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September 26, 2009

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GREEK TOURISM 20092 THE NATIONAL HERALD, SEPTEMBER 26, 2009

Religious travelling is not some-thing new. It has been and still re-mains the oldest and prevailingform of travelling in human Histo-ry. In Greece, religious tourismstems from pilgrimage related ac-tivities, well rooted in past ages.From very ancient times, pilgrim-age has been a strong incentivewhich made people [travel towardsreligious sites all over Greece.Moreover, religion, as a culturalfeature, is closely related tottourism, thus constituting a spe-cial tourist activity based on dis-tinct cultural backgrounds and tra-ditions.

Since Antiquity until our days,the Greeks used to express their re-ligiosity, their deep faith and theirdevotion to God which has re-mained the main characteristic ofOrthodoxy for two thousand years.

The foreigners, as well as theGreek visitors, are astonished bythe thousands of Byzantine Tem-ples, the innumerable chapels, theMonastery Dependencies, the con-vents, the Monasteries, the holy pil-grimages and the innumerable reli-gious sites that raise awe.

In many regions Orthodoxy isassociated with constructions andmonuments of worship of variousreligions, which bring out the rarehistorical and cultural value ofGreece. In Greece, the visitor, tour-ing around for religious or sight-seeing reasons, can admire won-derful spots on the islands as wellas on the mainland, in places ofworship, such as monasteries andchurches.

Apart from the religious sites,every year, thousands of touristsvisit the Byzantine and post Byzan-tine works of Art, the mosaics, thewall paintings and thousands of

icons, which testify the devotion tothe traditions and the abiding con-nection between the Art and theReligion.

Some very important religioussites in Greece are the AutonomousMonastic State of the Holy Moun-tain, |the impressive monasteriesof Meteora, Patmos, the island ofApocalypse of John the Apostle, theregions where Paul the Apostletravelled to during his journeys, themonastic center of Papikion moun-tain in Thrace (Rodopi), the uniquepilgrimages in the Churches of Vir-gin Mary, such as Panagia (VirginMary) of (Tinos, Panagia Soumela,Panagia Ekatontapyliani etc.

The splendid Greek nature is in-tertwined with the blessing of God.Every rock, every cobblestonepavement, every mountain and is-land is a path to the spiritual exalta-tion. The travel to the other side |ofGreece, which reflects the sense ofreligiosity during the centuries, is,basically, a trip through time. Ex-plore it!

DISCOVER MOUNT ATHOSWhich the splendid Au-

tonomous Monastic State of theHoly Mountain, man meets God.Time is no longer important. In theEaster peninsula of Chalkidiki, inthe so-called "Garden of VirginMary", the spiritual heaven is iden-tified to the indescribable naturalbeauty. For centuries the monkshave led their monastic life in thetwenty big monasteries, in the con-vents, in the retreats and in the her-mitages. The Mount Ahtos (height2.033 m.), in full blossom and im-posing, emerges with dignity fromthe Northern Aegean Sea.

The visitor has the uniquechance to experience a different

kind of life in the Monastic State ofMount Athos. The imposing histori-cal Monasteries, the marvellouscells built in caves or pendulousover rocks, castles, cupolas andcampaniles, have been standing onthe edge of the mountains for morethan a thousand years...

The psalmodies reach the skyand transfer the visitors into... an-other dimension!

In this ark of Orthodoxy, every-thing follows a different rythm oflife: the habits, the philosophy andthe thoughts, the landscape, thenature, the calendar (the Julianone), the time (the Byzantine cere-monial is still followed), the termi-nology, the food, the greeting,even.. the animals! Wherever thevisitor goes, he will be fascinatedby the beauty of nature and theidyllic landscapes, which he can ex-plore by following the mountainpaths.

DISCOVER METEORAIn the North-western side of

Thessaly, in the province of Trikala,right in the heart of the Greekmainland, one can see the massifrocks of Meteora. Their magnifi-cent beauty has been captivatingthe scientists' interest for centuriesand the site is ideal for asceticismand prayer for both monks and pil-grims. On the rocks of Meteora,which are made of mud, graniteand firestone and have a geologicalhistory of 60 million years, hasbeen developed one of the most sig-nificant movements of asceticism inthe history of the Orthodox reli-gion.

The absolute silence, the over-whelming rocks, the crypts, thecaves and the cavities inspire visi-tors with the sense of contact with

God. In the early 11th century thefirst anachorites living in the cavesin Meteora wanted to find a placeto pray, to communicate with Godand devote to him. In the 14th cen-tury, Athanassios the Meteoritefounded the Great Meteora. Sincethen, and for more than 600 years,hundreds of monks and thousandsof believers have travelled to thisholy site in order to pray.

The monks faced enormousproblems due to the 400 meterheight of the Holy Rocks. They builtaerial ladders and they used nets inorder to secure the pas between themonasteries. Today the pilgrimsuse the 200 steps so as to climb tothe 24 monasteries of the MeteoraRocks. They stand with respect andawe of this symbol of Christianity.

UNESCO had included the HolyRocks of Meteora on the lists of theWorld Heritage Sites.

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF PAULTHE APOSTLE

Paul the Apostle, also known asthe Apostle of Nations, is one of thegreatest personalities in the historyof Christianity as well as a very im-portant teacher of the faith and theevolution of Theology. Saul, the ex-prosecutor of the first Christians,was the Apostle who travelledaround the known world of thattime so as deliver the message ofJesus' Crucifixion and Resurrec-tion. During his three journeys, heencountered huge difficulties: hewas imprisoned and tortured, buthe never abandon his mission.

He preached in sixteen differentregions in Greece. His Epistles tothe Corinthians, the Philippians,the Thessalonians, the Ephesiansand the Romans preserve hispreaches.

Paul begins his journey in 49A.D. to Via Egnatia, a large roadconstructed by the ProconsulGnaius Egnatius. Via Egnatia waslinking Dyrrhachium, on the Adri-atic Sea, with Byzantium and wasthe route that connected all the bigcities of Macedonia.

From Samothrace, Paul theApostle went to Neapolis, in the re-gion of Kavala, in the northern partof Greece.

