Category: Art

Mykonos arts & culture events in 2023

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Major arts and culture events on Mykonos during summer 2023

 

Concert on Delos island

On Friday September 29, the Municipality of Mykonos, the Cyclades Antiquities Office, and the Greek Plan will present Dimitris Papadimitriou — Concert on Delos, a live music event featuring “Papadimitriou’s musical work on poems by Greek poets from antiquity to today.” The 2-part concert will take place on historic Delos island. The first performance, at dusk, will celebrate the Greek god Apollo, who in mythology was born on Delos island. The second part will be performed at nightfall, and will be dedicated to Artemis, the goddess of the moon. For this event, concertgoers can take boats departing for Delos at 4 and 5 p.m. The concert will commence at 6 p.m.  The ferries will return to Mykonos after the performance, at 8.30 p.m. Tickets for the return boat ride cost €22 and will be available from the Delos Tours kiosks at both the New Port and Old Port.   Further details can be found on the Facebook page for the local cultural organization , Kdeppam Mykonos.

 

 

Bonis Windmill on Mykonos

On Wednesday September 27, the friends of the Mykonos Folklore Museum celebrate the re-opening of the Bonis Windmill agricultural museum following a lengthy closure for extensive restoration and repair work.  The event will feature live entertainment, and takes place starting at 6 p.m. at the windmill, situated on the hillside overlooking Chora (Mykonos Town).

 

Mykonos Biennale 2023

Mykonos Biennale is back for its 2023 series of art, drama, film and other cultural events based on this year’s theme, “Orphic Mysteries.” Check the Mykonos Biennale website for details of events and locations. The Biennale takes place from September 27 to October 3.

 

Savvas Finest Greek Goods

On Tuesday September 19, Savvas Finest Greek Goods in Mykonos Town will host an in-store olive oil tasting event presented by olive oil expert Anita Zachou

 

Evgenia Grypari art exhibition

An exhibition of works by artist Evgenia Grypari will be presented from September 11 to 20 at Syrioti Hall on Meletopoulou Street in Chora

 

 

music event at Mykonos lighthouse

On Sunday September 3, local cultural organization Kdeppam presents a live sunset performance by singer – musician Evi Mazi at the historic Armenitis Lighthouse at the northwestern tip of Mykonos. Accompanied by musicians Dimos Vougioukas, Dimitris Koulogiorgos and Kostas Arsenis, Evi will perform songs from a wide range of styles and time periods. The performance starts at 7:30 p.m., and admission is free.

 

Koukoumi Hotel on Mykonos

On Thursday August 10, Koukoumi Vegan Hotel in Ano Mera is hosting a vegan cooking class with chef Aggeliki Charami and chef de partie Anna Lymperi

 

KDEPPAM MykonosOn Friday August 11, the local arts & culture organization KDEPPAM Mykonos presents a live musical interpretation of Alfred Lord Tennyson’s masterpiece, Enoch Arden. Published in 1864, Tennyson’s text was an inspiration to other artists including Richard Strauss who, in 1897, “wrote a unique composition for narrator and piano, inspired by Tennyson’s magical text. A touching and beautiful love story,” says a Kdeppam social media post describing the upcoming event. For this performance, “Pygmalion Dadakaridis takes on the role of narrator and the virtuoso soloist Thodoris Jovanakis accompanies him.”  The show is being presented free of charge in the KDEPPAM Art Hall on Matogianni Street. The performance starts at 9 p.m.

 

August 1 - 10 Corona Blues aerial photography exhibition on Mykonos

From August 1 to 10, the municipal Kalogera gallery hosts Corona Blues, an aerial photography exhibition by local artists Jornik Kambanis

 

Scorpios Mykonos Encounters art program

On Friday August 4, Scorpios beach club launches its latest Encounters — In Resonance art exhibition, Echoes of Alhambra. a collaboration between new media artist Orkhan Mammadov and DJ/musician Lannka. “The historic Islamic architecture, calligraphy, fountains and gardens of the Alhambra in Andalusia provide an abundance of inspiring imagery for Lannka x Orkhan’s 250 digital artworks and data visualization piece,” the club says in social media posts announcing the event.

 

Cavo Tagoo Mykonos

On Saturday July 29, Kapopoulos Fine Arts and The Art Dose are presenting a special “artistic evening” featuring an exhibition of select paintings and works by international artists. The event is being held in the lobby of the Cavo Tagoo hotel in Mykonos Town.

 

Orlinski Gallery on Mykonos

In July, Kapopoulos Fine Arts established an exclusive new gallery featuring works by acclaimed contemporary artist Richard Orlinski. Located at 48 Matthaiou Andronikou street, the Orlinski Gallery will celebrate its arrival on Mykonos with a grand opening event on July 20 at 9 p.m. The artist will be attending.

 

Scorpios beach club on Mykonos

On Sunday July 23, Scorpios beach club reveals a new artwork as part of its summer music and art Encounters program. Island Illusions: Aegean Echoes is a collaborative work by AI artist Dr. Ivona Tau and DJ/Produceer Jean Claude Ades. “Combining AI art with electronic music, they depict the transformative power of nature. Ivona and Jean Claude explore the dance between the sea and the coast, while looking at the kinetic and constantly changing nature of the shoreline,” Scorpios says in a social media post announcing the event.

 

 

Scorpios Mykonos

On Tuesday July 25,  Scorpios presents Zorba, its second special artwork reveal of the week.  A collaborative art project of DJ/Producer duo Bedouin and 3D artist Hugo Johnson, Zorba “offers a glimpse into the souls of storms, reimagining extreme weather patterns as human beings with unique identities. The star of the portrait series is Zorbas, the first cyclone to hit the Mediterranean,” Scorpios said in a social media post announcing the reveal.

