Autumn. The true time of cities and nature alike. In this issue, we take flight with open hearts. From the airplane window, Europe unfolds below us like a colorful canvas of autumn shades. We explore cities and faces: from Milan and London to Kastoria and Alexandroupoli, with a stop at the vibrant Anima Syros Festival on Syros Island, an institution proudly supported by SKY express.
We discover Europe’s autumn festivals and talk with actress Antigoni Kouloukakos, writer Dimitris Sotakis, and chef Argyro Barbarigou. Αbout life roles, everyday heroes, and emotions served on a plate.
We capture and share memories on social media, revealing the most Instagrammable spots, and revisit films that have inspired destinations or perhaps it’s the other way around?
Famous Greek designers show us their Athens, while photographer Yiannis Βournias captures the city we love through his lens.
Autumn is… Pages with a view. Because every flight is the beginning of a new story.
76
19 TOP GUIDE
| Culture, vibrant Greek light, and art on the world map.
76
ΜΙΛΑΝΟ | MILAN
| A city full of hidden alleys, contemporary art, and design for every traveler.
88 ΛΟΝΔΙΝΟ | LONDON
| The city that changes pace, color, and face before you even have time to decode it.
100
KASTORIA
With every season it unfolds a unique story through its colors and nature.
108
INSTAGRAMMABLE SPOTS FOR YOUR EYES ONLY
Fill your album with unforgettable travel moments.
88
T: + 30 210 8925 000
112
ΑΝΤΙΓΟΝΗ
ΚΟΥΛΟΥΚΑΚΟΥ | ANTIGONE KOYLOYKAKOS
Μοντέλο,
πρόσωπα της Αντιγόνης
Κουλουκάκου
που ρέει, όπως η ζωή. | Model, actress, leading lady in Italian cinema. The many faces of Antigone Kouloukakos in an interview that flows, just like life.
| At the edge of the map, where for many Greece seems to “end,” Alexandroupoli proves that everything is only just beginning.
124
BARBARIGOU H
| ARGYRO
είναι δύναμη. | The ambassador of the Gastronomic Region of Southern Europe and renowned chef affirms that Greek cuisine is a force to be reckoned with.
130
ΦΘΙΝΟΠΩΡΙΝΑ ΦΕΣΤΙΒΑΛ | FALL FESTIVALS Ό,τι κι αν ψάχνετε, από πειραματικές παραστάσεις, ήχους jazz μέχρι μαραθώνιους κρασιού και
Whatever you’re looking for, experimental performances, jazz sounds, wine marathons, or barrel openings, there’s a festival waiting for you. 136
We travel to cities that come alive on the big screen.
140
| DIMITRIS SOTAKIS
Ένας
βραβείο. | A Greek author in Paris holds yet another international award in his hands.
146 ΣΥΡΟΣ | SYROS
Η
Art travels to Ermoupoli for the Animasyros festival turning the island into a celebration of creativity.”
154 ΙΣΤΟΡΙΕΣ MADE IN ATHΕNS | STORIES MADE IN ATHENS
| Eight Greek creators share a perfect Athens stroll, acting as our tour guides in their own city.
164
| WE’LL ALWAYS HAVE ATHENS
| In Athens, we walk with style, harmony, and light.
178 SKY EXPRESS WORLD
SKY express. | Discover the latest news, fleet, destinations, partnerships, and innovations in the world of SKY express.
194
| LAST PAGE
| Every journey leaves its own traces, but some souvenirs seem to continue the journey with us.
164
Topguide
BY FILIA MITROMARΑ | EMMANOUELA MATHIOUDAKI | GEORGE VAILAKIS
ΑΘΗΝΑ / ATHENS
AnnexM, the dynamic and alternative hub for experimental artistic and curatorial practices at the heart of the Megaron Athens Concert Hall, opens a dialogue between art, technology, and nature through three exhibitions that push the boundaries of visual experience. Beginning in the Garden with Jenny Marketou’s installation, which transforms the landscape into a living sculpture exploring relationships of care and coexistence, the journey continues with George Drivas’s ambitious project. It culminates with Andreas Kasapis, whose paintings and texts give rise to unexpected artistic events. AnnexM emerges as a living laboratory of ideas..
Info
annexM, Jenny Marketou: Το 5/2026, Megaron Garden - George Drivas: Το 1/2026, 7 Megaron spaces - Andreas Kassapis: From 11/2025 to 1/2026, Athens Concert Hall, www.megaron.gr
ΑΘΗΝΑ / ATHENS Juergen Teller
| You are invited
Onassis
Info
30/12/2025, Onassis Ready, www.onassis.org
F rom street photography and deliberately ''flashy'' images for historic fashion houses to rural landscapes, from flawless models to everyday people, the paths taken by the German-born, long-naturalized British photographer Juergen Teller make him unique in the field. At the new Onassis Ready cultural space in Agios Ioannis Rentis, the exhibition "You are invited" presents various series, individual works, and numerous videos, combining selections from previous exhibitions with new, unpublished images spanning from the 1990s to the present. From iconic figures such as Iggy Pop and Kate Moss, to Pope Francis in a women’s prison, and from Auschwitz on its 80th liberation anniversary to the birth of his daughter with his wife Dovile Drizyte, Teller invites you into a personal world of experiences that have shaped his life and work.
Info Το 30/12/2025, Onassis Ready, www.onassis.org
Topguide
/ IOANNINA SPOLIA | 22+1
SPOLIA | 22+1 transcriptions at the Silversmithing Museum
Atthe historic Castle of Ioannina, the Piraeus Bank Group Cultural Foundation presents an impressive exhibition at the Silversmithing Museum featuring works by architect and visual artist Nora Ocka.
The exhibition ''SPOLIA | 22+1 Transcriptions'' includes 22 multilayered paper reliefs that ''transcribe'' onto absorbent white paper marble architectural fragments and reliefs dating from ancient Greek to Byzantine times, which were reused in the construction of the Old Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens.
The exhibition also features five lithographs depicting views of the Little Metropolis from the 19th century, as well as a new diptych by Nora Ocka, presented for the first time and conceptually linked to the museum. The work is accompanied by a wooden decorative ceiling relief from a private residence in the Castle district of Ioannina, along with its silver cast.
Info
To March 30, 2026, Silversmithing Museum, Its Kale Acropolis, Ioannina, www.piop.gr
Topguide
ΛΟΝΔΙΝΟ / LONDON Theatre Picasso
To mark the centenary of Pablo Picasso’s famous painting "The three dancers" (1925), Wu Tsang and curator Enrique Fuenteblanca transform the space into a theatre, presenting 45 works, some of which have never been shown in the UK before. The selection includes paintings, sculptures, textiles, and works on paper. The exhibition explores the concept of “performativity” and Picasso’s persona as both an artist and a public figure, examining the interplay between pop culture and the avant-garde.
avant-garde.
Info
Info Το 12/4/2026, Tate Modern, London www.tate.org.uk
Topguide
The 9th Thessaloniki Biennale of Contemporary Art, organized by MOMus under the title ''Everything Must Change. Radical Intelligence. Salonika 9'', opens on October 31, 2025, curated by Nadia Argyropoulou. The event explores the concept of change, the anxiety, and the creative potential of Artificial Intelligence, proposing new ways of connecting Art with life through humor, inventiveness, and joy. The exhibition serves as a preview of the full Biennale, which will be presented in spring and summer 2026. Its venues, ranging from the city’s port to the Kalohori Lagoon, provide a setting for reflection, participation, and aesthetic exploration.
Info
Info
Το 16/12/2025, MOMus - Experimental Center for the Arts, www.momus.gr
Topguide
ΠΑΡΙΣΙ / PARIS
Gerhard Richter
Info Έως 2/3/2026, Fondation Louis Vuitton, www.fondationlouisvuitton.fr
Twohundred and seventy works by one of the most influential contemporary artists, born in Dresden in 1932, Gerhard Richter, will be exhibited this fall at the Fondation Louis Vuitton. The exhibition presents an extensive retrospective spanning more than six decades of the leading German contemporary artist’s work, from 1962 to 2024. It includes oil paintings, drawings, watercolors, photographs, and glass and steel sculptures, offering a comprehensive view of the career of an artist who continues to shape contemporary art.
Info Το 2/3/ 2026, Fondation Louis Vuitton, www.fondationlouisvuitton.fr
Ελάφι, 1963 | Deer, 1963
Μηλιές, 1987 | Apple trees, 1987
Aνάγνωση, 1994 | Reading, 1994
Topguide
in Paris with Chryssa and Iannis Xenakis
Το Bourse de Commerce - Pinault Collection
Info
19/1/2026, Bourse de Commerce - Pinault Collection, Παρίσι, www.pinaultcollection.com
The Bourse de Commerce – Pinault Collection in Paris presents ''Minimal'', a major, multilayered retrospective dedicated to the international Minimalist movement. Featuring 100 works by 40 artists, the exhibition traces the evolution of the concept of the artwork as redefined during the 1960s. From the luminous installations of Dan Flavin and the serene surfaces of Agnes Martin to the material explorations of Iannis Xenakis and Chryssa, ''Minimal'' investigates how abstraction, structure, and light became the language of a new, universal aesthetic. Organized into seven thematic sections, the show offers a global perspective on a movement that shaped art, architecture, and music, highlighting its enduring influence on contemporary creation.
Info
To January 19, 2026, Bourse de Commerce – Pinault Collection, Paris, www.pinaultcollection.com
Susumu Koshimizu, Από
1972/2012 | Susumu Koshimizu, From Surface to Surface
a tetrahedron, 1972/2012
Dan Flavin, Εναλλακτικές
1964 (προς Don Judd), 1964 | Dan Flavin, Alternate Diagonals of March 2, 1964 (to Don Judd), 1964
Meg Webster, Άποψη εγκατάστασης, Dia Beacon, Νέα Υόρκη, 2024 | Meg Webster, Installation view, Dia Beacon, New York, 2024
Topguide
Ψηφιδωτό, 1991 | Μosaic painting, 1991
ATHENS
Lucas Samaras: Greece rediscovers the master of the uncanny
The Intermission gallery presents the first posthumous retrospective of Lucas Samaras in Greece, in collaboration with Pace Gallery, a retrospective spanning five decades of pioneering and autobiographical art. Titled "Lucas Samaras: Master of the Uncanny", the exhibition features works ranging from Auto polaroids and Phototransformations to Mosaic paintings and rare sculptural jewelry. Born in Kastoria in 1936, Samaras emigrated to the United States, where he developed a unique avant-garde trajectory, continuously exploring identity, memory, and selfrepresentation through painting, photography, sculpture, and performance.
Info
www.theintermission.art
Info
To 20/12/2025, The Intermission, 37A Polydefkous St., Piraeus, www.theintermission.art
Εισπνοή - εκπνοή, 1977 | Breathing in, breathing out, 1977
The legendary performance artist Marina Abramović opens a dialogue with the body, time, and the soul. From her early experiments in 1970s Belgrade to her collaborations with Ulay and her open interactions with audiences, Abramović transforms endurance and risk into a medium of transformation and introspection. The exhibition presents historic re-enactments, videos, sculptures, and installations such as “Four crosses” (2019), offering a comprehensive view of her artistic journey.
Info
(2019),
1/10/2026 , Albertina Modern,
www.albertina.at
Info Το 1/10/26, Albertina Modern, Vienna www.albertina.at
Ο ήρωας, 2001 | The Hero, 2001
Τέσσερις σταυροί, 2019 | Four Crosses, 2019
Info
Έως 10/2/2026, Istanbul Modern, www.istanbulmodern.org
/ ISTANBUL
Ömer Uluç
Beyond the horizon
The exhibition "Ömer Uluç: Beyond the horizon" takes us on a journey into the creative world of Turkey’s most experimental postwar and contemporary painter. Three hundred works, spanning from the 1960s to 2010, trace the path of the renowned Turkish artist who passed away in 2010. The collection includes patterns and drawings on paper, sculptures, as well as installations made of aluminum, PVC, and polyester. The artist explores the relationship between humanity and the universe, inviting visitors to an experience that transcends time and space, with humor, irony, and a sense of discovery.
