Athens won two significant awards at the World Travel Awards 2022, showing the strength of the Greek capital in the global tourism market.

Athens was crowned Europe's Leading Cultural City Destination 2022, and This is Athens-Convention & Visitors Bureau won Europe's Leading City Tourist Board 2022. The awards were announced at the Europe Gala Ceremony 2022 in Mallorca, Spain, on October 1, 2022.

The World Travel Awards are regarded as the Oscars of tourism, serving to acknowledge, reward, and celebrate excellence across all industry sectors. Votes come from professionals in the travel and tourism sector and travelers themselves. This year’s voting process hit a new record with 2.3 million votes cast online.

The award naming Athens as Europe's Leading City Tourist Board 2022 is a testament to the strategy of the City of Athens for the management and promotion of the city as a visitor destination. This holistic approach is paying dividends by increasing the number of visitors arriving in Athens each year. The award also signifies the city’s upward course in the global meetings industry. Athens ranked 6th in Europe and 8th worldwide for international association meetings according to the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) Annual Report 2021.

The CEO of Athens Development & Destination Management Agency, Epaminondas Mousios, accepted the awards on behalf of Athens during the Gala Ceremony in Mallorca, noting “The City of Athens is working hard to make Athens an ideal destination both for locals and visitors. This recognition confirms that we have the right strategy for a sustainable, resilient, and accessible city and highlights the effectiveness with which This is Athens-Convention & Visitors Bureau can manage and promote the tourism product of Athens.”

To read this article in full, please visit: greekcitytimes.com

It’s time for a much-anticipated Christmas Event!

Join Nine Lives Greece on Sunday, December 4thand celebrate a day of fun, while doing some Christmas shopping, and sharing smiles and cat stories with the family of Nine Lives!

Discover small treasures amongst new and nearly-new goodies, and taste a delicious selection of home-baked goodies.

- Books
- Clothes
- Fashion accessories
- Jewelry
- Nine Lives merchandise


All bazaar proceeds directly benefit stray cats in Athens through food & vet care.

Please, if you have items to donate, contact us prior to the event at ninelivesgreece@gmail.com as alas we cannot accept any items on the day of the bazaar itself. Donations of cat food, however, are welcomed with open paws!

Who does not love the exhilaration of theme parks? From your 7-year-old nephew to your 35-year-old co-worker at work, there is just something about theme parks that endears them to a multitude of visitors of all ages.

If you ask us, there isn't anything better than a family enjoying a theme park together. Luckily, Greece is home to some beautiful theme parks you can explore, try interesting activities, and spend quality time together.  

Here is a small list of some great theme parks, perfect if you want to take a break from your daily routine and escape to nature for a while!

Mia fora ki enan kairo 

  

Donkeysland


A donkey sanctuary in Koropi, about 40 minutes southeast of Athens, Donkeysland aims to inform kids, adults, and animal lovers, in general, about donkeys. Donkeys are part and parcel of Greek village life and culture. You will learn information about these beautiful equines and have the opportunity to pet and feed them, always under the instructions of well-trained and experienced staff. Donkeys are extremely caring, communicative, and playful animals, able to develop a very tender relationship with any person, especially a child!

 

 

Located in Malakasa, just outside Athens, Adventure Park is the perfect place to be if you seek a way of life that embraces thrilling leisure along with nature, environmental education, and action. The park provides a wide range of fun and exciting activities, each with a different level of difficulty, so anyone can participate. Depending on their age, kids can opt for several nature-associated activities, test their strengths, and explore their abilities. Of course, training is mandatory, even for the easiest of games, because safety comes first!

 

The Ranch

 

Nestled amidst the mountains of Karpenisi, Saloon Park promises to offer a memorable Western experience! People of all ages are welcome to ride on the train through the fiery nature, try horseback riding, jump on the trampoline, have a picnic under the blue sky, and see a deer or two if they are lucky enough. Or, you can relax with a coffee by the fireplace in the wooden retreat, enjoying the beauty of Greek nature combined with the ambiance of the American South.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Originally published in Greek on: moneyreview.gr
Translated by: Codico Lab

Archaeologists in Greece discovered in western Peloponnese the remains of a temple-shaped building that could be a lost sanctuary of the ancient god Poseidon, the Culture Ministry said.

The excavations completed at the end of September revealed part of the foundation of a large building, 9.40 meters wide, the walls of which are 0.80 meters wide. A dense layer of tiles was found inside. Based on the indications of the geophysical survey and the excavation data, the building was at least 28 meters in length, it had two inner rooms, as well as a “pronaos” and a back building or inner sanctum.

Archaeologists believe the elongated temple-shaped building probably belonged to the sanctuary of Poseidon and may even be the temple itself.