On Samothrace, one of the mostbeautiful and important islands inthe northeast Aegean, have sur-vived many Byzantine Temples andfindings of priceless archaeologicalvalue that point out the times of thegreat heyday that the island en-joyed. The state of Nike (Victory) ofSamothrace, which is nowadays inthe Louvre Museum in Paris, aswell as the columns in various partsall over the island and particularlyin Paliapolis, the ancient city ofSamothrace, reflect the high levelof civilization during Antiquity,mostly during the HellenisticTimes. The sanctuary of Samoth-race was accessible to all those whodesired to be initiated into the mys-teries of the Cabeiri.

Philippi: The vast archaeologi-cal site and the Early ChristianTemples that exist up to now pointout the importance of the city.

Today in Philippi there is one ofthe most important archaeologicalsites of Greece, while a part of theancient market (Agora) and EarlyChristian Basillicas (5th centuryA.B.) have survived.

On his way to Thessalonica, Paulthe Apostle visited also Amphipolisand Apollonia.

Amphipolis, one of the most im-portant cities of Macedonia, wasfounded in 437 B.C. bye GeneralAgnon, son of Nikias and enjoyed agreat heyday in the times of PhillipII, King of Macedonia.

Apollonia was built on the southshore of Lake Volvi in 432 B.C. bycolonists from Chalkis in Euboea.Near the Northern side of the an-cient Temple of God Apollo therewas the "Bema of Paul the Apostle"and the waters that ran from a

spring, a little way beyond, wereconsidered to be his sacred fount(hagiasma).

Thessalonica: The city wasfounded by Cassander in 315 B.C.and named after his wife, Thessa-lonike, sister of Alexander theGreat. Paul the Apostle reached thecity in autumn of 49 A.D.

Splendid Early Christian andByzantine Temples of very impor-tant historical value, such as theAcheiropoietos (5th century A.D.)and the Church of the Holy Wisdomof God (Agia Sophia) of the 7thcentury A.D. seem to have beenbuilt on the ruins of the Early Chris-tian Basilica. The Church of Pana-gia Chalkeon (1028 A.D.), SaintDemetrios Temple. patron Saintand protector of the city, that wasbuilt on the ruins of the thermae inwhich the great martyr was impris-oned and inhumed in 303 A.D. area few of the Churches that one canvisit today. The ancient market, theTriumphal Arch and the Palace ofGalerius, a part of which has sur-vived in Navarinou Square, the Ro-tunda, which was built in 4th cen-tury A.D. and was converted into aChristian Church during the reignof Theodosius the Great, take abackthe visitors.

Athens: Paul the Apostle visitedAthens in 51 A.D., the city of Philos-ophy, Intellection, Arts andParthenon. The ship carrying theApostle, dropped anchor atPhaleron, which was then the mainport of Athens and walked to thecity where he found an altar withthe inscription "to the unknownGod". While he was waiting for hisstudents, Silas and Timothy, to ar-rive from Macedonia, he walkedacross the ancient market and theAcropolis, he visited the synagogueand discussed with the philoso-phers of that time, until the mo-ment he was taken to the Aeropa-gus in order to preach formally forthe Unknown God. Today in Athensthere are many Early Christian andByzantine Churches, such as Kap-nikarea (11th century A.D.), theMonastery of Kaisariani (11th cen-tury A.D.) with wall-paintings dat-ing back to the sixteenth centuryA.D., a Church dedicated to Paulthe Apostle (1887 A.D.) in theheart of Athens etc.

Corinth: In the early 50 A.D. theApostle arrived at Corinth where hestayed for 18 months. During histhird journey Paul passed from Les-bos, Chios, and Samos, three won-derful islands of Northern Aegean.The ancient monuments, theChurches and the Monasteries ofthe Byzantine era attract thousandsof visitors every year.

Kos and Rhodes: On Kow, the is-land where Medicine advancedduring Antiquity by Hippocrates,known as the Father of Medicine,the Apostle preached near the bigplatan.

Rhodes, one of most beautifulGreek islands, was inhabited dur-ing the Neolithic Period.

The island, full of findings andcastles, is one of the best destina-tions since tourists can admire an-cient Greek and Roman creationsas well as the castle of the Order ofthe Knights of St. John ofJerusalem (Hospitaliers).

Panagia Soumela, Macedonia:After the Catastrophe in Asia Mi-nor, the refugees that came toGreece from the area of the BlackSea built on the slopes of MountVermion, the Monastery of PanagiaSoumela. Pilgrims visit theMonastery in order to pay homageto the miraculous icon which wascarried from the Monastery onMelas Mountain (Black Sea).. It issaid that the icon was carved onwood by Lucas the Evangelist andwas found in Athens,

Monastery of Agios Nikolaos ofPhilanthropenoi, Epirus: One of themost significant religious monu-ments in Greece is the Monastery of

Agios Nikolaos of Philanthropenoi.It is situated on the island of LakePamvotis in Ioannina. It was found-ed at the end of the 13th c by thePhilanthropenoi, a noble Constan-tinople family. The church's fres-coes dated to the 16th c. are excel-lent samples of post-Byzantinepainting. Visitors should not miss inthe northern outer narthex the fa-mous fresco depicting the greatGreek philosophers and symboliz-ing the union between the ancientGreek spirit and Christianity.

Monastery of Panagia Olympio-tissa, Thessaly: The Monastery ofPanagia Olympiotissa was foundedin the 13th c by the Byzantine Em-peror Andronicus II Paleologus. It isdedicated to the Assumption of theVirgin Mary. Those of its frescoesthat have been preserved to thepresent day were painted in the13th c as well by Manuel Panseli-nos, the great master of the Mace-donian Icon Painting School.Through the passage of time, theMonastery has been subject toraids, destruction, and pillagingnot only during the Turkish Occu-pation but during the Nazi one aswell. The monastery maintains anextensive library which owes its ex-istence to the generous donation of400 volumes on theology and liter-ature by Anthimos Otympiotis, acelebrated scholar.

