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Culture www.visitgreece.gr “ culture_2

We are all . Percy Shelley (1792-1822)

culture captivating land. carry withus.Greeceisa creative actionthat weall historical experiencesand ...is thesharedmemoryof “ are thebestambassadors ofGreekculture. and spread to the rest of the . came tothecountry,paidtribute totheworldofancientGreece tiquarians, loversofClassicalphilosophy,historyand letters, westerners andmanymoreto .Archaeologistsandan- tention. Antiquitywasandstillisanopen invitationthatdraws for knowledgeluredvisitorsand continuestocapturetheirat- and leftvoluminousvariedaccountsoftheirjourneys.Thirst increasing numbersfromthemid-eighteenthcenturyonwards words. Europeanandworldtravellersvisitedthiscountryinever Peregrinations werecapturedinbeautifulpicturesandfamous Greece isamagnetforvisitors,menoflettersandintellectuals. Greek traditionandthewarmthofcelebratedhospitality. tion hasalwaysidealizedbeauty,whichbeen a constantin through theages.Ancient,ByzantineandModernGreekciviliza - tal .BeautyhasdefinedGreece’sculturalcourse Mount Athosorinashadowedarcadeofoneitsmonumen - pop up again. with tomatoeslefttodryinthesun.Theimagesdisappearand the streetembroidering.Thebalconyofanotherhouseisstrewn andculture.Anoldwisecronesitsoutsideherhousein with anopenhand.Each picture istaken straight formGreek ways, windmills,tallproudtowers.Thesunscattersitsbounty the heavens. Charms, dreams,fables.Byzantinedomesthatstaredoggedlyat from the to continental Greece. twined withcustoms,stories,andartcanbefoundeverywhere in ancientplaysperformedtheoriginaltheatres.Mythsinter- grounds. ElectrawaitedforOrestes.T . AgamemnonandClytemnestrawalkedthesevery as goldenflorins.T Pictures ofGreekculture,oneafteranother,areasdazzling fore you. Around everycornersomethingnewandexcitingemergesbe- Each nookandcrannyisasurprisebewitchingimage. Lush or stark. Surrounded by sea and golden sand. They keep you company along a path on majestic Our Our oppled columns,statues,ruinsofancient Serene or harsh. Unrulyor harmonious. oday theyallcomealive and frescoes. They were and still Shady arch- culture_4 , , Daphni, ,,O ld T sae, ,M ount Athos,,ystras, , T Sites” (,Olympia,igai, , ,,Bas- The countryisfilledwithUNESCO designated“WorldHeritage , theGreekspiritiseverywhere ondisplay. private .Fromthesmalleverydayitems to thegrand have foundahospitablehome inmorethan300nationaland – from and yet it is open to all. munity. them asenseofgratificationforcontributingtotheglobalcom - over than 3,500 years of recorded . more thanasenseofpartakingincommonidentity,moulded Understandably, Greekstreasuretheirculture.Itgivesthem finds to striking examples of contemporary art- The Greek heritageisembeddedin the Greek psyche More than 5,000 years of cultural riches orfu), own ofCorfu), It also gives iryns, iryns, and the T built about2,500yearsago-, , Acropolis ishometofourmasterpieces ofclassicalGreekart, itage. Rock”, theAcropolis,whichembodiesveryideaofworldher - losopher T ological discoveries,iconsofrarebeautyandgrandiosebuildings. bequeathing totheworldexquisiteworksofart,stunningarchae - Replicating thenatural lightoftheAcropolis, ’s brings together all thesurvivingartefactsever found onthesite. every visitor.Setonly800feetaway,thenew zation, anarchitecturalmasterpiece waitingtobediscoveredby the “SacredRock”isconsideredacornerstone ofwesterncivili- ake thetourandcometo“knowthyself”,asrenownedphi - A symbolofenduringachievements of the human spirit, emple of would prompt you to do. . owe adebttoancient forms andartall and sciences,literary systematic thoug ht legal equality, the judicialsystem, Modern , . birthplace of Greece wasthe Nike. This