 

 

Bill & Coo restaurant on Mykonos

On Thursday July 27, Bill & Coo Mykonos Restaurant‘s Gastronomy Project will present a special six-course degustation menu paired with a “vertical tasting” of wines from renowned Chateau Angelus.  Attendance is limited, so reservations are essential.

 

 

Namah restaurant Mykonos

On Saturday July 29, Kivotos Hotel & Villas at Ornos Bay will be presenting a special dining and live entertainment event in its open-air poolside restaurant, Namah. The event starts at 8 p.m. and features “an exciting fusion of fine and creative Greek cuisine supervised by our executive Chef Christos Pedes, and Latin culture” highlighted by “lively Latin rhythms and spirited dancing,” the hotel said on its social media pages. There is a set menu for the dinner, and tables should be reserved by contacting the hotel’s concierge / guest relation team by telephone at: +30 22890 24094

 

The Light of Apollo

Every Thursday during July, Kalesma Hotel is presenting The Light of Apollo, “a first-of-its-kind performance art project that explores divine inspiration, the mythological element and the island of Mykonos itself.” Created and performed by the Tracing Echoes Project, The Light of Apollo is a unique immersive show that combines contemporary dance, music and movement. “The play rekindles the flame of classical Greek mythology through a new retelling of the myth of Apollo – the god of music and light – as the show revives seminal stories of the past in an exciting, multi-faceted ritual,” says a media release announcing the shows. “Throughout the event, the boundaries between performer and observer will be broken down, as attendees find themselves surrounded by dancers, actors and musicians. From classical theatre to an al fresco feast of local cuisine, the show will proudly shine a light on authentic island tradition. With the sacred island of Delos on the horizon, The Light of Apollo transforms the resort and its guests into essential characters in the performance. Together, they build a bridge connecting Mykonos to Delos, the historical with the contemporary, the earthly with the divine. The show is thus a homage to this legacy, a celebration of land and legend and Mykonian visionaries past and present,” the announcement explains. The play is presented in the morning from 10 a.m. to noon at the hotel’s Pere Ubu Mykonos restaurant, and continues in the evening from 8 to 8:45 p.m. at Kalesma’s Aloni Sunset Lounge. The performances are open to hotel guests as well as visitors staying elsewhere on the island.

 

Mykonos Municipal Art Gallery

From June 12 to July 30, the Mykonos Municipal Art Gallery is hosting two artistic tributes to the painter Teli Vassilikioti — the special exhibition “Aristotle Vassilikiotis: Unexpected Changes of Course,” and the permanent exhibition “Aristotle Vassilikiotis: 1902-1972.”

 

Mykonos Art Festival 2023

The Mykonos Art Festival 2023 takes place from June 30 to September 24. The annual summer event presents an extensive variety of art and music entertainment geared to all ages, at venues across  Mykonos and on Delos island.  Click here to view the full festival program.

 

Mykonos Art Festival 2023

This is calendar of Mykonos Art Festival 2023 events scheduled for August

 

Eden Gallery on Mykonos

Eden Gallery on Mykonos

On July 12, Eden Gallery at Nammos Village launched its annual Mykonos Summer Event Series. The program, which runs until August 12, will feature nine events showcasing 12 of the gallery’s exclusive contemporary artists. The popular Eden Gallery events are among the highlights of the Mykonos summer art scene, and offer “a captivating blend of art, culture and entertainment,” the gallery noted in a media release announcing the program.

 

Noema Mykonos HOFA gallery

For summer 2023, the gallery at Noema Mykonos restaurant and bar is exhibiting an array of “breathtaking artwork from a selection of emerging and established artists,” in a special collaboration with HOFA Gallery.  Noema is located in the Panachra neighbourhood of Chora (Mykonos Town), and its gallery is open daily from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.  Information about the gallery, and a link to a PDF profile of the artists and works featured in the exhibition, can be found at this page of the Noema website.

 

Scorpios beach club on Mykonos

Already world-renowned for its fine dining restaurant and its incredibly popular sunset music rituals and other consciousness-raising gatherings, Scorpios beach club will make a distinctive mark this summer on the international contemporary art scene. For 2023, the club is introducting Encounters, its “new platform for cultural experimentation.”  The In Resonance art program — which will spotlight artists and musicians who resonate together” — is set to run from July 13 to September 4. “From a series of art installations and live performances, to opportunities to collect innovative, experimental artwork, Scorpios will take you into the heart of the digital art movement,” the club said in a news release announcing the initiative.  Further details about the art program can be found on the Encounters page of the Scorpios website.

 

Cine Manto Mykonos

May 19 was opening day for Cine Manto, the open-air cinema tucked into a hidden garden oasis in the heart of Mykonos Town.  The cinema plays first-release movies in their original versions, usually in English, starting at 9 p.m. daily. The cinema also is home to an all-day cafe-bar where visitors can escape the summer heat and crowds to relax with a coffee, drink or meal.

 

Past events

 

Matsuhisa Mykonos 20th Anniversary & Nobu Food Festival

The Matsuhisa Mykonos “new style” Japanese fine dining restaurant at the Belvedere Hotel celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, and will hold its annual Nobu Festival from June 27 to July 2. The Festival offers an exclusive culinary experience with Chef Nobu Matsuhisa and guest sushi masters, and this year will also celebrate the grand opening of the restaurant’s Omakase Bar. 

