Lifo 2019 English Guide

Summer

2019

THE ATHENS GUIDE FOR VISITORS

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Welcome to Athens!

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thens is messy and unpredictable, it’s the ideal place for a city break, but there are more things to do, more sights to visit and events to watch than you can imagine, a city that fizzes with an intense energy from early in the morning till late at night. You could spend weeks in and around the capital and never get bored, it’s a city to be explored, with numerous museums, great food, archaeological sites everywhere, a bustling center with exciting nightlife.

Also, the new generation of designers or young artists is booming and new businesses are sprouting up all over the city at record numbers.

The cultural and social life of Athens plays out amid, around and in landmarks that are centuries old, if not millennia. Beside the old ruins, the thousand-year-old Byzantine churches, the Ottoman traces or the neoclassical style of the 19th century that adds elegance all over the center, the city as a whole crackles with energy at the theatres, festivals and concerts underneath the Acropolis, at the clubs, in art shows and exhibitions, even on the walls of derelict buildings, as Athens has become one of Europe’s most noted spot for street art. Athens is priming itself for a comeback and funnelling a great deal of its creative energy into its food offering. From street food, fine dining and everything in between, taverns and neo-taverns, there’s a sense of renewal and the breeding ground for a new cuisine. The city’s cafés are some of the best in the world.

Athens is full of growing trends and creative surprises lie around every corner, so be sure to leave room in your schedule for spontaneous discovery, a new restaurant or tavern, a hotspot, a special event, a dance, even a performance in the street. “Athens for visitors” is mainly a cultural guide for the places worth visiting in the city, some distinct districts like Exarcheia, Kolonaki, Pagrati, Koukaki, the northern Kifissia or the Athens Riviera on the coast, where you can find a selection of exhibitions and live performances for even more exciting summer days and nights in the city.

Have a great time!

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The Athens Guide for Visitors

Summer 2019

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The Athens Guide For Visitors

iD/Summer2019 Editor In Chief

Michalis Michael Articles Editor

Christos Paridis Dafne Papadopoulou Designers

Yannis Karlopoulos Christos Tzovaras Vanessa Ferle Photographers

Paris Tavitian Spyros Staveris Filippos Lemonis Shutterstock Εurokinissi Coordination

Xenia Stasinopoulou Sales

Penelope Moula Yota Athanasopoulou Kostas Mantas Isidora Genouzou George Lykourgiotis Konstantina Triantafyllou

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Dyo Deka Ekdotiki SA 22 Voulis St. Syntagma Square Athens 105 61, Greece www.lifo.gr for queries or comments email us at info@lifo.gr

The Athens Guide for Visitors

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The Athens Guide for Visitors

Summer 2019

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Picasso and Antiquity. Line and Clay —Museum of Cycladic Art

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ixtyeight rare ceramics and drawings by Pablo Picasso featuring birds, fish, animals, imaginative creatures, humans and mythological beasts (centaurs, the Minotaur) or inspired by ancient drama and comedies in conversation with sixty seven ancient Greek antiquities, aim to create a divine dialogue between the present and the past.

Picasso’s works of art ‒ceramics and drawings created between the ’20s and the ’60s‒ come from international foundations, museums and private collections, while the antiquities come from 15 Greek museums and collections. They include sculptures, ceramics and bronze artefacts dating from Prehistoric (from c. 3200 BCE) to the Late Roman period (to the mid-3rd

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century CE).

An unexpected, awe-inspiring encounter that often makes the visitor wonder which of the works belong to Picasso and which to the anonymous creator of the antiquity. Picasso used to say about himself: “If all the ways I have been along were marked on a map and joined up with a line, it might represent a minotaur”. Indeed, he sometimes depicted himself as a modern Minotaur, a lead that can perhaps explain his attraction and fascination with the ancient Greek art.

Its deep study substantially influenced his work.

The exhibition, organized by the Museum of Cycladic Art and curated by professor Nikolaos C. Stambolidis and the art historian Olivier Berggruen,

aims to detect the dialogue of Picasso with the ancient Greek world.

The exhibition does not follow chronological order but is divided into sections related to a line of beauty depicting Picasso’s “Arcadia”, where centaurs, bulls and the Minotaur, various creatures associated with Greek mythology and antiquity are residing. These sections are: “Introduction”, “The line of beauty - The three graces”, “Line and light in space”, “Lysistrata”, “Arcadia”, “Dionysus”, “The Centaur”, “The bull”, “The Minotaur”. At the same time, the imagery of the exhibition is organized thematically: fish, birds, animals, female and male figures, imaginary beings and myths juxtaposed with those of Greek or Mediterranean antiquity.

The Athens Guide for Visitors

Picasso’s ceramic doves find their counterparts in ceramic doves of the Classical period, ceramic fish or carved engravings find their ancestors in Egyptian art, the owls, the emblematic bird of Athens and a symbol of the goddess Athena, on the pots, sculptures and the silver coins of the 5th century BCE. A series of ceramic female figures, fully dressed at first, half naked or fully naked in their bath recall the various types of women statues, usually in white marble. The goddess of beauty and eros definitely inspired the great painter, along with Pan, the undisputed protagonist of the Arcadian bucolic tradition. Another theme that interested Picasso is dance. His painted ceramics with dance scenes, ecstatic and

frenzied, can be interpreted in relation with Dionysus. His mid-50s ceramics depicted circular dances with figures swirling in a circle. These are juxtaposed with circular dances represented on ancient ceramic and figurines of the Mycenaean period. One of Picasso’s largest vases showing a man riding a bull brings to mind the bulls on Cretan Proto-Archaic vases. His connection to the bull and everything associated with it was almost obsessive. Along with the Centaur, the bull attracted him throughout his entire life as a Mediterranean symbol of virility and authority.

His terracotta centaurs follow a series of similar composite creatures of clay or metal in the Geometric, Archaic and Classical period. The Minotaur, of course, with whose characteristics he

identified, becomes his protagonist. In the exhibition one can encounter the magnificent “Blind Minotaur guided by a girl by the sea”.

As Olivier Berggruen states in the catalogue of the exhibition: “The protagonists of these tableaux vivants in the shape of ceramics, the sculptures of women in the form of fruit and other organic shapes, are surely an extension of the artist’s self, a tactile expression of a world over which he exerts control; the artist is not just mythical sculptor in ancient Greek lore”.

Picasso and Antiquity Museum Of Cycladic Art Neophytou Douka 4 www.cycladic.gr Until 20/10/2019

The same river twice: Contemporary art in Athens —Benaki Museum – Pireos Annex

The Callas, Strange Fruit, 2017

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he New Museum of New York and the DESTE Foundation for Contemporary Art, in collaboration with the Benaki Museum, present “The same river twice”, an exhibition of Athensbased artists, curated by Margot Norton and Natalie Bell. Bringing together visual artists, designers, as well as cultural producers from contemporary Athenian art scene, this exhibition is a vibrant testament of the city’s constantly evolving artistic landscape, a haven to countless artist-run initiatives and exhibition spaces, cross-disciplinary happenings and collaborations. As Dakis Ioannou, the president of DESTE Foundation, says about the younger generation of artists of the recent years during the economic crisis: “Through their persistence, they have continued to innovate and support each other, ultimately enriching the local art scene and forging new contributions to the contemporary filed on a global scale”.

The exhibition borrows its title from

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an aphorism attributed to the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus, in which he famously asserted that “one cannot step in the same river twice”. Since the flow of water offered an apt analogy for the state of constant flux Heraclitus sought to describe and it applies to the continuous transformations of Athens’s art scene today ‒ and the inherent impossibility of capturing or containing it at any given moment.

More than thirty artists of all ages, styles and nationalities (during the crisis years a number of non- Greeks artists chose Athens as their home base), whose work contributed to the puzzle of the city’s profile, are selected and presented by the two curators. A new generation of artists, whose dynamic presence and energetic contribution in seeking new mediums and new forms are unfolding Athens’ vibrant creativity and common challenge. To many the Heraclitus’ aphorism represents their different approach in identity and gender issues simultaneously with

the city’s perpetual transformation, which leads to the rise of a new era.

Because it is the artists, ahead of our time and before anybody else, that have visualized and documented this change.

As curators Natalie Bell and Margot Norton say in their essay included in a fine catalogue of the exhibition designed by An Art Service: “Just as artists may bear changing attitudes and perspectives, trying out new models for creative output and exchange, the city, too, transforms, leaving us with architectural vestiges of economic development or decline – conspicuous shifts in the function and regard towards public space, generations and demographics that beget new perspectives in culture and politics”.

The Same River Twice: Contemporary Art in Athens Benaki Museum – Pireos Annex, Pireos 138 www.benaki.gr Until 22/09/2019

The Athens Guide for Visitors

Avigdor Arikha: A Breath —Benaki Museum – Museum of Greek Culture

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he first ever exhibition in Greece of internationally acclaimed, Paris-based, modern master Avigdor Arikha (1929-

2010).

Avigdor Arikha (1929-2010) was born in Romania, to German-speaking Romanian Jewish parents. Though he traveled frequently to London, New York and Jerusalem, he lived most of his life in Paris and died there.

A talented child, Arikha started drawing early on. During WWII, he was deported to a concentration camp in the Ukraine, where he drew the horrors he witnessed. These drawings saved his life. During the ’50s he established himself in Paris and started a successful career as an abstract painter.

In 1965, a Caravaggio exhibition prompted him to convert to drawing from life. He stopped using colour until 1973, when he started painting from life as well. He worked with a religious, almost war-like intensity, until his death.

An erudite, passionate scholar endowed with a deep knowledge of the history of art and its techniques, as well as of world history, fascinated by science, he wrote many essays and curated important exhibitions of respected masters such as Poussin, Velasquez, Ingres. He is rightly considered to be among the best artists of his generation, together with the likes of Lucian Freud or R.B. Kitaj. His works figure in public and private collections worldwide, and retrospective exhibitions were held at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art (1998), Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, Palais des Beaux Arts de Lille (1999), British Museum (2006), Museum Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid (2008), amongst others. Benaki Museum’s exhibition presents more than 50 important paintings and drawings from the artist’s estate and private collections.

Avigdor Arikha: A Breath Benaki Museum – Museum of Greek Culture Koumbari 1 St. & V. Sofias Ave www.benaki.gr Until 01/09/2019

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The Athens Guide for Visitors

La Traviata — National Opera of Greece Odeon of Herodes Atticus

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wenty years after his emblematic choreography on “The lady with the camelias”, acclaimed choreographer and director of the Greek National Opera’s Ballet Konstantinos Rigos meets again the “famous courtesan of the Parisian society” in his operatic directorial debut. Throughout his long-standing career, he successfully choreographed numerous modern ballets and directed works ranging from large-scale theatrical performances.

In line with the spirit of Verdi’s enrapturing music, Rigos marks his stamp on a direction that focuses on the “forced pleasure” which seems to suffocate all the protagonists of the story, as well as the smothering effect of economic transactions that defines everything in the lives of the

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characters. A psychological profile of Violeta Valery, from the dawn of love to the darkness of death, set in a “minimal” baroque environment.

La Traviata’s premiere on 6 March 1853 at the Teatro La Fenice in Venice is usually reported as one of the greatest failures in the history of opera. The opera portrays the love of a courtesan with a young man, son of a prominent Parisian family. The relationship triggers the reaction of the family, the couple breaks up and they meet again just before the woman’s death. One and a half century later, Verdi’s masterpiece is considered as one of the most popular works in the repertory presented in hundreds of performances every year in opera houses worldwide.

The great Lisette Oropesa, who

interprets the title role of Violeta in the first cast, is one of the most sought-after sopranos across the world. After her appearance at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus she will interpret La Traviata at the Arena in Verona, the New York Metropolitan Opera and the Teatro Real in Madrid.

Alfredo in the first cast will be interpreted by Saimir Pirgu, one of the most internationally acclaimed tenors.

In the role of Giorgio Germont the top Greek baritone Dimitris Platanias.

Conducted by Lukas Karytinos.

LA TRAVIATA Giuseppe Verdi 27, 28, 30, 31/07/2019 Odeon of Herodes Atticus www.nationalopera.gr

The Athens Guide for Visitors

Prometheus Bound —Ancient Theater of Epidaurus

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cclaimed British-Greek actress and founding member of Théâtre de Complicite, Kathryn Hunter, heralded for performing male roles, having portrayed Richard III at the Globe in 2003, while she was awarded an Olivier in 1991 for her leading role in The Visit, is holding the leading role in Prometheus Bound

by Aeschylus, presented by the Municipal Theater of Patras and directed by Stavros Tsakiris.

Prometheus is punished by Zeus for giving fire to humanity. Hephaestus is tasked with chaining Prometheus on

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steep mountain rocks. Cratus and Via keep watch on the reluctant Hephaestus. Oceanus’ daughters, the Oceanids, lament the hero’s torment. Prometheus and Oceanus discuss Zeus’ cruelty.

