Greece Travel Secrets Blog

May 23, 2022

Nobel Foundation Returns Mycenaean Gold Ring to Greece

An ancient gold ring dating back to Mycenaean times was recently returned to Greece by Sweden’s Nobel Foundation, according to an announcement of the Greek Culture Ministry.

The Mycenaean signet ring, marked with a pair of winged sphinxes, was handed over to the Head of the Greek Culture Ministry’s Department of Documentation and Protection of Cultural Goods Eleni Vlachogianni, during a ceremony held in Stockholm on Thursday.

“It was obvious to us that the ring had to be returned. This work of art has a great cultural and historical value for Greece,” Nobel Foundation Executive Director Vidar Helgesen said during the event.

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May 23, 2022

Greece’s Kastellorizo to Host 1st Rock Solid Trail Race in June

Kastellorizo, one of Greece’s smallest islands located in the Dodecanese, is getting ready to host the 1st Rock Solid island trail race, scheduled to take place during June 11-12.

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May 23, 2022

EU: Greece Among Winners of Natura 2000 Awards for Nature Protection

Greece is among the six winners of the 2022 edition of the Natura 2000 Awards, an event that recognises conservation success stories across the EU and raises awareness on the Natura 2000 protected areas.

According to an announcement by the European Commission, Greece won the “Conservation on Land Award” for the project “Adaptation of Eleonora’s falcon to climate change”.

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May 23, 2022

Greece Takes First Step to Create Museum of Underwater Antiquities in Piraeus

The Piraeus Port Authority (PPA) has handed over under a concession deal a 1934 silo on the port of Piraeus and the surrounding space to the Greek Culture Ministry so that it may be converted into a Museum of Underwater Antiquities as part of the Piraeus Cultural Coast project.

The handing-over ceremony took place this week in the presence of PPA Chairman Yu Zenggang, China’s Ambassador to Greece, Xiao Junzheng, and Culture Minister Lina Mendoni.

The project, budgeted 77.5 million euros, will be financed through RRF funds secured by the culture ministry and is set to be completed by the end of 2025.

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May 20, 2022

Hydra Travel Writing Classic

Peel Me a Lotus by Charmian Clift is a Hydra travel writing classic, describing her family’s life on this tiny Greek island near Athens in the 1950s.

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May 19, 2022

The Churches of Thessaloniki

The churches of Thessaloniki are remarkable and include UNESCO World Heritage Monuments, Byzantine masterpieces, and a church dating from the 5th century.

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May 18, 2022

Blue Flag: Greece 2nd in the World for its Clean Beaches

Greece’s beaches are among the world’s cleanest with the region of Halkidiki and the island of Rhodes in the lead this year, according to the 2022 Blue Flag quality award list for beaches, marinas and sustainable tourism boats, released by the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature (EEPF).

Greece ranked second after Spain among 48 countries with 581 of its beaches, 15 marinas, and six recreational boats getting the Blue Flag label, one of the world’s most recognized voluntary eco-labels, awarded to beaches, marinas, and sustainable boating tourism operators.

At the top of the list with the cleanest beaches is the Halkidiki region with 87 Blue Flags, followed by Rhodes (55), and Crete: Lassithi (41), Chania (36), Heraklion (31) and Rethymno (20).

Other top 10 Blue Flag beaches in Greece are in Attica (18), Kefalonia (17), and Lesvos (17).

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May 18, 2022

Lipsi Municipality Says No to Sunbeds on Island’s Beaches

The Municipality of Lipsi is saying “no” to sunbeds on the island’s beaches and is encouraging travelers to enjoy eco-conscious summer holidays this year in order to live authentic experiences.

“We are carrying out a strategy considered innovative in Greece and in Europe… We actively support the replacement of plastics and the abolition of sunbeds, and avoid the use of cars due to the island’s short distances,” Lipsi Mayor Fotis Maggos said in an announcement.

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May 18, 2022

Ioannina to Launch Food Council to Define its Gastronomic Identity

The Municipality of Ioannina, the capital of the Region of Epirus, northwestern Greece, has launched action to associate the city’s gastronomy with the destination’s brand-name and identity.

“Adding to the experiences that Ioannina offers its visitors is a priority for us… We are aiming to enhance these experiences by highlighting their competitive advantages; Ioannina’s gastronomy can be one of these advantages,” the city’s mayor, Moisis Elisaf, told GTP Headlines.

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May 18, 2022

Athens National Garden Refurbishment is Underway

The Athens Municipality recently completed the first phase of a 4.2-million-euro refurbishment project aiming to upgrade the National Garden, one of the Greek capital’s landmark sites.

The refurbished area is located on the garden’s north side between Amalias and Vasilissis Sofias avenues.

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May 18, 2022

Heraklion Breaks Guinness World Record With Biggest Traditional Cretan Sweet

On May 14, the town of Heraklion on Crete claimed its spot in the Guinness World Records for the largest traditional “kalitsouni” mosaic in the world.

The edible work consists of 37,531 “kalitsounia”, which are Cretan sweet cheese pies also known as “lychnarakia”, and was made on Mikro Koule pier in the shape of Crete.

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May 14, 2022

5 Greek Islands for Wine Lovers

Beautiful destinations and delectable wine tasting experiences in scenic wineries. Who could ask for anything more?

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May 14, 2022

Aegina: Cycling and Picnicking Among the Olive Groves

A blissful cycling tour through the unspoilt countryside of Aegina island, and enjoying the first spring picnic with delicious local products.

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May 12, 2022

No More Masks in Airports or on Airplanes as of May 16, Say EU Authorities

Travelers will no longer be required to wear face masks on airplanes and at airports as of May 16, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said on Wednesday.

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May 11, 2022

Sparta

Sparta (or Sparti) in the Peloponnese of Greece was one of the most important city-states of ancient Greece and has significant archaeological remains.

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May 07, 2022

5 Quirky and Beautiful Alternative Airbnbs in Greece

A home without a roof, a boat garage or a tree house? These short-term rentals provide something that many large hotels struggle to create: completely unique experiences that you will remember for a long time.

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May 07, 2022

7 Greek Beaches Rated as the Best in Europe

The Guardian has rated the awe-inspiringly scenic mainland and island coastlines among 40 beaches in 12 countries.

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May 07, 2022

7 Farms and Vineyards to Visit Near Athens

On these excursions to farms and wineries only a short distance from the city, we come in contact with nature, eat deliciously and shop products to take home.

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May 07, 2022

Greece Found Among Top Countries in the World for Adventurers

After more than two years of hardly any traveling, adventure seekers can find plenty of stimulation in Greece, ranked as the world’s 12th best outdoor hotspots.

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May 07, 2022

Greece Found Among Top Countries in the World for Adventurers

After more than two years of hardly any traveling, adventure seekers can find plenty of stimulation in Greece, ranked as the world’s 12th best outdoor hotspots.

Continue reading "Greece Found Among Top Countries in the World for Adventurers"