LIFE & CULTURE

XpatAthens
The City Of Athens Has Been Selected To Host the 44th "Space Olympics"
Traditional Greek Dance At Pallas Theatre
“I’ll lay on your handkerchief, three virtues of the world,
the Sun, and the Wind and the glowing Moon”
The folk dancing lab (Theatriko Ergastiri) of the municipality of Nea Ionia, makes a comeback at the Pallas Theatre, after 25 years with a special dancing performance inspired from role of the handkerchief in the ethimical life and based on the axis of the greek traditional dances.
Over than 140 dancers are accompanied by musicians and singers and approach the use of the handkerchief in different aspects of the traditional culture. Through the dancing, the songs, the re-enactment of cultural events, the stories, the games as well as the ethimical practices, the audience will be able to come closer to the real protagonist of this performance, the handkerchief, unravelling the symbolisms related to it.
The supervisors of this performance are Dimitris Mitsis and Mantha Ziva, while the dancers will be accompanied by the musicians: Yiannis Pavlopoulos, Thodoris Tassoulas, Kostas Mitsios, Yiannis Yevyielis, Maria Anamaterou, Dimitris Varelopoulos, Theodoros Kouelis, Vagelis Psathas, Nikos Psathas, Dimitris Bakos, Yiorgos Mavridis, Kostas Fotiadis, Fokas Mourtzakis, Panayiotis Koutouzos, Dimitris Katsivelos, Thanos Stavridis, Spyros Mantalas, Tassos Gousetis.
Click and HERE and watch an inspiring video about this unique dance performance!
YES FORUM 2019
The YES Forum is the leading platform for open dialogue in the Greek Shipping and Sea Tourism Industries among principals, executives, university students, recent graduates and young executives, which takes place under the auspices of the Ministries of Shipping, Education, Tourism and the majority of Greek Universities. Among the topics to be discussed are sea tourism, cruising and yachting in Greece, challenging and profitable sectors, which present a variety of professional opportunities for young people. Delegates will once again be able to submit their questions during registration and at the Forum.
Panel Moderator will be: Mr. Minas Tsamopoulos, Journalist – Proto Thema Newspaper
The YES to Sea Tourism Forum will also enable executives from the shipping industry to create networking corners with the following topics: Technical and Operations Departments of a Shipping Company, Startups, Innovation, Technology & Maritime Cluster, giving young people the chance to engage with them and ask questions in reference to the above mentioned sectors.
Participation at the YES to Sea Tourism Forum will be free of charge. Submit your questions and register HERE!
Trivago Awards Reveal Some Of The Best Hotels In Greece
“As a leading global hotel metasearch with data on millions of aggregated guest ratings, we are well positioned to identify the top-rated hotels that are delivering exceptional guest experiences,” said Johannes Thomas, trivago Managing Director and Chief Revenue Officer.
“At the same time, being a digital marketing channel used by hundreds of thousands of hoteliers around the world enables us to recognize the hotels that are embracing technology and excelling online. The trivago Awards give us the chance to honor the hard-working and forward-looking hoteliers behind these exemplary hotels,” he added.
Among the winning hotels are: the five-star Lindos Blu Luxury Hotel & Suites on Rhodes, the four-star Rocabella Mykonos Hotel, the three-star Saint Vlassis hotel on Naxos island.
To read the full list of awarded Greek hotels, please visit: Greek Travel Pages
The New Goulandris Art Museum In Athens Is Expected To Open On October 1, 2019
To read this article in full, please visit: Greece-Is
Image Credit: B&E Goulandris Foundation
Discover The Katakouzenos Museum, A Gem In The Center Of Athens
To read more about the life & heritage of Angelos & Leto Katakouzenos, please visit: Katakouzenos House Museum
3 Of The Most Surprising Places In Greece
The travel section of The Telegraph recently featured an article about 10 of the country's most surprising places, here are some of our favorite.
1. The Odontotos Railway in the Peloponnese
This is probably the closest you'll get to a Swiss landscape in Greece. Forget the crystalline beaches and white Cycladic homes; with the Odontotos (Toothy) rack railway you will travel through a mountainous, inaccessible part of the Peloponnese that bring the Alps to mind. Running for 23km from Diakofto to Kalavryta, the rack railway will take you through thick forests, steep inclines, and lush canyons that create an image of Greece you never imagined existed.
2. Grevena: The Fungi Capital of Greece
The mountainous Greek town of Grevena in Macedonia is rightfully called the Mushroom Capital of Greece. 1,300 species of mushrooms grow in abundance the oak forests near the town. Grevena claims a mushroom museum, a slew of tavernas serving forest fungi specialties, and public mushroom sculptures. Check out the annual four-day festival at the end of August for pure fungi pleasure.
The village of Pyrgos on Tinos island is the historic home of a school of marble sculpture. Despite its small size, Pyrgos offers three museums: a museum dedicated to Yannoulis Chalepas, a Pyrgos native and one of the most praised sculptors in Greece, one showcasing contemporary talent, and finally the extensive Museum of Marble Crafts. Visit the village’s cemetery – which feels more like an art gallery than a burial ground – to admire the beautiful sculptures and memorials.