 

 

Here is the schedule for music performances taking place on the evening of Friday June 30, opening night for the Mykonos Art Festival 2023:

♦  Entertainment gets underway at 6 p.m. at the Old Port, below the Mykonos Archaeological Museum, with a performance by World Music Duo (Periklis Aliopis on trumpet and Vasilis Tziatzias on guitar);

♦ At 6:30 p.m., at Mykonos Town Hall, The Storyville Ragtimers band will perform;

♦ At 7 p.m., vocalist Kelly Kaltsi will sing at Paraportiani church;

♦ At 7:30, guitarist Charitini Panopoulou will play at Melkis Axioti Square;

♦ At 8 p.m., the violin and harp duo Music ΚonTin-entity will perform at the Mykonos Municipal Gallery KDDEPAM;

♦ At 8:30, the O&K Classical Music Quartet will play at the Municipal Library, and

♦ At 9 p.m. the brass and percussion ensemble Metallon Quintent will perform at Manto Square,  where official opening ceremonies for the festival also will take place.

 

Evangelistria cargo ship on Mykonos

Here’s a not-to-be-missed event for any ship or maritime history enthusiasts visiting Mykonos on Sunday July 2. At 5 p.m. that day, a special ceremony will take place at the Old Port in Mykonos Town to welcome the return of the island’s beloved cargo ship, Evangelistria. Built  in 1940, Evangelistria transported cargo throughout the Aegean islands until 1978, when she was decommissioned and left in drydock for nearly 11 years on nearby Syros island. Out of the sea for so long, Evangelistria quickly deteriorated. The founder of the Aegean Maritime Museum in Mykonos, George Drakopoulos, persuaded the ship’s owner to donate the vessel to the museum and the island municipality so it could be restored and maintained as a floating maritime museum.  Evangelistria is returning to Mykonos after undergoing repairs at a shipyard on Salamina island. The brief welcoming ceremony will take place at the Old Port, near Ai. Nikolaki of Kadena, the charming little blue-domed church near Mykonos Town Hall. Afterward, the boat will be open to the public for tours.

Mykonos Art Festival 2023

On Sunday July 2, Mykonos Art Festival presents Troades, a tragedy by the ancient Greek playwright, Euripides. (The play also is known by the titles The Trojan Women and The Women of Troy.) Directed by Violet Louise, and featuring Aglaia Pappa in the role of Ekavi, this performance “is a modern adaptation of the poetic text where sound, music and image coexist creatively,” a festival event announcement says. The production will be staged at the entrance to the Monastery of St. George in Ano Mera, where the cast of three actors will “tell the tragic story of the war and as the only survivors they mourn in the deserted city of Troy.” Start time is 9 p.m.

 

Alissachni Mykonos Hotel

On Monday July 3, Alissachni Mykonos Hotel is holding a Mexican night with music and a special menu created by Chef Psomopoulos Stavros. The hotel is situated on a hilltop in the Agios Lazaros area of the island, overlooking Psarou beach. Contact the hotel directly at +30 2289024669 for reservations or further information.

 

Buddha-Bar Beach Mykonos

From July 2 to 9, Buddha-Bar Beach Mykonos presents Cocktails Week with special guest Francesco Galdi, the Buddha-Bar Group’s corporate beverage manager.  “Ιnfluenced by his early exposure to his grandparents’ bars and restaurants, and guided by the DNA of Buddha-Bar’s concepts, Francesco’s cocktails become a liquid expression of travel, perfumes and traditions, seamlessly fused with cutting-edge techniques,” says a social media announcement for the event.  Buddha-Bar Beach Mykonos restaurant and bar is situated in the Santa Marina Resort at Ornos.

 

Kapopoulos Fine Arts in Mykonos

From July 6 to 10, Kapopoulos Fine Arts on Enoplan Dinameon Street will present the solo exhibition of 17 works by L.A.-based, Paris-born experimental and digital artist Punk Me Tender. The artist will be attending the opening night reception on July 6.

 

Scorpios beach club on Mykonos

On July 13 and 14, Scorpios presents Refik Anadol X The Yawanawa, the first event in its Encounters — In Resonance arts and music program for summer 2023.  Anadol, an award-winning media artists, and the Yawanawa, an indigenous community in Brazil’s Amazon, have co-created “an exclusive piece (available as an edition consisting of three), as well as a collection of digital artworks that reflects the Yawanawá’s connection with the forest and responds to real-time data from the Amazon rainforest.” The artwork will be revealed on July 13. “On July 14th Yawanawá chiefs Nixiwaka and Isku Kua will lead a prayer and musical performance together with their family Ninunihu and Ykashahu.” The celebrations will be followed by a panel discussion that will “provide a glimpse into the creation process of the artwork series and its objectives.”

 

 

 

Seascape in a Garden arts event

Seascape in a Garden is a unique arts & culture event being held July 14 and 15 on the Delos island archaeological site. It features a visual and sound installation as well as a live performance that aims to draw attention to “the protection and risks of our natural environment.” According to an event announcement, “Japanese and Greek cultural traditions converge in the sculptural installation by Greek artist Katerina Karatzaferi that is inspired by the Japanese tradition Komomaki and patterns of Greek weaving practices. Karatzaferi’s work converses with Ahmed Saleh’s sound installation and performance inspired by his personal aural memories from the city of his native Alexandria . In the historic and symbolic site of Delos, the two works acquire new meanings as they encounter archaeology, historic memory, nature and myth.”  Seascape in a Garden is part of a program called All of Greece One Culture 2023, an initiative of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports. The event is being held in conjunction with the Mykonos Art Festival. The visual and sound installations will be open to visitors throughout the day on both July 14 and 15, with the live performances starting at 6:30 p.m. and lasting around 45 minutes. Admission to the event is free, but visitors will have to pay the regular entry fee to access the Delos island archaeological site.