Info To 10/2/026, Istanbul Modern, www.istanbulmodern.org
Topguide
CINEMA
Deliver me from nowhere
στο 1982, όταν ο Bruce Springsteen
GΦρανκενστάιν Frankenstein
Guillermo del
Scott Cooper
It’s 1982, and Bruce Springsteen is recording Nebraska almost in whispers in his New Jersey bedroom. A stripped-down, raw album, haunted by the fading shadows of the American dream, but also by the personal struggles of an artist standing on the brink of global recognition. Jeremy Allen White takes on the role of Springsteen, aiming to capture not only his voice but also his anxieties, silences, and scars. Jeremy Strong portrays John Landau, the longtime manager who stood by his side at the most pivotal moments. Under the direction of Scott Cooper, the film offers a nostalgic glimpse into an era when music was born out of a need for redemption. Based on the book by Warren Zanes.
uillermo del Toro rewrites the legend of Frankenstein and invites us to see the monster through its own eyes. In the new trailer, Jacob Elordi brings flesh and voice to the creature that seeks love and redemption, turning the classic tale into a moving confession. Opposite him, Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein, the creator torn between ambition and guilt. Shadows, desolate landscapes, and faces filled with fear compose a world where the monster appears more human than ever. Del Toro seems ready to breathe new, overwhelming life into the timeless myth. It will be released in theaters on November 7 by Netflix.
Thessaloniki - Greece
t: 2310 549000 www.grandhotelpalace.gr
Topguide
ΛΟΝΔΙΝΟ / LONDON
The untold story behind the land of Oz
At the Apollo Victoria Theatre, magic comes to life with ''Wicked'', one of West End’s most beloved musicals. The story takes us behind the tale of The Wizard of Oz, revealing the untold side of Elphaba, the green witch, and Glinda, the ''good'' witch. Two completely different characters meet at Shiz University and form an unexpected friendship, tested by love, acceptance, and fateful choices. With stunning sets, inventive costumes, and iconic songs, ''Wicked'' is an experience that redefines what theatre can be. The music by award-winning Stephen Schwartz gives voice to a story that resonates across generations, reminding us that the concepts of ''good'' and ''evil'' are far more complex than we often imagine.
Info
During the entire theater season 2025-2026, Apollo Victoria Theatre, www.theapollovictoria.com
Robbie Williams Pride and self-prejudice
Discover Robbie Williams’ debut solo art exhibition at the Moco Museum in Amsterdam, titled "Pride and self-prejudice". The renowned singer, known for his work with Take That and his solo career, opens a new, deeply personal chapter of creativity with artworks full of humor, emotion, and self-acceptance. The exhibition captures his struggle with mental health and the need for authenticity, transforming his personal battles into pieces that inspire empathy and reflection. From self-portraits to humorous distortions, each work serves as a visual diary revealing the artist’s vulnerable side, encouraging visitors to embrace their own imperfections. With bold colors, striking lines, and candid messages, the exhibition turns pain into creation and personal struggle into a shared experience.
Info
Moco Museum, Amsterdam.
www.mocomuseum.com
Info
Το 31/12/2025, Moco Museum, Amsterdam. Tickets available online, www.mocomuseum.com
PHOTO: CARLI HORNES
/ PARIS
A
trip back to 1925
Autumn in Paris feels like a journey back to the 1920s. Jazz drifts from the cabarets, cinema lights twinkle along the streets, and shop windows gleam with objects promising a life of elegance. At 26, Quai de la Mégisserie, Louis Vuitton celebrates 100 years of Art Deco with the "Louis Vuitton Art Deco exhibition", featuring over 300 objects. Visitors can rediscover the travel trunks, geometric evening bags, and the house’s first beauty kits in a nostalgic journey that weaves together authentic pieces and contemporary creations. The reconstruction of the historic 1925 pavilion, eight thematic rooms, and collaborations with artists of the era bring back the glamour of a golden age of fashion and design.
Info
2/2026, LV Dream, 26 Quai de la Mégisserie,
Info
2/2026, LV Dream, 26 Quai de la Mégisserie, Paris
Topguide
HAMBURG
Regine Schumann
Info Έως 16/12 /2026, Galerie Watson, Αμβούργο, www.galeriewatson.de
Internationally acclaimed artist Regine Schumann returns to Hamburg with her second solo exhibition at Galerie Watson. Titled "You make my day", the exhibition features new light installations that create a colorful and atmospheric environment. Schumann employs fluorescent acrylic glass and materials that react both to natural light and UV light, creating an experience that continuously shifts depending on the conditions. Renowned for her exploration of perception and the power of color, the artist initiates a dialogue between light and space.
Info
Το 16/12/2026, Galerie Watson, Hamburg, www.galeriewatson.de
Topguide
Bugonia
After its world premiere at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, where the nearly seven-minute standing ovation in the Sala Grande of the Palazzo del Cinema confirmed the film’s impact, Yorgos Lanthimos’ new creation, "Bugonia", continues its international journey. The story follows two young conspiracy theorists who kidnap the powerful CEO (Emma Stone) of a multinational company, convinced she is an alien with a plan to destroy Earth. "Bugonia" marks the tenth collaboration between Emma Stone and Yorgos Lanthimos and is a dark sci-fi comedy. The film is a remake of the cult South Korean movie "Save the green planet" (2003), while its Greek title refers to an ancient ritual in which bees are born from oxen corpses, blending myth, horror, and the director’s signature surreal vision.
Info Premiere in Greece: November 6, 2025
Distributor: Tanweer
ΕΛΛΑΔΑ / GREECE
Topguide
ΑΜΣΤΕΡΝΤΑΜ / AMSTERDAM
Sandra Mujinga
Skin to
Norwegian-Congolese artist Sandra Mujinga transforms the gallery into an otherworldly, immersive environment where sound, light, mirrors, and 55 sculptural figures take over the space. The hybrid, almost human-like avatars explore identity, digital reproduction, and visibility, questioning the perception of Black bodies in public spaces. The sculptures oscillate between stillness and movement, presence and disappearance, creating a disorienting experience for visitors. Mujinga’s interdisciplinary practice combines visual arts, performance, music, and online media.
Info To 11/1/2026, Stedelijk Museum www.stedelijk.nl
The home of athenian intellectuals
At4 Amalias Avenue stands the Katakouzenos House, the only surviving literary salon of the 1930s generation. This apartment, once home to psychiatrist Angelos Katakouzenos and his wife Leto, hosted regular gatherings of luminaries such as Giorgos Seferis, Odysseas Elytis, Yannis Tsarouchis, and Mikis Hatzidakis. Today, it preserves artworks, personal belongings, books, and memories of a bygone era. Guided tours are offered every Saturday and Sunday (by appointment), providing a unique journey into the urban life of Athens in the past century.
Info
Angelos & Leto Katakouzenos Foundation 4 Amalias Avenue, 5th Floor, Athens reservations: www.katakouzenos.gr
Monastiraki, the Museum of Modern Greek Culture opens its doors to a journey through time. More than 3,000 exhibits and interactive digital applications narrate the story of Greek life, what people believed, what they wore, how they worked, and how they celebrated.
Info
Museum of Modern Greek Culture, 10 Areos St., Athens, www.mnep.gr
Wandering through the cobblestone streets of Plaka, discover the new Gadonas Cotton collection at 8 Pandrosou str. Handmade dresses, tops, trousers, and accessories crafted from 100% cotton and linen celebrate natural beauty, while soft shades and elegant designs create layered looks for the whole family, offering comfort, style, and a unique sense of luxury in every moment of your day.
210-3216765
Welcome to Liondi Traditional Greek Restaurant
Authentic flavors in the heart of the Acropolis
Located just steps away from the Acropolis Museum and the Acropolis Metro Station, Liondi offers a warm Greek welcome and a truly traditional culinary experience. Our restaurant is a favorite among locals and visitors alike, known for its hospitality, heartwarming dishes, and unbeatable location.
At Liondi, we proudly serve authentic Greek cuisine, crafted with fresh ingredients and inspired by family recipes passed down through generations.
Try our famous moussaka, or indulge in our slow-cooked oven-baked lamb, served with rice and aromatic local herbs. For seafood lovers, our grilled fish selections are always fresh and perfectly prepared.
Pair your meal with a glass of fine Nemean wine, straight from the vineyards of the Peloponnese, and enjoy the vibrant flavors of Greece in every sip.
Whether you’re visiting Athens for the first time or returning to your favorite city, Liondi invites you to taste the soul of Greek gastronomy—right next to one of the most iconic monuments in the world.
Come as a guest, leave as a friend. Kalos orisate!
Topguide
Blommers & Schumm
Info
23/2/2026, Foam,
foam.org
In the heart of Amsterdam, Foam, one of the city’s leading photography museums, opens its doors to a retrospective exhibition showcasing the provocative and playful vision of Αnuschka Blommers & Niels Schumm. The Dutch photographic duo, who began collaborating in the 1990s, skillfully navigate between art and fashion, creating images that feel both familiar and uncanny at the same time. The exhibition presents 25 years of Blommers & Schumm’s work, highlighting their collaborations with international magazines and their distinctive style.
Info Το 2/23/2026,
/ LONDON
Kerry James Marshall The Histories
O«Knowledge and Wonder» (1995) από
Chicago Public Art Program. Η έκθε-
Kunsthaus Zürich
Info
Έως 18/1/2026, Royal Academy of Arts, www.royalacademy.org.uk
ne of the most important American artists of our time, Kerry James Marshall does more than simply paint the world of Black Americans, he rewrites it. In the retrospective''The Histories'' at the Royal Academy of Arts in London, each canvas is an act of restoration, a new image of what history has silenced. Through large-scale works filled with references to art history, civil rights, comics, science fiction, and his own personal memories, Kerry James Marshall brings the lives of Black Americans to the forefront. The exhibition features 70 works, including the previously unseen ''Knowledge and Wonder'' (1995) from the Chicago Public Art Program. The show is presented in collaboration with Kunsthaus Zürich and the Musée d’Art Moderne in Paris.
Info
Το 18/1/2026, Royal Academy of Arts, www.royalacademy.org.uk
Παλιές εποχές, 1997 | Past Times, 1997
Topguide
/ ATHENS
Stanley Whitney
Info Έως 17/1/2026, Gagosian Athens, gagosian.com
Info Τo 17/1/2026, Gagosian Athens, gagosian.com ΑΘΗΝΑ
Inspired by Mondrian, the American patchwork tradition, ancient Greek vase painting, and jazz, 69-year-old Stanley Whitney, one of the leading contemporary abstract painters of our time, presents "Return to the Garden" at Gagosian Gallery. The artist experiments with sequences of color and composition, giving each canvas rhythm, movement, and energy. His paintings combine the rigor of geometry with the freedom of improvisational brushwork, offering an immersive experience of color and intensity that captivates the viewer.
DISCoVER BÓTOXE: A NEW ERa IN NIGHTLIFE aND GASTRoNOMY
Located in the heart of Athens, Bótoxe is a place where high gastronomy meets the exciting atmosphere of a club. Guests will immerse themselves in an unforgettable experience thanks to its two stunning spaces.
Indoors, Utopia can accommodate up to 1000 guests and features a state-of-the-art sound system, a 100m² LED wall to keep the party going until morning, with DJ sets from famous international artists of the electronic music scene.
For those seeking an open-air experience, Etherial can host up to 300 guests under the starry night sky, offering a magical atmosphere.
The menu at Bótoxe presents a fusion of Asian and Mediterranean influences. Food enthusiasts can enjoy dishes such as crab tartare with yuzu and white truffle oil or beef ragout with orange sauce. The cocktail bar offers unique blends to satisfy even the most demanding palate.
In Madrid, Galer ía Elba Benítez hosts the striking exhibition "Extensions" by Swedish artist Miriam Bäckström. Known for her pioneering photography, the artist here merges the lens with textiles, creating threedimensional installations that appear to float in space. One monumental work evokes a spaceship, while circular compositions in swirling, vibrant colours captivate the viewer. Her process is equally fascinating: she photographs materials up close, translates the images into instructions for automated looms, and then weaves them into silk, stretched over geometric forms. The result is woven-image objects that hover between painting, sculpture, and photography. Bäckström explores the notion of ''extension'' as continuity and an endless search for new dimensions in thought and art.
Info Έως 8/11/2025, Gale ría Elba Ben ítez, Μαδρίτη, elbabenitez.com
Info
Το 11/8/2025, Galer ía Elba Ben ítez, Madrid, elbabenitez.com
Topguide
ΑΘΗΝΑ / ATHENS Tilda Swinton
Art as a personal narrative
Τilda
Swinton.