Enters another creature who has suffered the wrath of the gods: Io, Zeus’ mistress. He once transformed her into a heifer to save her from Hera’s jealousy. In response, Hera dispatched an annoying gadfly to relentlessly pursue Io to the end of the world. Prometheus foretells her future, linked with his own, since a distant descendant of Io is destined to set Prometheus free in

the future. Prometheus also foresees the fall of Zeus. However, he refuses to disclose the exact circumstances of Zeus’ fall to Hermes, the messenger god. The tragedy reaches its climax with a raging Zeus unleashing his thunders against Prometheus, the still-resisting prisoner, retaining his free will.

With Greek and English subtitles Prometheus Bound

by Aeschylus Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus 09 & 10/08/2019 www. greekfestival.gr

The Athens Guide for Visitors

The Thread —Ancient Theater of Epidaurus

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high standards modern dance performance that charmed both public and critics at its world premier in Sadler’s Wells London is opening its Greek premier at the famous Ancient Greek Τheater of Epidaurus. Starting from the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur in ancient Greek Mythology to the Red Thread of Fate in Asian philosophy, the “Thread” combines the evolution of movement through tradition and art.

A spectacular choreography that brings together Greek traditional folk dances with contemporary movement to unravel these evolutions through modern

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dance, movement and light.

Since Greece, from antiquity until the present day, has been a platform for the multiple expressions of the body, the “Thread” is the line that runs through time, connecting our present to the past, as well as the common cultural elements that connect different regions, despite the distance between them or their differences. An impressive choreography that represents the fundamental human values that we all share, regardless of religion, ethnicity or beliefs, while obeying a notion which is both personal, timely and relatable, universal and timeless.

Choreographer Russell Muliphant meets internationally acclaimed Academy award winner composer Vangelis and 18 male and female Greek dancers under the spell of light designer, known as “choreographer of light”, Michael Hulls. The costumes are created by one of the most promising designers of British fashion, Athens born Mary Katrantzou.

The Thread Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus 24/08/2019 www. viva.gr

The Athens Guide for Visitors

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The Athens Guide for Visitors

Summer 2019

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The Acropolis Hill & the Parthenon

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he Acropolis Hill dominates the Athenian skyline in a remarkable way. Entering from Dionysiou Areopagitou and climbing the 70-metre hill, the history of the city unfolds before you, starting from the Neolithic times, when the first findings are dated. Its flat top is due to the numerous landfills that

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have accommodated construction and temples since the Mycenaean era. The first building you encounter when you enter is the Propylea (437-432 BCE); the monumental entrances to the area made from marble of Îœount Penteli to mark the entrance to the religious complex. Its function was to receive and assemble the visitors and it was built

in the Doric order with few Ionic columns, supporting the roof of the central wing. The architect of the project Mnesikles began building it right after the main construction of the Parthenon was completed in 437 BCE. However, five years later, with the eruption of the Peloponnesian War, construction works were paused. At the southwest is the The Athens Guide for Visitors

elegant Temple of Athena Nike (426421 BCE) of Ionian order, designed by the other wonder child of architecture, Kallikrates.

It is said that it housed the statue of Athena Nike, which was made of wood and held a helmet in her left hand. Since it had no wings, the temple acquired the name Apteros Nike (wingless victory). This way, Athenians thought, victory wouldn’t fly away, abandoning the city.

The Erechtheion (421-405 BCE) is known for its spectacular six female figures functioning as columns, the Caryatids. Possibly named after the women of the city of Karyes, the original have been transferred in the Acropolis museum. Erechtheion is intricate temple. The idea was to accommodate the radically uneven ground on the site, without disturbing the preexisted sacred shrines, like the altars to Poseidon and Hephaestus, or the spot where Poseidon hit the Acropolis with his trident. Other elements that needed to be accommodated were the sacred olive tree, well containing sea water, the tomb of Kekrops, and the Pandrosion sanctuary. The Parthenon (447-438 BCE), built for Virgin (Parthenos) goddess Athena, was made to honor her, after she won over the city

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in a confrontation with Poseidon. Built atop an older temple destroyed by the Persians, Athenians spared no expense in rebuilding a sanctuary of unrivalled craftsmanship. The marble structure of Doric order was 13.72 meters high and 69.50 meters long. Its famous architects, Iktinos and Kallikrates, used marble from the nearby Mount Penteli throughout the building for the very first time in such constructions. The building was meant to impress with the first glance and so it did, as visitors entered the Acropolis from Propylea and saw it in three quarter view. Its main function was to house the colossal statue of Athena that was made by Phedias out of gold and ivory.

The topic of the sculpted decoration was the myths regarding goddess Athena and the Persian defeat by Athens. All artwork, supervised by the sculptor Phedias, was completed by 432 BCE. The decoration of the Parthenon combines the Doric metopes and triglyphs on the entablature, with the Ionic frieze on the walls of the cella.

They depict the Gigantomachy on the east side, the Amazonomachy on the west, the Centauromachy on the south and scenes from the Trojan War on the north. The value of the Parthenon lies, among other things, in the fact that at

the time it was built, it epitomized the ideals Athenian society had developed during Pericles’s Golden Age: Democracy, accuracy through mathematics, aesthetics, and focus on the individual.

The classical buildings stood intact until the middle of 17th century, when the Propylea was blown up while being used as a gunpowder store and thirty years later, the Ottoman occupiers dismantled the neighboring Temple of Athena Nike to use its materials to strengthen the fortification of the Acropolis. The most fatal year though was 1687, when many of the building’s architectural members were blown into the air and fell in heaps around the hill, caused by a bomb from the Venetian forces. Foreign visitors would search through the rubble and take fragments of the fallen sculptures as their souvenirs. It was in the 19th century that Lord Elgin removed intact architectural sculptures from the frieze, the metopes and the pediments of the building.

Most of them are now exhibited at the British Museum in London.

Acropolis and Parthenon (Archaeological Area) Acropolis Hill Tel.: +30 210 3214172

The Athens Guide for Visitors

The Acropolis Museum

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ne of the most visited Greek museums, the Acropolis Museum, celebrated 10 years of operation in June. All antiquities formerly crammed in the small museum atop the namesake hill were transported during a mammoth-sized operation. The building, designed by Swiss architect Bernard Tschumi and Greek architect Michalis Photiades, is made of cement, stainless steel and glass, with spacious galleries. According to the architects, the idea behind the structure was to keep it solemn and simple, in an effort to focus attention on the exhibits, rather than the building itself. The exhibition rooms house the most important artefacts of the classical period, as well as other treasures that were previously kept in storage for lack of space. The museum has divided its roughly 4,000 artefacts in five collections: the finds from the slopes of the Acropolis Hill, antiquities from the archaic period, the classical period, the post-classical era and the Roman period. Recently the exhibition was enriched with a relief with the Procession of Erotes from the Sanctuary of Aphrodite Ourania (2nd c. BCE) and the Owl in Relief that originally adorned the façade of a stand, most likely from the Odeion of Pericles. Some of the most emblematic ancient Greek antiquities are displayed: the archaic Kouroi (male statues) and Kores (female statues), a vast number of pottery, marble sculptures of maidens and athletes, the Parthenon frieze and all its surviving parts. Visitors will also have a chance to admire a collection of artefacts dug out during the excavation process on the ground floor and inspect the ancient city under their feet – beneath the city. Archaeologists uncovered ancient roads, houses, bath houses and workshops dating between 3,000 BCE-1,200 BCE, all of which can now be examined through a glass floor that extends from the outside area to the main hall. The route one follows forms a spiral pathway leading from the ground floor where the archaic artefacts are exhibited upwards towards the Parthenon marbles and back down through the Roman era. The top floor houses the Parthenon frieze which is displayed in its original, 2,500-yearold full length entirety, placed at the same angle as it did when it was on its original location, to maximize its effect on the viewer.

The pieces missing from the frieze, famously known as the Elgin Marbles, have been replaced by duplicates. Greeks have been very vocal in requesting the originals back from the British Museum, where they have been housed since Lord Elgin sold them in 1816, after he had hacked them off the Parthenon in 1801 and brought them to England. Recently an entire excavated neighborhood that lies beneath the museum opened to the public, providing a greater perspective of how the ancient Athenians lived from the classical to the byzantine years. Ancient villas, pathways, craft shops, baths and a sophisticated water drainage network from the 5th century BCE to the 12th century CE, all exposed across this settlement that spans 4,000 m2, one of the largest within the boundaries of ancient Athens. Visitors, guided by the museum’s archaeologists, are given the opportunity to wander through this spectacular archaeological excavation. They are able to walk around the streets, take a closer look at the houses, their courtyards and wells, enter the heart of the impressive mansions with the private baths, examine the workshops with the water reservoirs, take a magical stroll through time and the daily life of ancient Athens.

Acropolis Museum, Dionysiou Areopagitou 15 Tel.: +30 210 9000900 theacropolismuseum.gr

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The Athens Guide for Visitors

Summer 2019

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The National Archaeological Museum

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he National Archaeological Museum (NAM) is Greece’s largest museum and one of the world’s most important art museums. Its spectacular collections of ancient Greek art showcase works from the Neolithic, Bronze and Iron Ages, the Geometric/Orientalizing, the Severe, the Classical and Hellenistic eras, as well as the Roman and early Byzantine periods.

Construction for the neoclassical building that houses the museum –a national landmark– commenced in 1866 on designs of the architects Ludwig Lange and Panagi Kalkos. The final form of its façade was the work of Ernst Ziller, who also supervised the project until 1889. Accordingly, during the 19th and until the mid -20th century, the architectural form that is visible today went through various phases of development and was ultimately completed in 1939.

Its large showcase starts with the Prehistoric Era Collection, which includes artifacts from the Neolithic, Cycladic and Mycenaean periods and testifies to the long and continuous human presence in the land now known as Greece (6,800-3,200 BCE). Some of the most famous Neolithic age exhibits include the clay figurine of a man posing with his hand touching his head and the voluptuous, fertility cult, and female figurines. In the hall of the Cycladic figurines, the two exhibits that should not to be missed are the harpist, carved out of dazzling white marble, and the largest surviving female figurative sculpture from Amorgos island.

One of the most impressive spaces in

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the museum is the hall of Mycenaean era exhibits. It displays the spectacular treasures of Bronze Age Mycenae discovered by the legendary German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann. The collection includes stone, bronze and ceramic pots, figurines, ivory and glass objects, as well as golden seals and rings from Mycenae’s vaulted tombs and from other sites in the Peloponnese.

A number of extraordinary funerary masks, cups and jewelry in gold, alongside carved ivory objects found in the royal tombs, testify to the sophistication of the artists and craftsmen. Nearby, the Linear B inscriptions provide information on the administrative structure of the Mycenaean world. Among a number of rare masterpieces displayed in this section is the famous gold mask that covered the face of the occupant of Mycenae’s largest “tholos” (domed) tomb. The splendor of the artifacts in that royal site led Schliemann to claim the remains as belonging to Agamemnon, the legendary King of Mycenae and a protagonist of Homer’s Iliad.

The visitor of the museum can trace the development of Greek sculpture from the 7th century BCE to the late Roman and early Byzantine periods.

The monumental-sized statues are the main draw of that hall. They include the three-meter-high Kouros from the Temple of Poseidon in Sounio, the Artemision Bronze, a two-meter-high statue of a mighty God (probably Zeus or Poseidon), found in a shipwreck off the island of Evia dated to ca. 460 BC, and the Hellenistic era bronze masterpiece of a young horse rider found in the same shipwreck. It is The Athens Guide for Visitors

Summer 2019

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The National Archaeological Museum

known as the Jockey of Artemision and is dated ca. 150-140 BCE. The mysterious greater-than-life bronze statue of the Antikythera Youth (ca. 430 BCE) complements the set.

There is also an inexhaustible collection of black-and-red-figure vases, other pottery artifacts and works in metals of different kinds and small objects, which, collectively, reveal the life of ritual as much as everyday life.

The fresco paintings from the island of Santorini (ancient Thera), dated to the 16th century BCE, are of extraordinary significance as well. Salvaged from buildings in a Bronze Age town that was buried by volcanic ejecta, they preserve their intricate details and vibrant colors. Most notable among them are the frescos of the Antelope, the Boxing Children and springtime.

An exhibit that has captured the scientific world’s imagination is the

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so-called “Antikythera Mechanism”, an ancient Greek analogue “computer” used to calculate the position of astronomical bodies and predict lunar and solar eclipses. Allegedly used as a calendar and for astronomical, but for supposedly astrological purposes as well, it reveals the ancient Greeks’ scientific, technological and metallurgical sophistication. It was discovered by sponge divers off the coast of the island of Antikythera in 1902.

Since its opening, the museum has benefited from private gifts of artifacts.