 

Things to see and do during a visit to Athens this winter

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A special edition of Greece Is Magazine profiles events and activities in Athens during winter 2022-2023

 

Cover of Greece Is magazine Issue 55

The cover of the Athens edition of Greece Is magazine for Winter 2022-2023

 

Winter wonders: The latest Athens issue of Greece Is magazine sure would have come in handy during a recent Christmas party conversation about winter travel plans. After friends and acquaintances described their upcoming trips to Florida, Australia, Mexico and the Caribbean, everyone looked perplexed when I said that I wished I could visit Athens. “But isn’t everything there closed down?” one of my acquaintances asked. Similar questions by others in the group suggested they, too, think Greece is only a summer beach destination. 

Like many people, they just don’t realize that, even during the cooler months of off-season, the capital of Greece is always brimming with engaging arts and culture events, and fun food, drink and entertainment activities.

Why wouldn’t it be? It’s a major international city, after all, and its 3 million residents don’t go into hibernation until Greek Easter. They like to get out and about to experience their city’s cultural attractions and events, and there are plenty of those to enjoy throughout the winter months — as the Athens Winter 2022-2023 special edition of Greece Is magazine points out.

Released in early December, the 148-page issue includes:

♦ A spotlight on things to see and do in Athens — both indoors and out — on mild winter days

♦ Photos and information about visiting the Makrigianni site — the ancient streets beneath the Acropolis Museum

♦ “Art & the City,” a look at local hangouts for food, drinks and shopping in the neighbourhoods near the city’s major museums and art galleries

♦  “At the museum with the kids,” an article that highlights “tailored programs and tours” geared specifically for children — a must-read for families travelling to Athens

♦ In “Dining Out: Then & Now,” writer Christos Chomenidis “connects the past with the present” as he describes visits to five noteworthy restaurants that each have “their own story to tell.” 

♦ “Finding philosophy among the ruins,” a piece that traces the “ancient Greek philosophers’ favourite haunts in and around the Athenian Agora”

♦ “Dreaming of the blue skies of Attica,” an essay that considers “why the return of the Parthenon Sculptures is a democratic imperative,” and much more.

If you’re planning a winter trip to Athens, or simply wondering if it’s worthwhile to visit at this time of year, have a look through the magazine. You’ll find lots of helpful information and great suggestions for places to visit and things to do — more than enough to keep you entertained and enthralled.

Print copies of the Athens issue are available from the Greece Is e-shop, while the online edition can be viewed, read, shared and even downloaded from this link on Issuu.com.  

 

Mykonos 2022: tours, activities & other things to do

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Tours, cooking classes, wine & beer tastings, fitness activities, outdoor entertainment and other things to do on Mykonos

 

Activities and tours available on Mykonos in 2022

Images from some popular Mykonos activity and tour providers, from top left: Mykonos Horseland; Mykonos Raceland go-kart center; Mykonos Kayak; Maria-Eleni Sfaellou from Bespoke Mykonos guided tours; a cooking class at Mykonos Spiti & Farm; Kite Mykonos; a Mykonos Phototour picture of the Armenistis lighthouse; Yummy Pedals e-bikes; animals at the Mykonos Spiti farm; kids on a horse riding lesson at IPPOS Mykonos.

 

 

Beyond the bars and beaches: Mykonos may be famous for its beaches, boutiques and nightlife, but there’s a lot more to do on the island than just sunbathe, swim, party or shop ’til you drop. Activities abound for visitors, whether they’re travelling solo, as a couple, with family or in a group — either visiting the island just for the day on a cruise stop, or staying on Mykonos for a few days or an extended holiday.

Want to go sightseeing? There’s a wide variety of guided tours available that will show you scenic off the main tourist path parts of the island either on foot, by bicycle, on horseback, or in a jeep or other vehicle.

Are you a foodie who’d like to take a cooking class, taste traditional Greek dishes, or learn about olive oil or cheese making? Or are you more interested in sampling local craft beer or wine, either at a craft brewery or local vineyard, or on a private scenic tour? There’s a number of tours focussed on food and wine, as well as specialized cooking classes and demonstrations, wine or beer tastings, and more.

Looking for fitness, fun outdoor activities or watersports?  You can choose from kayaking; horseback riding; windsurfing, kitesurfing & boarding; yoga, pilates & other fitness classes; go-karting; and boat, sailboat and yacht tours and excursions galore.

If you’re a history and culture buff,  the ruins and archaeological site of Delos island — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — are a must-visit, and easily reached by boats that depart from a pier near the town hall in Mykonos Town. There’s several interesting museums, along with a municipal art gallery and a number of excellent private art galleries that showcase works by Greek and international artists.

And for evening entertainment, how about watching a movie under the stars at the Cine Manto outdoor cinema in the heart of Mykonos Town?

Below, and on page 2 of this post, we spotlight those and other top Mykonos attractions and activities:

 

 

A brand new arrival

Padel Mykonos padel tennis facility

As of July, Mykonos visitors can enjoy games of padel tennis at Padel Mykonos, a brand-new facility located in the Korfos area near Ornos beach.  Padel, a sport that has rapidly been gaining popularity around the world, is a fun sports activity that can be enjoyed by families and people of all ages and abilities. The first padel courts open to the public on Mykonos, Padel Mykonos is open daily from 8 a.m. until midnight.  Lessons with a qualified coach are available, while anyone who wants to give the sport a try is welcome to drop by. Court bookings can be made by phone to +30 6975532566; by email to [email protected]; or by using the online reservation form on the Padel Mykonos website.

