With the Olympic Games taking place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in August 2016, ICOMOS has dedicated this year's International Day For Monuments & Sites, Monday April 18, 2016, to the heritage of sports.

In celebration of this day in Greece, the Ministry of Culture and Athletics has announced that all archaeological sites will have free admission to the public on Monday April 18, 2016. Museums will also participate, with the exception of museums that are closed on Monday's.

During the upcoming Easter holidays, sites and museums in Greece will hold the following hours:

From sightseeing with the kids, to healthy food and plenty of exercise, Greece Is gives us tips for visiting Athens with the family!

Athens can be hot and busy, the traffic is loud and the many sites often involve climbing steps and hills. It may not seem like a place a child would necessarily enjoy. But if you plan it right, a trip to Athens can be an enjoyable experience for the whole family, full of memories that will last a lifetime.

A number of companies arrange tours specially designed for kids; museums teach them about the birth of science and democracy in ancient Greece; and amusement parks and playgrounds are on hand to provide fun breaks in the sightseeing program.

The tour company Kids Love Greece takes advantage of those myths and legends on their tours of the main sites and through central Athens. Their 3-hour tour of the Acropolis and the Acropolis museum is led by specially trained guides who practice interactive storytelling.

Treasure hunting is one of the specialties of tour company Be A Greek. Their treasure hunts for kids are led by a qualified children’s experts who will teach them all about the gods of Mount Olympus, as well as life in ancient Greece (when groups of two or more kids take part, they are split into competing teams, all supervised by a member of the Be a Greek team).

To read this article in full and for many more suggestions on what to do with the kids in Athens, please visit: Greece Is

Perched on a rocky hill above Athens, the Acropolis is one of the greatest architectural achievements of the classical world. A remarkable archaeological site and the birthplace of Democracy, the Acropolis is one of the most visited sights in the world and Athens’ crown jewel. Despite earthquakes, extensive looting, air pollution, and centuries of war, much of this incredible monument still survives. We’ve put together a list of interesting facts that will enable you to fully comprehend the grandeur and significance of one of the greatest ancient citadels ever to be built!

1. It’s Not The Only Acropolis In Greece

The term ‘Acropolis’ derives from the Greek words ‘akron’, which means highest point or edge, and ‘polis’, which means city. Therefore, the word acropolis literally means ‘Highest City’. Even though the term mostly refers to the Acropolis of Athens, there are in fact, quite a few acropolises in Greece such as Acrocorinth in Corinth, Cadmea in Thebes, and the Acropolis of Lindos in the island of Rhodes.

2. The Acropolis And The Parthenon Are Not The Same Thing

Many visitors to Greece come to Athens thinking that the Acropolis and the Parthenon are the same thing. However, the Acropolis is actually the hill where the Parthenon and other structures such as the Erechteion, the Propylaia, and the Temple of Athena Nike are built upon!

3. The Parthenon Is Perfect Due To Its Imperfections

Even though the Parthenon is often referred to as the ‘word’s most perfect building’ its perfection is actually achieved through a series intentional flaws. Ictinos and Kallikrates, used a couple of architectural tricks, such as the slight angling of the temple’s pedestal, and the unnoticeable barrel-like curves on its columns, to create an optical illusion of perfection and impeccable alignment.

4. The Parthenon Was Blown Up in 1687

In 1687 the Parthenon suffered the greatest damage in its long history! During the Morean War, a Venetian cannonball blew up the Ottoman gunpowder magazine that was located inside the Parthenon, causing great damage to the temple. Before leaving Athens, the Venetians considered blowing up the rest of the Parthenon to avoid its further use as a Turkish stronghold, but thankfully the idea was abandoned!

5. The Acropolis Used To Be A Kaleidoscope Of Color

Recent tests have revealed that the Parthenon, and other buildings on the Acropolis Hill, were once covered in color. Even though the colors have been bleached over the years, the traces of blue, red, and green pigments that were discovered on various archaic sculptures show that these sites were once painted in a kaleidoscope of colors.

When visiting the Acropolis Museum, keep an eye out for the Archaic sculptures that have retained traces of their original colors. Furthermore, the museum offers a fun interactive online application, which allows users to color, save, and print the statue of Peplos Kore.

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This content has been sourced and prepared by Codico Lab

 

There is an island in Greece that is cosmopolitan and Cycladic, stately and traditional, Orthodox and Catholic at the same time! Syros, the capital of the Cyclades, is an island with many faces.

Even Ermoupoli, Syros' capital, has a dual identity. Ermoupoli is stately and grand, topped with an Orthodox church, while above it, Ano (Upper) Syros is a typical Cycladic village, crowned with Catholic monasteries and churches.

The beautiful amalgamation of marble-paved squares, exquisite mansions, traditional settlements, and crystal clear beaches bestow Syros with a unique, elegant character that can't be seen anywhere else in Greece.

Syros is a year-round destination; in fact, it is a place you could live in throughout the year, so much is there to do!