isoneof the reasons why Climb up the “Sacred . Oneofthe Royal T cient firstcapital oftheKingdomMacedonia,discovered near the RotundaandomanAgora.Gosouthwestto Aigai, thean- T fortress town,completewithcaptivating ruinsofCyclopeanwalls. whereT -in effect-theboundariesand culture oftheWest.T Marathon wasapivotalmoment in Europeanhistorybydefining Persian forcesandsavingthecity.Butmorethanthat,battleof Athenians whodiedaheroicdeathdefeatingthemuchgreater world history.Asimpleburialmoundcommemoratesthe192 Visit Marathon,thesiteofonemostcelebratedbattlesin exhibits andtheplacefromwheretheyoriginated. masterful architectureallowsyoutoviewsimultaneouslythe experience awaitsyou. whatever youdo,atruecultural Wherever yougo, rch of , race thevestigesofRomanThessaloniki, Arch ofGalerius, The holosatDelphi ycenaean grandeur of a yrins exudestheMycenaeangrandeurofa ombs intheGreat T umulus is identified umulus isidentified Thessaloniki ArchaeologicalMuseum

ravel to the ravel tothe chaeological and historicalwonderland. Visit Greeceand experienceitforwhatis:a world-class ar- aron apartments. enter thethrone-roomcomplex andendupatthequeen’sMeg- stroll throughlong,pillaredhalls, climbupthegrandstaircase, unparalleled wallpaintings.F sos continuestoweavemyth with architecturalgrandeurand city inAkrotiri.SailtoCretewherethe Minoan palaceofKnos- the godApollowasbornandvisitSantoriniwithprehistoric , the Cross thedeepbluewatersandtravelbacktooneofoldest royal Macedonianfamilyisamust-see. majestic larnax (), with the sixteen-pointed of the as thatoflegendaryPhilipII,thefatherAlexanderGreat.The Cycladic; reach the

eel likegoingbackintimeasyou Sacred of The AcropolisMuseum where Meteora culture_6 – turnedtotheOrthodoxChurchforguidanceandcomfort. cally –duringconsecutiveandharshforeignoccupations the crossinairaretypicalritualsofpeoplethathistori- acandle,sayingprayer,ormakingthesignof church hasitsflock. has itschurchandevery Every neighbourhood

Patmos island Theofilos, ErotokritosandAretoussa came AgionOros(HolyMountain)intheByzantineErawitha er dependencies(sketes)andhermitages.Thecomplexbe- Athos isthespiritualhometotwentymonasteriesandsmall- T marvel atsomeofGreece’sfinestByzantinefrescoes. for hishealingandpropheticpowers.F astery ofHosios(Saint)Loukas,theermit,whowascanonized lypse wherehewrotethetextofRevelation.VisitMon- the TheologianinPatmosIslandanddarkCaveofApoca- mid-air”. 1,000-foot-high inaccessiblerocksappeartobe“suspendedin Meteora, theworld-famousmonasteriesperchedatop Nikolaos Orfanos. of theMetamorphosis,PanagiaAchiropiitos,giaSofia,gios city’s patronsaint,andtakethetour:AgiosPanteleimon,Church diose 5thcenturyChurchofAgiosDimitrios,namedafterthe Byzantine churchesthatadornThessaloniki.Startwiththegran- itage List.Smelltheincensethatburnsinoneofmajestic unsurpassed worksofart,inscribedontheUnescoWorldHer- aninterestingstoryofspirituality,beautifularchitectureand From smallchapelstolargecathedrals,Greece’sholyplaces ravel backintime.AtthethirdpeninsulaofHalkidiki,Mount Observe silence as you enter the eel thetranquilityasyou of St. John self-taught artistTheophilosattheGreekF Ethnological costumes, wooden farming tools and period furniture in needle-work and weaving are displayed alongwithtraditional of the Greek people, their artworks, ,wood-carving, you with their splendid exhibits of traditional art. Athens, Thessaloniki,,IoanninaandKastoriawithenthral T that someonewillinviteyouforabiteanddrink. dyed hard-boiledeggs,andglassesofredwine.Chancesare tables aresetwithmaghiritsa(Eastersoup),roastlamb,red- tion ofJesusChrist.OnEasterSunday,fastingisfinallybroken; and reenactmentofeventsleadinguptothedeathresurrec- watch theGreeksastheybecomepartofcommemoration