The site of Kleidi, where the ancient building was found, had been suggested by earlier researchers as a possible location of the famous ancient sanctuary, as it is situated in the foothills of the ancient acropolis of Samiko, with a command of the area north of the Lake Kaiafa, on the west coast of the Peloponnese.

According to information provided by Greek geographer, philosopher, and historian Strabo in his Geography, Book 8, the sanctuary of Poseidon was an important cult center of the Amphictyonic league (an association of neighboring city-states in ancient Greece to defend a common religious center) of the cities of Triphylia and was situated near the sea, under the acropolis of Samiko.

Combined with the Laconian style of tiling, the discovery of part of the marble water basin (perrirhanterion) leads archaeologists to tentatively date the building to the Archaic period.

The discovery, which is the result of this year’s first excavation season of the five-year research program (2022-2026), is aiming to investigate the topography of the area and identify the sanctuary of Poseidon and the port of Samiko. It is a collaboration between the Ephorate of Antiquities of Ilia headed by Dr. Erofili Kollia and the Austrian Archaeological Institute of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, headed by Dr. Birgitta Eder.

Originally published on: ekathimerini.com

Main Image: Greek Culture Ministry

The creation of the first completely 'green' Greek island has entered the final stretch. The small island of Ai Stratis, with just over 200 inhabitants, is expected to become the first island in Greece to be powered exclusively by electric and thermal energy from renewables, ANA reports.

The small hybrid project in progress on Ai Stratis, a remote Greek island of the northern Aegean, will act as a guide for larger projects.

The plan calls for the small Public Power Corporation (PPC) power plant on the island, which runs on expensive diesel, to fully shut down its operation and for the island to make a transition to full energy autonomy.

The Environment and Energy Ministry granted a unified license to the municipality of Ai Stratis to install a hybrid power plant for the production of electricity using wind and solar and for the storage of electricity with the use of accumulators.

Originally published on: tornosnews.gr

Prestigious American universities will start their operations in Greece in 2023, AMNA reported.

The Columbia International Education Center in Athens (of New York's Columbia University) will start its operation in September 2023. Meanwhile, the postgraduate student exchange program between the National & Kapodistrian University of Athens (EKPA) and Yale University will most likely launch within the current academic year, it was reported afresh a few days ago.

Concerning the latter, Greek students who will participate in the joint program will be exempted from paying tuition fees. As part of this new partnership, EKPA postgraduate and doctoral students will be able to take one-semester or one-year courses at Yale's science, medical and environmental schools, which will count toward their degree.

These announcements were highlighted anew following the 'Pharos Summit 2022', which was held recently at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, and which was addressed by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Originally published on: greekcitytimes.com

From the center of Fira and the unique Caldera of Santorini to the top of the world. The exclusive hotel Athina Luxury Suites once again made history by confirming its position as “Leading Boutique Hotel in Greece 2022” at the World Travel Awards.

 

The boutique hotel distinguished for the world-class services it offers, with breathtaking views of the Volcano, received the most important award in its history to date as “Leading Boutique Hotel in Greece 2022” at the 29th annual World Travel Awards, presented in Mallorca, Spain. World Travel Awards™ was established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all key sectors of the travel, tourism, and hospitality industries. Today, the World Travel Awards™ brand is recognized globally as the ultimate hallmark of industry excellence.

 

At the same time, Athina Luxury Suites also excelled and has been recognized among the finest establishments in the world, at the 16th annual World Luxury Hotel Awards by winning the “Best Luxury Boutique Hotel in Southern Europe” award, as part of the annual awards ceremony held in Antalya, Turkey. World Luxury Hotel Awards is the pinnacle of achievement in the luxury hotel industry offering international recognition as voted by guests, travelers and industry players alike. Over 300,000 international travelers vote each year, during a four-week period to select the winners.

 

In the context of this year’s awards, Mr. Panagiotis Iglesis and Ms. Artemis Argyrou, owners and general managers of Athina Luxury Suites, stated: “We are very proud. These awards indicate the fruition of our efforts throughout the year, to be able to offer high quality services to our customers, in this beautiful and unique destination of Santorini. Our total of 25 luxurious accommodations are designed for discerning guests looking for a perfect combination of serenity and adventure. This is the highest honor we have received so far and fills us with joy and strength to continue reaching even higher”. 

 

The successive awards of Athina Luxury Suites prove the commitment of the hotel and its management to further development, its continued consistency, hard work and level of service. Just a few meters away from vibrant town center, Athina Luxury Suites immerses guests in tranquility. Breathtaking views, world-class services and exquisite accommodations all combine to create a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Each suite at Athina Luxury Suites offers its own unique set of luxury amenities. Moreover, an unforgettable dining experience awaits guests at the Esperisma bar-restaurant, where guests can find Mediterranean and Greek cuisine inspired by the freshest local ingredients, at a place where luxury meets gastronomy.