Ready. Η Swinton
Onassis
Luca Guadagnino, Pedro Almodóvar, Jim Jarmusch και Tim Walker,
Tilda Swinton: the iconic and daring performer, transforms her life into a work of art through a personal exhibition at the Onassis Foundation’s new space, Onassis Ready. Swinton meets friends and collaborators such as Luca Guadagnino, Pedro Almodóvar, Jim Jarmusch, and Tim Walker, creating a multidimensional tribute to her career and personality. From the curation of a unique wardrobe featuring personal costumes and family heirlooms to the reconstruction of her 1980s London apartment, the exhibition intertwines memory, art, and fashion. Swinton also pays homage to her great mentor Derek Jarman, demonstrating how personal and professional relationships can inspire creativity. This experience is a journey into the imagination and aesthetic of one of contemporary art’s most eclectic and dynamic figures.
Info
Το 14/6/2026, Onassis Ready, Onassis Foundation, Athens. Exhibition in collaboration with Eye Filmmuseum.
Professor Robert Langdon travels to Prague to attend a lecture by Katherine Solomon, a distinguished scientist in the field of cognitive science. Katherine is preparing to publish a book with shocking discoveries about the nature of human consciousness, threatening to overturn centuries of established beliefs. But a brutal murder will turn this journey into a nightmare! And all this unfolds with the plot stretching from Prague to London and New York, filled with intrigue, secret organizations, and constant twists, from the world’s most famous thriller writer, Dan Brown, author of the bestselling masterpieces ''The Da Vinci Code'' and ''Inferno''.
SEBASTIAN FITZEK
He is the star of psychological thrillers in Germany, who achieved great success with his debut novel, "The Treatment " (2006), which became a bestseller, a feat repeated by his subsequent books, now published in 37 countries. In his new psychological thriller, the protagonist is a psychologist specializing in violent crimes, who struggles to find the biological parents of her adopted daughter, as her daughter’s life depends on it. This search triggers a series of events that seem to follow an inexorable course.
ΛΕΥΚΩΜΑ / COLLECTIONS
GOYA. THE COMPLETE PRINTS - TASCHEN
This collection of 287 etchings and lithographs by the Spanish painter and printmaker Francisco Goya (1746–1828) showcases an artist unafraid to explore the limits of human madness, violence, and power. His prints have long stood as prime examples of artistic daring and social critique. Goya captures the weaknesses, passions, and brutality of his time. The strength of his line, the dark atmosphere, and their symbolic depth make these works unparalleled. Today, they continue to captivate audiences for both their artistic mastery and their enduring critical relevance.
Famousdish
Honey shrimp: A recipe from ancient Kythera
Bring a touch of a Greek gastronomy to your table, with a modern twist.
In ancient Greece, shrimp were caught and savored, cooked in a way that would hold its own in a contemporary gourmet restaurant. This recipe is inspired by a verse from the Greek poet Philoxenus of Kythera.
If you happen to have some fish soup left over, you can use it as the base for this dish, it will add depth of flavor and natural salinity, just as it would have in seaside recipe, with aroma from the past.
Get the recipe
Υλικά
Ingredients
225 g peeled and deveined
large shrimp
1 tbsp olive oil
6 tbsp fish soup (optionally)
1 tbsp honey
2
finely chopped
Black pepper
Instructions
In a non-stick pan, add the olive oil, fish soup, and honey, then add the shrimp.
Sauté the shrimp for 2–3 minutes until just tender, then remove them with a slotted spoon.
Let the sauce simmer until it reduces by half. Add the oregano and pour the sauce over the shrimp.
Sprinkle with freshly ground black pepper and serve as a starter, accompanied by fresh bread and a green salad.
Smartapps
Travel smart with 3 apps
travel diary. / Find your location, get a refund, and keep your personal travel diary.
Looking to explore places where there are no roads or addresses?
This app gives every spot on the planet a unique three-word name, helping you pinpoint your exact location. You can share it with rescue services in case of emergency. Available for free, in Greek, for Android and iOS.
What do you do when you’ve prepaid for a hotel room but suddenly need to cancel your trip? The Roomer app helps you get back part of the money you would otherwise lose. In addition, you can score a discount by booking a room someone else has canceled. Available for free, for Android.
Visited is perfect for those who love to keep track of their travels. Add the countries you’ve visited to the interactive map and view your personal travel stats. Mark famous places on your travel bucket list and track your progress as you check them off. The app is available in both free and premium versions. Available for free, for Android and iOS.
ROOMER TRAVEL
Discovering
The cosmopolitan Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, a cross-shaped shopping arcade, is the most impressive architectural complex after the Duomo
MILAN
A symbol of design and innovation
From the aristocratic Brera to Prada’s hidden cafés, Milan is a secret you must earn, not conquer.
BY POLLY PORRECT
Whatever they tell you about Milan is true. And those who say it’s a masterpiece and those who say they weren’t thrilled are all right. Milan is an introverted city that shares its scents and opens up like a rose bengal. That's why you need Milanese friends to guide you properly, or you need to visit it again and again. A small, bustling metropolis, born between the Alps and the Tyrrhenian Sea, it has learnt to narrate stories to survive and to reinvent itself incessantly through time. Because everything here is a hidden beauty, and only in the last decade has there been an effort towards extroversion. At the crossroads between Northern and Southern Europe, since the 12th century, Milan has been gathering merchants, adventurers and bankers, who believed that the less you wandered about the city, the safer you were. Its economy flourished thanks to the trade that took place through the canals of the city, which in those years looked like Venice. And today, the Naviglio Grande and Naviglio
1.
Gae Aulenti known for the Bosco Verticale skyscrapers (which means "Vertical Forest") and its fountains
2.
di Milano, one of the world’s most famous opera houses
3.
Pinacoteca
Pinacoteca di Brera was built in the 14th century on the site of a monastery, which was converted into an art gallery by the Napoleon
Pavese canals reign supreme; beloved areas with dozens of outdoor cafés and restaurants.
Art, Fashion, and Culture at the Heart of the City
If you look at the most emblematic buildings the Teatro alla Scala, the Palazzo Marino, the Villa Reale, all built in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, they all have simple façades. The idea was to keep a low profile. But when you walk in, the wealth and elegance leave you stunned and take your breath away. This is how most of the old houses in the city are built.
For many, the first visit is to the Brera district, with its nice cafés and sophisticated shops, as this district is made of a rare blend of elegance and artistic freedom. A mandatory stop is the Pinacoteca di Brera. There, next to Antonio Canova’s naked Napoleon, which, of course, when it was created, infuriated the French emperor, among paintings by Titian and Veronese, Caravaggio and Tintoretto, between Mantegna’s shocking ''Dead Christ'' and Hayez’s passionate, romantic ''Kiss'', in halls with works by great artists of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, stand 120 creations by the king of fashion, Giorgio Armani. This unique exhibition, entitled Milano, per Amore, will
Το Palazzo Reale di Milano (Βασιλικό
| The Palazzo Reale di Milano (Royal Palace of Milan) was the seat of the Government of Milan. Today, it hosts various exhibitions and functions as a museum
IN THE NAVIGLI AREA, DON’T MISS THE PICTURESQUE VIEW AT SUNSET
Braidense National Library,
Pinacoteca,
Via Montenapoleone.
run until January 11, 2026. But you should go to the Pinacoteca at least three times: once for the paintings and creations of the masters, once to visit the Braidense National Library designed in the 18th century by the architect Giuseppe Piermarini, who also built the Teatro alla Scala. The third time you go to the Pinacoteca, visit its botanical garden, the Orto Botanico di Brera one of its secrets, which even many Milanese are unaware of.
Flavors, cafés and hidden gems
After Brera, of course, stroll along via Montenapoleone. This is where most of the big fashion and jewellery houses are located, this is where people queue outside Hermès, this is where the jewellery at Cartier looks so delicious that you feel like biting into it. Here are welldressed gentlemen in expensive jackets and women with unfaithful looks, gazing at the shop windows as if they were prospective lovers.
Fiera.
Daniel Libeskind, Arata Isozaki και Zaha Hadid | CityLife is a new commercial, business, and residential district in the Fiera neighborhood. It was designed by architects Daniel Libeskind, Arata Isozaki, and Zaha Hadid
BOSCO VERTICALE,
THE BOSCO VERTICALE, MILAN’S ICONIC “VERTICAL FOREST,” IS A MODEL OF SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE, FEATURING OVER 900 TREES ADORNING THE FAÇADES OF ITS TWO TOWERS
Milan is a circular city. This means that if you have good orientation and cross it vertically, you can easily go everywhere. If you think about it, it’s a tiny town just 12 km from one end to the other, with 1,400,000 inhabitants and although it is small, almost the size of a suburb of Paris, it is nevertheless powerful. Because Milan is a symbol of sophistication, design and innovation.
Maybe that’s why most influencers choose ''Bar Luce'' as their hangout a café designed by American director Wes Anderson. But when Anderson dreams of a bar in which he wants to spend his simple, everyday afternoons, which do not belong to the realm of an invented direction, it is mathematically certain that he will achieve exactly what he is trying to avoid. ''Bar Luce'', at the Fondazione Prada, taken out of the ’60s, looks like a movie set that challenges you to create a role for yourself.
And if you love the director Alejandro Gonzales Iñarritu, at the Fondazione Prada there is, until February 26, an exhibition dedicated to his legendary first work, Amores Perros (2000), with the edited scenes of the film that had never been seen in public until today. There, also, from November 19 to 30, the public will be able to attend the lessons and rehearsals delivered to students by the great conductor Riccardo Muti. As we said, when it comes to innovation, Milan holds the sceptre.
Ό Orto Botanico di Brera
|
The Orto Botanico di Brera is a small, magical garden
Trattoria Tripas
Trattoria Trippa
Via Giorgio Vasari, 1.
13 Giugno
Via Carlo Goldoni, 44.
Don Juan
Via Altaguardia 2, Porta Romana. Opera 33
tasting.
Via Carlo Farini, 33.
13 Giugno
Trattoria Trippa
Perhaps the best trattoria in town. Chef Diego Rossi holds the reins of flavor in this small northern town. A small, simple restaurant offering outstanding tastes, top-quality ingredients, and “reinvented” recipes from all over Italy.
Via Giorgio Vasari, 1.
13 Giugno
Perfect seafood flavors in a Sicilian Baroque atmosphere. From the eggplant ratatouille to the lobster tagliatelle, everything you order is a culinary experience, best enjoyed to the sounds of live music..
Via Carlo Goldoni, 44.
Don Juan
You may be in Italy, but Don Juan will take you straight to Argentina. This is the place for meat lovers, and it is also renowned for its outstanding wine list featuring selections from both Argentina and Italy. Via Altaguardia 2, Porta Romana.
Opera 33
Great music, a cinematic atmosphere, whether alone or with friends one of the best bars for cocktails. The perfect spot for a cocktail tasting. Via Carlo Farini, 33.
Discovering
Triennale,
Palazzo Dell' Arte,
ADI Design Museum,
Corso Como,
Corso Como
concept store
Carla Sozzani.
Ansaldo Workshops,
Another favourite café, hidden from the spotlight, is in the Chinese district the café at the ADI Design Museum, on Piazza Compasso d’Oro. The café, along with the Design Workshop, which mainly sells books on design, designed by the architect Marco Ferreri, creates a single open-plan, pleasant space.
Hidden treasures and modern experiences
Ηead to Corso Como to gaze at the enchanting Corso Como 10, the legendary Carla Sozzani's famed concept store.
Conclude your tour with a visit to the La Scala Ansaldo Workshops, the place where all of La Scala's productions are prepared. Costume designers, set designers, carpenters, and sculptors work tirelessly in a vast, unified industrial space to ensure the perfection of every production.
The experience will be rewarding, especially if you don't manage to attend a performance at Italy's most renowned theater. At the very least, you will have slipped behind its scenes and gotten to know a part of the stories that made it famous.s. •
At the ADI Design Museum, the objects show why Italian design is recognized worldwide
Carla Sozzani δημιούργησε
Corso Como 10,
| Carla Sozzani created Corso Como 10, a concept store that became a reference point
FRANCESCO SFORZA.
| THE IMPOSING SFORZESCO CASTLE IN MILAN, BUILT IN THE 15TH CENTURY BY FRANCESCO SFORZA, IS ONE OF THE CITY’S MOST ICONIC LANDMARKS. TODAY HOUSES MAJOR MUSEUMS AND ARTWORKS
LONDON
A canvas of expression
Every step in London is a new discovery. A city that changes rhythm, color and face, before you even have time to decode it.
BY MARIA DEDOUSI
Discovering
London’s iconic black cab drivers must pass one of the toughest tests in the world before earning their license: they need to memorize the names of 25,000 streets and every landmark within a nine-kilometer radius of Charing Cross. Many spend three to four years studying, even if they were born and raised in the city. This is quintessential London: a city that never truly ends. But somewhere, one has to start.