Holy Saturdayandthepriest’sChristosAnésti(hristhasrisen), is Greek with pomp andcircumstance. day ofthesaint)andeveryonecanparticipateincelebration big panigyria(open-airfestivitiesthedaybeforeandonfeast Saints’ namesarecelebratedthroughouttheyearinsmalland Greece, therearesomanychancestobepartoffeastsandfairs. Running throughthecalendarandtravellingindifferentpartsof without realizingit,theywilleventuallybedrawnintothem. are morethanwelcometoenjoythesepopularcelebrations; local andothernational,provideoccasionforcelebration.Visitors morial, religiousfeastsandhistoricalanniversaries,sometimes Customs andtraditionswhoserootstracebacktotimeimme- books andrareicons. monasteries hideunimaginabletreasures,includingpriceless gold-sealed decreeofEmperorAlexiusIComnenus.Manythe radition doesnotendhere.ThemajorByzantine Easter. Museums. From the of o not miss the drawings by popular Do not miss the drawings by popular Crowning allreligiousfestivals of olk ArtMuseum. he life and times The life and times useums in Museums in Christ, to F olk and olk and culture_8 The lightof creation the age-oldvirtueof“philoxenia”(hospitality,welcome,shelter). It isauniquelight,impartingcertainjoiedevivreimbuedwith istic detail,andtheByzantinefrescowithmedievalelement. to thegiftofsight.Thislightisindescribablykeenyetsoft. It held, andinwhichitrejoicesasthoughnowfirstawakening “… itliesbathedinalightsuchastheeyehasneveryetbe - absorbing, renewing, mixing the old andnew,itrevealsthebeautyofGreekculture,forever tis -everythingbecomesclear.AsittouchesallthingsGreek, Under thesun-so-called“sovereignsun”aspraisedbyEly heightened theirsenses. .Thislightastonishedforeigntravellersand Solomos andtheGreekNobel laureates GeorgiosSeferisand astonished ,Byron,ugovonofmannsthal,Dionysios hymned overthecenturiesbymasterpoets.Itwaslightthat Described ofhighaestheticvalue,theGreeklighthasbeen and artisticclimaxes. defining conditionforintellectual was undoubtedly afertilizingand unrivalled limpidityandluminosity, The natural lightofGreece,inits Dorian rhythm with the - Octavio Paz,“Kostasapaioannou” steps ofthenomadicwatersonslabscolourembers,” kle of thesun on the rocks, weheard the soundof foot- “It was aflapping of wings over azureshining waves, a spar- Henry Miller,“TheColossusofaroussi” clear withoutbeingknown.” isolated inametaphysicalblisswhichmakeseverything doors andwindowsoftheheart,makesonenaked,exposed, … Herethelightpenetratesdirectlytosoul,opens Hugo vonofmannsthal,“MomentsinGreece” Once cancompareittonothingexceptSpirit.” in a transfiguring veil - I can describe it only in these terms. that makestheheartbeathigherandenfoldsnearerview brings outthesmallestdetailswithclarity,agentleclarity culture_10 the intellectual movement inEurope,whichmobilized - and Philhellenismbecame inseparablesidesof Palladio’s interpretationofClassicalarchitecture. borrowing forms, motifs, imagery and through Neoclassicism weredeeplyinfluenced byAncientGreekart movements inthe18thand 19th centuries.Classicismand Greece hasbeenamajorsourceofinspirationfortheart Hand engraving island light, thebigblue. texts wherethey celebratedtheGreeklandscape, theGreek and they transubstantiated their impressions into enthusiastic of letters (Lamartine, Byron, Shelley,Delacroix).Numerousromanticpoetsandmen ity whentheGreekWarofIndependencebrokein1821( Lord pean publicopinion.Europedisplayeditsremarkablesolidar - Nerval, Gautieretal.) travelled to Greece Hugo, Chateaubriand). Romanticism (Goethe,Hölderlin, and Modern,isclearly tracedin Influence ofGreece,Ancient John Milton,“Paradiselost”(4th book,236-241) And Eloquence, nativetofamouswits.” Athens, theeyeofGreece,mother ofArts Built nobly,puretheairandlight