Benefactor Ioannis Dimitriou donated his Egyptian Collection to the museum in 1880, while Alexandros Rostovic in 1904 added significantly to it. Considered the fourth most important in the world, it was only recently opened to the public. This exceptional collection includes nine mummies donated by the Egyptian government in 1893, rare

statues, tools, jewelry and a wooden body tag for a mummy, a stunning bronze statue of a princess, intact bird eggs and a 3,000 year-old loaf of bread with a bite-sized chunk missing. The exhibition’s centerpiece is the bronze statue of the princess-priestess Takushit, dated to ca. 670 BCE. There are also a number of exquisite Fayum funerary masks, decorated with splendid and expressive portraits.

Another significant gift to the Museum is the impressive collection of fine pottery and jewelry donated by Antonis and Eleni Stathatos. It covers the period from the 5th millennium BCE to the post-Byzantine era.

The Cypriot Antiquities Collection approximately totals 850 artifacts that represent all periods of Cypriot history and art, from the Early Bronze Age (around 2,500 BCE) to the Roman era (4th century CE).

In 2006 and 2007 and following a 10 year-long dispute between the Greek State and the J P Getty Museum in Los Angeles, California, the Getty agreed to return two important works to Athens that were considered to have been looted. These are a 4th century BCE gold funerary wreath and a 6th century BCE marble statue of a woman.

Moreover, the Getty had previously agreed to return to the museum a 4th century BCE tombstone from a site near Thebes and a 6th century BCE votive relief from the island of Thassos. All these works are now displayed together in the museum.

The museum’s current temporary exhibitions are “The countless aspects of beauty” and, in collaboration with the Italian Archaeological School at Athens, “Hadrian and Athens. Conversing with an ideal world”. Tours in Greek, English, French, German, Italian, Russian, Japanese and Spanish are available both for individual visitors and groups. There is a fine gift shop, as well as a café, within the premises of the museum.

National Archaeological Museum Patission 44 Tel.: +30 213 2144800 namuseum.gr The Athens Guide for Visitors

The Benaki Museum of Islamic Art

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he Islamic art collections of the Benaki Museum are housed in a complex of neoclassical buildings located at the Kerameikos district, which was named after the necropolis (cemetery) of ancient Athens, in the historic center of Athens, near the ancient Agora and the Doric temple of Hephaestus (the “Theseion”). The collection of the Museum of Islamic Art ranks among the most important in the world, as it includes about 10,000 artifacts from countries as far apart as India, Central Asia, Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Syria, Jordan, the Arabian Peninsula, Egypt and the rest of North Africa, South Italy and Spain. The exhibition that extends in four floors showcases the evolution of

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the Islamic material culture from the first centuries of Islam to the 19th century through metalwork, textiles, glass, bone and ivory, inscribed funerary steles as well as arms and armor. The ceramic collection is one of the finest in the world, with several examples of rare Fatimid luster and colorful Iznik.

Among the highlights of the museum are the carved-wood two-panel door from the 8th century Mesopotamia, a unique inscribed reed mat from the 10th-century Tiberias, a silver-inlaid brass box bearing the signature of Ismail ibn Ward al-Mawsili and dated 1220, the brass astrolabe of Ahmad ibn al-Sarraj dated 1328/29, the famous 16th-century uncut silk velvet saddle cloth from Bursa, as well as the marble-

faced interior of a reception room from a 17th-century Cairo mansion.

During the reconstruction of the crumbling building which was to house the museum workers uncovered part of the foundations of the ancient wall of Athens along with a tomb. After the examination and preservation by archaeologists, visitors can see the findings at the lower level of the building.

There is also a handsome little café at the rooftop of the museum with an open veranda and an exquisite panoramic view of Athens.

Museum of Islamic Art Ag. Asomaton 22 & 12 Dipilou Tel.: (+30) 210 3251311 benaki.gr

The Athens Guide for Visitors

Byzantine and Christian Museum

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ntering the premises of the Byzantine and Christian Museum on Vassilissis Sofias, you encounter one of the most idyllic gardens of central Athens. Located right next of Aristotle’ s Lyceum, Villa Ilissia (official name combining a complex of buildings) was once the residence of philhellene and an Athenian by choice Sophie de Marbois-Lebrun, Duchess of Plaisance (1785-1854). It houses the museum since 1926, in which a large collection of Byzantine and post-Byzantine era artwork is displayed. The collection contains more than 30,000 objects of early Christian, Byzantine, Medieval and modern religious art that date from the 3rd until the 21st century CE,

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originating from Greece, Asia Minor and the Balkans. Collections include sculptures, icons, mosaics, ceramics, textiles, manuscripts, drawings and chalcography. Some of them are of unparalleled craftsmanship, like the outstanding icon 13th century “Panaghia Glykofiloussa, Episkepsis” (Madonna sweet kisser, the visit), made of mosaic, a very expensive technique, rarely used on icons. Originally from Triglia in Bithynia, near Constantinople, it ended up in the Byzantine and Christian Museum as one of the “Refugees’ Heirlooms” which came to Greece after the Asia Minor Disaster (1922) and the exchange of populations (1923).

The most distinguished exhibit is a 14th century icon of “Archangel

Michael” who is depicted in a formal, frontal pose, with its wings open. The exquisite quality of the art as well as its direct connection with the marvelous wall-paintings of the Chora Monastery in Istanbul attribute this work to an important workshop of the first half of the 14th century. Among the other that are not to be missed of the museum are the silk religious frock worn by priests in the 17th century and the manuscript section which include beautiful scrolls, Holy Bibles and the rare Etymologikon (Grammar book) from the early 18th century.

Vas. Sofias 22 Tel: +30 213 2139517 byzantinemuseum.gr The Athens Guide for Visitors

Museum of Cycladic Art

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ne of the finest museums of Athens, the Museum of Cycladic Art, exhibits the largest collection in the world of exquisite white marble figurative sculptures from the Cyclades Islands’ Bronze Age. They are displayed alongside ancient Greek and Cypriot art works in a modern, four-floor building in the fashionable Kolonaki district, a stone’s throw from Syntagma Square.

This main building is connected through a closed passageway to an annex, itself an Athenian landmark: the Stathatos Mansion, which houses temporary exhibitions, is a work of Bavarian architect Ernst Ziller, and one of the most important surviving examples of 19th century Athenian Neoclassical architecture.

The main collection of Cycladic Art is displayed on the first floor of the Museum. The works reveal their anthropocentric character by reducing the human form to the simplest, most elemental and reductive geometry. This genre of sculpture dates back to the third millennium BCE and was prevalent throughout the archipelago of the Cyclades (the place-name is derived from the Greek word “kyklos” circle). Their gracious lines, streamlined volumes, abstracted form and sleek surfaces immensely influenced the early 20th century sculpture, especially the work of Modigliani, Brancusi, Giacometti, Archipenko and

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others. Most of the statuettes were discovered in tombs, though there is no solid conclusion to explain their purpose. They most often depict female bodies, posed with their hands crossed in the front of the body, and their knees slightly bent. Exceptional due to its size, a large damaged head of a statue, named after “Modigliani”, is considered the finest example of this type of Greek marble sculpture that flourished in the Cyclades in the Early Bronze Age. Other important works, singled out for representing exemplary the 3rd millennium BCE technical skills, include the statue of a seated figure raising a cup in a toast and a violin-shaped statue. Other exhibits include marble vessels and basins used in religious ceremonies and everyday activities.

On the second floor there is another permanent exhibition, titled “A history in images”. It includes artifacts from later eras – from the Minoan and Mycenaean to the Classical, Hellenistic and Roman eras, among which Hydrias, glass vessels for oils, objects in gold and amphorae from Attica. The fine 4th BCE mold-cast terracotta figurines from the Beotian town of Tanagra are not to be missed. Though diminutive in size, they are rendered in perfect human proportions, have delicate and beautiful faces and preserve their original color and patina; a true example of beauty.

The third floor houses the important

Ancient Cypriot Art collection. The artifacts reveal to the visitor a world of power, prestige and wealth. Maybe the most extraordinary among the exhibits is a golden necklace adorned with semiprecious stones dated to the 4th century CE. Its design and splendor strongly evoke the jewelry Empress Theodora wears in the famous Ravenna mosaic, depicting the Byzantine imperial court.

Other important exhibits include a selection of fine glass pottery of Hellenistic and Roman provenance that may yet surpass in elegance and luxury of any contemporary counterparts in glass manufacture.

The fourth floor exhibition, titled “Scenes from daily life in Antiquity”, includes a selection of all periods of Greek art up to the 6th century CE. The collection includes vessels, clay pottery, jugs and cups for drinking in feasts and bronze helmets. Of great historical significance is the collection of ten “ostraca” (singular: “ostracon”): shards of vases, commonly used as ballots in ancient Athens. The city would decide a verdict of banishment or exile through “ostracizing” or the consideration of the popular will through the counting of “ostraca” bearing the name of the accused.

Neofytou Douka 4, Kolonaki Tel.: +30 210 7228321-3 cycladic.gr The Athens Guide for Visitors

Benaki Museum

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enaki Museum, located in the city’s chic neighborhood of Kolonaki, is housed in an impressive 19th century neoclassical mansion, once the residence of the Museum’s benefactor Antonis Benakis. It is one of the most iconic museums of Greece; it exhibits works of art from the prehistory period to modern times, but more than often it hosts major temporary exhibitions as well.

The ground floor is dedicated to Greek prehistory (Neolithic and Bronze Ages, including the Cycladic and Mycenaean cultures) as well as the Geometric, Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic and Roman eras. There is a vast collection of stone tools, marble vessels, gold jewelry and painted pottery, glassware, ceramics, funerary stelae, mural paintings, ancient textiles as well as Roman sculpture.

Among some of the rarest and unique exhibits are the two marble items dated 4,500-3,200 BCE, a Neolithic statuette, a golden cup from Evia dated accordingly to between 3,000 and 2,800 BCE, a Mycenaean golden ring from Thebes dated 15th-14th century BC. There is also an excellent collection of Byzantine icons, mosaics and beautifully woven and embroidered fabrics for religious use. Regarding the Fayum portraits, you shouldn’t miss the astonishing “Portrait of a young man”, an expressive portrait of a male from Antinoopolis in Egypt, painted with the encaustic method on linen that dates back the 3rd century CE, as well as a very interesting early work

by El Greco titled “The Adoration of Magi” (1565-67).

In the first floor you will have the chance to experience the 16th-18th century Greece through a collection of traditional festive and bridal attires, embroideries, jewelry, woodwork and items of daily use from the islands of the Aegean and Ionian Seas, Cyprus, Asia Minor and mainland Greece. A selection of amazing

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The Athens Guide for Visitors

artifacts of everyday use, garments and embroidery of luxury along with masterpieces such as the silk-embroidered wedding bed from Rhodes, the wooden chests, the intricate golden jewelry and the Iznik and Kutahya ceramics. At the same floor, don’t miss out on visiting the two reception room interiors from elite of 18th century households. On the second floor there is an exhibition of farming tools, shipping culture, musical instruments and books, while the third floor is dedicated to post-revolutionary (post-1821) Greece. Exhibits that are related to the period during which Greeks struggled for their freedom against the Ottoman Empire include an important painting, “The Oath at Aghia Lavra” by Theodoros Vryzakis (1851), that depicts the legend that situates the beginning of the Greek War for Independence in Kalavrita on the 25th of March 1821.

There are also manuscripts by poets such as Dionysios Solomos (who wrote the national hymn for Greece), paintings, furniture, personal items of revolutionary figures and philhellenes, like Lord Byron, and items associated with the royal families that came to rule Greece after independence. The exhibition concludes with the epic battle of World War II. At the rooftop balcony there is a wonderful café-restaurant overlooking the National Garden as well as Herodotou Street and the Presidential Mansion. The museum has six more annexes in different parts of the city. Better known among them is the Pireos 138, hosting temporary exhibitions, the Benaki Museum of Islamic Art in Kerameikos and the Benaki Toy Museum on the city’s waterfront.

1 Koumbari Str. & V. Sofias Tel.: +30 210 367 1000 benaki.gr

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The Athens Guide for Visitors

Syntagma square

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yntagma Square is an iconic Athenian landmark that contains the National Parliament and the Monument of the Unknown Soldier. It is the heart of Greece’s capital and the epicenter of its political life. Formerly a palace, the Parliament building and the square in front of it have been the ground of many important political events in the country’s history. At the front courtyard there’s the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, paying tribute to the dead soldiers of Greece, as well as the traditionally dressed Evzones – the Presidential Guard. There is a changing of the guards that takes place every hour, which gathers many spectators who enjoy seeing men in foustanella (a cotton white kilt), performing a highly stylized ceremonial. The rest of the hour they remain completely motionless and at attention. The exact same ceremonial takes place every quarter past an hour in front of the main entrance of the Presidential Mansion on Herodou Atticou Street.

Behind the Parliament building, the National Gardens offer a much needed patch of green and shadow in the city.

They are open from sun dawn to sun dusk and are accessible from Vassilissis Amalias avenue, a few meters from the square, or Herodotou Attikou street.

