Villages in the woods

A dream escape

Tourist settlements in select forested areas of Greece have been contributing to developing ecotourism, raising awareness on environmental issues, promoting ecology education and, of course, providing leisure activities. The rare natural beauty of Greece with endless areas of breathtaking landscape paired with the feeling of serenity and the benefits of fresh air are reasons good more than enough for you to take an alternative holiday in the heart of nature and be initiated into the joys of a mountain experience.

Let us introduce you to some of the villages that will accommodate you.

Η Κύπρος και η Περιπατητική Σχολή

Από τη Γιώτα Κωνσταντινίδου

Το 2004 ολοκληρώθηκε η κατασκευή του Ευρωπαϊκού Μονοπατιού Ε4 στην όμορφη Κύπρο. Το περιβόητο και πολλά υποσχόμενο Ε4 αρχίζει από το Γιβραλτάρ και διασχίζει την Ισπανία, Γαλλία, Ελβετία, Αυστρία, Γερμανία, Ουγγαρία, Ρουμανία, Βουλγαρία, Ηπειρωτική Ελλάδα, Πελοπόννησο, Κρήτη και τελματώνει στο νησί της Αφροδίτης. Η κατασκευή των μονοπατιών μελέτης της φύσης στην Κύπρο ξεκίνησε από το Τμήμα Δασών το 1981, με πολύτιμη οικονομική αρωγή του Κυπριωτικού Οργανισμού Τουρισμού.

Top Rafting destinations in Greece

Put on your rafting waistcoat and helmet, embark on your boat and off we go to explore the splendid water paths of Greek nature! A perfect activity for action and nature lovers alike, rafting is the ideal way to discover secluded spots of unparalleled beauty while sailing past deep gorges and evergreen mountain slopes. Fill your heart with awe and enjoy moments of intense adrenalin rush! Don’t give it a second thought, explore Greek rivers all year round and relish the beauty of Greek nature. To help you plan your next Greek rafting experience, the VisitGreece team has prepared for you this mini guide illustrating the most famous rivers as well as the most important hints for each one of them. 
Let’s start!

Escape to Nafpaktos and Galaxidi

Nafpaktos and Galaxidi are justly considered to be amongst the most scenic and romantic destinations of the Greek hinterland. To top off their natural beauty, there is their important history and the easy and quick access from Athens. In other words, they are an absolute favourite for an autumn escape that will remain etched in our mind.

Viva Grecia Viva Italia

Της Γιώτας Κωνσταντινίδου

Mια ιδιόμορφη διάλεκτος που επιβιώνει σθεναρά εδώ και αιώνες, μας ξυπνάει αγόγγυστα και επίμονα τη Μνήμη.

Σε περιοχές της Καλαβρίας και της Απουλίας, της Νότιας Ιταλίας έχουν καταλογραφηθεί 10-12 χιλιάδες φυσικοί ομιλητές μιας εύηχης και μουσικής διαλέκτου. Είναι η περιβόητη και αξιοπερίεργη γκρίκο, γκρεκάνικο, ή γκρεκάνικα.

 Ο σύγχρονος γλωσσολόγος, ερευνητής Αναστάσιος Καραναστάσης, ο οποίος με εντολή της Ακαδημίας Αθηνών μελετά επί χρόνια την γκρεκάνικη διάλεκτο, στηρίζει ακράδαντα τη πολυσυζητημένη θεωρία του Γ. Χατζιδάκι περί αδιάλλειπτης συνέχειας της γλώσσας από την εποχή της αρχαιότητας έως τις μέρες μας.

Biking in Athens

The capital of Greece, with the joys of the mountain and the pleasures of the sea equally available, can really thrill the bikers.
Mount the bicycle of your imagination and follow us on an enchanting trip around the beauties of Athens.
Kids of all ages, set the wheels in motion…
Take your family along and follow safe ways through parks and cycle lanes. Treat your spare time of nonchalance with fitness in the following suggested places:

• Park of Environmental Information and Sensitisation “Antonis Tritsis”.
• “Syggrou” grove in Kifissia
• The ex royal estate in Tatoy
• The Technical University’s park in Zografou
• Intermunicipal cycle track of the northern suburbs

Let history be your guide…

Il Golfo di Napoli….