Changing of the guard
Every corner of London seems to hide a story. Even if you’ve never been, a mental stroll through its streets is enough to feel its charm. The ideal starting point is the heart of British history, once the pulse of a vast empire: Westminster, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, and Westminster Abbey. From there, walk to Buckingham Palace, another axis of British authority. The Changing of the Guard has been photographed millions of times, yet nothing compares to seeing it in person. Watch the guards’ enormous bearskin hats. No, the hair on the guards' hats do not grow, as the
ρίας: το Westminster, το Big Ben, το House of Parliament και
urban legend claims. The fur simply fluffs up due to humidity or grooming, and some people mistakenly believed it was growing over time.
Leave the palace behind and head to St James’s Park, a tranquil oasis in the city center. Watch the mounted police patrol slowly along the paths on their majestic horses, while the silence is broken only by birds and the laughter of visitors. Next, Trafalgar Square welcomes you with Nelson’s Column and the energy of the city’s heart. From there, a short stroll to the National Gallery to admire the paintings of Botticelli and Van Gogh.
The walk continues toward the South Bank along the Thames. The London Eye stands proudly, and for the brave, the view of the city “at your feet” is unforgettable. Slightly further on, Tate Modern, housed in a former power station, invites you into another dimension of art. The path along the Thames leads to Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre
Discovering
and the Borough Market, where the aromas of street food entice you to stop at almost every stall. To feel real London life, explore the neighborhoods: Covent Garden with its theaters, street performers, and hidden arcades; the lively Soho with its restaurants and bars; bustling Chinatown; and Brick Lane with its Indian flair. In Notting Hill, colorful houses and the Portobello Market will make you fall in love with the city, just like Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant. Camden Market immerses you in street culture. In Shoreditch and Hackney, urban art with works by artists like Banksy reveals London to be a vibrant platform for creativity.
/ Don’t be afraid to try new flavors. If not here, where? There is no national cuisine that is not «represented» in London and for the inhabitants of the city this variety is their «national food».
Little escapes in the city
Take a deep breath and leave the city noise behind as you wander through London’s lush parks. In Hyde Park, the serenity of Serpentine Lake and the ancient willows invite you to sit and enjoy the
Covent Garden, in London’s West
όπως η Julia Roberts και ο Hugh Grant. Το Camden Market σας
Shoreditch
Hackney,
WERE ONCE STABLE ENTRANCES, THE SO-CALLED MEWS
Hampstead Heath
sun gently caressing the water. Kensington Gardens overflow with elegance, their sculptures and gardens looking as if lifted straight from a painting. In Regent's Park, the roses bloom in breathtaking colors, while from Primrose Hill, the city view fills you with awe. Further north, Hampstead Heath and Parliament Hill beckon with little escapes into nature, trails leading to hidden corners and hills offering panoramic views. Even Greenwich, with its historic observatory, the River Thames, and the legendary ''Cutty Sark'' sailing vessel, feels like a storybook scene through the eyes of a visitor. London lives and breathes through art, shopping, and entertainment. At the Victoria & Albert Museum, the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, and
TO LONDON EYE
| THE LONDON EYE OFFERS YOU TO THE CITY’S MOST SPECTACULAR VIEW, AN ATTRACTION IN ITS OWN RIGHT
Discovering
τη διασκέδαση. Στο Victoria & Albert Museum, στο Natural History Museum, στο Science Museum και
British Museum
Regent Street
shopping,
Madame Tussauds,
Oxford Street,
Bond Street
Carnaby Street
Marylebone.
Madame Tussauds, every step opens doors to new worlds and experiences, while the British Museum, with the Marbles Parthenon, transports you through time and classical beauty. Oxford Street, Regent Street, and Bond Street invite you to endless shopping adventures, Carnaby Street offers a taste of authentic swinging ’60s, and Savile Row awaits lovers of tailor-made suits. Traditional pubs with their warm atmosphere, mesmerizing West End musicals, and the energetic Soho bars complete the experience, making every evening truly unforgettable.
| If you find yourself on Leinster Gardens in Paddington, the facades of the houses at numbers 23 and 24 are fake. They were built to hide the Tube lines (the London Underground) that run underneath.
The Tube (London underground) and the Docklands Light Railway («flying» over the skyscrapers of the Canary Warf) will take you to the suburb of Greenwich, which you know from the observatory and Greenwich Mean Time. Coffee by the Thames, a stroll through the O2 Arena, and a tour of the ''Cutty Sark'' sailing vessel are the mustdos of this trip.
In Marylebone take a coffee on the go, this is a city where everyone carries one. Walk to Paddington Basin and follow the path
Notting Hill:
Notting Hill: Authentic bohemian atmosphere in London’s favorite neighborhood
along Regent’s Canal to Camden. Admire the houseboats and cyclists. Sit on a bench in Little Venice. Stroll through South Kensington or Chelsea, among tree-lined streets and Victorian houses. Enjoy a drink on a rooftop along the South Bank and watch the Thames glow at sunset. Let London take you wherever it wants. It is sure to reward you. •
Primrose Hill.
season suits you best to visit it?
Once you arrive in London, where will you go first?
A. You will walk next to the Thames, without a map.
B. You will look for a rooftop on the South Bank to see the view.
C. You will enter the Tate Modern.
D. You will sit in Hyde Park with a coffee.
Which image comes to mind first when you think of London?
A. The light that falls on Westminster Bridge after the rain.
B. The crowd at Camden Market, the music and the colors.
C. The halls of the National Gallery.
D. The ducks of St James’s Park.
If London was a feeling, what would it be for you?
A . Nostalgia, like a walk on the South Bank.
B. Energy, like a night in Soho or a concert in Brixton.
C. Inspiration, like a conversation in a café in Notting Hill.
D. Serenity, like an afternoon at Primrose Hill
Where would an afternoon find you in London?
A. A walk from Westminster Bridge to Borough Market.
B. In Shoreditch, among street art and friends.
C. In a play in the West End.
D. On a bench in Little Venice.
D - SPRING Picnic in the gardens of Holland Park or Kyoto Garden, stroll through Little Venice, or discover the Columbia Road Flower Market.
C - WINTER Visit Sir John Soane’s Museum or Leighton House Museum, catch a small play at the Almeida Theatre or the National Theatre Studio, or sit in a café with vintage books in Marylebone.
A - AUTUMN Explore the alleys of Hampstead and climb Parliament Hill for the view. Visit the Royal Observatory in Greenwich or relax at a traditional bookstore such as Daunt Books in Marylebone. B- SUMMER Go to summer markets like Maltby Street Market, rent a bike in Richmond Park, enjoy a rooftop cinema in Peckham, or catch live jazz at Ronnie Scott’s in Soho.
Events & Catering
Bakery & Pastry
KASTORIA One city, one world
The city that changes face with the seasons, yet never loses its charm.
BY MARIA DEDOUSI
Discovering
SKY express direct flights, from Athens every Thursday, and with a stopover in Kozani every Tuesday and Sunday
In earlier times, the answer to the question, ''W hat’s in Kastoria?'' was one: ''Fur''. The lucrative fur trade overshadowed everything in the city, which seems to lie lazily lying on the shores of Lake Orestiada and is rediscovering itself. The fur industry in Kastoria began as an art of survival. Locals began to process furs from badgers, hares, foxes and jackals. They became such skilled craftsmen that their fame reached Istanbul, the palaces of Moscow and the palaces of Venice. In the cobbled streets of the old town, Doltso, small workshops continue to work with furs using traditional tools to this day. It is a good place to start your visit to the city. Visit a workshop and watch as fur is cleaned, pierced and stitched. But don’t limit yourself to the showcase…
Kastoria is no longer identified with furs, but more with tourism and rich cultural heritage. Surrounded by a unique natural landscape, it attracts visitors in all seasons. The people of Kastoria themselves say that their city is not one, but two; the winter one and the summer one.
In Doltso
In the old town of Kastoria, the mansions of the 18th and 19th centuries bear witness to its golden age, when the city prospered.
MACEDONIAN MANSIONS, BYZANTINE CHURCHES, AND GASTRONOMY COMPLETE THE PICTURE OF KASTORIA
They surround the stone-built square of the brothers Ioannis and Panagiotis Emmanuel, who were co-fighters and collaborators of Rigas Feraios. The square is the center of Dolcho, the old district in the south of the city, whose name means sweet and probably got it because of the milder weather here. Walk along the cobbled streets with the stone houses and photograph the sachnisia* and the ornate doors.
Visit the Nerantzi-Aivazi Mansion - Folklore Museum and the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle, to see what life was like in old Kastoria. The Museum of the Macedonian Struggle is housed in an 18th century mansion and in its premises are exhibited uniforms, relics, documents and photographs of Macedonian fighters who were active in the area of Kastoria.
* A sachni şi (from the Turkish word şahni şin, meaning manor balcony) is an enclosed, protruding part of the upper floor of a house. It was supported by wooden beams and was are a symbol of social prestige.
Caves and Myths
The reference point of Kastoria is Lake Orestiada. Depending on the weather and your mood, you can go around it (9 km) by car, by bike or on foot. Follow the lakeside road from Doltso to the islet of Agios Athanasios, enjoy a coffee at one of the charming cafés along the way, and watch the fishermen casting their nets in the early morning light. Continue to the Dragon’s Cave*, one of the most impressive in Greece, with stalactites illuminated from within like crystal statues.
Just 8 kilometers from modern Kastoria, on the shores of the lake that bears its name, stands a 'village' - οpen-air museum dating back to 5620 B.C. The settlement of Dispilio was discovered by chance in 1932, when the level of the lake dropped and wooden remains of houses built on piles appeared. The excavations revealed an organized settlement of the 6th millennium BC, with houses, tools, jewelry and the famous Tablet, Dispilio, which is considered the oldest form of writing in Europe. Today, in the open-air museum one can tour reconstructed huts and see how people lived 8.000 years ago.
* Legend has it that a dragon guarded a gold mine in the cave, breathing fire. A man fought with the dragon to win the prize promised by King
Discovering
Castor (one of the two Dioscuri) and defeated it. The locals entered the cave with lit torches, which went out. Some took mud from the ground, and when they exited the cave, they saw that they had turned into liquid gold dust.
The flavors of the city
Kastoria is a small gastronomic treasure. Begin your culinary journey with traditional sarmades with armia*, batzos cheese, and crispy leek fritters, flavors that will immerse you in the local cuisine. If you visit the town between November and March, make sure to try dishes featuring game or freshwater fish from the lake, such as tsironia and perch, which are sure to delight your taste buds. The quaint tavernas in Lavanitsia or near the Southern Beach are perfect spots to enjoy this experience. Don’t miss the desserts: saragli, rice pudding infused with cinnamon, or bean spoon sweets, along with the region’s famous apples, which provide a sweet finish to your meal. At the tavernas along the lakeside, sardines and eels are the “hidden” delicacies reserved for the initiated, a culinary secret worth discovering.
* Sarmades with armia are cabbage rolls stuffed with rice and meat. Their difference from traditional dolmades is that instead of fresh cabbage, pickled cabbage is used, giving a tangy flavor.
Skiing, bears and carnivals
Kastoria does not end at the city limits. Maybe that’s where it begins... The road goes up to the monastery of Panagia Mavriotissa, on the hill with the pine trees and the view of the lake. From there, continue to Apozari and higher up to Vitsi, where a ski resort operates in winter. In summer, the same place offers hiking trails and alpine landscapes. If you find yourself in the area during the Ragoutsaria period (January 6-8), you will experience the carnival whose roots are lost in antiquity and is a revival of the ancient Dionysian ceremonies.
A few kilometers away, Nymfaio is a typical example of the picturesque villages of Macedonia, with its stone houses, flowery courtyards and wooden balconies. It is also known for its Bear Sanctuary ''Arktouros''.
Continue to the Argos Orestiko, where the old water fountain is located, and traditional taverns serving local pork, game, and local cheeses. And of course smoked fish from the lake, perch or carp, best enjoyed in a soup with herbs. For wine lovers, small wineries in the area offer a drinking experience of local wines and tsipouro. In Mavrochori you will find taverns with home-
Natura 2000 | The lake has been designated as a natural beauty monument, it is an important wetland and is included in the European Natura 2000 protection network
| The Cave of the Dragon features seven underground lakes, ten chambers, and five tunnelsφ
cooked dishes, as well as workshops with handmade sweets. On the way to Prespa, you will come across Korestia, also known as brick villages, a cluster of mountain settlements of brick houses with a characteristic red color. Built of mud and red soil, until the middle of the last century, today they stand abandoned, like ghosts made of terracotta.