The Gardens host no less than 47,000 trees and plants, a botanical museum, small ponds with fish and ducks, as well as a picturesque old café. At the southern side of the Gardens you’ll find Zappeio Mansion, a donation of the wealth Konstantinos Zappas in the 19th century, used today mainly as a conference centre. During daytime Zappeion and its surrounding gardens serve as a getaway from the noise and the traffic of the city, while in the evening it’ s a meeting point for those heading to the café, cinema or bar-restaurant located in the adjacent building.

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Attalos Arcade

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he Attalos Arcade (Stoa tou Attalou) is a two-storey arcade built by king Attalos, king of Pergamos around 150 BCE. It is thought to have been an ancient shopping center housing 21 shops in each one of the floors. The Arcade, now serving as the sites’ museum, forms part of the Ancient Agora, an extensive area which housed, among others, administrative buildings, shops, schools, law courts, prisons, theatres, even the city mint that produced its silver coins.

The Agora was the political, cultural and religious center of the city.

Athenians would gather on a daily basis, not only to buy and sell their goods but also to learn the news, to criticize the government, to debate issues or simply gossip. This is where philosophers like Socrates spent their days debating different issues. It is dominated by three monuments: the Attalos Arcade, the Temple of Hephaestus and the Byzantine Church of the Holy Apostles. The Arcade stood for nearly five hundred years until it was burnt down in AD 267 by the Herulii tribe. It was rebuilt by the American School of Classical Studies between 1953 and 1956 on the original

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foundations, using the original materials. It is currently used as a museum that showcases all the finds from the Agora.

Some of the museum’s most interesting artifacts include the klepsydra, a water clock used for timing speeches and ancient ballot boxes for voting and children’s toys. In 2012 the museum inaugurated its first floor, following extensive restoration. The visitor has the opportunity to admire artifacts dating from the post-classical and the Roman periods, some of which have never been exhibited before. A representative collection of Athenian sculptures and models of the surrounding area with a special focus on the important group of portraits from the Athenian Agora excavations organized in 6 units: the idealized figures of gods and mortals, comprising late Classical-Hellenistic works of the 4th and 3rd cent. BCE, the Athenian workshops that reproduced classical works, comprising of Roman copies of classical works of the 1st-2nd century, Roman portraits of the 1st-2nd century, presenting images of wealthy Athenian citizens represented according to imperial prototypes, the city honors state officials, comprising herms bearing

portraits of state officials of the 2nd and 3rd century Roman portraits of the 3rd century, presenting portraits of prominent citizens in Roman Athens and collections of sculptures adorning the private schools of late antiquity.

The overall exhibition area offers an experiential approach to the architecture of the ancient arcade, while providing also an excellent view of the Agora, the Pnyka ‒the area where Athenians gathered to listen to the speeches of their politicians‒ and the Acropolis, useful for comprehending the historical landscape and the ancient topography of the area.

In addition, by providing the possibility of visual contact with the area where the ancient ceramics are kept, it highlights the role of the Museum as a centre of research of Greek cultural heritage.

Ancient Agora Adrianou 24 Tel.: +30 210 3210185

The Athens Guide for Visitors

Plaka & Monastiraki

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he historic neighborhood of Plaka embosoms the Acropolis Hill on all sides.

Together with Monastiraki, they contain an endless variety of historic sites from different eras and civilizations – Prehistoric, Greek, Roman, Ottoman. Apart from its touristy side, Plaka is one of the few remaining neighborhoods of the city that retain their unique neoclassical architectural style of old Athens. A walk through its winding alleyways will give you an insight of the way people lived and interacted with one another in the “geitonia” (neighborhood) at times when everyone knew their neighbors and daily visit at the café was a ritual.

Perched right under the Acropolis is the quant Anafiotika quarter, a quite area with whitewashed Cycladic-style houses. These small houses were built by masons who worked the stone from

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the Cycladic island of Anafi in the mid-19th century and had arrived in Athens to work at the construction of the royal palace after the independence.

The beautiful white Church of Aghios Georgios marks the area from afar.

Walking towards the train lines, you enter Monastiraki, the biggest open-air museum in the country. On Adrianou street there is the Ancient Agora, the center of the government in ancient Athens, while the amazing Temple of Hephaestus built in 449 BCE is the best preserved Doric temple in Greece.

At the corner of Eolou and Adrianou streets you encounter the Roman Agora and the impressive, octagonal Tower of the Wings that is said to have been both a sundial and a water clock. As an impressive proof of the successive civilizations that inhibited the area, inside the Roman Agora you also find the beautiful Fethiye Djami, one of the

few surviving examples of Ottoman mosques in Athens. The second one is Tsistaraki Mosque, found across the Monastiraki Train Station on the main square, which has recently been renovated and is now housing the Kyriazopoulos Folk and Ceramics Museum with a fine collection of 800 pieces of ceramics from all over the country. Only a few meters from the entrance of the museum, in the center of the vibrant Monastiraki square with its spectacular pavement, you will encounter a colorful coming and going of groups of young people. In the recent years, the square has become a meeting point of youngsters of different cultural backgrounds where they often play their own music or dance. At the same time the flea market on the adjacent Athinas street adds more charm to this old district of downtown Athens.

The Athens Guide for Visitors

Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center

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he Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC) is a complex of newly built buildings that house the National Library of Greece (NLG) and the Greek National Opera (GNO), as well as the 210,000 m2 Stavros Niarchos Park. It is located 4,5 km south of the center of Athens, on the edge of Faliro Bay. This impressive and recently inaugurated site, designed by the famous Italian Architect Renzo Piano and partners, stands today as an exceptional multifunctional arts, education and entertainment site.

It is the first private-public partnership of its type in Greece and one of the most important civic (cultural/educational) projects ever undertaken in the country. A number of both indoor and outdoor activities takes place all year

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round within its premises and include the Greek National Opera events, music concerts, open space gatherings, art exhibitions and more. At ground level, a tree-lined pedestrian esplanade runs parallel to the glass faรงade of the structure. A wide canal runs alongside the main building, a figurative extension of the sorts of the adjacent sea suited for water sports and a number of sports and wellness programs for both adults and children. It is an ideal space for recreation, relaxation, running and biking or simply strolling around.

During summer evenings visitors lie down at the lawn watching movies in its outdoors screenings.

The top of the building that houses the Library and the Opera is a green roof-hill offering spectacular 360-degree views of the sea to the west, the

Acropolis to the east and the cultural and educational park below. There is also a glass-walled lighthouse with sittings for those who seek a quiet area to read. The ground level can be accessed either by elevator or by walking through a lush garden.

For convenient access to and from the SNFCC, free of charge transportation by shuttle bus is available daily to all visitors. A minibus departs from Syntagma Square (intersection with Ermou street), with a stopover at the Sygrou-Fix Metro station (Sygrou avenue).

Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre Sygrou Avenue 364, Kallithea Tel.: +30 216 8091000 snfcc.org

The Athens Guide for Visitors

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The Athens Guide for Visitors

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Sun Coast (Akti tou Iliou) – Alimos (37.91° N, 23.72° E)

The Sun Coast, on Poseidon Avenue, is the closest beach to central Athens, at a distance of 7, 5 km. A very popular destination for all ages, it is the ideal place for swimming and water sports as well as nightlife, due to a number of music events that take place every night in the 5 different beach bars you can find there. Even if each one of the bars has a different policy, there is a main entrance fee that includes free pass to the changing rooms, the volleyball courts, and a space for playing beach rackets, snack bars, café –restaurants, a children’s playground, renting canoes or water bicycles. Sunbeds and umbrellas are offered for free in most of the beach bars with the exception of the one that offers free drinks.

Lifesavers as well as a fully equipped infirmary are there to keep you safe while you are enjoying the sea.

Astir Glyfada (37.85 N°, 23.75° E)

An organized beach of the coastal avenue Astir Glyfada is located 14 km away from central Athens right behind the former nightclub “Asteria” and practically occupies the small peninsula of Glyfada. It is opened everyday from 8:00 to 20:00 and offers every possible amenity to its visitors such as changing rooms, lockers, sunbeds, umbrellas, children’s playground, beach volley and beach soccer spaces for great fun at the beach.

Astir Beach Vouliagmeni (37.81° N, 23.77° E)

Located in the distinguished Vouliagmeni district 25 km away from central Athens Astir Beach Vouliagmeni is a destination that offers total seclusion amidst its lush Mediterranean countryside and seafront surroundings.

One of the most luxurious organized beaches in the very heart of the Athens Riviera it caters to the whims of those with expensive taste who wish to bask in the sun while feeling glamorous and rubbing shoulders with local celebrities and international VIPs. Legendary stars as Jackie Onassis, Brigitte Bardot, Joan Collins and many more have

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swum in this all-time classic beach.

Located on the Laimos peninsula the waters are crystal clear while its 300m bay is surrounded by pine trees.

Facilities include top notch cuisine restaurants, bars, hot water showers, changing rooms, lockers, water skiing.

Beach racket and beach volleyball tournaments supplement the visitors’ entertainment.

Lake Vouliagmeni (37.81° N, 32.79° E)

Lake Vouliagmeni is an idyllic spot and one of the hidden gems of Athens situated between Vouliagmeni and Varkiza. Its impressive rock formation, its thermal spring waters, a maze of underwater tunnels as well as the lush vegetation surroundings make this unique geological landmark a must-see. At the end of the lake there is an underwater cave, whose length is yet undetermined, since only 3.123 m have been explored. One of its 14 tunnels is been recorded as the longest in the world (800m), and the discovery of a huge stalagmite inside the cave has altered the scientists perception regarding the formation of the Mediterranean Sea. The stable temperature of the water, combined with the oval shaped lake creates the ideal natural pool in a heavenly setting for swimming, snorkeling and mineral baths. There is a café – restaurant for who wants to enjoy a beverage or a light meal by its shore, as well as a deck with sunbeds and umbrellas, a playground and various fitness programs for anyone who wants to participate. Visiting hours are from dawn till dusk, all year round.

Seagulls might decide to hang out with you while you are reading your book or sip an iced coffee. Artistic events from classical music to popular singers’ concerts often take place within this magnificent scenery.

Schinias – Dikastika – Moraitis

Natura 2000 network. At its west side there is the very spot that the Marathon battle took place in 490 BC during the first Persian invasion of Greece. An amazing, sandy unorganized beach, with blue crystal clear and very shallow waters, which might get black in spots because of the movement of the seaweed according to the wind direction, waits for you for a relaxing day by the sea. It is mostly frequented by families and groups of friends who bring their own supplies and set out for a picnic under the shadowy trees. Off the main road that leads to Schinias a number of taverns are serving delicious meat meals. In case you decide to drive there, instead of taking the bus, it is better to park outside the beach area, since cars might get stuck in the sand.

Dikastika is a tiny rocky secluded beach which is located in a spot within the bay of Schinias at Marathon bay.

One has to walk a rocky path to reach it. It is ideal for diving in the deep crystal clear sea, as well as for snorkeling and sunbathing on the rocks. It is not recommended for children though, if they are not skilled swimmers.

Walking down the main footpath there are a handful of other paths that lead down to smaller beaches among which a nudist beach that never gets crowded.

Keep in mind that you may want to carry your own umbrella.

Moraitis beach and water sports center is located near the main Schinias beach and it is minutes away from the historic village of Marathon. It offers everything a water sports enthusiast could dream of such as windsurfing, waterskiing, wakeboarding, wakesurfing, SUP, sea kayaks, subwing, catamaran as well as triathlon training or snorkeling. There is a beach bar that serves healthy snacks in a cozy space that blends relaxed beach vibes with the thrill of watersports.

Sounio

(38.15° N, 24.00° E)

(37.6° N, 24.02° E)

Located 42 km north- northwest of Athens near the historical city of Marathon and very close to the Olympic Rowing Centre there is a unique stone pine trees forest. It is been declared a national park and is protected by the

A picturesque coast with a number of beaches located under the Temple of Poseidon waits for you at approximately 68 km away from Athens.

One of the most popular ones lies in front of Aegean Beach Hotel and The Athens Guide for Visitors

provides changing rooms, sunbeds, and umbrellas with a spectacular view of the ancient site but it is rather small and can get really crowded, so if you want a view of the temple opt for the Cape Sounio beach, which may be a better option during the weekends.

Among other beaches with clean blue waters there is the Passas beach ideal for families, Assimakis beach for ski lovers, Charakas a vast island-like beach and last but not least perhaps the best sandy beach in the area Legrena (also called KAPE), an unorganized beach with a small bay where nudity is allowed.

Limanakia (37.80° N, 23.79° E)

Excellent spot only half an hour drive by car from downtown Athens between Vouliagmeni and Varkiza and approximately one hour by bus, this rocky beach with crystal clear deep waters, which resembles a Greek island is totally unorganized. It extends in two different “beaches” so to say, one that is frequent by youngsters, where there is a small wooden beach bar with a deck and another one at the opposite side which is considered a Summer 2019

nudist gay friendly beach. Whichever of the two you choose, don’t forget to bring your sunscreen, your hat and a bottle of water with you.