 

Guided tours, sightseeing excursions and day trips to other islands

 

Two Delos Tours vessels docked at the Delos island port

The most popular partial day trip/tour excursion available on Mykonos is one of the daily boat trips to nearby Delos island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important and historic archaeological sites in all of Greece. (Admission to the site costs €8 per person, payable at the entrance gate.) Since the 1970s, the Mykonos-based family business Delos Tours has been operating boats that ferry tourists to Delos to explore the ancient ruins of what was once a thriving and wealthy cosmopolitan port city. From April until the end of October, the Delos Tours boats make daily return trips (weather conditions permitting), and visitors can either buy €22 per person tickets for just the boat transfer so they can see Delos at their own pace, or they can purchase €60 per person tickets for organized tours that include the boat trip, entrance to the site, and a guided tour of the ruins by a certified tourist guide. (Guided tours are free for children under 6 years old, and €30 for kids aged 6 to 12.) Full details of boat and guided tour schedules, and online ticket booking, are available on the Delos Tours website.

 

Tour activities offered by Kyklomar Tours on Mykonos

Operating for the past 27 years, Kyklomar Tours will resume its popular series of excursions and private tours this spring. Its City and Island Tours start on April 3, while its Jeep Safaris will begin on April 18. Tours to Delos island start May 2, Tinos island day trips on May 3, south coast boat cruises on May 21, and sunset cruises on May 22. A Wine & Culture tour can be booked anytime upon request.  The company also offers transfer services. Full details of the tours, including start times, meeting points and prices, are outlined on the Kyklomar Tours website

 

Yummy Pedals Mykonos bicycle and hiking tours

Open for bookings and requests throughout the year, Yummy Pedals began operating its guided bicycle and hiking tours on March 15.  Yummy Pedals offers a variety of half- and full-day adventures for people of all ages and abilities, with excursions tailor-made for singles, couples, families, honeymooners, and cruise passengers.  Romantic escapes and special events can be arranged, and electric bikes are available for booking.

 

Mykonos Excursions tours and activities on Mykonos

A part of the Mykonian Spiti farm and cooking class business, Mykonos Excursions offers an extensive array of adventures and activities, including cooking demonstrations and classes; farm visits; hiking, walking and jeep tours; sunset and southern beach cruises; island tours; and even a day trip to Andros island.  Their season started in March.

 

Blue Lion jeep safari tours on Mykonos

Again this year, Blue Lion Safari is offering its selection of private and semi-private specialized Jeep tours of Mykonos.  The options include 5-hour private and semi-private morning tours and sunset tours through northern regions of Mykonos; a 10-hour full day private tour; and a special occasion private tour that will be customized to private a unique adventure experience on Mykonos. The tours include a meal and wine stop along the way. Maps and descriptions of the tour itineraries, along with contact information, are available on the Blue Lion Safari website.

 

Mykonos Photo Tour

Mykonos Photo Tour returns April 24, offering private island photo tours and photography shoots, location guides and travel coordination services hosted by its founder, Achim Eckhardt

 

Maria-Eleni Sfaellou of Bespoke Mykonos private guided tours

 Private guided tours on Mykonos are available now from licensed tour guide Maria-Eleni Sfaellou of Bespoke Mykonos. Starting on April 1, Maria-Eleni also will be available to provide guided tours at the Delos island archaeological site. 

 

 

 

Food, beer and wine-focussed tours, classes and activities

 

Photos of Mykonian Spiti and Farm on Mykonos island

One of the island’s best-known food and farm attractions, Mykonian Spiti & Farm hosts cooking classes and demonstrations, wine tastings, and tours of its farm. Located in the island’s Messaria district, Mykonian Spiti offers day and evening cooking classes hosted by Teta Fragedaki. The spiti’s other activities include wine tastings, traditional lunches and dinners, a farm bakery class with lunch, a farm barbecue, olive oil tasting, and a variety of experiences — ideal for children — on the farm.

 

Rizes Folklore Farmstead on Mykonos

Photo collage from the website for Rizes Folklore Farmstead & Restaurant Mykonos

A 5-acre property in the Maou area near Ano Mera, Rizes Folklore Farmstead offers guided tours of a re-created Chorio (traditional Myconian farmstead), including its house; chapel; vineyard, olive grove and vegetable garden; wine pressing vat; cheese workshop; folklore exhibitions; stable, dovecote and chicken coop; and a visit with the domestic farm animals. Cooking and bread baking classes also are offered.  In addition, the farmstead has a popular restaurant where visitors can enjoy freshly-cooked traditional meals, including  homemade pies, salads and spreads, and vegetable and meat dishes, all prepared according to Greek and Myconian recipes and techniques, and made primarily with local ingredients and products.  On Sundays, Rizes presents live Greek folk music entertainment, and hosts party feasts to celebrate national holidays and important religious events. During winter, Rizes was open only on weekends, but since April 16 has been open every day from noon until 9 p.m.

 

Mykonos Vioma Organic Farm & Winery

April 1 is opening day for Mykonos Vioma Organic Farm & Winery, located in the Maou area near Ano Mera. Operated by the Asymomitis family, the farm offers daily free guided tours that show visitors its biodynamic cultivation and wine making techniques. The farm also hosts tastings of their wines and local products, and kids can meet and play with the farm’s four-legged residents. 

 

Tour in Mykonian Land on Mykonos

The unique Tour in Mykonian Land experiences return on April 1. The two-hour guided tours of an estate in the Marathi area take visitors through an olive grove, vineyard and wine press facility, and conclude at the on-site taverna. There, guests are treated to traditional live music entertainment while they sample local food delicacies and some of the estate’s wines and olive oil. 