Athens, July 25, 2019 – “Navarino Challenge” follows, as every year, the ideals of the Olympic Movement, which is to educate youth through sports, without discrimination and in keeping with the Olympic spirit of fair play. Messinia has started spreading the message “Sports unite people” around the world with the participation of Olympic athletes and hall of famers such as Nick Galis, Olympic silver swimming champion, Spyros Gianniotis as well as participants of all ages and sporting abilities. “Navarino Challenge” will be held for the 7 th consecutive year, from 11-13 October 2019, in Messinia and Costa Navarino.

Open Water Swimming In Pylos
On Saturday October 12, amateur and professional athletes can swim alongside silver Olympic medalist and world champion in open water swimming, Spyros Gianniotis, at the picturesque harbor of Pylos, at the site of the critical naval battle that led to Greece’s independence. The open water swimming race by Vikos, approved by the Hellenic Swimming Federation, covers a unique 1-mile (1.6 km) route charted by Nikos Gemelos, the Greek National coach who has given us countless Olympic and world-class honors in open water swimming. Check HERE to enjoy beautiful snapshots from last year’s competition:

Coastal rowing for the first time at “Navarino Challenge”
On Saturday October 12, a coastal rowing relay race and demonstration will be held for the first time at the historic Navarino bay under the auspices of the Hellenic Rowing Federation in the presence of Greek and twice Olympic medalist in lightweight double sculls competition, Vassilis Polymeros (federation’s curator of national teams), who will be honored at this year's event.

Activities for parents and children at The Dunes Beach
The Dunes Beach offers peace and tranquility as well as sporting opportunities for participants at the Navarino Challenge. Following the enthusiastic participation of children at the beachathlon activities last year, this year parents get to join in the fun too! Under the expert supervision of 400m. obstacle Olympic and World Champion, Periklis Iakovakis, will guide 6-13 year olds and their parents through a series of track and field competitions.

Beach volleyball returns this year with the former Greek national volleyball player who holds the record of appearances in the Greek National Team, Michalis Triantafyllidis. During the weekend, beach volley lessons by Samsung, as well as the Samsung King & Queen Beach Volley Tournament by Triantafyllidis Beach Arena, will be held with Michalis Triantafyllidis. To wrap up, the advantages of exercise and well-being will benefit children and grown-ups who will be choosing beach yoga by Messinian Spa from FitnessArt of Dimitris Moros, with instructor Katiana Priovolou. 2 Enjoy some unique moments from the activities to be held at The Dunes Beach in the following video HERE! 

Accommodation Packages at The Westin Resort Costa Navarino Navarino Challenge participants who have booked their package at The Westin Resort Costa Navarino, taking part in the main events (running, swimming) will be able to also enjoy the full programme that includes more than 30 sporting activities. The program includes: boccia with the gold Paralympic medalist Grigoris Polychronidis, pilates lessons with Mandy Persaki, high intensity training for people of all ages by Dimitris Moros & FitnessArt, indoor cycling (team teaching) for people of all ages by the trainer Tess Arlauckas and Dimitris Moros, powered by FitnessArt, baby swimming lessons for kids up to 3 years old by Swim Academy & Red Swim Academy, aqua aerobic lessons by Swim Academy & Red Swim Academy, climbing lessons by the Navarino Outdoors team, bike ride in Voidokilia supported by Navarino Outdoors, as well as golf clinics supported by Navarino Golf Academy. Free participation in the Authentic Marathon of Athens for the first 50 The first 50 to book their package at The Westin Resort Costa Navarino stand a chance to win a free participation at the Authentic Athens Marathon 5km race on Sunday November 10, 2019. More information on accommodation packages can be found HERE!

Registrations continue for running and swimming Entries for the award-winning sporting event are underway and interested parties can take part by completing the special form available HERE!

Pre-sale is also available online via www.viva.gr or by phone at 11876 as well as at all Viva pre-sale points.