By Giota Konstantinidou

Fondata dai greci nel V secolo a. C. con il nome Neapolis, la citta nuova, e una ’’belleza d’ Italia’’.

E una citta d’ arte con Castel Nuovo o Maschio Angioino (1282) e il Teatro San Carlo tra i monumenti  piu celebri. Millioni di turisti ogni  anno   restano incantanti da questa citta  e dai suoi  tesori d’arte.

The day of Virgin Mary

On August 15, The Greek Orthodox church celebrates the Assumption. But that is just the religious “excuse” for villages to be decorated, folklore festivals to be held, shows of traditional dances to be staged, and a festive atmosphere to be impatiently expected by Greeks and foreigners alike.


Famous celebrations

The top pilgrimage destination is Tinos, the Cycladic island with the church of Virgin Mary that has become its landmark: no wonder the day of the Assumption is the most important of the year there. Thousands of pilgrims have made a solemn promise to genuflect before the holly icon. Some of them go up the hill where the church is situated on their knees! The feeling of awe and commotion spreads around the town when the icon is carried about is procession.

Britta, German, talks about her Real Experience in Greece

Thank you Britta for sharing!



source: visitgreece.gr

The Emerald of the Aegean

Thassos
With its rich history and archaeological remains, wonderful beaches, variety of activities to do and friendly people, Thassos has become one of those islands holidaymakers return to year after year. It is also very popular with the Greeks because of the good food, the high-standarded services provided and the very intriguing mixture of the modern and the traditional.
The most northern island of the Aegean Sea is also called the Emerald Island, being a place of fascinating beauty. It also has a rich history and archaeological sites scattered throughout the island. One can combine amusement with archaeological interests so long as there are monuments remaining since its glory days from the past.
Thassos is mountainous and densely wooded. The lower slopes of the mountain, covered by pine forests and olive groves, seem to tumble into to sea, all around the 100km long perimeter road of the island with the beautiful coastline, the numerous beaches, the captivating inlets and estuaries.

The island of the Great Gods

Referred by mythology as island of Aeolus, Samothrace (you’ll see it spelt “Samothraki” too) is wreathed by mount Saos, the highest mountain on the Aegean islands; legend has it that Poseidon sat on its top to watch the Troy war. The attractiveness of the island is now made up of the steep peaks of the holy mountain of the ancients (the highest of which – 1.611 metres- is called “Fengari” = “moon”) the pebbly beaches, the streams and rivers, the pristine natural beauty, the famous healing sources, and the archaeological finds.

An island pregnant with history
There is evidence of human activity on the rich with archaeological treasures island since the Neolithic times. But it’s the Kaviria Mysteries – religious event of great importance, equal to that of the Eleusinian Mysteries - that brought the island’s fame to the top. The grandeur of the archaeological prominence of Samothrace stretches over the 50-square-kilometres site of Palaiópolis, at 6,5km from the port of Kamariótissa.

Έξι διαδρομές στα δασικά μονοπάτια του Νυμφαίου

Ο ΑΡΚΤΟΥΡΟΣ, με την ευγενική χορηγία του κ. Ν. Σωσσίδη, αναβιώνει 6 παλιά δασικά μονοπάτια στο πυκνό δάσος του Νυμφαίου. Περίπατοι στο δάσος, την άνοιξη με την ομίχλη, το καλοκαίρι κάτω από τη σκιά των αιωνόβιων δένδρων ή το φθινόπωρο πριν τα πρώτα κρύα για πραγματική επαφή με τη φύση, με κλειστά κινητά από σεβασμό στα σπάνια είδη ζωής που θα συναντήσουμε στο δρόμο μας.

Πρόκειται για περιπάτους στη φύση με βαθμούς δυσκολίας και διάρκεια ανάλογα με τη φυσική σας κατάσταση και τη διάθεσή σας.

The archaeological site of Akrotiri

The settlement was one of the major cities and ports of the Aegean during the Middle and Late Bronze Age (20th-17th century BC). It was a crowded city of 20 acres with a remarkable social structure, public roads, sewerage, sanitary engineering, multi-storey buildings.
The buildings of Akrotiri are a unique example of impressive architecture. Magnificent structures with carved facades housed communal services.