Monastery of Hosios Loukas,Central Greece: The Monastery ofHosios Loukas Steriotis in Beotia ishome to two of the most significantreligious monuments in Greece,dating back to Byzantine times: thechurch of the Virgin Mary (10th c)and the monastery's katholikon(11th c). Both structures commandthe awe and admiration of contem-porary visitors since they are char-acterized by impressive masonryand magnificent yet refined archi-tectural elements and sculptureswhich bear testimony to the imper-ial care lavished on the buildings.The Monastery of Hosios Loukashas been included in UNESCO'sWorld Heritage List.

Mega Spilaio, Peloponnese:Built on a rugged, forbidding cliff,the historic Mega Spilaio of Kalavri-ta rises 120 meters above theVouraikos canyon. According totradition, the monastery wasfounded by two monks from Thes-saloniki, Symeon and Theodorusafter they had discovered themiraculous icon of Panagia Dex-iokratousa (Our Lady Holding HolyInfant in her right arm) which hadbeen painted by Luke the Evange-list. Mega Spilaio became the hubof revolutionary activities duringthe Greek War of Independence,which culminated with themonastery's staving off the advanc-ing armies of Ibrahim Pasha in1827. Home to the sacred icon ofthe Virgin Mary as well as to manysaints' relics, it also houses a muse-um with remarkable historical ob-jects from the Greek War of Inde-pendence.

Panagia Hozoviotissa, Amorgos:The Monastery of Panagia Hozovio-tissa is built on eight successive lev-els on the vertical face of a cliff for-mation and it is no wider than 5meters. Tradition has it that theMonastery was founded during theperiod of Iconomachy (8th-9th c),when the icon of the Virgin Maryreached in a miraculous way the is-land of Amorgos from Hozova,Palestine. Other tales of traditionclaim that the monastery wasfounded by Alexius I Comnenus in1088. The icon of the Virgin Maryrests in the monastery's katholicon.On display in the vestry there arenumerous ecclesiastical relics suchas sigils, gospel books, manu-scripts, canonical vestments.

Monastery of Panagia Archange-liotissa, Thrace: The monastery issituated in a forested area ofRodopi, near Xanthi. It was found-ed in the 14th c and is dedicated to

RELIGIOUS TOURISM

Discover The Other Face of Greece

Monastery of Panaghia Chozoviotissa (Amorgos)

Monastery of Aghios Panteleimon (Aghio Oros - Mount Athos)

Typical church in Oia, Santorini

GREEK TOURISM 2009THE NATIONAL HERALD, SEPTEMBER 26, 2009 3

the Assumption of the Virgin Mary(Koimisis tes Theotokou). Duringthe times of Turkish Occupation itwas the cultural hub and refuge ofChristians in the area. It was heavi-ly damaged by the 1829 cata-strophic earthquake but the contri-butions of Xanthi's economicallyrobust tobacco merchants helpedtowards the monastery's restora-tion. Among the religious treasuresstill at the monastery there is theicon of Panagia Odegetria (15th c),the despotic icons depicting JesusChrist High Priest and the VirginMary, Mother of Christ (16th-17thc), the resident icon of the VirginMary Archangel iotissa (Our Ladyof Archangels).

Nea Moni (New Monastery) ofChios, N.E. Aegean: Chios' mostsignificant religious monumentwas founded in the middle of the11th c by Byzantine emperor Con-stantine IX Monomachos. TheMonastery's katholikon is a master-ful sample of the octagon architec-tural type common at the islands. Itis elaborately decorated in the inte-rior with trompe I'oeil marble fin-ishes, mosaics, and precious mate-rials which indicate the care lav-ished on the monastery by the em-peror. The Nea Moni of Chios is in-cluded in UNESCO's World Her-itage List.

Monastery of TaxiarchArchangel Michael, Panormitis, Do-decanese: The Monastery ofArchangel Michael nestles in agrove of olive trees, firs, and cy-presses on the Gulf of Panormos,Symi. It is a major pilgrimage siteof Greece. It was founded duringthe Frankish Occupation (1309-1522) and was rebuilt in 1783 afterthe extensive damage it sustainedin mid-18th c. During the GreekWar of Independence, themonastery supported the causewith money and supplies and en-gaged in educational activitiesthroughout the 19th c. Themonastery's 1783 katholikon is lav-

ishly decorated by frescoes paintedby the brothers Karakostis. Itswood-carved iconostasis holds themiraculous, silver-plated icon ofTaxiarch Archangel Michael, whichdraws thousands of pilgrims everyyear.

Monastery of Panagia Akrotiri-ani Toplou: One of the most historicmonasteries in Crete is that ofPanagia Akrotiriani which owes itsname to its geographical positionon the eastern shores of Crete. Itwas founded in the 14th c and hasbeen restored as many times as ithas been damaged. During theVenetian Occupation themonastery of Panagia Akrotirianibecame a major cultural hub andcontributed to the Cretan renais-sance. The Toplou monastic com-plex combines diverse Byzantineand western monastic architecturalelements. Both the aisleless, barrel-vaulted katholikon with its gabledfanade and the splendidly ornatebelfry bear pronounced renais-sance influences. The monastery'sMuseum is noteworthy housing anextensive collection of icons,canonical vestments, ecclesiasticalvessels, rare manuscripts, and cop-per engravings.

Monastery of Panagia Vlacher-non, Ionian Islands: This is one ofthe most impressive sites on Corfu.The monastery is built on an isletjoined to the mainland by a cen-turies old promotory. From theMonastery of Panagia Vlachernonleave boats that go to the famousPontikonissi (Mouse island), asmall vendurous island, with a 13thc. church, that has inspired manyartists in the world.

Monastery of Daphni, Athens:The Monastery of Koimisis tisTheotokou (Assumption of the Vir-gin Mary) in Daphni constitutesone of the most significant Greekreligious monuments. The monas-tic complex dates back to the end of

the 11th c: The monastery's exquis-itely designed cross-in-square, oc-tagon katholikon is lavishly deco-rated. Visitors entering its interiorare met by a wealth of splendid mo-saics: they are unique samples ofByzantium's classical period in art(Middle Byzantine Period) whichwas inspired by classical idealism.The Monastery of Daphni is amongthose Greek heritage monumentsthat have been included in UN-ESCO's World Heritage List.

