papadimitriou, CEO & Founder of EY ZHN Greece DMC, the official travel partner of IRONMAN 70.3 Greece, said: “IRONMAN is not just a race! Ιt is an idea, a global move, a passionate crowd, an event that promotes the motto ‘Anything is possible’…” 

 

 

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Travel Pages

Are you wondering where to celebrate Christmas or New Year’s Eve in Athens?

Athens is so inviting during the holiday season; it’s all lit-up and beautifully decorated while the abundance of festivities are an excellent excuse to celebrate out on the town! Once you’ve finished discovering the celebrations, make your way to one of the city's great restaurants for a joyful and delicious meal with family and friends.

Chefi is a boutique grill & delicious food restaurant, housed in a lovely property with a lush garden. Enjoy the restaurant’s relaxed atmosphere and friendly service and indulge in its delicious culinary suggestions, amazing meat dishes, and mouth-watering desserts! Check out Chefi's festive menus here.