thesoil- Where ontheAegeanshoreacity stands, Westward, muchnearerbysouth-; behold “Look oncemore,ereweleave this specularmount, counts stillravishthemodernreaderwiththeirpassionandemotion. bolized ClassicalGreekcivilization.Theirimpressiveeye-witnessac - ways stopped in Since ancienttimestheforeigntravellerswhentouringGreece al- Lord GeorgeGordonByron,“DonJuan”(CantoIII) Eternal summergildsthemyet,” Where Delosrose,andPhoebussprung! Where grewtheartsofwarandpeace, Where burningSappholovedandsung, “The islesofGreece,theIslesGreece! Friedrich Hölderlin,“Bread and Truly, intimeoutofmindbuiltforapurposeunique!” Festive hall,whosefloorisocean,tablesaremountains So it’struewhatwehaveheardthen,inthedaysofouryouth? “Happy landoftheGreeks,youhousethemall,Heavenly, Athens andpaid their homage tothecitythat sym- ” (transl.by Hamburger). Percy Shelley,“O de toLiberty”(V,69-75) Which wasthine earliestthroneandlatestoracle” In marbleimmortality,thathill Peopled, withformsthatmock theeternaldead For thouwert,andthineall-creative skill Of man,asonamountofdiamond, set; Gleamed withitscrestofcolumns, onthewill “A divinework!Athens,divineryet, Greek WarofIndependence Eugène Delacroix culture_12 Ernest Renan,“ Prayer ontheAcropolis”. ever imagined.” ists, and that is Athens, which out-did anything I had There isoneandonlyplace inwhichperfectionex- made upon me was the strongest which I have ever felt. breeze comingfromafar.TheimpressionwhichAthens ward impulse,theeffectbeingthatofafreshandbracing “..It wasatAthens,in1865,thatIfirstfeltastrongback- up totheParthenon,hewrites:… Nature, sea,sun,lovearerecurrentthemes.Whenheclimbs Senses dominateFlaubert’sdiaryofhistravelimpressions. that aremadetomaddenyou fromlove.HailAthens!” long timeatthechestwith the perfectlyroundbreasts yellow colour… on going to the Parthenon, I gazed for a the columnsofPropylaea, theskyspreadinagolden sun reigned,theskywasbright redoverAegina;behind G. Flaubert,“The Journey toGreece” ”It wasverywindy,the The Parthenon landscape asan architecturalframe. treatment oflight andtheutilizationof geometric formsandtaughthim the chitecture offeredhimarepertory of architecture”. praise inhisbook“T ly theParthenon,whichhewouldlater chaeological sitesofGreece,especial- sical symmetrywhenvisitingthear- Corbusier literallydiscoveredtheclas- The famousarchitectandurbanistLe Picasso, Modigliani,andBrancusi. and potencyofform,thegreatartists nated withtheirsimplicityofstructure The emblematic Orestes. , HectorandAndromache, and many other mythological themes; and theArgonauts,Centaurhiron steam-powered trainofPelion, ring leitmotifsinhispaintingsarethe hood inhisnativetown,.Recur- ture andtherecollectionsofhischild- inspired bythe influence of Greek cul- aphysical” artmovement.Hiswork Giorgio deChirico,founderofthe“met- T ypical isthecaseofItalianpainter Also, the vernacular ar- Cycladic idols fasci- owards anew etic Gulf,,).Manyfilmsfol- was producedintheAegeanSea(Pagas- movie called“MenamongSharks”,which pleted thefilmingofhissecondunderwater Oscar –award-winnerHansasscom- neer, famousforhissharkdocumentaries, thology andhistory.In1942thedivingpio- scripts inspiredfromancientGreekmy- “Cinecittà” hadamarkedpreferencefor from Greece.FilmmakersinHollywoodand cinema doesnotceasetodrawinspiration In the20thand21stcenturiesartof tions, allovertheworld. of thebestpublicitytoolsforGreekdestina- known. Atthesametime,theyaresome scene andmadetheGreekculturalidentity tablished Greeceontheinternationalfilm These areonlysomeofthefilmsthates- “Captain orelli’sMandolin”,ammaia”: arone”, ‘America,merica”,“TheBigBlue”, “The BoyontheDolphin”,“GunsofNav- Greek landscape,essenceandwayoflife. lowed andtriedtoimprintonthelens