And all this was just the beginning. When you leave, Kastoria will wink at you: It is certain that you will return; At another time of the year, perhaps, on the same or even different paths. •
Which Kastoria suits you?
What is it that first attracts you to a city?
A
. Architecture and its history.
B. The people and the flavors.
C. Its myths and secrets.
D. Its natural landscape and tranquility.
If you walked on the cobbled streets of Doltso, what would you pay more attention to?
A. The sachnisia and the painted ceilings of the mansions.
B. The smells from the kitchens.
C. The silent doors that seem to hide old stories.
D. The lake that is reflected behind every corner.
If you had a free day what would you do?
A. Visit the museums and get to know its Byzantine heritage
B. Try fish dishes from the lake and wine with friends.
C. Enter the Dragon’s Cave and walk the 300-meter route through it.
D. Go around the lake or go up to Vitsi.
What feeling would you like the city to leave you when you leave?
A. Respect and admiration for art and its history.
B. Warmth and flavors.
C. Mystery, emotion and inspiration.
D. Calmness, a clear mind and a sense of freedom
B: The traditional Sit in the taverns of Lavanitsia, try sarmades and bajzo, talk to the locals, dance in Ragoutsaria. C: The prehistoric Go down to the Dragon’s Cave, walk in Dispilio, see Korestia and the abandoned brick houses. D: The ecological Take the lakeside road, climb to Vitsi, go to Nymfaio and the Bear Sanctuary.
A: The nostalgic Start from Doltso, enter the Nerantzi Aivazi and Emmanuel mansions, and feel the past come alive. Go up to Mavriotissa, listen to the silence and see the city from above.
IF
|
The Church of Panagia Koumpelidiki got its name due to its tall dome (in Turkish, koumbes means dome)
Instagrammable spots for your eyes only
From Istanbul's atmospheric neighborhoods and London's food halls to the medieval villages of Chios, these spots will fill your album with unforgettable travel highlights.
BY MARIA KOFOU
Mayfair,
/ London
MM Mayfair,
Balat, Istanbul
The most photogenic neighborhood in Istanbul.
Colorful houses in bright shades, staircases reminiscent of a movie scene and modern cafes that emerge among traditional grocery stores. On one side, stretches the view of the Bosphorus, while on the other stands the imposing Phanar Greek Orthodox College with its red walls. The best shot?
One of the most unique food halls in London, housed in the former St. Mark’s Church which has been transformed into a gastronomic paradise. The murals and stained glass windows create a setting that will be difficult to find elsewhere. Sipping your cocktail next to icons of saints or tasting street food from Italy to Asia. MM
In the alleys with the colorful facades, with the laundry hanging out in the background that gives an authentic local vibe and the view from the terrace of the “Cafe Life 1890”.
MM Mayfair, London
/ Pyrgi, Χίος / Chios
Pink Street, Λισαβόνα
Η Pink Street (Rua Nova do Carvalho)
Pink Street, Lisbon
Pink Street (Rua Nova do Carvalho) in Cais do Sodré is perhaps Lisbon’s most Instagram-famous spot, a street that stands out with its signature pink pavement contrasting beautifully with the city’s buildings. Visit early in the morning to enjoy the place without the crowds and capture the street’s playful, artistic energy at its best.
Pyrgi, Chios
This medieval village is famous for its houses decorated with intricate black-and-white geometric patterns known as ''xysta''. The technique is said to have Genoese origins, brought to Chios during their long occupation of the island. Capture your photos in the late afternoon, when the sun’s low light accentuates the textures of the patterns and makes the façades appear almost three-dimensional.
Pink Street / Pink Street, Λισαβόνα / Lisbon
ANTIGONE KOULOUKAKOS
Go with the flow
Model, actress, and a leading figure in Italian cinema. The many faces of Antigone Kouloukakos unfold in an interview that flows, just like life itself.
BY FILIA MITROMARA
After a luminous career on international catwalks and years on Italian television and film sets, Antigone Kouloukakos returned to Greece to write a new chapter. Our meeting feels like a quiet confession. She speaks with clarity, free from affectation, with that mesmerizing calmness of people who have truly lived. Her gaze remains as clear as it was when she walked the runway for historic fashion houses. Yet behind her beauty lies a deeper wisdom, t he kind that comes from embracing life with maturity. From her television role as Ioulia in "The land of olives" (Mega), which recently concluded after four seasons, she transitioned to the stage in George Bernard Shaw’s "Overruled" at Theatro 104. In cinema, she continues with both short and feature films, while her latest project, The "Girl of Athens", is streaming on Netflix. Our conversation drifts between art and life, past and present, dreams and everyday truths.
Discovering
You’ve lived abroad, worked in Italy in fashion, television, and theatre. Which version of Antigone did you meet upon returning to Greece?
I didn’t meet the Antigone I left behind, but the one who evolved in Italy. Whatever I carried in my suitcase from Italy, I brought back here and continued my path and evolution. Italy is a huge chapter in my life. Sometimes I feel like I’ve lived two lives.
Was there a place that changed the way you think?
We usually assume it’s the positive experiences that change us. That’s not always true. Something negative can transform you deeply if you manage to turn it into something positive. A milestone for me was Istanbul. I adored it , I had been visiting since 2005 and lived there from 2015 to 2017 for work. Things started well . I acted in an award-winning film but the social and political climate was in turmoil, and that made me reassess my life and career. I still love the city, but it marked me forever. As an actress and as a woman, what has taught you the most? Loss, separation, grief, goodbyes. All these leave their mark and push you to change. You can’t move forward without transformation.
What’s your most vivid travel memory, not as an image, but as a feeling?
''WHEN WE ARE YOUNG, WE BELIEVE THAT LOVE COMPLETES US''
In 2017, I traveled to Sweden to film a movie. I didn’t know the director, the cast , nothing. It was a “risky” trip, a fourhour film that was never released. I think I took part in an experiment. That’s when I realized how fearless I was chasing the endless creation of the artist who defies commercialism. I understood after becoming a mother. What has motherhood revealed to you? Do you see the world through your child’s eyes?
I’m not sure you see the world through your child’s eyes. A child gives you a second chance at life. It allows you to return to innocence, to become softer, more forgiving, more sensitive. That’s the real change within.
If you could gift your son a first journey of initiation, where would it be?
Definitely Italy. I’ve lived it. I know it. I love it. What Greek image, sound, or taste did you miss most while abroad?
Discovering
At first, nothing , I was in a rebellious phase. I wanted to escape Greece. But when I hit my lows, I missed the sea. Both my childhood home and my current one are near the water. Driving to Sounio always calmed me. Where I lived, there was water, but it wasn’t the same. Only in Milan, looking at the lake Lago Maggiore, did I feel at peace.
Five words that describe you?
Intense, determined, unapologetic, spontaneous, and optimistic.
You’re someone who doesn’t hide her emotions. Has that authenticity cost you?
Even though motherhood has taught me to change my mind, there was a time when whatever I said was law. Now I admit when I’m wrong, but it always costs me , because I don’t negotiate my truth. I want to sleep well at night, surrounded by a small circle of people who truly love me, and whom I truly love back. No compromises.
What do you dislike the most?
Lies.
What does trust mean to you?
When you let someone into your life and open up, you show your most vulnerable self , you become exposed. If they betray that trust, it wounds you deeply.
How much does love complete us?
It depends on our age. When we’re young, we believe love completes us , we search for our “other half.” As we grow, once we feel whole, love elevates us, fills us with joy.
A sure way to make someone you laugh?
With humor. I’m not naturally funny, but I love when my partner teases me, and can laugh at himself. Where do you see yourself in five years?
My dream is to live on a farm surrounded by animals, to enjoy the freedom of nature, and to let my child grow up free. When you travel...
...I’m very open and receptive, I just go with the flow... Your favorite quote?
La vita è bella (Life is beautiful) and Non molliamo mai (We never give up). •
ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΎΠΟΛΗ
ALEXANDROUPOLI Where Greece begins
Discover the city that connects East and West, captivating those who explore the distinctive landscapes of Evros.
BY ALEXANDRA TSOLKA
Discovering
“For us, growing up in remote Evros wasn’t anything unusual. For many, it was the end of Greece, but for us, it was the beginning,” says novelist Yiannis Xanthoulis, who was born and raised in Alexandroupoli. In this “young” city, founded only in 1875, life unfolds around its large, lively port, wild from the sea and yet inviting, “the gateway to the world, where ships don’t depart but return,” as local writers like to say. Along the seaside promenade, with its salt-sprayed courtyards “where children grow up with their eyes fixed on the wind,” the sea is everywhere, mesmerizing, untamed, dazzling in its beauty. And then come those sunsets, painted each evening in unique shades of red, orange, and violet before darkness swallows them whole.
At first glance, you’ll find everything that appears in a typical city guide. The Lighthouse of Alexandroupoli, built in 1880 when the area was still a small fishing village on the Thracian coast under Ottoman rule and known as Dedeağaç, meaning “the dervish’s tree.” Legend has it that the name came from a holy dervish who lived beneath a great tree where the settlement later grew. Today, the 18-meter-high lighthouse stands tall and proud, an emblem of this multicultural city.
Then there’s the Ethnological Museum of Thrace, a meeting point of history and time itself, showcasing traditional costumes, tools, and handmade crafts that tell the story of a culture stretching back to the 2nd millennium BC. The ancient Thracians, fierce in battle and deeply spiritual, inhabited what geographer Strabo
The port of Alexandroupoli, the gateway between East and West
CITY WAS NAMED IN HONOR OF KING ALEXANDER Α' OF GREECE
described at the turn of the 1st century BC as “a rugged and warlike land, yet fertile and rich in rivers.” Alexandroupoli bears traces of all those who passed through and called this land home: Greeks, Romans, Slavs, Ottomans, Russians, Armenians, Jews. Its architecture, music, language, cuisine, and traditions intertwine and coexist, creating a city unlike any other in Europe, where time, seasons, ancient history, Byzantine heritage, Ottoman relics, and modern Greek identity merge into one. You’ll soon notice the city’s bike-friendly spirit. A stroll through the bustling center, the heart of the Evros region, reveals streets always full of life. In the old market district, around Konstantinoupoleos, Dikastirion, and Tzavella streets and their narrow side alleys, everything seems to carry a distinct color, style, and energy, even the air, heavy with sea salt and something else, the stories of those who once walked, bargained, laughed, and lived here. Low-rise neoclassical and traditional buildings painted in ochres, terracottas, and earthy tones, wooden shutters and hand-painted signs for book cafés, ouzeris, and tiny taverns serving local dishes. Residents stop for a tsipouro or a Greek coffee, while time itself seems to slow, or perhaps, in Alexandroupoli, moments simply last longer.
The
profile makes it hard to recall its former image, back when it was still called Dedeagatch. Almost all of its old mansions, including the house of Ion Dragoumis, have been demolished
Discovering
There are old shops selling household goods, ironmongers, secondhand stores that feel like time capsules, spice shops with shelves filled with herbs from the Rhodope mountains, local pulses, teas, and Thracian specialties. Traditional groceries stock local cheeses, honey, wines, ouzo, and handmade charcuterie. There’s an easy openness everywhere, lively streets, packed cafés and bars. In winter, the nightlife moves toward Dimokratias Avenue and its side streets, while in summer it shifts down to Κing Alexandros Avenue, along the waterfront, which becomes pedestrian-only from afternoon to midnight.
Alexandroupoli was not named after Alexander the Great. The city was named in honor of King Alexander I of Greece, son of Constantine I, who visited shortly after the town was officially incorporated into Greece on May 14, 1920. His untimely death soon after, from a monkey bite, lent an even more symbolic weight to his name.
The connection between the locals and their land, their warmth and generosity, extends to nearby untouched landscapes, the Evros Delta, the Chapel of Agioi Theodoroi carved into rock and adorned with Byzantine frescoes, and the thermal baths of Traianoupoli, still little-known.
Autumn and spring suit the city well, winters can be harsh, yet even at -5°C, Alexandroupoli’s youthfulness, extroversion, and energy never fade. The city continues to tell its story, and that of its people. For those who fall under its spell, Yiannis Xanthoulis’s words ring true: here, nothing ever ends, everything is only just beginning.