Santorini Experience Wins Gold Award For "Best Sports Production"
Specifically, “Santorini Experience” received the highest distinction at the prestigious Ermis Awards, by receiving the Gold Award, in the “Events Production” section, in the “Sports Events” category, for the best sporting event production in 2018! The event ended last year with participants from more than 40 countries and a participation rate of 55% of men and 45% of women.
Regarding Santorini Experience’s new award, the Mayor of Santorini, Mr. Nikos Zorzos, highlighted: “For the second time in the last three years we have the pleasure of winning the golden distinction with Santorini Experience at the Ermis Awards as the best sports event production. Since the beginning of the term of this municipal authority, sports and consequently sports tourism is a top priority and “Santorini Experience” is the “flagship” of the sporting events held under our aegis. By offering residents and visitors the opportunity to participate in a sporting event that combines sport with knowledge and information, but also approaching all ages and the whole family, we have established an event, that as an institution, is increasingly attracting more people from abroad. This gives Santorini the opportunity to show its comparative advantages and to participants the opportunity to enjoy the natural beauty of the island, as well as to try out their personal stamina. I think we have achieved a great deal of our goals and we are now looking even higher, hoping to be able to organize a half marathon and even bigger open water swimming routes in the near future”.
Only a few days left for participants to take advantage of the early bird 50% discount on registration price, until 31/3/2019. During the second wave of registrations, beginning from 1/4/2019, the discount per activity will be 25%. The third and final wave of registrations will begin from 1/6/2019 and last until the event, with the final registration cost being applied.
Register HERE!
One of the most important factors to the success of “Santorini Experience”, is the support to the organization as well as to the island itself from the hospitality sponsors, who promote the event with special offers and prices and contribute in the prominence and development of sports tourism in Santorini. Until now, this year’s effort is supported by: Santorini Hoteliers Association, Meltemi Hotels & Resorts, Athina Luxury Suites, Santo Maris Oia Luxury Suites & Spa, Canaves Oia, Vedema a Luxury Collection Resort, Mystique a Luxury Collection Hotel, Santo Houses, West East Suites, Desiterra Luxury Suites & Villas, 270 Oia’s View, Fanouris Condo, Monolithia, Casa Iphigenia, Sienna Resort, Esperas Santorini and Loizos Stylish Residencies, while participation continues.
Official sponsors of the event are Ford Motor Hellas, Athina Luxury Suites, Natural Mineral Water “Vikos” and Alafouzos Sport. For one more year, Luanvi is the official sports supplier of the event.
Official supporters of the event are: Santorini Hoteliers Association, Meltemi Hotels & Resorts, Boatmen Union Santorini and Avance Rent A Car.
“Santorini Experience” is assisted by Lifeguard Patrol, Voluntary Lifeguards of Santorini, Mediterranean Dive Club, Atlantis Dive Center and Santorini Nautical Club. “Santorini Experience” is a co-organization of Municipality of Santorini, Municipal Sports Cultural Environmental Organization of Santorini (DAPPOS) and Active Media Group.
More info at: www.santorini-experience.com
Official Sponsors: Ford Motor Greece, Athina Luxury Suites, Natural Mineral Water “Vikos”, Alafouzos Sport Official Sports Supplier: Luanvi
Official Supporters: Santorini Hoteliers Association, Meltemi Hotels & Resorts, Boatmen Union Santorini, Avance Rent A Car Assisted by: Lifeguard Patrol, Voluntary Lifeguards of Santorini, Mediterranean Dive Club, Atlantis Dive Center, Santorini Nautical Club Hospitality Sponsors: Santorini Hoteliers Association, Meltemi Hotels & Resorts, Athina Luxury Suites, Santo Maris Oia Luxury Suites & Spa, Canaves Oia, Vedema a Luxury Collection Resort, Mystique a Luxury Collection Hotel, Santo Houses, West East Suites, Desiterra Luxury Suites & Villas, 270 Oia’s View, Fanouris Condo, Monolithia, Casa Iphigenia, Sienna Resort, Esperas Santorini, Loizos Stylish Residencies
Official Hashtag: #SantoriniExperience
Everything You Need To Know About The Athens & Epidaurus Festival 2019
Among the headline acts are Chinese pianist, Yuja Wang, the British rock band Jethro Tull, and Yo-Yo Ma the greatest solo cellist in the world. A production of Oedipus based on Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex, by acclaimed American theater director Robert Wilson, will be held at the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus on 21 & 22 June. The Greek National Opera will present Vincenzo Bellini’s Norma in June and Giuseppe Verdi’s La Traviata in July.
Open House Athens 2022
Open HouseOpen HouseOpen House is one of the most important global institutions for the promotion of architecture.
The idea began at London in 1992 and until today it has spread to many cities around the globe. The Open House project invites the public to explore and understand the value of architecture.
Every year for one weekend, private and public buildings open their gates to everyone for free and the city is transformed to a big museum, with its buildings and architecture being the exhibits.
The 9th OPEN HOUSE Athens will take place on April 9-10, 2022, and will be accompanied by several parallel events!
To view all the Open House 2022 events click HERE!