DISCOVER PATMOSTHE ISLAND OF APOCALYPSE

The small island of Patmos, partof the Dodecanese islands, has a2.500 long history. The first histori-cal reference to Patmos was attrib-uted to Thucydides who describedit as a rocky island.

Since 95 A.D. Patmos has been alandmark in the history of Chris-tianity, Theology and History. Johnthe Apostle, the beloved student ofChrist who lived in Ephesus at thattime, has been exiled to Patmos, aplace of inspiration and communi-cation with God, where he wouldwrite down the words of the Cre-ator about the Last Judgement.

The Apostle had the honour tobe an eyewitness of the life and theHoly Words of Jesus and he wrotehis Apocalypse in a cave, a placevisited even nowadays by thou-sands of pilgrims who wish to prayand meditate.

The island of the Apocalypse is areference point for all Christians to-day. The Monastery of John theEvangelist and the Cave of theApocalypse, where Saint John wasinspired, constitute one of the mostimportant centres of monastic lifefor the Orthodox world.

The wall paintings of theMonastery and the Cave convey tothe believers the message of Reve-lations, the dedication to God andthe sacrifice of John the Apostle.

In the library of the Monasteryyou can find:

* The "Purple Codex" of the 6thcentury A.D.: it is constituted by 33purple leaves of Fine parchment. Itis written with silver writing andincludes extracts from the Gospelof Saint Mark.

* There are more than 1000manuscripts of theological content:Gospels, psalters, benedictionalsand manuscripts of the Fathers ofthe Church, of Saint Vasilios, ofSaint John Chrysostom and ofEvangelist John the Theologian.

* The golden stamps of theByzantine Emperors and the docu-ments sent by the Ecumenical Patri-archs to the Monastery.

DISCOVER THE CHURCHESPanagia Kosmosoteira, Thrace:

The church of Panagia Kos-mosoteira (Our Lady, Saviour of theWorld) and parts of the fortified en-closure that once surrounded themonastery by the same name aresituated in the small town of Feres,Evros. The monastic complex wasestablished in 1151/2 by Sebas-tokrator Isaac (Isaakios) Com-nenus, third son of Alexius I Com-nenus. The church is a two-pilaster,domed, cross-in-square edifice withstrong influences from Constan-tinople. The wall frescoes are ex-pressed dramatically depicting acelestial world seen through theeyes of ascetic ideals.

Church of Agios Dimitrios, Thes-saloniki: This magnificent church isdedicated to Thessaloniki's patronsaint and was built on the sitewhere saint Dimitrios underwenthis trials and tribulations. It is a sig-nificant 5th c AD monument builtas a three-aisled basilica. It is im-pressively and richly decorated byByzantine sculptures and paintings(mosaics, wall frescoes, trompeI'oeil marble finishes, andwreathed pilasters) .The churchwas ravaged by the great fire of1917 which also destroyed a large

part of the city. It was eventually re-stored and opened its doors for ser-vices in 1948.

Panagia Paregoritissa, Epirus: Itis an imposing Byzantine churchdedicated to the Annunciation ofthe Virgin Mary (Evangelismos tisTheotokou). It was built at the endof the 13th c by Nicephorus I Com-nenus Ducas, ruler of Epirus. Lav-ishly decorated, the church is builtin the unique Byzantine octagon,cross-in-square architectural style,eloquent witness to the economicand cultural prominence of theDespotate of Epirus at the time.The basilica's central dome, whichbears a magnificent Christ Pan-tokrator mosaic, is famous for theingenuous method used in its struc-tural support.

The Church of Evangelistria,Central Greece: Amfissa's metro-politan church is dedicated to theAnnunciation of the Virgin Mary. Itis a 19th c structure where the oldharmoniously blends with the new.It follows the Byzantine style of ar-chitecture and is renowned for itssplendid religious paintings whichis the work of eminent Greekpainter Spyros Papaloukas.

Mystras, Peloponnese: On theslopes of Mount Taygetos, Mystras,city of castles or "Byzantine Pom-peii", has defied the ravages oftime. Seat of the Despotate ofMoreas since the 14th c, Mystrasbecame the cradle of cultural re-naissance in the Late-Byzantine pe-riod. The religious monumentserected around the palace of thePaleologus family are numerousand incomparable: To name but afew: Agios Dimitrios (Metropolis -13th/14th c); Agii Theodori (13thc); Panagia Odegetria (14th c);Agia Sofia (mid-14th c); and theMonasteries of Perivleptos (14thc), Evangelistria (15th c), and Pan-tanassa (15th c). In 1990, Mystraswas included in UNESCO's WorldHeritage List of cultural monu-ments.

Panagia of Tinos, Cyclades: TheChurch of Panagia Evangelistria onthe island of Tinos is the most pop-ular pilgrimage destination inGreece. Made of white marble in1823, the Church of Megalochari(Our Lady of Supreme Grace) is theepicenter of the annual pilgrimagethat takes place on August 15, theday when the Assumption of theVirgin Mary (Koimisis tes Theotok-ou) is celebrated by Christian Or-thodoxy. The Icon of the Annuncia-tion of the Virgin Mary (Evangelis-mos tes Theotokou) was discov-ered after Agia Pelagia, a nun, hadhad a vision about the location ofthe icon. Hundreds of votive offer-ings, all dedication of the faithfullto the Virgin Mary of Tinos, adornthe interior of the church.

Church of Saints Constantine &Helen, Thessaly: Built in a sceniclocation, the Church of Saints Con-stantine & Helen is situated literal-ly by the seafront of the city of Vo-los. It was built in 1933 by Aris-totelis Zachos, one of Greece's mosteminent architects. The church's ar-chitecture successfully combinesthe traditional basilica elementswith its austere stone surfaces. Thestructure of the church blends har-moniously with the seascape andhas become a point of reference forthe city's numerous visitors.

Agios Dionysios, Ionian Islands:The magnificent basilica of AgiosDionysios in Zakynthos vividly re-minds one of Venice's San MarcoCathedral as it rises in immaculate-ly white splendor next to its 40-me-ter high belfry. The Saint's reli-quary, indestructible and emanat-ing myrrh, came from the HolyMonastery of Strofades and is pre-served within the church. It isworth seeing the elaboratelycarved iconostasis and the church'sawe-inspiring icons.