Mavro Lithari (37.74° N, 23.90° E)

Mavro Lithari (which means black rock; in fact there is an actual rock emerging from the water), is located 40km away from the center Athens in the area of Anavyssos. It is a sandy beach with clear waters and a beach bar especially popular among the youngsters due to the music events with famous DJs that are organized from time to time there. Sunbeds and umbrellas are free of charge as far as you chose to drink your cocktail or your café there. The view of the sunset is breathtaking.

Grand Beach (Grand Resort Lagonissi) (37.77° N, 23.89° E)

Situated 40km from central Athens on the way to Sounion in the Athenian Riviera, the Grand Beach is part of the 5 star the Grand Resort Lagonissi.

An elegant island-like sea front offers the ideal summer escape with stunning

views to the Saronic Gulf with high class exclusive amenities. The entrance fee may seem somewhat costly but it includes luxurious changing rooms with hot shower, comfortable sunbeds and umbrellas, playground, a beach volley court, water sports, a swimming pool, a life saver and a doctor, as well as access to a fine bar while its restaurant serves delicious culinary creations and kids’ meals. It is opened daily from 9:00 to 20:00. Relax with a cocktail by the sea, and pump up your adrenaline with your favorite water sports.

Psatha (38.11° N, 23.22° E)

Psatha beach is 66km away from Athens and is considered one of the most popular summer destinations of west Attica. Its 2.5 km of sandy coast situated under Pateras Mountain and the amazing views on the Corinthian Gulf are adding more credits to it. Its pristine waters and a variety of restaurants, fish taverns and cafés are there to cover everything you may need for a day at the beach. The scenic route makes Psatha the perfect choice for wonderful and relaxing excursion.

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KOLONAKI

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olonaki extends between Vassilisis Sophias avenue, Acadimias street, the Exarcheia quarter and Lycabettus Hill. It has long been considered Athens’ most aristocratic quarter, although bourgeois elites have long departed for the suburbs. Kolonaki, however, remains the epicenter of luxury commerce, its streets and its elegant central square lined with expensive clothing stores, the city’s most prestigious galleries, fine delicatessen stores, and many elegant and pricey restaurants and bars.

Zooming to Patriarchou Ioakim street –one of its busiest–, one finds small, specialist bookshops, excellent pastry shops and beautiful boutiques. Haritos street features many good restaurants and trendy bars, although one can say the same for much of the neighborhood.

The quarter’s orthogonal town plan is dominated by low- and mid-rise buildings of post-WWII vintage, several built by important Greek modernist architects. One finds there some of the city’s most beautiful penthouses. Kolonaki Square’s cafe culture is distinguished by the presence of some of the city’s oldest and most venerable cafes.

They have long served as the meeting place of Athenian elites and much critical politics and business take place

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there on a daily basis. If the Square is the haunt of Athens’ powerbrokers, the younger set prefers edgier cafés on the side streets.

Luxury trades notwithstanding, Kolonaki is host to important cultural institutions. On Neophytou Douka street one finds the Museum of Cycladic Art and, at the corner of Vasilissis Sofias avenue and Koumbari street, the world-class Benaki Museum. At the other end of Kolonaki, to the north, the American School of Classical Studies and the Gennadius Library, adorned with beautiful gardens, dominate the urban landscape.

EXARCHEIA

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ne of the most historical neighborhoods of Athens, is still considered the base of activists. That is a main reason you often come across groups of tourists in search of graffiti, usually of a political nature, a phenomenon that has intensified during the years of the economic crisis.

This politically sensitive area is also the most vibrant spots in the city.

Day or night, life at the homonymous square (whose most interesting venue is a legendary Blue Building of the ’30s surviving the Bauhaus style) never stops. Even in the early hours, while improvised parties take place,

the souvlaki and street food stores are always open.

Exarcheia is a district with numerous cafés, bars, taverns, alternative hangouts, squats of empty houses, anti-fascist and left oriented bookstores, open air cinemas. All together they make up the backdrop of the most interesting, artistic and multinational neighborhood of the downtown Athens.

Here people often seem different and certainly alternative, but they are always open to start a conversation and share with you a drink even on the street. Another highlight of the district is its huge open market which takes place every Saturday on the beautiful Kallidromiou street, with the old neoclassical mansions.

PAGRATI

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agrati is so close to the center that you might not need to get any transportation to get there.

It is practically within walking distance.

This is one of the reasons it has always been such a popular district for anyone to live in. The other reason is that while the rest of Athens grew and became more and more anonymous, Pagrati never ceased to resemble a neighborhood, with delis, grocery stores, bakeries and every kind of small shops where you are treated as an old customer. Anyway, most inhabitants in Pagrati are indeed The Athens Guide for Visitors

old customers-residents because it is actually one of the oldest quarters of the city. Among the innumerable blocks of flats you can find remarkably old houses, remnants of the old age. They say it is divided into the upper class Lower Pagrati, and the petites bourgeois Upper Pagrati.

While Athens grew bigger and bigger and more modern, it acquired urban finesse and Pagrati was part of that era.

Everything that Pagrati kept, reveals its vintage identity.

The rather vast Hymettus street, due to its size, is perhaps the only thing that reminds you of the fact that you are in Athens. The pedestrian streets, the charming squares, such as Plastira and Varnava Square, the limited but beautiful alley of Alsos Pagratiou, are all part of a district that offers the sweet feeling of a smaller city. Nowadays, this is what makes young people choose Pagrati as a place live in. It is a neighborhood of many personalities of contemporary Greek culture, artists and intellectuals, and the younger generation continues this tradition.

In recent years, there has been a great return of new residents and a flurry of new shops, from great little bookstores to impressive new, inexpensive restaurants and cafe-bars, which attract artists and students from all over the city. The Archelaou street, perpendicular to the main Spyrou Merkouri street, is one of the passages with lots of youthful hangouts.

Next to it, Plateia Proskopon has always been a busy little square with famous places such as the Aerostato and Magikos Avlos (Magic Flute), where the great late composer Manos Hadjidakis was present day by day. However, if anyone wants to catch the pulse of modern life and young people’s lifestyle, he has only to visit the popular Chelsea Hotel bar on the corner of Archimedes 1 and Proklos streets. Its low prices and jazzy, funky and rock music have made it the busiest of the district. But that’s how most Pagrati hangouts look like.

ATHENS RIVIERA

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he Southerneastern part of Athens, widely known as the “Athenian Riviera”, even if

one doesn’t easily realize it, is in fact very close to the center of the city. A beautiful coastline, starting from the end of Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center in Paleo Faliro and ending at the most beautiful ancient temple of Attica, in Cape Sounio. With a unique charming view of the Saronic Gulf, it offers splendor to both, residents and guests.

One can find everything there, from organized beaches, marinas, pedestrian streets for endless walks, open air summer cinemas, crowded coasts, amusement parks, vegetation, water sports, hotel complexes, shopping malls, exquisite restaurants, fine bars and nightclubs, archaeological sites, attractions of all kinds. What brings them all together? The sea! The proximity to the water and the seaside promenades are the dominant characteristics of the southern suburbs of Athens.

An area that consists of some of the best known and lively suburbs, such as Paleo Faliro, Glyfada, Kavouri, Voula and Varkiza, while the road continues to coastal areas, Vouliagmeni lake, a number of hidden beaches and hotel units that all end up in the world renown and acclaimed Temple of Poseidon in Cape Sounio. Dominated by impressive building blocks amidst lush green streets, where wealthy families live in oversized apartments with grand balconies facing the sea scenery starting from the Flisvos Marina. A stroll along the seaside can be a magnificent and ideal solution for day trips, an excursion that combines natural beauty, urban charm and sea breeze, giving an incomparable advantage to an area that features style and quality. You will have the chance to see some of the most impressive and expensive yachts in the world docked in the marinas, while thousands of young people are enjoying surfing or playing at the facilities of some of the most historic water sports clubs of Greece.

Every evening hundreds of cars are heading to the famous “bouzoukia” clubs, where the most famous Greek folk singers perform, while hordes of youngsters hang out in the cafeterias or the chain restaurants of Glyfada square.

The famous open air cinemas just a few meters from the sea offer an exquisite opportunity for some quality time with

your family or your friends. Athens Riviera is the most cosmopolitan part of Athens, a combination of southern California, Middle East and Mediterranean eroticism, decorated with tourist and luxury brushstrokes.

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t is the district that, due to its proximity to the Acropolis, Philopappou Hill and Plaka’s historical quarter, a stone’s throw from Syntagma Square, is the most famous destination for Airbnb. A classic Athenian neighborhood with apartment blocks of recent decades and old neoclassical buildings that stretches vertically among Veikos, Dimitrakopoulou and Faliro streets and from the area behind the Acropolis Museum to the Perivolia Park, reaching the far edge on Syngrou avenue. At the same time, two pedestrian walkways, G. Olympiou and Drakos streets, determine the life of the area, giving it liveliness and making it particularly popular.

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Koukaki was traditionally one of the most bohemian districts of Athens and today the arrival of tourists and the raise of rental rates have led many families to look for accommodation elsewhere.

It remains a typical neighborhood with small shops and the calm everyday life of the locals, a hangout for many students and young artists thanks to countless bars, restaurants and souvlaki places. A walking distance to the center of Athens, bordering to Sygrou avenue that leads to the sea, right next to the National Museum of Contemporary Art (which opens only for periodical exhibitions) as well as the Herodion Atticus Conservatory Theater in Dionysios Areopagitou street (one of the most beautiful and expensive streets of Athens with spectacular view of the Acropolis), not far from the Pandeion University and Stegi Onassis Cultural Center. An area where the old meets the contemporary, the urban meets the classic, the dull apartment blocks, the Summer 2019

imposing neoclassic mansions, the small or big hotels. Next to them hostels, self service laundries, tourist shops, bohemian cafes, stylish bars, well-appointed restaurants, well-known bakeries and co-operative cafes for authentic Greek appetizers, which the past few years have been opening one after the other in every corner and every alley.

The 24/7 alive and friendly area of Koukaki offers the foreign visitors a glance of the locals’ life, while feeling relax and secure. Situated next to Filopappou Hill, it is a unique “green lung”, whose breath of fresh air reaches the houses through the windows, making the hot summer nights sweet and bearable.

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ifissia, one of the most prestigious suburbs of northern Athens, was a summer resort of the Athenians in antiquity and during the 19th and the beginning of the 20th

century, as it served as a holiday get away of wealthy families. Nowadays it remains an elite quarter and is connected to central Athens by train and bus, while access by car is fast enough and depending on the traffic ‒ it usually does not take more than 30’. However, it still reminds of countryside due to its exceptional cool climate and dense vegetation. It is scattered by luxury apartment buildings, old historic hotels, legendary restored mansions ‒ turrets and modern villas.

Its high greenery and the fairy-tale buildings are the elements that make Kifissia a sophisticated and beautiful suburb that resembles a village. Quite popular with those who are accustomed to the nice and free of concerns pace of the many cafes and trendy restaurants.

Another characteristic is the clean air and the safe walk along its wide roads.

It also has one of the most organized cycling routes in the city. A few meters from the train station one meets Alsos Kifissias, a municipal park which was created in 1885 and where, every year from 1937 onwards, a flower exhibition takes place. The popular and busy market place grows around the core of Platanos square (named after a huge plane tree that stretched its cool shadow across the square) and Cassavetis street, where one can shop in the exquisite stores of well known brands. At the same time, there is good variety in entertainment and food of all styles along with timeless hangouts that enhance the charm of one of the most beautiful neighborhoods of Athens.

It is an upper class suburb where the visitor has the chance to see the architectural styles of every type and every historical period. While in Kifissia, look for the complex of round blocks of flats, the work of the architect Nikos Despodidis, it is definitely worth the effort! It was completed in 1974 and at the time it was considered a technological and highly avant-garde achievement.

Each block of flats, though giving the impression of being in the air, rests on four gigantic round columns. Last but not least, Kifissia offers easy access to Mount Penteli and the long Marathon coastline.

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Cine Thission It was acclaimed by “The Guardian” as the “most beautiful cinema in the world”, having the privilege of a wonderful view of the lit Parthenon and the Acropolis Hill. Established in 1935, it has been in operation nonstop till our days. The bar serves beverages and

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he Greeks call them “therina” and they are considered as one of the favorite and nostalgic summer habits, mainly related to childhood memories, as it constitutes an old tradition that comes from the past, when almost every neighborhood had one open air cinema. Watching movies in a garden full of jasmine blossoms, drinking a cold beer or beverage, is still popular.

If the open air cinema is in the city, it is not unusual to have a glimpse of what is going on in the apartments surrounding the screen.

In some cases, you enjoy the extraordinary view of Acropolis or you might be sitting right next to the seashore.

A charming outing for all where you can smoke freely, eat, drink and watch your favorite movie. If you missed one during winter, you might have the chance to catch up, since that kind of cinema quite often repeat last season’s movies, as well as classical ones. It is important to know that in Greek theaters the movies are subtitled, not dubbed in Greek. There are usually two screenings, at 21:00 and at 23:00, with a brief intermission.