island culture_14 island-Achilleion the exoticmixofVenetianandOttomanbuildings,asyouround picturesque fortressofBourtzithatarisesfromthesea.Absorb castlethatdominatesthecityofNafplio;don’tmiss dishes inawarmtraditionalsetting.Climbuptotheimposing produced spirit()whileindulgingindelectableseafood the quayofVolosandseizeopportunitytosavourlocally bourhoods andthefamoussilverworkshops.Wanderalong of ,withtheimposingmonuments,colourfulneigh- Achilles, herfavouritehero.Discoverthemagnificentoldtown of ,keptthechillion,asummerretreatnamedafter of theT the AvenueofKnightsanddowntotheirlodgings,Inns T labyrinthine backstreetsandmedievalfortificationsoftheOld Seize theday.There’ssomuchtoexplore.Loseyourselfin ket. Sitonabenchatthecity’sGreenoasis,NationalGarden. Athens. PickupsomegreatbargainsattheMonastirakifleamar- lunch andashotofouzoinPlaka,theoldestneighbourhood age andexercised“rulebythepeople”.T as thegeneralassembly(Ecclesia)metduringPericles’golden ens. Uponthehill,Pnyxconjuresimagesofdemocracyinaction, , andtheKerameikoscemeteryformcoreofancientAth- Theatre ofDionyssos,theRomanAgora, and stroll down history lane: Walk onthe“GrandePromenade”inAthens’historiccentre own inRhodes.Wearyourshiningarmour,asyoustrolldown , rete ongues. RelaxinCorfu,whereSissi,Empresslizabeth Acropolis, the ave a light ake abreak.Havelight gora, the Ancient gora, the lympian emple ofOlympian fun alldaylong. mind andsoul.Relaxhave enjoy a great experience spoiled for choice.You will Wherever yougo,willbe culinary surprisesduringyourstayinGreece. ity”. one of Greece’s twenty “Appellations of aromatic resinwhichthrivesinChios.Sipthegreatwinefrom roe), theorganicredsaffrongrowninKozani,ormastic, pagne. T has gainedthesameprotectedstatusasParmahamandcham- every dish. experience. the city.Dineout-asimplemealmaywellberealgastronomic market andthengoforacoffeeatAnoP of exoticspicesintheopen-airmeatandvegetableModiano wards Thessaloniki’semblematicWhite is anunprecedentedexperience.Hangaboutthewaterfrontto- and enjoythebreathtakingview;boatinginlakeofKastoria Aoos NationalParkinEpirus.InKastoria,followthelakesideroad hidden trailsanduncovernature-mademarvelsattheVikos- climb upacolourfulfloat,andjointheGreatSundayparade.T with thelocalsatannualPatrasCarnival.Wearacostume, Enough withsightseeing!Simplyenjoythegoodlife.Partyhard , Maliaandothersites. treasures oftheMinoancivilizationunearthedatKnossos, tant museumsinGreece;thereyoucanseemostoftheunique the ArchaeologicalMuseumofIraklio,onemostimpor- about in one of the delightful streets of atra's Patra's The unique local tastes guarantee that you are in for many essolonghi (a distinctive fish aste theavgotarahoofMessolonghi(adistinctivefish Ask for in your ubiquitous ; it oil, the protagonist of the Greek diet, elevates Origin of Superior Chania’s Old mell the aroma ower. Smellthearoma oli, the old quarter of oli, theoldquarterof b ody, T own. Qual- Visit rek rek culture_16 The OdeonofHerodes Atticus Theatre. all performedattheLycabettus Vaughan andMassiveAttackhave Ray Charles,DeepPurple,Sarah something goingon.BobDylan, the young at heart, there is always Roman .F stage formedbeneaththetheatre’s superstardom hasperformedinthe Michel Jarre,anyonelaunchedinto Elton John,DianaRossandean Domingo, andLucianoPavarottito lem, formJoséCarreras,Placido to MauriceBéjartandSylvieGuil- dolph NureyevandMargotF and LeonardBernstein,fromRu- ,toHerbertvonKarajan dance andtheatre.FromLaDivina up oflocalandinternationalmusic, the F of HerodesAtticus(Odeion),hostto floodlighted Acropolis,theOdeon F ever youdo,don’tmisstheannual dance, andthesilverscreen.What- sue theirpassion for music, , their undeniablezestforlifeandpur- F ollow