Church of Panagia Kera, Crete:The church of Panagia Kera (OurLady) is situated near the villageKritsa in Lassithi and constitutesone of the most significant religiousmonuments of Crete. It is a 13th c,domed, three-aisled, barrel-vaultedchurch. Its architectural and reli-gious particularity is that each oneof its three aisles is dedicated to adifferent religious figure: the cen-

tral and oldest aisle is dedicated tothe Virgin Mary; the northern andsouthern ones that were built laterare dedicated to Agios Antoniosand Agia Anna, respectively.

Agios Therapon, N.E. Aegean:The church of Agios Therapon(1850) with its characteristic mas-sive dome is identified with the is-land of Mytilini and attracts visitorsin terms of both religion and archi-tecture. It is the work of ArgyrisAdalis, a native son of Lesbos(Mytilini), who had been a studentof the eminent architects of thetime, Ziller and Hansen. Thechurch's architecture shows signifi-cant neo-gothic influences al-though it does belong to the tradi-tional Byzantine style of domed,cross-in-square churches. The roofis a breathtaking masterpiece: Foursmall domes form a wreath around

the edifice, with a fifth, massivedome in their midst.

Evangelismos tis Theotokou,Dodecanese: The metropolitanchurch of the Annunciation of theVirgin Mary is situated in the areaof Mandraki in Rhodes. It was builtin 1925 by the Italians who drewfrom the plans of an earlier churchdedicated to Agios loannis and de-stroyed in an explosion. Its archi-tecture brings together Gothic andRomanesque elements. Thechurch's interior is decorated withNeo-byzantine frescoes painted byrenowned hagiographer Fotis Kon-toglou. The church also features achapel lavishly decorated withsculptures: it was intended for theinterment of the sarcophagi con-taining the remains of the GrandMasters of the Knights Templars.

The Church of Evangelismos tis

Theotokou (Athens Cathedral): Thecathedral of Athens is situated in thecapital's historical center onMitropoleos Street. It is dedicated tothe Annunciation of the Virgin Maryand is a domed, three-aisled basilicabuilt in 1842-1862. It became onethe first recorded edifices of the citywhen the latter was designated asthe seat of the Greek state. The orig-inal architectural plans were drawnby Theofilus Hansen but were laterconverted and the basilica was even-tually built after the drawings of D.Zezos which followed the "Greco-Byzantine" style. Works on thechurch were completed under thesupervision of architects F.Boulanger and P. Kalkos. After suc-cessive style changes, the church hasemerged as a blend of Byzantine tra-dition and European neoclassical el-ements.

The Sanctuary of the Great Gods (Samothrace)

Church of Panagia Evangelistria (Tinos)

Monastery of Panagia Vlachernon (Corfu)

Cave of the Apocalypse (Patmos)

Monastery of Aghia Varvara Rousanou (Meteora)

GREEK TOURISM 20094 THE NATIONAL HERALD, SEPTEMBER 26, 2009

GREEK TOURISM 2009THE NATIONAL HERALD, SEPTEMBER 26, 2009 5

GREEK TOURISM 20096 THE NATIONAL HERALD, SEPTEMBER 26, 2009

Touring Greece is a unique journey full of ad-ventures and knowledge. A road where thequintessence of adventure lies within the explo-ration, where the evergreen vista of imposingmountains blends harmonically with the vast,deep blue seas, to portray the versatile mosaic,Greece.

Challenges vary. Ascending on green moun-tains, exploring the sublime caves, sailing thehistoric greek seas with their friendly harborsand the indigo beaches, descending frozenrivers... Even greater knowledge is gainedthrough encountering regional fauna and visit-

ing precious biotopes and national eco-parks, aswell as traditional settlements that conceal along-lived history and a profound continuationof old greek morals and customs.

Vivid colours and breathtaking images ac-company every journey, whilst sounds and fra-grances conveying Greece, stay in the memoryfor ever... How can one resist the magic of acrimson sun-setting sky, when the sun dives intothe emerald sea or the mysterious hazy atmos-phere that dominates at sunrise on a steepfrozen greek mountain peak? The scent of pine-trees, olives and oaks, the upstanding flying of

seagulls, the gurgle of ice-cold water from thewellsprings of a mountain village and the odourof home-made, traditional pies stimulate allsenses.

Touring Greece from North to South, mile-stones are set by emotion-stirring locations,thrilling landscapes and tranquil ecosystems,rendering the entire trip unforgettable. ModernGreece invites travellers to challenge themselvesand experience all it has to offer with a singlegoal in mind: tour around each and every siteand fall in love with its unmatched natural beau-ty...

TOURING

Discover The Beauty

Picturesque scenery, wild nature,unpaved routes and graphic villagesset the scene as one approaches theMacedonia region. A typical greekcoastline along with lakes, moun-tains, rivers and forests hosting a ver-satile flora and fauna altogether con-stitute the well-preserved ecosystemof Macedonia.

Touring begins from Nestos river,whose crystal clear waters runthrough deep valleys and gorges,while its magical aquatic reserveawaits to be discovered. All visitorsare seduced by the sound of absolutesilence, interrupted only by the be-witching birds' singing.

Travelling around, visitors getcaught up by the constantly alternat-ing view. Peaceful lakes interchangedby steep mountains and small ruralcommunities spreading throughoutthe area constitute a completely se-cluded setting, extremely distant

from the hectic urban lifestyle. A per-fect example is the mountain-villageNympheo, where distinctive architec-ture blends with natural splendour.

In Macedonia, numerous organi-zations with a sense of high environ-mental responsibility are dedicatedto protect local wildlife and conservethe animals' natural habitat.

For those who prefer alternativeways of touring, there is a variety ofski resorts at the mountains Kaimakt-salan, Vassilitsa, Vermio and Vernothat can be combined with sightsee-ing routes at the lake of Kerkini or theEdessa waterfalls. Eco-tourists can al-so find themselves very close to ruraland agricultural areas and familiar-ize themselves or even participate inthe production of the unique localproducts, like the fine wines and thedelicious varieties of cheese. Addi-tionally, the exclusive naturally sour-flavoured water stemming from the

headsprings of the Xino Nero village,never fails to amaze visitors.