The Lighthouse of Alexandroupoli is the city’s emblem, guiding seafarers for more than 140 years
ΑΡΓΥΡΏ
ΜΠΑΡΜΠΑΡΊΓΟΥ
ARGYRO BARBARIGOU
Ambassador of the European Region of Gastronomy of the Southern Aegean, one of Greece's most recognizable and successful chefs, transforms every recipe into an experience full of flavor and emotion.
If you ask her what her profession is, she’ll answer without hesitation: “Just a cook.” Yet behind that simplicity lies an entire Greece, filled with aromas, sea breeze, olive oil, yogurt, and chickpea stews slowly baking in wood-fired ovens, prepared with care and love. From Paros, where she grew up surrounded by the flavors of island life, to London and the stage of “MasterChef UK”, Argyro Barbarigou has never stopped cooking the way she learned: with soul.
Her name has become synonymous with Greek cuisine, not only in Greece but abroad as well. As an ambassador of Greek gastronomy, mentor and judge on “MasterChef UK”, creator of recipes that travel across borders, and author of cookbooks translated into English, Argyro Barbarigou has achieved something rare: she has managed to keep the traditions of her homeland alive while bringing them into the modern world.
And yet, despite her international acclaim and the spotlight, she remains the same woman, the one who wakes up thinking about argiro.gr and falls asleep dreaming of her next dish. Watching her cook, you instantly realize that for her, the kitchen is a way of life, an act of love, a celebration. “Greek cuisine is wise,” she says. And through her hands, that wisdom becomes flavors that speak directly to the heart.
| ''FOR GREEKS, FOOD IS EMOTION, SHARING AND COMMUNICATION''
Which smell takes you back to your childhood in Paros?
The aroma of revithada, chickpeas baked in a wood-fired oven, on a Sunday morning in Naoussa, Paros. That scent defines my childhood: family, laughter, voices, a table set with love, and a simplicity I deeply miss today.
Which dish did your mother or grandmother cook that you’ll never forget?
Giouvetsi, gemista, pastitsio… These three carry the touch of my mother and grandmother.
Do you remember the first time you felt that the kitchen was “your place”?
For as long as I can remember, the kitchen was my favorite corner of the house. It was warm, full of aromas and little treats, a stage unfolding before my eyes. Even as a child, I knew that was where the magic of my life resided.
You’ve traveled all over Greece and Europe. Which place has surprised you most gastronomically?
Without a doubt, Crete. Its cuisine is inexhaustible! What moves me most is how Cretans preserve their customs alongside their recipes, that combination is unbeatable. In Europe, I’ve had unforgettable culinary experiences in rural Italy and Spain, where food carries both history and passion. What do you love about Greece?
For me, Greece is a constant awakening of the senses. Wherever
I go, I experience each place through its people, its flavors, its customs, and the beauty of its landscape. I can stand by the sea or smell the wet earth in the mountains and feel instantly renewed. It’s the simplicity of nature and people that moves me every time.
Is there a place you return to again and again because it inspires and calms you?
Of course Paros, my island. Τhat’s how I recharge my batteries. What’s something that never goes missing from your fridge? Υogurt and Parian xinomizithra! I always have them. Xinomizithra is the purest, most authentic taste of my island. If you had only one afternoon to show a foreign visitor what “Greece through food” means, where would you take them?
Without question to a family table. For us Greeks, food is not just about taste; it’s emotion, sharing, communication. Every time I do that, I see in my guests’ eyes that it’s not just a meal. The Greek table is a life experience. The whole ritual, setting the table, serving, sharing, laughing, is the ultimate expression of Greek hospitality. What’s your ultimate comfort food , the dish that soothes you on difficult days?
It may sound simple, but for me, Aegean fava and slow-baked revithada are the ultimate comfort foods. These flavors strike the “Parian chords” of my soul, warm, humble, filled with love and memories.
If food were an emotion, what would it be?
Warmth and love. That’s what I want people to feel when they taste my food, a sense of comfort and safety, as if something familiar and genuine is embracing them. Which ingredient do you consider the signature of Greek cuisine?
Having cooked in many countries, I’ve realized how much it matters where you are and what ingredients you use. Greek cuisine has strength because it’s based on exceptional raw materials: vegetables, seafood, wild greens, herbs. But if I had to choose one ingredient as its “signature,” it would be extra virgin Greek olive oil. Without it, nothing tastes the same. Is there a recipe you’ll never write down because you want to keep it secret?
Yes, of course! There are recipes I make exclusively at my restaurant Papadakis in the center of Athens. They’re mine, with demanding steps and personal touches, so I keep them just for my guests.
Who inspired you to see cooking differently?
From my mother, Kostantza, to all the women in my family. It wasn’t just how they cooked, but the emotion they infused into their food, the love, the presence. They shaped me, perhaps
With the contestants of ''MasterChef'' England.
without realizing it, and defined my path. What would you call your “recipe for life”?
Looking back, my true “recipe for life” began 30 years ago, when I opened my first restaurant in Paros. That’s where I left my mark on dishes that, even today, remain beloved and timeless. That’s the greatest reward.
Which recipe on argiro.gr has gathered the most likes and how does that make you feel?
The traditional Greek recipes, the ones we grew up with, are always the most loved. Every time I see such enthusiasm, I feel immense joy and gratitude.
But also a deep sense of responsibility. I want to give clear, reliable instructions and make sure that anyone who cooks with me will succeed.
What does a show like “MasterChef” really mean for young chefs? How close is the TV kitchen to real-life gastronomy?
A show like “MasterChef” gives young chefs the opportunity to shine and showcase both their talent and personality. It makes them recognizable and helps them stand out more quickly. However, the TV kitchen is far from reality, it focuses on spectacle and competition, while real gastronomy demands daily hard work, discipline, focus, and teamwork. No one ever achieved anything alone in a professional kitchen, no matter how talented they were. What’s the best souvenir you’ve brought home from a trip?
A hand-forged copper baking pan for pies from Macedonia. I fell in love with it at first sight! The woman who owned it, it was a family heirloom, gave it to me without hesitation. That gift carries history, generosity, and soul, just like Greek hospitality. •
''WARMTH AND LOVE. THAT'S WHAT I WANT ANYONE WHO TASTES MY FOOD TO FEEL''
THE ART OF AUTUMN
Europe’s cultural highlights
Whether you’re looking for experimental performances, jazz sounds, wine marathons or barrel-opening celebrations, there’s a festival waiting for you.
BY EMMANOUELA MATHIOUDAKI
When a festival manages to create hype, spark conversations and draw crowds, you know something special is happening. From art and craftsmanship to gastronomy and local traditions, autumn is the perfect season to explore Europe’s rich cultural landscape.
Βερολίνο / Berlin
For centuries, autonomy was a privilege reserved for humans. Today, however, we are entering a new era in which objects and digital systems seem to acquire a kind of life of their own. Machines and robots learn, find their voices, make decisions and adapt.
From October 31 to November 5, Berlin’s Theater der Dinge places this fascinating question at its center: where do we, as humans, stand in a world where objects appear to have their own will? Eighteen performances, installations, workshops and experimental projects invite you to discover a world where puppets, robots and objects challenge our understanding of what it means to be alive and autonomous today.
/ Lisbon
Imagine strolling through Lisbon’s cobblestone streets on a quiet November evening. In a shop window, a video projection shows a dancer floating weightlessly in the air. It’s not an advertisement, it’s art. Welcome to the world of InShadow, the Lisbon ScreenDance Festival.
From November 11 to December 19, the human body comes alive on screen, transformed through performances, rediscovered in exhibitions and installations. Attend the international screendance competition, along with documentaries, animation films, masterclasses and live shows.
If you’re traveling with children, don’t miss LittleShadow, a magical world filled with creative workshops and screenings designed for young explorers. Whether you’re a professional in the field or simply an art-loving traveler, there’s something here to spark your imagination. Λισαβόνα
Η
στους
Beaujolais Nouveau ξεκινά
Beaujolais,
/ Lyon
The tradition of Beaujolais Nouveau began in the vineyards of southern Beaujolais, where local farmers once made a red wine to celebrate the end of the harvest, which was never meant to age; it was created for immediate enjoyment.
δεκαετία
του 1970, χάρη στην έξυπνη καμπάνια του Georges
Duboeuf και το περίφημο «Le Beaujolais Nouveau est arrivé!» («Το Beaujolais Nouveau έφτασε!»), η
In 1951, the French government made the practice official, and by the 1970s, thanks to Georges Duboeuf’s brilliant campaign and the now-famous slogan “Le Beaujolais Nouveau est arrivé!” (“The Beaujolais Nouveau has arrived!”), the custom had become a worldwide celebration. Every third Thursday of November, as the clock strikes midnight, the first bottles are opened, marking the start of a global festivity.
From November 19 to 23, Beaujeu, the capital of the Beaujolais region, turns into a vibrant carnival. If you’re staying in Lyon, it’s just an hour’s drive to join the festive atmosphere filled with lights, traditional music, local delicacies and fresh Beaujolais Nouveau. Don’t miss the Sarmentelles Festival, a five-day celebration culminating in the lantern parade and the midnight barrel opening. Visitors can also tour wineries, walk through the vineyards and meet the welcoming local producers. If you enjoy running, the Beaujolais International Marathon on November 22 offers a unique experience: running through rolling green hills, charming villages and even wine stations along the way.
At the same time, Lyon also hosts the Silk in Lyon Festival, from November 20 to 23. Live demonstrations, exhibitions and workshops turning the city into a global hub of silk artistry.
Discovering
/ London
From November 14 to 23, London’s neighborhoods, from the Southbank Centre to the Barbican, come alive with the sounds of jazz as the EFG London Jazz Festival transforms the city into one vast musical stage.
For ten days, audiences can enjoy Grammy-winning artists, cutting-edge ensembles and rising stars shaping the future of contemporary jazz. Along the Thames, the Royal Festival Hall hosts orchestral tributes and experimental projects, while across the city, in pubs, basement bars and intimate venues, you’ll hear everything from afro-jazz rhythms to electronic fusion and rare collaborations.
Live radio broadcasts, interactive events, family activities and last-minute surprises create an atmosphere of anticipation and discovery. Since its founding in 1992, the festival has attracted over 100,000 visitors annually, featuring nearly 300 concerts across the British capital.
Don’t miss this cultural adventure that lets you experience the city through the sounds that define it. So, which festival shall we meet at?
We welcome our 15 th Airbus!
Another brand-new Airbus A320neo now joining Greece's youngest fleet. 29 aircraft. New technology, unmatched comfort, commitment to a sustainable future.
Από
From the mysterious London of Charles Dickens to the romantic Montmartre of “Amélie”, we travel to cities that come alive through the big screen.
ΑΠΌ ΤΌΝ
ΑΚΗ | BY GEORGE
VAILAKIS
Some cities, like London, Paris, Istanbul, Vienna, Berlin, and Athens , are not merely travel destinations: they are the settings of stories, and at the same time, protagonists in their own right. Of course, these legendary cities , through art , have been imprinted so vividly on our collective memory that we feel as if we have once lived there.
ONCE UPON
A CITY
Discovering ICONS
1.
Sherlock Holmes | From the 1910s to today, more than 200 films about Sherlock Holmes have been made
2. Ό Daniel Craig ως James Bond στην ταινία «Spectre» | Daniel Craig as James Bond in the movie "Spectre"
3. Στο «Café des Deux Moulins» εργαζόταν η «Amélie» | At the "Café des Deux Moulins", "Amélie" used to work
4. «Ό κατάσκοπος
1965,
Checkpoint Charlie | "The Spy who Came in from the Cold", 1965, and the famous Checkpoint Charlie
London
London, in literature, is dark and mysterious, as seen in the pages of Charles Dickens, with the light of the gas lamp and the fog halfhiding the bridges of the Thames. At 221B Baker Street, you might catch a glimpse of Sherlock Holmes peering out from his window. A stroll to Westminster Bridge will remind you of the thrilling action in ''Skyfall'', with Big Ben looming in the background. For a more romantic mood, wander through Portobello in Notting Hill, where Hugh Grant met Julia Roberts in the eponymous film.
Paris
In Montmartre, you can feel the whimsy of ''Amélie'', amid colorful shop windows and quaint cafés. Along the Seine, you can almost imagine traveling back in time, à la Woody Allen’s ''Midnight in Paris'', encountering Ernest Hemingway and Pablo Picasso. A visit to the Eiffel Tower is, of course, indispensable, especially at twilight, when Paris looks just like the Impressionist paintings.