Some of the most beautiful and popular open air cinemas of Athens

alcohol drinks along with homemade snacks. Apostolou Pavlou 7, Thission, tel.: +30 210 3420864

Cine Aegli

Located on a terrace in the old district of Plaka. Sitting and watching a movie at Cine Paris gives the most outstanding view of Acropolis and of part of the city as well. The full moon nights is a highlight. Kydathineon 22, Plaka, +30 210 3222071

Located next to the historic Zappeion Megaron, in the premises of the National Garden, not very far from Syntagma Square. It has the reputation of the oldest cinema of the city, operating since 1903. Watching a movie on a wide screen under the dense vegetation is a unique experience. Usually plays summer blockbusters. The bar offers delicious snacks. Zappeion Garden Area, tel.: +30 210 3369300

Cine Riviera

Cine Flisvos

Cine Paris

In the heart of Exarcheia district. You can call it an “art house cinema”, since its selection comprises either classical or recent European art movies. It is one of the oldest and certainly one of the most popular open air cinemas of downtown Athens. Valtetsiou 46, Exarcheia, tel.: +30 210 3844327

Cine Dexameni Located in a quasi square of the upscale Kolonaki, just below Lycabettus Hill, it is very popular due to its excellent selection of movies. Plateia Dexamenis, Kolonaki, tel.: +30 210 3623942

Cine Athinaia Situated in the end of the fashionable street Charitos in Kolonaki, right after the last trendy bar, it is popular among the residents of the chic neighborhood, younger ones as well as elderly. It usually plays comedies and American box-office hits. It is famous for its “tyropites”, the traditional cheese pies, and its wide variety of whiskies. Charitos 50, Kolonaki, tel.: +30 210 7215717

An authentic summer cinema that makes you feel as if you are on an island. As a matter of fact, the sea is right behind the screen. A favorite of those who live in Palaio Faliro district or end up there, after a stroll by the marina of Flisvos. During weekends it also operates as a café. Next to the cinema there is also a playground. Flisvos Park, Palaio Faliro, tel.: +30 210 9821256

9th Athens Open Air Festival 2019 Organized by the municipality of Athens, it transforms into open air cinemas various venues such as parks, old theaters and archaeological sites. It is a celebration of summer and a tribute to the great directors of the history of cinema: Federico Fellini, David Lynch, Michelangelo Antonioni, Luis Buñuel, Akira Kurosawa, Jean-Pierre Melville, Mike Leigh, Stephen Frears, Alfred Hitchcock. There is no entrance fee, since everybody is invited. For further information concerning the program check: www.opanda.gr

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Nafplion The picturesque old city of Nafplion is one of the top weekend destinations, all year round. Situated on a peninsula in the northeastern Peloponnese, the city was the first capital of the newlyestablished Greek State from 1829 until 1834, when power was transferred to Athens. There’s lots of walking to be done here. The town centre is pedestrianised and all sites, shops, cafés and eateries are within walking distance of each another. When coming on the national motorway, its outer suburbs look quite unimpressive, making you wonder why you bothered. But as you head towards the old town, the cityscape changes drastically.

The main Syntagma (Constitution) Square is paved in marble, and is the best starting point for a walk around the city’s streets. One of these streets still bears the mark of the bullet that killed the country’s first Governor, Ioannis Kapodistrias, at the Church of Aghios

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Spyridonas. The seaside road is where people stroll in the afternoon and sit to watch the sunset. It is lined with restaurants and cafés and has a clear view of the islet of Bourtzi, with its 15th-century Venetian fortifications. However, the best panorama of the town is undoubtedly offered by the Palamidi fortress, another Venetian work of 1714. Unless you’re in tip-top shape and hell-bent on climbing the 999 steps that lead to the entrance, it’s advisable to hire a taxi to take you to the top of the hill and spare you a heart attack. The vista is glorious and worth every step.

Olympia The modern city of Olympia is a bland and uninteresting small town, with the usual souvenir shops and tavernas. The ancient city, though, is impressive. The city is better known as the venue of the first Olympic Games in 776 BCE, which it continued to stage every four years for the next ten centuries, until

the Romans banned the pratice.

The old city was an important sanctuary, with a wide range of religious and secular buildings scattered around the site. One such building is the Temple of Zeus, built between 470 and 456 BCE, which reportedly housed the 12-metre-tall gold and ivory Statue of Zeus, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The complex includes an ancient stadium, around 212 metres long and 30 metres wide, which is said to have accommodated 45,000 seated spectators.

The Archaeological Museum of Olympia (Ancient Olympia, tel: 26240 22742) showcases some of the most important archaeological finds in Greece, including a priceless collection of statues and a wide range of copper objects. One of the statues is Praxitelis’s masterpiece Hermes, his only original surviving work, chiselled out of marble in 343 BCE.

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Hydra Island Loved by jet-setters, classy Hydra Town mercifully escaped the “development projects” of the ’60s and the ’70s which plagued other nearby islands and is today a beautifully preserved town, filled with 19th-century mansions and stone-paved narrow alleyways. Hydra’s history and development was driven by maritime trade which created immense wealth and powerful families, as well as the Hydriots’ involvement in the Greek War of Independence. Thankfully, vehicles are banned from the island, making it an ideal place to relax. Hydra is not known for its sandy beaches, but the clear blue waters compensate for the rocky coasts.

The main beaches are Avlaki, Spilia, Hydroneta and Molos, and can be reached by sea taxis found at the main port.

There are many ways to spend your day. Places of interest include the 19thcentury monastery of Profitis Elias, the area of Kiafa, and the mansion of 19thcentury politician George Kountouriotis that houses the island’s History Museum.

There’s also the villages of Kaminia and Vlichos, which you can reach by water taxi. Hydra’s nightlife is limited, but that does not mean you will be deprived of a cool drink at sunset. The action centres on Hydra Town, with people crowding to get the best seats in the house.

Poros The Saronic islands of Aegina and Poros are so close to the capital that they’ve virtually become city suburbs. Poros is a quiet little place with a picturesque port lined with neoclassical houses splashed

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with bright bougainvilleas. The island’s highlights include the clock tower that stands proud from the port’s hill, and the lemon tree forest in Galatas village.

Poros features beautiful sandy beaches in Mikro Neorio, Love Bay, and Russian Bay, named after the first Russian ships that arrived to help in the Revolution.

Unlike other islands, Poros life is focusses on the daytime, making it ideal for those who want to relax.

Aegina Aegina’s proximity to the capital (only 40 minutes from Piraeus) has made it a permanent home for many Athenians who want to escape the smog and noise of the city. The main attraction of the place is the well-preserved Temple of Aphaia, built around 500 BCE and dedicated to the mystic mermaid goddess Aphaia, as well as the on-site museum.

Although Aegina is not famed for its beaches, you won’t be disappointed with Aghia Marina, Kima and Perdika.

Romantics opt for the horse-drawn carriages that can take you from the port of Dapia to the Old Port.

Spetses’ trendy yet noble profile derives from its history as the home of many noblemen, politicians and heroes of the Greek Revolution, but also from the long line of international celebrities who have visited the island. The island’s history is presented in its Historical Museum, once the home of the 19th-century powerful lord Hatziyiannis Mexis, as well as in the mansion of Lascarina Bouboulina, a heroine of the Greek War of Independence.

Spetses has few beaches, so the best idea is to walk west of Dapia and discover a cove that tickles your fancy.

You may also hire a water taxi to take you to some of the better-known beaches, such as Vrellos and Aghii Anargiri, but you’ll even see people diving off cement platforms in Dapia.

Spetses Spetses is the alter ego of Hydra, and the last of the islands that speckle the Argo-Saronic Gulf. Located off the eastern peninsula of the Peloponnese, it used to be covered with pine trees but recent summer wildfires have diminished their number. Like Hydra, it is a very popular destination for trendy weekenders, but has managed to retain its unique architecture, with its stone mansions and cobbled alleyways.

Cars are banned here too, but you can hire a motorbike or a bike to get around.

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Tinos Already well-known to Greek Orthodox pilgrims as the site of one of the Orthodox Church’s most important shrines, Tinos is rapidly becoming known among travelers and tourists all over the world as a destination distinguished by the beauty of its unique landscapes, its traditional, perfectly preserved, villages and its exquisite cuisine. Increasingly trendy and recently discovered by the vacation home industry, Tinos is holding tight on its traditions, authenticity, and its unspoiled, hidden beauties.

Due to crusades that afflicted Tinos as well as many of the neighbouring islands in the past, Tinos has a mixed Orthodox and Catholic population that coexist harmoniously. Communities

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continue to honor the production of old and unique, arts and crafts, such as the making of exquisite woven baskets of Volax. The traditional architecture, including the signature dovecote-decorated houses that are found everywhere on the island, is a major draw. The main town of Tinos is a good choice for who wants to be in the commercial center of the island and it offers many elegant choices for your staying, but one can find many handsome and more picturesque lodgings in the villages that dot the island’s interior. Choose Tinos for its soaring sea cliffs with the splendid views of the Aegean Sea, its sandy beaches, its craggy mountains covered in thyme and oregano shrubs, and its whitewashed villages crowned by handsome chapels.

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Mykonos Mykonos is a “dream vacation” destination with an international reputation. Located at the very center of the Aegean Sea, it’s easily accessible and a convenient stopover on the way to other islands in the Cyclades. In the '60s, originally the destination of yacht-riding celebrities, cognoscenti, hordes of bohemians and gay people looking for beauty, creativity, and freedom in one of Greece’s peripheral regions, it has evolved into a famously gay-friendly, international resort island open to anyone who can afford its steep prices from single tourists, couples, families, to tourist groups. Splendid beaches, posh restaurants and bars, relentless night life, and world-class shopping have turned Mykonos, the windy and rocky island of turquoise waters, into a place with magical vibes that can offer unforgettable holidays to

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everyone.

Away from the busy harbor and Chora’s noisy nightlife, one can always get away and enjoy some peace and quiet at the more remote beaches while tourists interested in culture and civilization will get the chance to enjoy the signature traditional architecture of Mykonos’s whitewashed cubiform houses its and labyrinthine street plan, its illustrious ancient ruins on the nearby Island of Delos, and its fine, local archaeological museum. Local handicrafts, spirits, and delicacies are available next door to galleries showcasing world-class contemporary art.

Mykonos is a tourist paradise that will spoil you and seduce you like no other Greek island will. The month of August is very busy, so if you want to visit the island it may be better to opt for the periods between May and July, or from September to October.

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1. OMMA Leoforos Tripotamou, Tinos, tel.: +30 2283 026673 FB: Omma Tinos, Ιnstagram: Ommatinos The new bar restaurant Omma in the heart of Tinos has come to fascinate you. The interior architecture of the 9-Design is inspired by the famous pigeon cotes of Tinos. The traditional Tinian ingredients hold a prime role in the kitchen and blend harmoniously into the dishes and cocktails. The OMMA team will be there from the morning with traditional pies, omeletts and sweets. As the day progresses, you can choose from a variety of creative dishes inspired by Theodore Pavlov.

Panayiotis Kanavetas has edited the list of cocktails inspired by the smells and tastes of Tinos. OMMA is ready to entertain us this summer with parties with live music and well-known guest DJs of the Athenian and global scene.

The OMMA team aims to give their own interpretation of Tinian tradition and taste, from their own point of view.

2. MAYOU All-Day Bar Isternia, Tinos, tel.: +30 2283 031882 FB: mayou.tinos Perched on the picturesque Isternia village on the west side of Tinos island you will find Mayou all-day bar, one of the most beautiful natural balconies in the Cyclades, with majestic view to the Aegean Sea. Make a stop here before you set off for swimming and along with an iced coffee or their exceptional homemade lemonade treat yourself to an amazing breakfast or brunch by choosing among the many dishes prepared for you by the chef with local products. And when the sun is down, Mayou becomes one of the best choices on the island to have a drink or a refreshing signature cocktail listening to great music, while gazing at the stars and the open sea.

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4. CARDOON TINOS Georgiou Drosou, Tinos, tel.: +30 22830 2350, 6984 194754 FB: Cardoon_Tinos, Instagram: cardoon_tinos In one of the most historic neoclassical buildings of the city of Tinos, three young people from Athens opened the absolute all-day bar combining harmonious flavors and music coming from every corner of the world. Visit Cardoon and live the experience by starting with a cup of the single origin coffee of your choice from different corners of the world in cooperation with Peri Café, and relax by gazing at the panoramic view of the harbor.

Continue with a delicious brunch or snacks inspired by the Warehouse and Peri Café chef Vassilis Geogleris. In the evening, enjoy the sunset with a special cocktail. Do not miss one of the parties that are organized every Friday with old and new DJs.