Bird-spotting at the Prespes lakedistrict, travellers find the petite is-land of Agios Ahilios, where the smallchurch confers an utter ritualistic at-mosphere. At Kastoria, visitors willenjoy the local delicacies gazing atthe lake, which remains magical allyear round. Revived local customs,like the ancient masquerade custom"Ragoutsaria", along with the mod-ern music festival "River Party", con-stitute only a tiny portion of the di-verse cultural character of the town.

The 'smaragdine' island of Thas-sos charms the traveller with thewhite sand and the pine trees thatsurround its magnificent beaches.The forests of the inland are ideal forthe nature lovers and for those whowish to explore the mountain-rangesthat lead to picturesque alpine vil-lages.

Discover MACEDONIA

"From the entire world, the bestland is the thessalic land...". Manythings may have changed from thetime when the Oracle of Delphi wasgiving out this divination, however,the land of Centaurs and home ofAsklepius still fascinates visitors withits extraordinary beauty.

Thessaly outstandingly combineslush flora and wonderful beaches,while offering versatile alternativetourism infrastructure. Moreover,the thessalic mountains fulfil everyexpectation; they offer ideal loca-tions for extreme-game aficionados,but one can also enjoy an invigorat-ing walk through apple-trees, maple-trees and firs.

Traditional villages spread acrossalmighty green forests gazing at theAegean Sea, constitute Pelion one ofthe very few areas where snowy

mountain tops are only a breathaway from sandy beaches. Inhabitedby rare bird and mammal species,Olympus, Greece's highest moun-tain, home of the ancient Greek gods,is filled with colours and emotions.

Visiting the villages of Thessalystimulates all senses, from preservedsettlements to the outfalls of Piniosriver, which come across the stun-ning valley of Tembi and host thebeautiful flamingo birds. The land-mark of the Trikala district is thecolossal rock of Meteora, a naturalmonument, imposingly standingthere for millions of years. It is there,where the earth virtually touches thesky and the view from the hospitablemonasteries speaks directly to visi-tors' hearts.

The journey moves on throughstone-built alleys and traditional

houses, clearly revealing the rusticorigin of the region, while closely liesthe Aspropotamos river area, includ-ing eight breathtaking forests. Thelocal myth has it that visitors atNeraidohori (village of fairies) mayactually see fairies dancing in thewoods at night. The rippling of theriver is the only distraction, whenone stares at the magnificent sur-roundings at the bridge of Pyrra.

The journey is reaching a finale,when suddenly visitors are facedwith the stunning Agrafa mountainrange, while memories from the re-gion's biotopes and the vast blue ofPlastira lake come to mind.

One wonders what would be to-day's divination from the Delphi ora-cle... He, who decides the tour toThessaly, definitely shall find out forhimself...

Discover THESSALY

Traditional coffee-shops at pic-turesque squares, home-made delica-cies, modern ski resorts, beaches ,mysterious villages, trails leading toall sorts of off-road activities, explo-ration of caves and forests... CentralGreece surprises all visitors with thenumerous delights it offers.

Touring starts from the Fthiotidaprefecture. First stop Pavliani; a vil-lage equally exciting all year round.In close proximity, Megali Kapsi andthe regional forest-village, where thewooden houses with their big fire-places host visitors. There, one canenjoy mountain hiking, archery andflying-fox. At the historic village ofMavrilo, the centennial platan-treestenderly embrace the travellers.

Continuing the journey towardsthe Fokida region, visitors have thechance to experience Iti, one of themost stunning greek mountains. Restawaits at the seaside of Galaxidi vil-

lage, where the stone-built houseswith their colorful doors and win-dows dominate the scenery. Trav-ellers stand at awe in front of the an-cient monuments located at Delphithe "Center of Earth", as referred toby ancient Greeks. Visitors test them-selves at the challenging ski resort ofParnassos mount, residing eventuallyat Arahova.

With the Acropolis as its eternallandmark, Athens is the ideal desti-nation both for exploration, as wellas entertainment. Enjoy a walkthrough the streets of Plaka, a coffee-break at Mikrolimano at Piraeus withits sea-view and nightlife with livegreek music. For those willing to es-cape the frenetic city vibe, a trip tothe mountains and seas of Atticahides many surprises. Parnithamount and its organized refuge,along with Kitheronas and the manyalternative tourist activities it offers,

make the visit unforgettable. Thecountless Attica shores with the indi-go waters refresh visitors.

Greece's 2nd largest island, Evia,is full of pretty sights. From the im-pressive Drakospita, the megalithicconstructions aged over 4.500 yearsat Ohi mount, to the wildlife habitatsand traditional fishing-villages, trav-ellers enjoy the tour. The renownedhealing spas of Aedipsos, the mythi-cal beaches with the dense pines lag-ging behind the sea and the seasidetaverns as well, constitute the coast-line of Evia, which combines it all...

Close to Athens, the travellermeets the island complex of the Sa-ronikos Gulf, islands with significanthistory and tradition. The magnifi-cent beaches, the picturesque villagesand the ancient monuments com-pose the charming landscape ofSalamina, Aegina, Angistri, Poros,Hydra and Spetses.

On the Lefka Ori (White Moun-tains) at Hania district, nature loversexperience the entirety of beauty. Vis-iting the national park of the Samariacanyon is astonishing. Mountain hik-ers and climbers find themselves be-witched by the rocky landscape. Astop at the cave of Arkoudiotissa,

where the flowstones' shapes resem-ble a numb bear, never fails to fasci-nate visitors. The prefecture of Haniaalso includes Gavdos island, which isopposite of the south-western coast-line of Crete. Gavdos is a beautifulsmall lowland island with naturalbeaches and wonderful shores.

Touring continues at the Rethym-no district, where the Venetian fort,the Sfendoni cavern and the Koxaregorge harmonically combine man-made and nature's creations. TheKourtaliotis river comes across thecaptivating Preveli region, wherepalm-trees and waterfalls take visi-

tors to a 'tropical dimension'. Climb-ing Idi mount brings forward won-derful sights, whilst the Nida plateauis a perfect base for surprising your-self while discovering the cave ofIdaeo Andro and the Voriziano gorge.