The stone giants of the Aegean

The cylindrical landmarks of the Cyclades tell stories of tradition and human labour to the hills which they beautify with their presence. Invented in the pre-industrial times, they give a perfect example of ecology, as they make the best of the Aeolian energy to satisfy the man’s need for the cornerstone of nutrition: bread.
It was in the 12th and 13th centuries that windmills appeared on the Greek territory. Before long they had turned into a favourite topic for writers, painters, and photographers alike. As a matter of fact, more than 600 of them have been installed on the Cycladic archipelago.

Easter festivities in Vrontados

Vrontados: here Easter is a BLAST!

Apart from being the Island of Aromas in the Northeastern Aegean, Chios is well known for the magnificent Easter festivities too. The scenic picture of ship owners’ mansions with exquisite flower garden designs, peaceful little ports with colourful boats, and picturesque windmills by the sea, dramatically changes after the Resurrection mass.

Easter in Greece!

Greece plays host to religious festivals with deeply rooted customs and centuries-old traditions all year round. One of the greatest celebrations of Christianity is Easter. The faithful Christians all over Greece follow the Holy Week ritual devoutly, giving themselves body and soul into the culmination of the Passion of Christ and finally rejoicing in His Resurrection. Let’s take a deeper insight into ancient-old rituals and traditions…

Art Crafts in Greece

Art, tradition, inspiration, artistry blended with clay, marble, silver and gold shape objects of exquisite beauty to reserve a remarkable position into the pantheon of the Greek cultural heritage.


Play with clay

The ceramic art (or pottery) has been marking eras and millennia. It has been turning natural material into useful objects of high aesthetics. It has been involving artful hands into creating culture. It has been giving evidence about that culture, as pottery accounts for the most numerous objects of the same category found in any archaeological excavation.

Romantic destinations for every season

Winter in the heart of Epirus? Spring in the mythical land of the Centaurs? Summer on the matchless beaches of a Cycladic island? Autumn in a picture-perfect naval state? The only thing beyond doubt is that Greece is fascinating all year round! We recommend four charming destinations, one for each season of the year, where you can relish blissfulromantic moments with your significant other!

Winter romantic destination: Ioánnina

Where: in Epirus, Western Greece

Why: Because only here, in the heart of Epirus, you can take in the nostalgic atmosphere of a melancholic winter evening while enjoying the view of Lake Pamvotida- the lake associated with the myths and legends of Ali Pasha and Kyra- (Lady) Frossini- orwalk hand in hand along the narrow cobbled streets of Ioannina Castle Tower.

Must visit: Experience a world where Jewish, Muslims and Christians have been meeting and

Mountaineering on Olympus

Mountaineering on the abode of the Gods

Mt. Olympus’ wonderful nature of rich flora (over 1700 species, more than 20 of which endemic) and fauna (more than 30 species of mammals, 100 species of birds, 18 species of reptiles) left the modern Greeks with no choice but to proclaim it the first National Forest in 1938.

At 263 km from Athens and 78 from Thessaloniki (Greece’s second biggest city) the area is ideal for the lovers of alternative activities, ranging from trekking to paragliding, canyoning, rafting, climbing, mountain-biking and jeep safari. But you don’t have to go extreme to have your personal Olympian moments. Mountaineering on Olympus is not only a divine experience but also an option covering all levels of difficulty and stamina.

Pozar Thermal Baths

A revitalisation of the senses in the birthplace of Alexander the Great

Imagine yourself in a pool amidst precipice rocks, natural waterfalls and wild vegetation. Feel the soothing warmth of the water (37⁰C) taking the strain off your body, and let your eyes wander around the verdant gorge of the water stream of Áyios Nikólaos (Saint Nicolas) locally known as Thermopótamos (= hot river). In the springtime, breath in the galore of natural aromas in a feast of green, where even the branches of the trees (mainly planes and willows) are all covered with covetous ivy. In the winter, relish the stimulating sensation of the 37 degrees in the outdoor pool, the stunning turquoise spot that stands out in the white and cold.