Istanbul
It has served as the backdrop for spy thrillers such as ''Topkapi'', set in the famous palace with its dazzling rooms and treasures,
or ''From Russia with Love'', with Sean Connery wandering the gardens around Hagia Sophia, awaiting a secret exchange of intelligence. In Orhan Pamuk’s literature, the city becomes a portrait of nostalgia and Eastern allure, inviting you to sit at a seaside café in Üsküdar with a view of the Maiden’s Tower on the Bosphorus, a favorite of the Turkish novelist.
Vienna
If you’ve seen ''Before Sunrise'', you’ll want to sit at ''Café Sperl'' or take a ride on the Riesenrad, the giant Ferris wheel at Prater, where Jesse and Celine talk about love and fall in love. In the bell tower of St. Stephen’s Cathedral and the narrow streets of the old city, you can hear Mozart’s music, while also experiencing the tension of ''The Third Man'', especially in the final scene along the city’s canals beneath Karlsplatz, revealing the city’s raw poetic essence.
Berlin
Might be Europe’s most cinematic capital, with its books and spy films, from ''The Spy Who Came in from the Cold'' to ''Bridge of Spies''. Standing at Checkpoint Charlie, you can envision the action from these classic films. In ''Good Bye, Lenin!'', the TV Tower (Fernsehturm Berlin) and Alexanderplatz capture the city’s transition from before to after the fall of the Wall, while today Berlin has rightfully become a symbol of youthful energy, art, and experimentation.
Athens
Everybody knows the classic scene from ''Never on Sunday'', where Melina Mercouri sings “Ta Paidia tou Peiraia” at Mikrolimano, among fishermen and sailors, with boats and the sparkling sea as a backdrop. In Petros Markaris’ crime novels, contemporary Athens is presented with humor and humanity, full of contradictions.
A Greek author in Paris DIMITRIS SOTAKIS
At just 24, he published his first book, and ever since, Dimitris Sotakis has been creating worlds strange, tender, and full of truth. Twelve books later, he has released his latest novel, «The Bitter Truth». Born in Athens and educated in music in both Greece and the England, the awarded author now divides his life between teaching Chinese and crafting words that travel as far as he does.
BY CHARITOMENI VONTA
You’ve just returned from France with a major French literary prize, the Prix Méditerranée…
Yes, the award was for my novel "Half heart", recently translated and published in France under the title "Demi-cœur". I first went to Paris to present the book and meet my French readers, and then straight to Perpignan for the award ceremony. I won’t pretend otherwise: I always feel joy and emotion when my work is recognized.
What does travel mean to you?
Transformation. Travel is a precious opportunity to see my reflection in a different mirror. A place changes you, moves you into a new sphere, both mentally and physically. When I travel, I don’t feel the need to prove anything; I forget my life in Athens, where I live, and allow the new surroundings to have their effect on me.
What’s in your suitcase?
Books, lots of socks, wafers, and potato chips!
Your favorite destination?
Definitely Istanbul. It’s a magical city, where a small miracle always unfolds before your eyes. A thousand cities in one! Madrid is also a city where I feel at ease; its rhythm suits me. And I always feel joy when I’m in Thessaloniki.
Which of your books do you love the most?
Usually the most recent one, perhaps because it’s closest to who I am now. Yet, over the years, I have favorites , books that are, more or less, extensions of myself: "The big servant", "The miracle of breathing", and the latest, "The bitter truth". What would you be if you weren’t a writer?
I would like to be in the diplomatic corps. The life of an ambassador, a diplomat, has always seemed attractive to me. For some vague reason, which I suspect again relates to constant movement from place to place, this life appeals to me.
What do you seek in travel?
Almost the same as I seek through literature: an escape from everyday reality. When I travel, I love observing, sitting in a café in a distant city, and peeking at people’s lives through the “keyhole.” How they speak to each other, what they do after work, how they treat one another. I’m not interested in judging or comparing; I consider that pointless. What inspires you ?
After so many years and books, I’m still not entirely sure. I don’t believe so much in inspiration as in a strong desire to leave
my mark, to describe the world through my eyes. Though my stories contain elements of absurdity and paradox, with strange, almost surreal characters striving to discover happiness, the starting point is the contemporary human being, essentially all of us trying to find our place in the world.
The ideal traveler?
A traveler who doesn’t feel the need to compare. Every corner of this world is unique. And no matter how much a place may remind you of somewhere you’ve been before, every location has its own energy, and it’s pointless to evaluate it by comparing it to another.
What does it mean to be one of the most widely translated contemporary Greek authors ?
Meeting readers across the world, in every latitude and longitude. Literature is a solitary process. I work in a dark room, writing alone, and suddenly someone in a distant country says: “You know, I really loved this or that part of your book.” They have their own vision and interpretation of a story I invented.
The most “literary” city in the world for you?
All cities could act as catalysts for writing a story. Every city hides treasures, undiscovered places that awaken something inside me. When I was in Warsaw two years ago, walking through the city center, I came up with many ideas for future
''THE IDEAL TRAVELER IS ONE THAT FEELS NO NEED TO COMPARE''
books. The same happened in Lisbon; it was highly beneficial to my work.
A word you’ll never tire of writing?
Reality.
The biggest lie you’ve ever told?
That I would never write again. The greatest waste of time?
Days that pass without dreaming of anything.
The «Bitter Truth» is your 13th book. Are you superstitious? No, but some of my heroes definitely are, since they are always immersed in obsessions
What makes a book a bestseller?
No one knows! This question will forever remain unanswered. Readers are unpredictable, books that are considered commercial, have no luck and vice versa. The most important thing is to write good books. They will find their way eventually. Do you have a writing routine? And if so, what is it?
I don’t see writing as a forced task. Generally, I prefer to write after midnight until morning. But until what I write is finished, I think about it constantly.
Are there ingredients that make a good writer?
There certainly are, but they are somewhat vague. From my perspective, a good writer remains true to himself, is honest and has a vision, wants to tell something beyond a story.
1.
2.
of Dimitris Sotakis' favorite cities
Ingmar Bergman | The Swedish Fore is the island where Ingmar Bergman lived 3.
| Signing books for his readers
Sotakis
SYROS Art travels to Ermoupolis
Animasyros: the event that every autumn is undoubtedly a celebration of creativity for the island of Syros
BY NATASA MASTORAKOU
Discovering
tSome places are ideal for holidays all year round. While the other islands wind down their pace, Syros welcomes film and animation enthusiasts to Europe’s largest festival of its kind, Animasyros. Syros is a unique island. The neoclassical character of Ermoupolis, its twin hills and strong Venetian influence make it stand out. Its sublime nobility and cultural aura are hard to find elsewhere. Public buildings and 19th-century houses, masterpieces of European architects, give Ermoupolis the air of another era and justify its title as the most cosmopolitan capital of the Cyclades. Syros is not just a destination, but a place that embraces you at its own pace –an experience you feel from the very first moments on the island. And if your visit coincides with the Animasyros International Animation Festival, with SKY express as its official carrier, then your trip acquires a cultural dimension as well.
Everything revolves around the Apollo Theater, one of the island’s jewels. Just a short distance away lie historic mansions, the imposing Town Hall with its marble staircase designed by Ernst Ziller in Miaouli Square – a trademark of the island – and the coastal promenade lined with restaurants that fill with people on weekends.
This is where every walk on the island begins and ends. With a coffee or a gelato from “Daidadi Gelato” in hand, you can get lost in streets named after islands, surrounded by blooming flowers and the aromas of traditional delights and almond pies. Among the city’s cultural highlights, it is worth visiting the Gallery of the Cyclades, housed in one of the port’s original warehouses and hosting temporary exhibitions, as well as a small theater. Don’t miss the Archaeological Museum of Syros (within the Town Hall
building), one of the oldest museums in Greece, and the Industrial Museum of Ermoupolis.
A trip to Syros, however, should definitely include a visit to Ano Syros, with a stop at the Markos Vamvakaris Museum in Agios Georgios, and a drink or dessert at “Braziliana”, gazing at the endless blue of the Aegean.
And at the center of it all Animasyros
Between strolls and meals in Ermoupolis, you will find yourself returning again and again to the Apollo Theater, the “home” of the festival.
Browse through the program and note the films that catch your eye.
And if you can’t decide which one to watch, let spontaneity guide you and step into the next screening. You might discover a hidden gem.
At this year’s Animasyros, the film “Hurikán” by Jan Saska, a coproduction between the Czech Republic, France, Slovakia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, was awarded the Grand Prize in the International Competition Section, the festival’s flagship category.
“Like a hurricane, this impetuous force penetrated our senses and stimulated our imagination!” commented jury member Bill Plympton.
Τhe Kids Competition Section, colorful and bright animations whose themes, though brief, are demanding and deeply instructive for young audiences. This year, the film "Grandpa has a broken eye and Mom is an adventure" created a huge sensation, winning the category’s award. As the filmmaker explained, she drew inspiration from her own family, illustrating how grandchildren perceive their
| SYROS HAS BOTH ORTHODOX AND CATHOLIC CHURCHES
Group General Manager at Aviareps Hellas SA (SKY
grandfather’s health condition after a stroke. Childhood innocence tenderly transforms something so tragic into a story that ultimately brings smiles.
The tour of Kois Mansion is among the festival’s special activities. Each year, Stavros Kois opens the doors of his home, offering visitors the chance to admire the rare masonry typical of many island buildings – with three stories on the front side and two on the back. And just before the spotlights fade, the closing ceremony arrives.
The Mayor of Syros-Ermoupolis, Alexis Athanasiou, and the Group General Manager at Aviareps Hellas SA (SKY express), Vasiliki Christidi, honored this year’s edition with their presence. Ms. Christidi, on behalf of SKY express – the official aviation sponsor of Animasyros , remarked:
“Every year we give wings to creators so they can make their dreams come true. We wish the festival to grow into a wonderful adult, as it has already been a remarkable teenager. We will never stop encouraging creativity and freedom of expression.”
After seven days, 280 films from 50 countries, seven competition sections and the presence of international guests from around the world, it’s no surprise that Animasyros is rightly considered a global celebration of animation. •
Vassilis Karamitsanis
Eighteen years on, Animasyros continues to inspire as it prepares for the next chapter in its creative journey.
After eighteen years, which moment of the festival stands out for you?
If I had to single out one, it would probably be from the early years of the festival, when we organized workshops with the Center for Creative Employment of People with Disabilities (KDAP) of Syros-Ermoupolis.
I believe the most significant feature of the festival is its role as a place of acceptance and recognition, open to everyone.
How would you assess the participation of the local community in the festival’s activities?
We integrate all classes and groups of Syros society into the festival as fully as possible – even going beyond the norm if needed. We reach out to people with disabilities as well as to the elderly. We’ve worked within the local community, participating every year in the Syros Carnival “Georgios Souris,” holding workshops throughout the year, and organizing various activities. This year, to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Ermoupolis’ naming, volunteers helped create a park and offered it for public use.
What can we expect from the years to come?
We hope the festival will have an even greater impact on the local community and different social groups, bringing together the most vibrant spirits of animation worldwide and connecting them with the dynamic Greek animation scene and its people. After 18 years of joint effort with Maria Anestopoulou, co-founder and artistic director of Animasyros, we are also beginning to prepare for passing the baton to the next generation.
STORIES MADE IN ATHENS
Eight Greek creators share a perfect Athens stroll, acting as our tour guides in their own city.
SANDY TSANTAKI
Athens is a city you want to walk through. The moment you land at Athens International Airport ''Eleftherios Venizelos'', you feel the urge to explore it beyond the travel guides, to lose yourself in its past and present. The Greek protagonists of aesthetics, who have been creatively persistent for years, share snapshots of their own Athens. So we can follow in their footsteps, see shop windows differently, clothes, accessories, their sources of inspiration. We asked them to describe, in just a few words, a city that is misunderstood yet vibrant, photogenic, historic, and unique by day or night, in autumn or winter, in summer or spring. My Athens? A bold city with a distinct voice that tells its story with emotion made in Athens.
Ορσαλία
Orsalia Parthenis
IS A CITY OF SIMPLICITY, LIGHT, AND PRESENCE, JUST LIKE MY CLOTHES”
“I start my day with a walk with Otto, my dog, along the paths of Philopappou Hill, taking in the view of the Observatory and a city that wakes up slowly. Then I head down to Kolonaki, grab a coffee to go from Samba The Third Man and I head towards Dimokritou 20, to the Parthenis store. There, the light fills the space with the calm and clarity that always inspire me.