 

 

Mykonos Farmers cooking class workshop

Located in the Agios Lazaros area, Mykonos Farmers is a facility that specializes in the production of Mykonian cheeses (including the spicy Mykonos Kopanisti cheese) and other dairy products using traditional methods. Visitors are welcome to drop in for a tour of the facilities, and to sample the products. Mykonos Farmers also offers interactive cooking workshops that will introduce participants to cheese making, along with recipes to take home. Tours and workshops are available for large and small groups alike.

 

Anita Zachou of Mykonos Olive Oil Tasting

From May 15 to October 15, Anita Zachou of Mykonos Olive Oil Tasting will again host her group tasting workshops every afternoon. Private tasting sessions, special event tasting parties, on-yacht sessions and children’s workshops also are available. Full details of the company’s tasting sessions and activities, as well as booking and contact information, are available on the Mykonos Olive Oil Tasting website.

 

Mykonos Brewing Company

Mykonos Brewing Company is the island’s first, and only, craft brewery, and makes the local Mikonu brand of beers.  Located in the Argyraina area just outside Mykonos Town, the brewery is a complete brewhouse and taproom in an underground facility that once housed the island’s bowling alley. Visitors can advance book tours and tasting sessions, or can simply walk in to visit the taproom and sample the brews.  The taproom has windows offering a view of the brewery production area, and “is a family friendly, pet friendly, snack friendly, board game friendly space with a bar and table seating area.” The taproom is open year-round; its hours of operation for the spring and summer are Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

 

The Wine Society Mykonos

The Wine Society exclusive wine tastings return on April 1, along with other unique holiday experiences curated by Georgia and Stelios, co-owners of Your Concierge. Their company’s one-of-a-kind activities include a variety of walking tours (a morning excursion that includes a breakfast break; an evening tour that includes a stop for a cocktail, and another that features a beach picnic); a souvlaki cooking class; a Greek cocktail masterclass; and a fish meze picnic at a secret beach. Your Concierge also can create customized private tours and memorable activities for visitors celebrating special occasions. Their experiences can be scheduled for anytime between April 1 and October 31. Full descriptions and details of the various experiences can be found on the Mykonos Experiences page of the Your Concierge website.

 

 

Open-air movie entertainment

 

Cine Manto outdoor cinema on Mykonos

Cine Manto is an outdoor cinema located in a beautiful botanical garden oasis in the heart of Mykonos Town.  Open from the beginning of June until the end of September, it presents a nightly roster of original release, first-run movies (usually in English, with Greek subtitles).  Besides the nightly Hollywood entertainment, Cine Manto boasts a cafe-restaurant which operates from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. daily, offering a unique, tree-shaded spot to escape the hustle and bustle of Mykonos and relax with a reasonably-priced breakfast, lunch or BBQ dinner meal and beverages.  The garden also hosts special events as well as mosaic workshops and morning yoga classes offered by Sweat Vacay (you’ll find information about both of those activities on page 2 of that post.

 

Please click on the link below to continue reading on page 2, where we profile fitness, sports and outdoor fun activities; cultural attractions and activities; and boat, sailboat and yacht tours and excursions.

 

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Modern sculptures amid ancient ruins: An extra visual delight for Delos visitors this summer

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Photograph of an Antony Gormley iron sculpture displayed among the ruins on Delos island

Sculptures by Sir Antony Gormley, including this 2015 work entitled Connect,  have been installed on Delos island as part of a landmark  art exhibition on display this summer only 

 

Modern art on ancient site: After exploring the historic ruins on Delos three separate times between 2004 and 2010, I haven’t felt an urge to make a return trip to the island in recent years.  After all, the monuments and the island itself wouldn’t look noticeably different from my previous visits, so there wouldn’t be anything particularly “new” for me to discover. And besides, there are dozens of other major archaeological sites in Greece that I haven’t seen at all — so going to some of those has been a higher priority than  a fourth trip to Delos.

But this summer  I have really been regretting that I can’t get to Delos to see something that is in fact completely new and different, and available for viewing only during this year’s tourist season.

It’s a groundbreaking modern art installation called SIGHT, which features 29 iron “bodyform” sculptures that acclaimed British artist Antony Gormley has positioned among the historic Delos monuments and antiquities — on the island’s coast and harbourfront, atop Plakes Peak and Mount Kynthos, and in one of the galleries in the Delos archaeological museum.

 

Sir Antony Gormley and one of the sculptures in his SIGHT installation on Delos as seen in a photo from the NEON page on Facebook

Antony Gormley poses with his 2017 work, Reflect, on Delos island. The photo was shared on the Facebook page for NEON, the non-profit cultural organization that commissioned and organized the SIGHT exhibition.

 

The SIGHT exhibit is noteworthy for two key reasons: It’s the first time an artist has taken over the archaeological site since Delos was last inhabited 5,000 years  ago, and it’s the first time the Greek Archaeological Council has approved a contemporary art installation on the island.

It’s an historic art event I would certainly appreciate: I enjoy sculpture (from any era) and I would love to see some of Gormley’s work up close. Viewing his pieces on Delos — five of which were created specifically for this event — would give me fresh new perspectives of the island and its significant historical and mythical past. I have been intrigued and moved by photos of the sculptures I have seen on websites and social media, so I know that seeing the pieces in person would be a fascinating experience.

Unfortunately,  a trip to Greece isn’t possible for me before the exhibit ends. But if you are a fine arts and sculpture enthusiast yourself, and you will be visiting Mykonos (or Naxos or Paros, from which daytrips to Delos are also available) before October 31, don’t miss the unique opportunity to experience the island while the Gormley “bodyforms” are on display. 

 

SIGHT is a project that the Greek non-profit cultural organization NEON organized in collaboration with the Ephorate of Antiquities of Cyclades. The exhibition continues until October 31 2019.