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3. TRIANTARAKI CAFÉ Triandaros, Tinos, tel.: +30 2283041371 FB: @kafeneiotriantaraki, Instagram: triantaraki Triandaraki is an all-day meeting point situated in a picturesque alley at the village Triandaros, under the shadow of the “old wine press” and next to the colorful multi-photographed stairs. Start your day with a cup of high quality coffee and a piece of a variety of homemade sweets. As the day advances, enjoy some raki, beer or wine, accompanied with snacks, dakos and other salads, pizzas and gourmet

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dishes that will satisfy even the most demanding palate. The menu is created

by Vassilis Geogleris and executed in perfection by Eleni and Irene. In the evening enjoy your drink under the starry sky. Whether in the romantically lit plateau above the wine press or in the small lighted cobbled streets of the village, the “scenography” is magical, the drinks and cocktails are exquisite and the experience is unique and intimate. The playground right in front of Triandaraki gives our young friends hours of joy and moments of relaxation to their parents.

5. Little Marseilles Isternia Bay, 22830 31324 Facebook: Mikri Massalia, Instagram: @ mikri_massalia_tinos This summer, the Mediterranean cuisine meets the terrace of "Little Marseilles" at the Isternia Bay of Tinos.

Guests can taste the Mediterranean cuisine at its best, combined harmoniously with today's gastronomy and the constant value of tradition. With a common philosophy of high aesthetics in taste and hospitality, "Little Marseille", whose name comes from the birthplace of the first bouillabaisse ever made, is the new gastronomy pearl of Tinos.

The menu was edited by executive chef Michalis Tzavas in collaboration with chef Haris Bonanos and the tasty result will satisfy the most demanding pallet!

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Chios Music Festival www.chiosmusicfestival.gr, FB: chiosmusicfestival, Instagram: @ chiosmusicfestival With a series of events devoted to love and diversity, this year’s Chios Music Festival returns from 2 to 10 August for the third consecutive year. Three historic estates of Kampos, Riziko, Karaviko and Spyros Stephanou Estate, the Ottoman school at the Castle, the Amphitheatre of Oinousses and the Courtyard of the Archaeological Museum are opening their doors to host three concerts with a wide range of repertoire, from classical music and famous soundtracks to traditional polyphonic songs, as well as covers from the international rock and jazz scene, a contemporary interactive performance of music theatre based on the philosophy of speed dating, as well as children’s music theatre based on a folk tale of Chios. It is a fresh, “fragrant” festival that was inaugurated in the summer of 2017 on the island of Chios, thanks to the vision of two new artists from the island, Olga HoldorffMyriangou and Eleftherios Veniadis.

Admission to the festival events is free.

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FOOD 1. FINE MESS SMOKEHOUSE Skoufa 73, Kolonaki 106 80, tel.: +30 211 115 57 25, Hello@FineMess.gr, www.finemess.gr, FB: com/ finemessbbq, Instagram: @ finemessbbq Authentic Low & Slow Barbecue. Fine Mess Smokehouse brings the art of low and slow barbecue to Athens! Our twenty-one thousand kilometer journey across thirty-nine States in the USA provided us with the inspiration to create an original gastronomic experience, focused on the spirit of true barbecue. In our custom-made offset smokers we smoke in wood brisket, pulled pork, spare ribs and other exceptional cuts of meat found in the barbecue culture of the American South, but also cheeses, seafood and fish.

The menu is full of surprising, unexpected flavors, while it remains casual and friendly,

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keeping in line with the original, relaxed, laid-back attitude of barbecue. We start early and serve brunch, lunch and dinner ‘till late. In our bar you will get the chance to try unusual bourbon cocktails and a selective list of new world wines. Join us and help us make a very Fine Mess with our barbecue!

2. LOCAL GREEN Perikleous 30-32, Athina 105 62, tel.: +30 210 3214500, Instagram @localgreenathens, #localgreenathens Local Green has finally opened and aims to introduce the new healthy food trend to the Athenian foodies. Located on Perikleous 30-32 in downtown Athens, Local Green is a fast-casual restaurant, offering delicious, healthy salads, wraps and bowls made with seasonal, farm-fresh, organic and locally sourced ingredients. All menu items are prepared daily from scratch in its chef-led kitchen, bringing a fresh take on what was

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once considered “a boring salad”. Local Green is also the place to be for vegans and vegetarians, as it offers a wide range of vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options, such as the colorful Acai Bowls and the Chocolate Mousse Avocado ‒ delicious sugar, dairy and gluten free refreshing desserts. At Local Green all utensils and tableware are either biodegradable or recyclable and the soon to be launched delivery service will utilize eco-friendly electric scooters and bicycles. Say goodbye to boring salads!

3. MAMACITA Apollonos 9B, Plaka 105 57, tel.: +30 210 3210240, Facebook: Mamacita - Taquería y Coctelería, Instagram: @ mamacita.athens If you have an appetite for something Mexican and you know the real thing when you taste it, all you have to do is pop down to the center of Athens. On the hippest street of the historic district of Plaka

and within a stone’s throw from Syntagma square, Mamacita could easily be considered an ethnic downtown paradise that stands out for its character and unpretentious aesthetics. Delicious tacos, divine quesadillas and mouthwatering burritos paired with refreshing cocktails, beers or sangria make up the revolutionary Mexican flavours of Mamacita. Here guests are challenged to a culinary stroll in Mexico in real time, since the unique decoration highlights different aspects of the space each time of the day, making Mamacita the perfect place for brunch, lunch, dinner and evening drinks.

4. MELT Aiolou 19, Athens 105 51, tel.: +30 210 3231548, FB: MELT @melt.athens), Instagram melt.athens An ice-cream bar that will make your heart melt. Visit Melt to taste genuine Italian gelato in the heart of Athens and Yo n Ice at Batsi The Athens Guide for Visitors

in Andros island. The ice creams created by Christos and Giota are made with fresh raw materials and their unique technique allows you to enjoy every single ingredient. Melt’s all time classics include chocolate, which is made with a 100% in house recipe, summer mascarpone with ginger and lime, excellent pistachios and chocolate mozzarella with mint and chocolate. Vanilla enthusiasts should definitely try the vanilla Madagascar flavored with bourbon. Don’t forget to try the taste you want with some handmade whipped cream on top.

5. MYTHOS BY DIVANI RESTAURANT Ag.Nikolaou 10 & Iliou, Vouliagmeni 166 71, 210 8911100, @mythosbydivani Mythos by Divani Restaurant welcomes summer with a new menu! Located in the most beautiful place of the Athenian Riviera, boasting an incredible view of the Summer 2019

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Saronic Gulf, the restaurant offers unique gastronomic experiences. Chef Leonidas Fortetsanakis gives his own interpretation to favorite recipes and seeks to travel us to his own cosmopolitan version of the new Mediterranean cuisine, orchestrating a fine dining experience, accompanied by the sound of waves and soft music under the bright summer moon.

Enjoy a unique culinary experience paired with a special cocktail, while gazing at the spectacular sunset. Open daily from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. (closed on Sundays).

6. NOODLE BAR Apollonos Str. 11 Athens Website: noodlebar.gr instagram: @noodlebargr FB@NoodleBarGR Our success is the result of doing a million little things right. From the choice of the high quality ingredients to the decoration of our stores and the selection of the members that will join our team, eve-

rything is carefully planned.

This attention to the detail and quality is what distinguishes us and what makes us capable of giving you the best overall experience one can get. It is our belief that everyone should be able to enjoy amazing and exciting food made with fresh ingredients, at reasonable prices. Visit a Noodle bar and enjoy a high quality variety of sushi and Bao Buns and, of course, a delicious ball of noodles. It is no wonder the Noodle bars have become the ultimate meeting point of a wide range of people of different age, social status and occupation.

7. TUK TUK Veikou 40, Koukaki 117 42, tel.: +30 211 4051947, Facebook: Tuk Tuk Thai Street Food All of Thailand’s culinary culture in the heart of Athens.

In the up and coming area of Koukaki there is a miniature restaurant with a street food character that will transport

you straight to Thailand through taste. The decoration of the restaurant with the floral wallpapers, its painted walls in pink and blue and the souvenirs brought back from the trips of the owners in Thailand will add to the whole Thailand experience.

Begin your culinary journey by tasting some of the small dishes, such as dumplings, won ton, spring rolls, noodles, or a variety of curries. Don’t forget to order some aahaan jaan diaw, the “worker’s meal”, each of which is a complete meal on its own.

8. ZUCCHERINO P. Faliro, Ν. Smyrni, Monastiraki www.zuccherino.gr, FB: zuccherino.gr, Instagram: zuccherino.gr If you are an ice cream lover, you know very well how hard it is to be in front of a variety of flavors not knowing which one to choose. In Zuccherino stores, everything is prepared daily without preservatives,

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with fresh milk and the purest raw materials in each shop.

Together with the all-time classics, such as kaimaki, pistachio, chocolate and strawberry, we suggest you try some of the best-selling Zuccherino flavors, such as cookies, death by chocolate, caprice and bueno, while the Fior di Latte flavor remains the leader of the gelato category. For those who are on a diet there is a variety of flavors free of gluten, milk and sugar. An indispensable complement to any of your choices is the crunchy cones filled with chocolate or the freshly baked waffles. At Zuccherino ice cream is the ultimate treat for everyone!

9. MAVILI BEACH - URBAN SEASIDE Timoleontos Vassou 8, Plateia Mavili, Athens, tel.: +30 210 6430464 FB: Mavili Beach, Instagram: mavilibeach The Alexandros hotel has taken an innovative leap to

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heighten the hospitality experience by turning the rooftop of its modern building into a seaside space, overlooking the Lycabettus Hill. Mavili Beach offers amenities that come together to create one’s own outdoor suite for both business and pleasure: featuring sunbeds equipped with power sockets, USB ports and free Internet connection, as well as beautiful and airy beach cabins with private mini-bar and flat TV screen. The colorful summer palette seen in the cozy bougainvilleashaded “tavern”, whitewashed stonewalls; cobblestone flooring and sand-covered pool area make for an unforgettable island-like experience, without ever having left the bustling city. This original rooftop spot is the ideal location for a wide array of open-air events, ranging from private festivities to corporate happenings, always serviced with a tailor-made approach to suit specific needs and meet desired sensory results.

10. ALERIA Meg. Alexandrou 57, Metaxourgeio, tel.: +30 21 0522 2633, www.aleria.gr Head chef Gikas Xenakis is one of the most promising young culinary talents in Greece. The food he prepares in Aleria is exemplary of what modern Greek cuisine should be. Make a reservation in the garden and enjoy a feast of fresh ingredients and excellent contemporary interpretations of classic dishes such as spanakopita or pastitsio!

11. CHERCHEZ LA FEMME Mitropoleos 46, 2 tel.: +30 10 3222020, www.cherchezlafemme.gr A mix between a French bistrot and a Greek “kafeneio”, this place right at the heart of Athens serves some high quality Greek dishes.

12. DOURAMBEIS Akti Dilaveri 29, Piraeus, tel.: +30 210 4122092 Best place for fish in town.

Fresh fish and shellfish from the Aegean arrive here on a daily basis and are cooked simply on the grill by the expert cooks of Dourambeis.

Their famous salad is not to be missed.

13. NOLAN Voulis 31, tel.: +30 210 3243545, www.nolanrestaurant.gr A mix of Asian techniques and Greek ingredients is the basic philosophy behind this super successful restaurant that is run by chef Sotiris Kontizas. A perfect idea for lunch on the pavement or an early dinner while you are in town!

14. PAPADAKIS Voukourestiou 47 & Fokilidou, Kolonaki, tel.: +30 210 3608621, www.papadakisrestaurant.com TV star chef Argyro Barbarigou own this beautiful corner spot at the chic area of Kolonaki. Excellent fish and seafood as well as a good The Athens Guide for Visitors

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array of salad selection. Try the pasta with seafood, the octopus cooked with honey and ask for the catch of the day.

Fish is served with stemed wild green and extra virgin olive oil.

15. SEYCHELLES Kerameikou 49, Metaxourgeio, tel.: +30 211 1834789, www.seycheles.gr Probably one of the most famous places to eat in Athens and quite rightly so. Grab a seat at the tables outside and enjoy some of the delicious Greek meze of Seychelles.

Ask for the list of Greek cheese and cured meat.

16. VASSILENAS Vrasida 13, tel.: +30 210 7210501, www.vassilenas.gr Its been around for a hundred years so it must be good!

This very famous place, moved from its original establishments in Piraeus to this central spot. The surroundings are great and the food is as tasty as it gets.

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Start your meal with their legendary taramasalata, the sea bream tartare and move on to choices like the orzo pasta with prawns and some grilled fish.

17. VEZENÉ Vrasida 11, tel.: +30 210 7232002, www. vezene.gr A menu full of intense flavors and excellent ingredients is what constitutes the philosophy of this modern classic.

The wood oven pies are a must, as well as the marrow bone or the roasted king scallops, but the star of the restaurant is the excellent selection of meat that is cooked to perfection. Make your reservations well in advance.