Before heading back, I take a stroll to Nikis 17, where the story of the house began, a place full of memories. A little further down, between Nikis and Voulis, Apollonos Street has some of the loveliest spots for food, in corners that still hold something of old, effortless Athens.
In the afternoon, I devote my time to yoga at Horos, a place where silence finds its rhythm. The evening finds me at Neoma Hotel, watching the sunset cast its light over the Acropolis. For me, Athens is a city of simplicity, light, and presence, just like my clothes”.
“YOU ONLY TRULY GET TO KNOW A CITY BY WALKING THROUGH IT”
Ζούλιας
Vassilis Zoulias
As simple as that».
“My perfect day in Athens starts with a walk with my dog, leaving from my home in Exarcheia. At Pedion tou Areos, I take ten minutes to meditate, surrounded by a serene landscape and a small stream.
Continuing on foot, I reach Mavrommateon Str perhaps the most beautiful street in Athens, lined entirely with lovingly preserved buildings from the 1920s to the 1950s. The walk goes on to the Archaeological Museum, and then I head up Panepistimiou Street toward Syntagma, admiring, perhaps for the thousandth time, a row of grand neoclassical buildings designed by visionary architects of the 1860s who once dreamed of creating a magnificent European capital.
Arriving at Syntagma, I make a stop halfway down Ermou Street at the legendary “Alexandrakis” store. I always step inside and buy something, anything, just to experience the atmosphere of this historic shop. After all, you only truly get to know a city by walking through it.
From there, I continue down Ermou, pass through Monastiraki, and make my way to Ano Petralona for lunch at Oikonomou. This is a perfectly preserved, old-fashioned taverna serving classic Greek recipes since 1930.
The day ends as beautifully as possible, with a stroll along Dionysiou Areopagitou S tr, watching the sunset from Filopappou Hill on one side and the Acropolis glowing on the other. And I think to myself: I really do live in the most beautiful city in the world. As simple as that.»
Δημήτρης Ντάσιος
Dimitris Dassios
costumes. Around 13:00 p.m. I have a brunch date at the bustling Me on Kapsali Street, the meeting point of all the ‘it boys and girls". After brunch, a quick coffee and off I go for some shopping. We head down Kanari Street, I stop by to say hello and give a kiss to my dear friend Irini at the wonderful i-D Fine Jewellery, then continue down Kriezotou Street to beg for some money from Stelios, who carefully looks after my shop. With full pockets, I pass through Syntagma Square to feed the pigeons and then stop by ATTICA and visit my friends, the Callista girls. We wander around Ermou and decide to take a stroll through Plaka, ending up nibbling on small dishes at the tavernas in Anafiotika.
I head home to get ready because at 7:30 p.m. I have to be at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation. La Gioconda.
I sink into the armchair and lose myself in the music. I end up drunk with beauty, getting literally drunk over a late dinner at ''Athene''.
That would have been a wonderful day in my Athens, if I hadn’t preferred to stay alone in my atelier to work. It’s Saturday, and a day off for everyone else.”
“The scents of Athens make it one of the most beloved capitals in the world. Especially in the center, where I live, I walk past the gardens of neoclassical houses and catch the smell of honeysuckle, even though it’s October.
I take a quick step from home to the Benaki Museum to see the new exhibition, along with the wonderful publication on traditional
| “THE SCENTS OF ATHENS MAKE IT ONE OF THE MOST BELOVED CAPITALS IN THE WORLD”
Γαβαλάς Lakis Gavalas
| “MY FAVORITE NEIGHBORHOODS IN ATHENS ARE PSYRRI AND KERAMEIKOS”
“In Athens, one cannot miss Kolonaki, an area of elegance and style, while Kifisia and Glyfada are equally fashion-conscious.
If I had to guide a foreign visitor through the city to feel the pulse of Athens, I would start with the historic monuments: the Acropolis, the impressive theaters, and Lycabettus Hill. In Plaka, the picturesque stairways tell stories of Greek entertainment, where people used to sing with guitars, and that atmosphere still exists today.
At night, Athens offers exquisite culinary options and lively entertainment. Piraeus is renowned for restaurants serving fresh fish and traditional tavernas with meze.
In Vouliagmeni, around Astir Marina, there is a modern shopping area, while two restaurants stand out: Ithaki and Beef Bar inside the Astir Palace Hotel Athens. In Piraeus, Notara Street and the surrounding areas offer authentic cuisine and a relaxed atmosphere, perfect for walking and exploring.
In Kifisia, you can find the Goulandris Museum, while in Petralona one can enjoy traditional tavernas. One of my favorite dining spots is Yperokeanio in Piraiki, while for fashion and style, Athens offers Greek boutiques such as Parthenis and Zeus+Dione, jewelry from Lalaounis and Zolotas. For a romantic night out or a special entertainment experience, Zuka Athens is a glamorous spot.
Finally, my favorite neighborhoods in Athens are Psyri and Kerameikos, where the city’s authenticity coexists with history and the vibrant life of its people.”
Iωάννα Κουρμπέλα Ioanna Kourbela
“THE ACROPOLIS, MAJESTIC WITH SUCH A LIGHT ENERGY, SEEMS TO ‘FLOAT’ IN THE SKY”
“My ideal day in the center of Athens begins with a walk along Dionysiou Areopagitou, where the calm of nature is interrupted by the imposing presence of ancient monuments. My steps lead me to the entrance of the Odeon of Herodus Atticus, where I can still feel the music of the exceptional concerts I have attended echoing in my ears, and as I lift my gaze, I ‘meet’ the Acropolis, so majestic, yet with such a light energy that it seems to ‘float’ in the sky.
I turn right and lose myself in the narrow streets of Plaka, continuing my walk until Aerides, observing each time how I feel the same admiration for the beauty and the thought behind their creation. After this pause, I continue toward the Dioskouroi. There, the Ancient Agora ‘unfolds,’ and as I enjoy the view, I cannot help but think that this place, with its natural beauty and radiant Greek light, has remained a point of interaction between peoples and cultures, as well as a hub of commerce, a characteristic it has carried for thousands of years.”
Stelios Koudounaris
“My day begins at Lycabettus, where I live. I walk down toward Kolonaki. This route helps me connect with the city and organize my day mentally. A quick workout, and then to my studio and shop, where the hours fill with fabrics, designs, and appointments. I move everywhere on foot, Athens is a city worth experiencing this way, hearing and seeing it change with every block. If you find yourself here, start from Kolonaki for an excellent coffee or one of the new artisan bakeries, and discover the stores of Greek designers. Continue toward Exarchia, a lively neighborhood full of small shops, design corners, and fresh ideas. In the afternoon, a visit to an exhibition or the theater is worthwhile, as are the National Gallery and our museums. The city now boasts a vibrant cultural scene, along with excellent restaurants of both high and accessible gastronomy. Athens is not only sun and Parthenon. It is a creative experience that evolves every day.”
IS A CREATIVE EXPERIENCE THAT EVOLVES EVERY DAY”
Δάφνη
Daphne Valente
LOVE ATHENS BECAUSE IT KEEPS ME CREATIVE, RESTLESS, AND ALWAYS ALERT”
“I love Athens because it is my inexhaustible source of inspiration. As a fashion designer, I feel that every corner of the city has a story to whisper to me, a color to show me, a texture to reveal. The Ancient Greek statues inspired my pleated creations, and the Acropolis, proud under the light of the Athenian sky, has always been my point of reference. The city is full of contrasts, full of scents, full of warm, smiling people, full of street musicians, full of history, yet at the same time so modern!
In recent years, Athens has nothing to envy from other European capitals, and of course its greatest asset is its unique climate. I love Athens because it keeps me creative, restless, and always alert.
This is where I was born, this is where my ideas are born, and this is where I belong.”
Yiorgos Elefhteriades
“My perfect day is when I have free time. As a resident of Kerameikos, first of all, I grab a coffee at my favorite Alphaville, along with a handmade cake from Pastrylab on Konstantinopoleos Street, and then I stop by the creative GRAAMAARG studio, which is the highlight of Kerameikos.
I then head up towards Thissio to enjoy the 360-degree view of the city from the top of Filopappou Hill. Everything unfolds around me, the Acropolis and Lycabettus Hill on one side, Hymettus and the Panathenaic Stadium on the other, and Piraeus with the sea view. Here, the sense of freedom and the scale of Athens is truly breathtaking.
I exit from the Agios Dimitrios Loumbardiaris side and walk along the pedestrian street of Dionysiou Areopagitou. I pass the Odeon of Herodes Atticus and the Acropolis Museum, then Hadrian’s Gate and the Temple of Olympian Zeus, heading towards Syntagma, and go up Voukourestiou Street to my shop in Kolonaki, the area where most Greek fashion brands and high-end international brands are located. On the way back, I stop by the most alternative bookstore in the center, Hyper Hypo in Monastiraki, and for lunch at my favorite seafood tavern, Atlantikos. To end my day, since I’m not a fan of bars, the Greek Film Archive hosts excellent tributes and special screenings.”
| “THE SENSE OF FREEDOM, AND THE SCALE OF ATHENS, IS BREATHTAKING”
We'll always have Athens
PHOTOGRAPHER YANNIS BOURNIAS
FASHION EDITOR LAZAROS TZOVARAS MAKE UP & HAIR DIMITRIS SARANTOU @BEEHIVEARTISTS
Discover the latest services, innovative products, and exciting news of SKY express
With daily operations at 33 Greek airports and an expanding network of international routes, we aim to be the airline that accompanies you every step of the way, ensuring your travels are exactly as you envision them: easy, comfortable and enjoyable!
το Animasyros για 5η χρονιά /
We supported Animasyros for the fifth year
«Τρέξαμε»
στο Santorini Experience 2025 / We “ran” at Santorini Experience 2025
Η SKY express
Santorini
SKY express actively demonstrates its commitment to sports and their core values. For the second consecutive year, we proudly stood alongside the Santorini Experience 2025 as the official air transport sponsor of one of the most important sporting events of the year. This year, Santorini island welcomed more than 3,500 participants from 40 countries and thousands of visitors for a three-day celebration filled with energy, fair play, and emotion. With consistency and passion, we continue to support initiatives that promote sports, tourism, and community development, always staying true to our mission, bringing together people, places and values.
For the fifth consecutive year, SKY express elevated culture as the official partner and air transport sponsor of Animasyros, the largest animation festival in Greece and one of the most prominent in Europe. From 22nd to 28th of September, the island of Syros was transformed into a vibrant stage of creativity, welcoming artists, producers, and animation enthusiasts from around the world. Our ongoing collaboration with Animasyros reflects our steadfast commitment to supporting cultural initiatives that inspire, connect, and foster international exchange of ideas. For us, every flight is an opportunity to bring people together, and every partnership like this, a chance to bring cultures closer.
SKY express welcomed the airline’s 15th Airbus aircraft, the state of the art Airbus A320neo, directly from the Airbus factory in Toulouse, marking the 29th aircraft in the fleet. Its arrival marks another important milestone in the company’s growth trajectory and reaffirms its strategic commitment to consistent investment in cutting-edge technology and innovation. With the addition of the new Airbus A320neo, SKY express remains the only airline in Greece operating the youngest fleet, with an average age of just 3.8 years for its Airbus neo aircraft. Investing in a modern, efficient, and environmentally friendly fleet is an integral part of the company’s vision to continuously enhance the quality of its services, always placing the passenger experience at the forefront.
The new aircraft features comfortable leather seats, integrated USB ports, a 50% smaller noise footprint, and next-generation CFM LEAP-1A engines, which deliver 20% lower fuel consumption and 20% reduced CO2 emissions compared to the previous generation. Another step towards a greener and more comfortable future of flight.
Until we take flight again...
The Eye: A touch of Greece
Every journey leaves its traces, but some souvenirs seem to continue traveling with us long after we return home. If there is one symbol that appears frequently in Greek souvenirs, it is the eye. Small or striking, subtle or imposing, it seems to watch quietly over whoever wears it, protecting them from negative energy. Its classic blue draws the gaze, while its forms vary: glass beads, ceramics, precious stones, and even digital representations as emojis, reflecting its worldwide recognition.
Its roots go back to fourth-century BC Greece, when philosophers such as Democritus and Aristotle spoke of the energy surrounding it. The symbol resonates elsewhere too, in the Hamsa or Hand of Fatima in North Africa and the Middle East, a reminder that the need for protection is universal. A small "eye" on a piece of jewelry, an amulet, worry beads, or a keychain serves as a discreet reminder of safeguarding against the "evil" eye.