theGreeks,astheyexpress estival, showcasesatopline- estival. Justbelowthe or theyoungand onteyn, backdrop. forms theperfect The starlit sky The “Pallas”theatreat Voukourestiou Street The heatreofEpidaurus stage productions,hasacquiredquiteafollowing. atre of do notworry.Itsacousticsremainunparalleled.TheLittle- Hellenic F world-renowned TheatreofEpidaurus,secondhomethe Greek dramaandmoderntheatreispresentedattheancient A morediscreetyetnolessimpressiveassortmentofancient of Greekfolklore)andpoliticalrevue. to Karagiozisshadowtheatre(apuppetandfictionalcharacter country you can see everything, from Greece, to the Thessaloniki anditsoverarchingnationalheatreofNorthern atre play.FromAthens,hometomorethan200theatres, national andlocalrepertoireofitsAthenstwin.Catchathe- Up north,theThessalonikiConcertHall,matchesinter- dance lovers. the PallasTheatrehasbecomeaninvitinghomeformusicand at theOlympiaandAcropolTheatres.literalartisticpalace, era has produced and hosted many acclaimed performances perform atitsstate-of-the-artstage.TheGreekNationalOp- Moussikis) whereworld-classGreekandinternationalartists Catch aconcertoranoperaattheAthensoncertHall(Megaro Epidaurus, with its estival. Incaseyouaresittinguponthelast55throw, Regional and Musical Municipal July and Beckett, F estival and its quirkier Theatres all over the culture_18 &B in funky restaurants, jazz, , the islands)inpanigyria, R&Binfunkyrestaurants, jazz,latin, dimotika andnisiotika (regional folk music of the and as theGreekblues),andlaika (urban folkmusic),intavernas, Wherever yougo,listentothemusic play;rebetika(referredto the Epirusregion)atIoannina International F net) anddance,inacircle,thetraditional pogonisios(dancefrom Dance F evenifyouwon’ttakepartattheKalamataInternational ern medicinewhowasbornontheisland.Putyourdancing doors totheHippocratesF mer. InKos,theCastleofKnightsandOdeonopentheir Crete, festivalsabound,especiallyduringthelongGreeksum- loniki, ,F From rope alike. Oscar-packed “ZorbatheGreek”,GreekdazzledAmericaandEu- to Kostas Gavras’ inou in “F that spansfromtheOscar-studdedperformanceofKatinaPax- compete fortheprestigiousawardseveryyear.Withatradition nent forumforthescreeningofnewfilms;morethan150films F Greek filmhaspickeduppace.Thessaloniki’sInternationalFilm estival hasgainedrecognitionasSoutheastEurope’spre-emi- Orfeo -lympusF Ardas to estival. Getuptotheevocativesounds ofklarino(clari- or Whom the Bell (an olegandros, Oscar winning “Z” and estival estival, namedafterthefatherofmod- T olls”, to Athens’ suburb), to , ’s , ichalis Kakogiannis’ Michalis Kakogiannis’ Samothraki, ollywood reign, Hollywood reign, olk F Corfu, estival. Thessa- olos, Volos, miss anightout fortheworld. lea sidingtheprojection screen.Whateveryoudo, stay up.Donot breeze onyourfaceandsmell thefuschia-colouredbougainvil- stars, summercinema,thatonly inGreeceonecanenjoy.F the latestblockbusterorarthouse flickinanopen-air,underthe celebrated DJsregularlysettingthedanceboard onfire.Watch up thevolume.Thenightclubscenewelcomes night owls,with inspiring filmscoreforthe“Chariotsof Fire”. T became internationalicons,theOscarwinnerVangeliswrote that they generated. kis, thelate swear bythemusicofoutstandingcomposersMikisTheodora - alternative rockinclubsandvenuesaroundthecountry.Greeks adjidakis, and the entechno (artistic) tradition Manos Hadjidakis,and the entechno (artistic) tradition While and ake it easy or pump ake iteasyorpump Demis oussos Roussos eel the eel the Thessaloniki International Film estival Kiri T e Kanawa-DimitriaF The AthensConcert Hall Streetdance estival culture_20 National Gallery The OlympicStadiumofAthens now isrescuingurban,derelictplacesfrom F atthefuturisticculturalcentreof