18. ECONOMOU Kydantidon 32, Ano Petralona, Athens 118 51, tel.: +30 210 3467555 A classic taverna housed in a beautiful ochre house built in 1918, with most traditional Greek dishes. Excellent home-style cooking, meat

and vegetable stews, cockerel with pasta, meat soup, spinach pie, green beans and okra for the vegans with plenty of olive oil.

19. Ο TRIANTAFYLLOS Lekka 22, Athens 105 62, tel.: +30 210 3227298 Hidden in an arcade near Syntagma square, it’s a quiet place to have lunch, with friendly stuff and excellent service. Fresh fish fried expertly in olive oil, shrimps, young squids, anchovies, served with greens or boiled vegetables.

20. DIPORTO Sokratous 9 & Theatrou, Omonoia, Athens 105 52, tel.: +30 210 3211463 A charming old tavern with two sets of doors leading to a rustic cellar that has been unchanged in years. Traditional Greek dishes on the menu, chickpea stew, grilled fish, lamb stew with barley pasta paired with wine from the giant barrels lining the wall

and a lot of people waiting to

be seated.

21. LESVOS Emmanouil Benaki 38, Exarcheia, Athens 10678, tel.: +30 210 3814525 This is more of a place to drink ouzo and eat excellent seafood than a restaurant, offering a complete culinary experience with small accompanying dishes. The assortment of ouzo labels is also very good. It’s near Exarcheia square, in a rural setting.

22. KAFENEIO IVIS N. Apostoli & Ivis 10, Athens 105 54, tel.: +30 210 3232554 Relaxed eating and drinking at a small distinct place in the city centre, at Psyrri district, with excellent small dishes, great cold raki and rakomelo and traditional music from early in the morning until late at night.

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23. RACOUMEL Emmanouil Benaki 71, Athens 106 81, tel.: +30 210 3800506, www.rakoumel.gr Traditional Cretan cuisine with a great variety of meze, served with raki and rakomelo, in a hang-out for students, actors and artists of every kind just behind the Exarcheia square. It’ s always busy, but it’ s worth a visit.

24. KRITI Veranzerou 5, Athens 106 77, tel.: +30 210 3826998 Hidden in a small stoa in downtown Athens, close to Omonoia square, it’s an old taverna with authentic Cretan food. Fennel pie, great grilled beef liver with honey, goat with potatoes, cheese and sausages from Crete, raki of excellent quality and cheese pie with honey from Sfakia or baked quince in syrup for a dessert.

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25. ATHINAIKON Themistokleous 2 & Panepistimiou, Omonoia, tel.: +30 210 3838485, 210 3835905, https://athinaikon.gr Since 1932 it’s a place that always attracted many artists and politicians, such as Yannis Tsarouchis, Yannis Ritsos, Melina Mercouri, Vangelis Papathanassiou, Vassilis Vassilikos, and serves some excellent Greek dishes in a cosy atmosphere.

26. OUZERI TOU LAKI Elpidos 16, Athens 104 34, tel.: +30 210 8213776, www.ouzeritoulaki.info Near Victoria metro station, this small fish taverna is tucked into a courtyard, ringed by apartment buildings. Fish fried or stewed in creative dishes, steamed ray, herring pasta, potato salad, a unique kantaifi salad and a great selection of ouzo bottles from all over Greece.

DRINK 27. HETEROCLITO Petraki 30, Athens 105 63, tel.: +30 210 3239406, www.heteroclito.gr Heteroclito is a unique wine bar in the center of Athens, the perfect place for tasting the products of Greek vineyards and the finest of all the different local varieties.

Excellent service. You can enjoy a glass of wine on the lovely pedestrian street with the lively Athens atmosphere.

28. BIRDMAN Skoufou 2, Athens 105 57, tel.: +30 210 3212800 This new entry in Athens’ gastronomic map is a Japanese pub delivering new style yakitori and small dishes, spellbound by the mystic gastronomic culture of the district Yokoso in Tokyo. It serves on a twenty-seat bar and loves Japanese whiskey and vinyl’s analogue sound.

29. GALAXY BAR Stadiou 10, Athens 105 62, tel.: +30 210 3227733 One of the oldest traditional bars in Athens. “Clean” drinks and an excellent service at a bar that is considered an institution in Athens.

30. AU REVOIR BAR 28th Octovriou 136, Athens 112 57, tel.: +30 210 8230474 This place is a legend.

Really old bar with great architecture and decoration in Patission street, a hangout for artists, musicians and alternative people. Worthwhile going to feel part of history and also enjoy a real drink.

31. SIX D.O.G.S Avramiotou 6-8, Athens 105 51, tel.: +30 210 3210510 https://sixdogs.gr/ An all day/all night multipurpose place with mostly young audience, with a live stage and open bars in a beautiful yard. It’s the The Athens Guide for Visitors

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hipster hotspot of Athens, a cultural and amusement place with more than 500 events every year.

32. BIOS Peiraios 84, Athens 104 35, tel.: +30 210 3425335, www.bios.gr Bios is a great culture center which works as a bar, theater and gig space at the same time. During summer the bar is moving to the rooftop terrace where people can enjoy great music with a view to Acropolis. On the first floor there is a small restaurant and the basement works as a theater. Bios is the leading center for hipster parties and gigs.

33. FOYER ESPRESSO BAR Panepistimiou 46, Athens 105 64, tel.: +30 210 3800047 FB: Foyer Espresso Bar, Instagram: foyer.espressobar Influenced by London’s specialty coffee shops, for the Summer 2019

past two years the Foyer espresso bar has been the first and only multi roaster coffee shop in Greece that does not cooperate exclusively with one supplier but with different specialty coffee companies all over Europe, introducing a different blend every week. As for the cold coffee that is a must in the summer months, the Foyer espresso bar offers, in addition to the classic freddo, the cold brew: the coffee is extracted with cold water, creating a very refreshing, sweet and pleasant summer drink. Accompany your beverage with a sweet like New York Cheesecake, Banana Bread and Carrot Cake, or with some fresh sandwiches.

Visit the Foyer espresso bar and experience the art of drinking coffee as part of a whole culture.

34. GULLIVER ATHENS BAR Kolokotroni 11, tel.: +30 210 3238199

FB: www.facebook.com/ GulliverAthensBar The well-known Kolokotroni arcade behind the old Parliament has been transformed into a summer all-day oasis in the center of Athens.

Enjoy your gourmet coffee from early in the morning with a rich brunch and indulge yourself at lunchtime with one of the many delicious choices of the menu.

As the sun goes down, take a seat to the bar or a table and relax to the sounds of the resident & guest DJs, while sipping a signature cocktail, or an all-time classic spirit of our premium list. Dare to explore your own green summer in the city.

bar Gypsy Jungle brings the Amazon jungle to the center of Athens. Both the interior and the exterior space are decorated with coconuts, exotic plants, parrots and birds of Paradise. It is open from early in the morning till late at night, serving a good brunch and continuing with a variety of choices from the main menu. Try the best seller Vegetarian Hot Dog or a piece of the handmade smoked cheese pie, egg rolls, lentils, a wellness ginger green bowl and Iberian pork. As the day progresses, the volume of the music increases and the signature exotic cocktails fill the bar and tables. Open daily from 9:00 a.m.

35. GYPSY JUNGLE KOUZINA & BAR Aiolou 27, Monastiraki 105 63, tel.: +30 210 3252335, Instagram gypsyjungleathens With reference to the distant exotic trips and the wild beauty of nature, the all-day

36. APOLLON BEACH Ag. Nikolaou 10, Vouliagmeni 166 71, tel.: +30 210 8911100, @apollonbeach Summers in Athens acquire a new destination; Apollon Beach, located in the most idyllic cove in the Athe-

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nian Riviera, in front of the luxury hotel Divani Apollon Palace & Thalasso. In a sublime setting dominated by aqua blue waters and golden sand, just 20 minutes from the city, the aura of the cosmopolitan Athenian Riviera meets the carefree spirit of the Greek summer in an exclusive but natural, minimal setting. From early in the morning to magical sunsets, enjoy moments of pure escape and refreshing dips in the sea, choose from a great selection of water sports and indulge in the impeccable service offered by the Divani Collection hotels. Enjoy selections from the comprehensive menu ranging from invigorating fresh fruit juices and comfort snacks to hearty dishes and delicious desserts, all within the comforts of a well-organised beach.

Operating Hours: 09:0020:00, Weekdays €16, Weekends €20/person (rate includes 1 sunbed,

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umbrella and mineral water upon arrival) / €24 & €30 accordingly/2 persons (rate includes 2 sunbeds, umbrella and mineral water upon arrival). Weekend/person (rate includes 1 sunbed, umbrella and mineral water upon arrival.

37. KAFENEIO I ORAIA ELLAS Mitropoleos 59, Monastoraki, Athens 10 555, tel.: +30 210 3216850 Wonderful place in the center of Athens with a spectacular view of Acropolis, especially in summer, when you can have a coffee at the terrace. The interior is more like a museum of Athens in the ’30s. Greek coffee prepared the traditional way, in the embers, served with preserved sweet and the unique «liqueur of love».

38. ESTRELLA Romvis 24A, Athens 105 62, tel.: +30 210 321

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Great brunch, one of the best pancakes in Athens and the place where you can find the famous bougatsan, the flagship or Estrella. Bagels, eggs, burgers and many more in really good prices.

SLEEP 39. BLEND HOTEL Vissis 2, Athens 105 51, tel.: +30 210 3221552, Fb: Blendhotelathens, Instagram: Blendhotelathens Blend Hotel is an extrovert urban hub, connecting the dots of contemporary Athens. Twenty four minimalistic rooms and suites, styled with tailor made contemporary design for an aesthetically pleasing, impactful and comfy experience. All rooms overlook the paved streets at the hotel’s front and around the nearby lovely squares, while all of the suites offer a unique view of the Acropolis

and the Parthenon. Located right where the city’s social fabric starts to “weave”, in the heart of the lively downtown “commercial triangle”, Blend Hotel gives direct access to a perfect blend of old and new Athens.

Everything is in walking distance: from Syntagma square to Monastiraki and Plaka, from the Acropolis and the Parthenon to the most young and edgy areas. Blend Hotel is the ideal starting point for the guests to enhance their personal story with the city’s authentic treats, exploring the diversity of Athens and truly blending in.

SHOP 40. FLÂNEUR SOUVENIRS & SUPPLIES Adrianou 110 & Flessa 1, Plaka, Athens 105 58, tel.: +30 2103226900, info@flaneur-shop.gr, FB: flaneursouvenirsandsupplies, The Athens Guide for Visitors

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Instagram: flaneur_souvenirs_supplies/ Flâneur Souvenirs & Supplies is an independent store that offers a curated collection of “souvenirs for curious minds and supplies for the urban explorer”, including unique pieces from both local and international creators. Jewelry co-exists harmoniously with hand-made soaps, explorer backpacks, illustrated books, hats, sunglasses and postcards. Flâneur, as suggested by its name, it’s not just another souvenir store but a place where you can feel more like a wanderer than a shopper. You are welcome to wander around and be surprised by the variety of objects you will discover, ask for directions and listen to stories, as if you were in the absolute traveler’s hub.

The objects in the store have a fresh, creative feel with a playful or humorous touch, which is underlined by the clean lines of the space.

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Despite carrying a generous selection of items, the store allows the visitor to move around with ease and decide with peace of mind.

41. FOLK Vissis 2, Monastiraki 105 51, tel.: +30 210 3221219, FB: folkathens, Instagram: folkathens Folk is a new entry in the food scene, located in a prime spot in the city’s historic center, on the ground floor of Blend hotel. The concept is a West Coast, L.A. inspired, geographically whimsical and promiscuous, but its dishes and drinks have Greek origin. The design combines downtown industrial and Scandinavian elements in an overflowing urban jungle. The coffee served is blended or singleorigin, supplied by TAF. The food menu, curated by Different Beast (in Kifissia, the northern suburbs of Athens) and chef Loukas Tsavos, draws on elements

from Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines.

Brown wild rice with fried egg, sprouting broccoli, kale, peas, mustard greens and spring onion or burnt brioche with ricotta and tomato jam are just some of the delicious surprises. Wine and beer lists exclusively from Greek producers along with inspired

cocktails complete Folk’s take on modern everyday dining.

ject of Contrust Collective, a team of 5 designers, who in December 2018 decided to open their own space in the center of Athens. With the motto “In Co we trust”, Contrust Collective designs manufactures and markets their own products and aspires to give a different, collective response to the way we perceive production and trade as well as the relationship of the creator and final recipient.

42. CONTRUST Skoufou 10, Athens 105 57, tel.: +30 211 182644, FB: Contrust Collective, Instagram: contrust_designers What happened when a minimalist jewelry designer encountered an exuberant digital illustrator? When a romantic illustrator met a dynamic potter and when, together, they met a handsome designer of leather accessories? From such an unexpected encounter emerged the cooperative pro-

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The Athens Guide for Visitors