Moving towards the center of theisland at Iraklio district, the myths re-lated to the Kingdom of Knossos arebrought to life, while the humanlikeGiouhta mount and the gorgeousbeaches are merged with the caves of

Kamares and Ilithyia. The Asterous-sia mountains indulge all visitorswho, after having crossed thecanyons and doughs and having metthe local aquatic world, end up at tra-ditional taverns by the sea.

The journey concludes on theeastern coast of Crete at Lasithi dis-trict. The contrast between thesnowy mountain-peaks and the exot-ic forest of Vai, where a unique rangeof palm-trees flourishes, is exception-

al. Advancing, visitors find Sitia re-gion, the point where three conti-nents intersect. Exactly opposite, thetravellers meet the Dionysades is-lands, which constitute beautifulbiotopes. For visitors touring Chryssiisle, the setting of sapphire watersnext to the golden sand under theforests is not Utopian. Reaching thegorge of Ha with its petite lakes andchallenging canyon next to the caveof Diktaeo Andro.

Discover CENTRAL GREECE & EVIA

Argolida, Korinthia, Ahaia, Ilia,Messinia, Lakonia, Arkadia... Eachplace, a different history...

Departing from the eastern Pelo-ponnese and terminating at themountains of Arkadia, the traveller isaccompanied by recollections fromthe Ancient Theater of Epidavros, thebreath-taking and imposing Palamidicastle and the monuments at the his-torical Ancient Olympia, the birth-place of the Olympic Games.

The natural surroundings aroundthe Dassios lake, as well as the arche-ologically and ecologically-intriguingFeneos mountain are ideal for out-door activities.

At the city of Patra, one can enjoythe vivacious carnival, an integralpart of the region's festive atmos-phere. Moving further, the travellercan experience challenging off-road4x4 expeditions, the snowy moun-taintops at the ski resort of Kalavryta,

the wonderful Limnes cave and theFoloi forest.

Heading West, the Kyllini spas area place of sheer relaxation and seren-ity, while kayak and rafting enthusi-asts can discover the inner magnifi-cence of the gorge at Alfios river.

The journey, 'overflowed' with col-ors and sounds, carries on at Loussiosriver, where the plateau, the water-falls along with the imposing canyon,the stone bridges and the greencoasts arouse the interest of all tour-ing aficionados. The ancient baths ofAsklepius seduce all hiking fans.

Going South, where the Perithorioforest and the Neda gorge astonishvisitors, greek nature becomes a truechallenge, but also delight.

At the heart of Peloponnese,stands the Menalo mount, where vir-gin forests provide a safe haven to en-demic wildlife. From the traditionalproducts of Vytina village to the

"Chestnut Feast", that takes placeevery October at Kastanitsa village,visitors can experience local moresand customs in their very essence.

Crossing the breathtaking Tayge-tos mountain, passing through thecastles of Mystras, one stares at thescenery, takes note of all nature'ssounds and discovers its very secrets.Hiking on precipitous paths, the trav-eller meets the mountain region ofMani, while the Dyros cave leads tothe gorge of Larnaka, where rarespecies of butterflies and remains ofaged water-mills can be found. Thecontrasting scenery transfers thetraveller at the marvellous beaches ofElafonissos.

Final destination is the island ofgoddess Aphrodite, where gorges,caves and creeks harmonically mergewith beaches and indigo waters. Ex-actly there, the breathtaking land-scape of Kythira is formed.

Discover PELOPONNESE

Epirus is an adventure of experi-ences and emotions.

Approaching the northwesternpart of Greece, Epirus 'stands up' toexpectations. The imposingTzoumerka mountains, among thefew areas not submitting to technol-ogy, along with Smolikas, the sec-ond highest greek mountain, andthe peak of Grammes mount set thegenuinely highland scenery. Firsclimb up the steep rocks, reachingthe naked alpine zone, while visi-tors tour in high altitude within theintact nature at the outstanding for-est village Kedros.

Amid the various national eco-parks, Valia Calda (Warm Valley),established in 1966 aiming at theprotection of provincial wildlife, of-fers an exceptional touring experi-ence.

The wild mountain beauty is em-phasized by the numerous rivers of

the region, such as Greece's secondlongest river, Aheloos, and the 'ad-venturous' Arahthos, Aoos andVoidomatis, ideal destinations forall rafting and kayaking aficiona-dos. Human intervention lies solelyin the stone bridges - true works ofart - spread all over the area. Mostfamous is the bridge of Plaka, with aspan of 40 metres and height of 20metres, considered among the mostdifficult single-arch bridges tobuild.

Truly outstanding, the Zagoro-horia district consists of 46 villageslocated throughout the mountains.Each exquisite village can serve as astarting point for expeditions to ex-plore the fascinating nature. Inclose proximity visitors find Vikoscanyon, the second deepest canyonin the world, bearing an admirableecosystem of 1.700 plants and 182animals, awaiting to be experi-

enced.Visitors are equally over-

whelmed by the scenery at the loan-nina lake. Also called "Pamvotis"(the all-feeding), the lake standscalm, though sometimes frozenduring winter and is still consideredas the center of attraction of the re-gion. It is believed to be firstly in-habited by man 21.000 years ago.

Still, it is the combination of pic-turesque landscapes and culturalactivities that renders Epirus aunique destination. Byzantinechurches and folklore museums co-exist with turbulent rivers ideal forrafting, along with smooth slopesperfect for paragliding, whilsteveryone can get acquainted oreven participate in agricultural ac-tivities. Traditional customs authen-tically revived, in addition to localhospitality, make Epirus simply un-forgettable.

Discover EPIRUS

Discover CRETE

The landscape is lush green, thewaters deep blue, the local cuisinedelicious. Locals turn their everyword to song, their every move todance. The Ionian Sea's naturalsplendour seems impervious to time.

The "Ionian Queen", Corfu, evi-dently influenced by Venetians, of-fers sublime mountain vegetationcoming in astounding contradictionwith its dazzling seas. Enjoying thefamous home-made pastitsada dishand sipping the renowned KoumKouat liqueur, visitors wander thekantounia (alleys), leading to fortsand mansions, places of historic de-cision-making.