tradition. T lis - afineexampleofwhichisthenewAcropo rich cultural heritage in evolutionary buildings The opportunitynowistoshowcaseGreece’s the centretoperiphery. tures, thenewaesthetichassprawledfrom çades tothecreationofpost-modernstruc- well-designed face-liftofgreyandgrayingfa- From theneoclassicalrenovationsurgeto one oftheworld’slongestcable-stayedbridge. an engineeringmasterpiece,iscelebratedas furbished, cleaned up. , Iraklio,andVoloswererevamped,re- The OlympiccitiesofAthens,hessaloniki, Calatrava-inspired OlympicSportsomplex. world-class sportsfacilitiesandagleaming, ture ofanewera,greenparksandsquares, important legacy:transportationinfrastruc- edged “unforgettable,dreamgames”leftanew Athens OlympicGames,thewidelyacknowl- Athens itselfisacitytransformed.The2004 landscape. has yetagaintransformedthecultural renewal throughoutGreece’slonhistory, The Greekspirit,aforceofcreativity and oundation oftheHellenicWorld.Thetrend Museum -andcombineit with theage-old ake avirtualwalkdowntheancient The Rio- , ers andsculptors. pantheon oftheworksmodernGreekpaint- pistimio andEgaleostations,togetherwitha Akropoli, Evangelismos,,Pane- construction areexhibitedintheSyntagma, archaeological findsunearthedatthetimeof ro resemblesmoreofamuseum.Manythe has evengoneunderground.TheAthensmet- Athenian wallcircuit.Thetransformingmood mattock unearthedtheAcharnaigateof glass ground floor, when the archaeological Headquarters wereredesignedtoincludea space isaccessible.TheNationalBank’s vated buildingsofthe old royal stables. its vast collection in , in one of the reno- off-limits. TheNationalGlyptothequehouses mances, ravenightsandparties.Nospaceis tions, open-airjazz,rockandtheatreperfor- for thearts,itregularlyfurnishesoutexhibi- drons, funnels and disused ovens. stands amidstchimneys,enormouscaul- gas factorynexttoKerameikos,“T ”Gazi” (districtofAthens),namedaftertheold new andvibrantexhibitionspaces.Situatedin the seaofcementandtransformingtheminto echnopolis” A “factory” Every culture_22 The HarborofKalamata Κonstantinos Parthenis of Greeceworthexperiencingtoday. finding new and original media for expression. ism in a modern and fresh way. Greece preservesitslegacybutatthesametimeittransformssymbol- exhibitions areorganizedbytheThessalonikiMuseumofPhotography. of Thessalonikiforawhiffnew-mediaandvideoart.Dynamicphotography the StateMuseum’sautonomousbranch,andContemporaryArtentre Art buffsregularlyheadtotheMacedonianuseumofContemporaryrt, State collections oftheNational ery, atributeto60’sindustrialarchitecture,issoonhousetheextensive has become a stable and crowd-attracting . “Art-thina”, theartfairorganizedbyHellenicrtGalleriesssociation, dynamic galleriesisbecomingvisibleabroad,exportinghomegrowntalent. A newfoundconfidencehasgivenaharmonioustempo;newgenerationof formation ofthemodernGreekstate. lection. Itsexquisitedisplayswilltravelyoufromprehistorictimestothe Go totheBenakiMuseumandvisitGreece’soldestfinestprivatecol- Greek masters,Ghika,Parthenis,Lytras,Maleas,Volanakisandoralis. er ofalltimes.Immerseyourselfintheinspiringworks20thcentury prized paintings by Art Gallery-MuseumlexandrosSoutzos.T Embrace thevisualrichnessoffourcenturiesGreekartinNational Museum of Contemporary El whois perhaps themost famous Greekpaint- hessaloniki, the Museum ofContemporaryArt.InThessaloniki,the rt organized its own biennial, biennale: 1. Art organized its own biennial, biennale: 1. Diverse and often competing forces are Nikolaos Lytras The strawhat This is the future “heritage” ake noticeofthegallery’s The former Brew- Art thina www.visitgreece.gr Follow Discover the fascination of Greece through our website!

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