Extensive details and information about Delos and the sculpture exhibit are available on the SIGHT page of the NEON website

Below is an 8-minute video in which Antony Gormley discusses Delos and the inspiration for his work, followed by photos of several of the sculptures displayed on the island.

 

 

From the NEON page on Instagram a photo of an Antony Gormley sculpture on the coast of Delos island Greece

 

From the NEON page on Instagram a photo of an Antony Gormley sculpture atop Mount Kynthos on Delos island Greece

 

Photograph of the Antony Gormley sculpture Cast III on Delos island

 

A sculpture from the Sir Antony Gormley SIGHT exhibition on Delos island seen in a photo from the NEON page on Facebook

 

From the NEON page on Instagram a photo of an Antony Gormley sculpture positioned in the ruins on Delos island Greece

 

An Antony Gormley sculpture on the coast of Delos island seen in a photo from the NEON page on Facebook

 

Photograph of the Antony Gormley sculpture Shift II from 2000 in the Delos Archaeological Museum

 

One of the Antony Gormley iron sculptures on Delos island in 2019

 

Promotional image for the Antony Gormley contemporary sculpture exhibition Sight on Delos island in 2019

 

Travelling to Thessaloniki? Read this magazine before you go — or while you’re there

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Greece Is special Thessaloniki magazine issue

The cover of Thessaloniki, a free magazine published by the Greece Is online guide to culture, gastronomy and Greece destination experiences

 

Essential reading: A free magazine I picked up at the Athens International Airport in June, while waiting to fly home after my latest Greek holiday, has me wishing I could take a trip to Thessaloniki soon.

Entitled Thessaloniki, the 176-page glossy magazine is packed with dozens of beautiful photos and interesting articles describing the city’s fascinating history, its important cultural institutions, monuments and landmarks, its exciting arts, entertainment and food scenes, and much more.

 

 

The second-largest city in Greece, Thessaloniki is a dynamic port center and capital of the Central Macedonia region of Greece.

It’s “a cauldron of gods and heroes, civilizations and religions; a place where the old and new cohabitate fruitfully. You can sense it everywhere; during a stroll, at the markets and museums, in the architecture, food and music. It’s in the air!” says a welcome page message penned by Giros Tsiros. He’s the editor-in-chief of Greece Is, the wonderful culture and gastronomy website which has published several destination-specific magazine guides, like the one for Thessaloniki, during the past two years.

 

Thessaloniki waterfront

The historic WhiteTower and the long Thessaloniki waterfront strip are seen in a photo from the online edition of Thessaloniki magazine

 

I’m gradually working my way through the issue, learning about the city’s annual arts events and festivals, its popular port and waterfront areas, its thriving design community, its exciting  gastronomy scene, and nearby attractions like the scenic Halkidiki peninsula and the historic Mount Athos monastery. There are still many more articles for me to peruse, but already I’m amazed at the astounding variety of things to see and do in and near the city — almost overwhelmed, in fact, since there is just so much that has captured my interest. It makes me wonder why I haven’t heard more people talk about Thessaloniki, as well as ask myself why I haven’t made it a priority to go there.

But even though Thessaloniki is blessed with so many places to explore, one of the magazine’s contributors says that simply being in the city is an enchanting and enjoyable experience in itself — visitors don’t have to rush to all the tourist attractions or scour back streets for “secret” shops and restaurants and other hidden gems to discover what the place is all about.

“A great way to get to know Thessaloniki is to do nothing to ‘explore’ her, but instead just ‘be’ there. Just relax,” advises writer Rika Z. Vayianni, an Athenian who has been visiting Thessaloniki for decades. If you pause to linger and listen you will hear the city speak volumes, Rika notes in “The art of doing nothing,” the magazine’s introductory article. “Some of the things she will say, or show to you, will remain in your memory for a long, long time. Some of them will perplex you, take you out of your comfort zone. But the city does speak.”

With luck I will one day have the opportunity to listen as Thessaloniki speaks to me. In the meantime, I will be learning more about the city as I read the rest of the magazine articles over the summer.

 

Trigonian Tower in Thessaloniki

The Trigonian Tower in Thessaloniki’s Ano Poli (Upper Town) district, seen in a photo from the Greece Is website

 

If you will be travelling to Thessaloniki this year, or if you are considering the city for a future trip, be sure to pick up a copy of the magazine so you can get valuable background information, ideas and recommendations for your visit.

Thessaloniki is available at several locations in the city itself, as well as in central Athens and at the Athens airport. 

In Thessaloniki, you can obtain a copy at:

♦ the Kathimerini offices at 99 Tsimiski Street;

♦ the Archaeological Museum at 6 Manoli Andronikou Street; and

♦ the State Museum of Contemporary Art, 21 Kolokotroni St. 

In Athens, the magazine can be found at:

♦ the Kathimerini offices at 47-49 Panepistimiou Street, and

♦ the Acropolis Museum at 15 Dionysiou Areopagitou Street

Pickup locations at Athens International Airport include:

♦ Press Point

♦ Kir-Yianni Wine Bar

♦ Gate A, and

♦ the Athens Municipality information desk on the Arrivals level

If you can’t get to one of those locations, or if you’d rather read the magazine online, click here to access the collection of Thessaloniki articles on the Greece Is website.

Greece Is magazine distribution stands

Look for distribution racks like the one shown above so you can pick up a copy of Thessaloniki or other special edition magazines published by Greece Is

How a cultural renaissance is reshaping Athens

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Church of Panagia Kapnikarea

Throngs of shoppers and tourists on Ermou Street pass by the 1,000-year-old Byzantine Church of Panagia Kapnikarea

 

Gritty, not pretty: After six years of agonizing economic hardship, the City of Athens and its residents appear to be “rebounding” and turning their attention “to the task of building a better future,” according to the Canadian national newspaper, The Globe and Mail.