For more information on accommodation packages in the region visit VitaNTravel
Samsung is the official technology partner for another year.
Official sponsors of the event are Ford Motor Hellas and the Natural Mineral Water “Vikos”.
Luanvi is the official sports supplier of the event for one more year. Official supporters are Poseidonia, Municipality of Pylos-Nestor and PlantBox.
Messinian Spa is the Official Beauty Partner for the first time.
Partners of the event are Pylos Poems, Fysiotek Sports Lab, Karalis Beach Hotel, Athens Easy Transfers. Avance Rent A Car is the official rental partner.
National Geographic is the strategic partner of the event and 24MEDIA its premium media partner.
“Navarino Challenge” has joined the Greek actions of the #BeactiveHellas 2019 programme of the European Commission and is under the auspices of the General Secretariat of Sports. The event is held under the auspices of the Greek National Tourism Organization with the approval of the Hellenic Swimming Federation. Navarino Challenge is co-organized by Costa Navarino , The Westin Resort Costa Navarino and Active Media Group with the support of the Municipalities of Pylos- Nestor and Trifilia.
Athletic Partners: Explore Messinia, F45 The Pearl, FitnessArt, Navarino Golf Academy, Navarino Outdoors, Navarino Racquet Academy, Pilates by Mandy, Red Swim Academy, Swim Academy, Triantafyllidis Beach Arena, Vizantinos target sport club 3 CSR Partners: Captain Vasilis and Carmen Konstantakopoulos Foundation, WWF Greece, Karkinaki, Institute of Preventive Medicine Environmental and Occupational Health Prolepsis
Assisted by: VitaNTravel, Karalis City Hotel & Spa, Lifeguard Patrol, Pylos Association of Enterprises for Tourism Development, Maritime Athletic Pylos Association “Nestor”, Target Security, Pilia Express, METAXA, The Blue Beetle, Fever-Tree, NoS, Southern Comfort Discount Partners: Anazoe Spa, Attica Selections, Kessaris, Panellinios Agora Boutique, Tsamis Eyewear Boutique Hashtags: #navarinochallenge #costanavarino #sportsunitepeople #eatwell #runwell #livewell
Photo credit: Spyros Gianinotis

Active Media Group: Undertakes the Sports Presentation of the Mediterranean Beach Games in Patras

Another success is added to the events of Active Media Group. Specifically, the prestigious International Travel & Tourism Awards 2019 presented by the World Travel Market that evaluates and recognizes the best in global travel & tourism industry, included this year Active Media with the top sports event of “Navarino Challenge” in its shortlist for the Best in Wellness category. The final results will be announced on Tuesday, November 5, 2019, at the awards ceremony in London.

This is the first time a Greek sports tourism event is nominated in WTM together with projects from the whole world. Navarino Challenge is co-organized by Costa Navarino, The Westin Resort Costa Navarino and Active Media Group with the support of the Municipalities of Pylos-Nestor and Trifilia.

Register for Navarino Challenge today!

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XpatAthens is proud to be a Media Sponsor Of Navarino Challenge 2019

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The transition from relaxing summer holidays to the daily routine can be quite difficult. That's why we have put together some life saving tips for managing back-to-school stress. And if you're working and want to make your day at the office a bit better, here are some delicious snack ideas you can order online!

For the 5th year in a row, the students of Panteion University's culture program have joined forces with Onassis STEGI cultural center to organize a 3-day musical event titled "A Musical Bridge Over Syngrou."

The festival, which aims to bring young composers and musicians to the spotlight, is the culmination of an intensive workshop aiming to provide students with the experience of organizing music events.

The festival will take place at Panteion University and includes 5 musical concerts. Tickets are free on a first come, first-served basis will be distributed at the venue one hour before each event.

When people ask which island has the best beaches in Greece, they expect to hear answers like “Crete” with the world-famous pink sands of Elafonisi Lagoon or “Mykonos” with the beaches named Paradise and Super Paradise. While these beached are beautiful, they often get overcrowded, hard to get to, or expensive. For just as gorgeous but more accessible beaches, I invite you to the island of Milos.

Milos is the most southwestern island in the Cyclades. It takes about 3 hours to get to Milos from the port of Piraeus on a fast ferry. The island has an airport, so taking a flight is also an option. Milos has over 40 beaches, and since the island is relatively small, you can go beach hopping, taking-in stunning seaside after stunning seaside, in a short time. Like most Greek islands, Milos offers both organized and unorganized beaches.

Organized beaches offer sunbeds, umbrellas, and snack bars so you can eat, drink, and relax on the beach without bringing much more than your beach towel and sunscreen.

Unorganized beaches offer raw Greek nature at its finest but with very few extra amenities. There are typically no sunbeds for rent, no umbrellas, and few, if any, options for food or drink. If you bring along your gear, you'll be rewarded with unspoiled beaches and free access.

Sarakiniko

Sarakiniko is a truly unique beach with an almost lunar landscape featuring white volcanic rock formations set above the sparkling turquoise water. Its otherworldly feel makes it a popular spot for climbing, diving, and snorkeling. Sarakiniko is not an organized beach, so bring along a towel, water, and sunscreen.

Firiplaka

Firiplaka beach is an easily accessible, gorgeous beach where you can rent sunbeds and get refreshments. With sand instead of pebbles, Firiplaka is the calm, clean cousin of the wilder beaches nearby. Firiplaka is an ideal beach for a relaxing, enjoyable afternoon at the beach, however, try to arrive early as sunbeds can sell out.

Triades

Triades beach constists of 3 sandy beaches side by side. Situated on the west side of the island, this fairly unknown beach is remote and unorganized with no restaurants, cafes, or sunbeds anywhere to be seen. If you're looking for an unspoiled setting, off-the-beaten-track, you should head to Triades!


To read this article in full and discover other amazing beaches on Milos, please visit: internationalliving.com

Written By: Lynn Roulo