Heading South, Paxi and An-tipaxi, truly green oases within thevast blue of the Ionian Sea, bewitchvisitors through their versatile mor-phology. Calm ports and harbours,

sea-caves and footpaths set the scenewhere, according to ancient mythol-ogy, Poseidon and Amphitriti fell inlove.

The journey continues in Lefka-da, the 'mainlander island', which iseasily accessible by car. Pine-forestsand olive groves, streaming water-falls and fountains of gargling watertempt all hikers. The tour is completeonly after tasting the fish delicaciesbourdeto, cod bianco and maridopi-ta (tiddler-pie).

Further towards the South, onefinds the birthplace of Odysseus,Ithaca. On top ofAetos (eagle)mount visitors have the chance to ex-plore the ancient citadel called "ThePalace of Odysseus", while the sur-rounding villages fill the backgroundwith scents and colours.

One breath away is our next stop,

Kefalonia. Picturesque villages, fer-tile lands, steep rocks and a magicalcoastline shape the island's image,while the Aenos national park, host-ing a rare and unique in Europespecies of black fir, never fails to fas-cinate visitors.

From the crystal waters of southIonian Sea emerges the island of Za-kynthos, the island of serenade andoperetta, where emotions aredressed in notes. The "Flower of Lev-anter" (Eastern Blossom) has moun-tain regions idyllically extending tothe seashores. Visitors are captivatedby the aquatic park of Laganasbeach, which is inhabited by amediterranean species of sea turtle(Caretta caretta), one of the rarestanimals.

The tour in the Ionian Sea's na-ture rejuvenates and becalms...

Discover IONIAN SEA

Thrace is a place of history, withexceptional ecosystems and virginforests, a meeting point betweenwestern lifestyle and oriental culture.Local hospitality mesmerizes visitors,while fauna and flora fascinates...

The natural reserves of Thrace areamong the most significant inGreece. It is here, within the ultimatedominance of nature, within the crys-tal-lake waters and the 'hopeful'green of the forests, where the feastof colours leads through the 'walk oflife'. The area of Thrace hosts one ofthe country's most varied bird-fauna.

Exploration at Dadia forest andVistonida lake, distinctively protect-ed biotopes of the region, as well asthe Evros river estuary take the mindon a journey, with sole companionthe inhabitants of the area, the hun-dreds of rare bird species there.

A wish that time would stand stillis what comes to mind after a visit atthe village of Livaditis, with its wellknown waterfalls. Continuing thetour to Thrace, numerous choices areoffered; hiking on the paths of HaidoNational Park, where the oak-treeforest is aged more than 200 years,climbing Balkan's second tallest wa-terfalls, with over 40 metres of heightand residing at the forest village ofErymanthos, an ideal base for moun-tain hiking, 4x4 off-road driving andtrekking. Amid lakes, rivers, fieldsand forests emerges the seaside andsimultaneously lakeside Porto Lagosvillage. It is at the striking church ofAgios Nikolaos, located in the middleof the lagoon, where visitors becomeone with the thousands of birds fly-ing around them.

Thrace's dreamy locations elevate

the natural beauty of historic places,where one can experience the har-monic coexistence of East and West,by gazing at monumental Orthodoxchurches close to Muslim establish-ments. Touring around Thrace, visi-tors find themselves at the Pomako-horia district, where they can enjoygoing through the little stores of tra-ditional art and get acquainted withthe friendly locals.

At the island of Samothraki, themedieval chateaus, the water- andoil-mills, the streaming waterfallsand Fengari (Moon), the tallestmountain in the Aegean Sea, set ascene by far different from urbanstyle.

Tasteful oriental sweets are worthtaking home after saying goodbye toThrace, as they will ideally accompa-ny nostalgic memories generated.

Discover THRACE

Dating back to ancient greekmythology, the adventures ofThesseus and his father, king Aegeus,appointed the name to the most im-portant greek sea. The Aegean Sea ischaracterized by sun-drenched is-lands, which combine natural beautyand monuments proclaiming theirlong-standing history.

The journey in the islands ofnortheastern Aegean starts from theisland of Limnos with the beautifulbiotopes and goes on at Lesvos andits exceptional fossil-forest. At Hios, aland that nature has endowed in agenerous and magical way with theprivilege of mastiha's worldwideuniqueness, travellers can experiencethe beneficial effects of the mastihaproducts, while close by they findrefuge at a small but picturesque,worth-visiting island, Psara. The tour

continues in beautiful Samos, the is-land of Pythagoras, where travellerscan enjoy endless walks around thedense flora and meet the rich tradi-tion of the island. After a stop at thecharming island of Fournoi, the jour-ney continues at Ikaria, which is anideal escape for those who seek aserene island that can offer a greatvariety of activities.

Touring the Sporades island com-plex conceals countless surprises,such as golden beaches, impressivecaves and traditional monasteries,while it hosts one of the most protect-ed aquatic parks, whose sole purposeis to protect an endangered species ofseal (Monachus monachus).

At daybreak, the ancient monu-ments in Delos bestow a bewitchingatmosphere, whereas the alleys ofthe cycladic islands, with the white

houses and numerous chapels, trans-fer travellers to a different era. Thejourney continues at Tinos with thetraditional pigeon-houses, leading toNaxos, where visitors can taste theArsenikos cheese, produced only atthe island's mountain villages. AtParos they will be fascinated by thepicturesque port and the known tem-ple of Panagia Ekatontapyliani. Visit-ing Santorini's volcano and swim-ming at Mykonos' beaches ideallycomplete the book of memories.

At the Dodecanese complex onecan relive romantic moments of thepast in Rhodes, the 'island of knights',explore Kos, birthplace of Hip-pocrates, the father of medicine,wander in the mysterious streets ofPatmos under the imposingmonastery, ending his journey at theborder land of Kastelorizo.

Discover AEGEAN SEA

GREEK TOURISM 2009THE NATIONAL HERALD, SEPTEMBER 26, 2009 7

GREEK TOURISM 20098 THE NATIONAL HERALD, SEPTEMBER 26, 2009