“More and more Athenians are involved in a kind of civic infill activity, re-imagining the town, improvising social services and engaging in what Greek photographer Eirini Vourloumis calls ‘a forced renegotiation of Greek identity,’” columnist Robert Everett-Green observes in a feature article published recently in the Globe.

“Now, ambitious plans are afoot to remodel the downtown in more sustainable ways, and to add cultural capital to civic life. Innovative restorations, led by artists and arts organizations, are reclaiming rundown industrial districts. There is a feeling here that creativity is the last and best resource when other resources fail,” he notes.

 

Athens graffiti

Athens is “gritty,” not pretty, with “rampant” graffiti and street art, but arts and culture are leading the city to a “rebirth” as it recovers from the harsh economic crisis of the past six years, The Globe and Mail newspaper observes.

 

Everett-Green visited Athens last November, and the Globe published his feature story The Energy of Defeat on the front page of its weekend travel section this past Saturday (March 28 2015).

The article also was published on the newspaper’s website, where it was retitled Athens isn’t pretty, but it’s exciting: discover the city’s cultural rebirth.

Everett-Green examines how artists are playing a leading role in the revitalization of a city he describes as “gritty, restless and spontaneous.” He looks at major cultural projects and initiatives, including:

♦ the new Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center that will house the Greek National Opera and the National Library of Greece;

♦ the Onassis Foundation’s Rethink Athens project, which will transform the city center along Panepistimiou Street with ambitious public realm improvements and beautification;

♦ the Technopolis cultural event hub in the former premises of a coal and gas plant;

♦  the revitalization of the once-industrial Metaxourgio district; and

♦ the National Museum of Contemporary Art, which has opened in a restored brewery building.

Click here to read the full story on the Globe and Mail website.

 

Click on the arrow to view this 13-minute virtual tour of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center being built in the Kallithea district of Athens, about 4 km from the city center.

 

Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center

This photo shows an aerial view of construction work on the massive Kallithea site where the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC) is being built. Designed by renowned architect Renzo Piano, the center will include a new building for the Greek National Opera, a new National Library of Greece, and an extensive landscaped park. This photo is from the SNFCC project page on the Renzo Piano Building Workshop website,.

Naxos calendar packed with arts, culture, food, music, party & sports events for August

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Dimitria Festival 2014

A promotional poster for Dimitria 2014, the 3rd annual Agrotourism Exhibition in Sangri village. The festival includes a variety of cultural events, including: photography, painting, knitwear and traditional antique shows.

 

 Month full of fun: On any given summer day, there’s plenty to see and do on Naxos — as I’ve described in numerous posts, including my comprehensive January 6 2014 report on Our Top 15 reasons to visit Naxos.

But if you happen to be travelling to Naxos during August this year, you’re going to be spoiled for choice even more — the island’s calendar is packed with special celebrations and activities appealing to visitors of all ages, backgrounds and interests.

Events include painting, sculpture and photography shows; food festivals; religious feasts and celebrations; live music concerts and performances; live theatre; entertainment for kids; movie screenings; sporting tournaments and nightclub parties.

I outlined a few of the island’s special events, including those held as part of the annual Naxos Festival, in my July 3 post, Cyclades islands celebrate summer with festivals for food & wine, arts & literature, culture & sports.

 Website listings for all Naxos events in August

Further details about many more August celebrations and festivities can be found on the following Naxos information websites:

♦ The Domus Festival page on the Naxos Festival website contains a chart listing the performers that will be appearing at the Venetian Castle in Naxos Town;

♦  The Bazeos Tower website contains a listing of all exhibitions and live performances being held at the 17th-Century monument, which is situated 12 km from Naxos Town;

♦  The What’s On section of the naxos-web.com portal has a chart showing dates and venues for most of the events taking place on the island in August; and

♦ The Naxos and Small Cyclades website includes a detailed day-by-day list of events and activities not just on Naxos, but also on the nearby islands of Schinoussa, Koufonissia, Donoussa, and Iraklia; and

♦ the Naxos Festival Facebook page contains a wealth of photos and informational posts about the festival lineup.

Since most events take place during the evening or at night, Naxos visitors will have plenty of time to enjoy the island’s fabulous beaches and scenic towns and villages before taking in the entertainment.

On page 2, I have posted dozens of promotional posters providing information about many the August events. Click on the link below to continue reading.

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Cyclades islands celebrate summer with festivals for food & wine, arts & literature, culture & sports

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International Festival of the Aegean

A promotional poster for the 10th Annual International Festival of the Aegean taking place July 6 to 19 in Ermoupoli on Syros island.

 

Food & culture fests: I love travelling to Greek islands during low season, particularly in the spring, but that means I always miss out on major cultural and gastronomical celebrations that are held only during the summer.

Just in the Cyclades group of islands this month alone, a wide variety of food & wine festivals, painting & photography shows, arts & literature events and fun sport competitions will be taking place on Antiparos, Naxos, Paros, Santorini, Schinoussa, Serifos and Syros.

(Cultural events abound in other island groups, too, and of course there are scores of religious festivals throughout the country, many of which take place during the summer. But those are topics I’ll cover in future posts.)

Below is an outline of just a few of the festivities you can check out if you happen to be island hopping in the Cyclades between this weekend and the end of September. You’re in for a big surprise if you thought the Greek islands were only about picturesque villages, beautiful sandy beaches and gorgeous scenery!

 Click on the 2 in the link below to continue reading about activities on Antiparos, Santorini, Naxos, Paros, Schinoussa, Syros, Serifos and Mykonos.

 

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