03 Jun 2014
- Architect magazine lauds New Acropolis Museum
- Two Faces of January film competition. Win a five day holiday in Crete.
- Annual EU report lists Greek Waters as Excellent
- Check out Crete's Matala Festival's tribute band line-up
- New indie Brit/American film to put Patmos on the map
- Spinalonga - 'The Island'- to be included in UNESCO list
- Hip Thessaloniki is new city-break destination
- Huffington Post: Folegandros - an undiscovered gem
- Athens and Epidavrus Festival 2014 Programme 1 June – 16 August
New Acropolis Museum in “most amazing 21st century museums in the world” list
Heralding International Museum Day on 18 May, architectural magazine Archdaily compiled a list of the 20 most amazing museums in the world. With 8,000 square meters of exhibition space and a full range of visitor amenities, the Acropolis Museum rightfully won its place on the online magazine's list. For more information please see here:
http://www.archdaily.com/507467/archdaily-editors-select-20-amazing-21st-century-museums/
Two Faces of January competition - Win a five-day holiday to Crete
To mark the release of the film The Two Faces of January, which was set in Athens and Crete, the GNTO in collaboration with easyJet and Aldemar Hotels and Studio Canal are running a competition on Guardian Extra for a five-day holiday for two in Crete at Aldemar Knossos Royal. The flights are provided as courtesy of easyJet, who for the first time, will run a London to Heraklion route until late November. The competition closes at midnight on 12 June. To learn more about the competition, please check the link http://www.theguardian.com/extra/2014/may/14/extra-two-faces-competition-pfp
EU Report: Excellent water quality for swimming in Greece
The annual bathing water quality report from the European Environment Agency (EEA) released on 27 May designated Greece as being in the top five European countries for excellent bathing sites. From the 2,162 bathing waters in Greece that were reported for the 2013 bathing season (9.8 percent of all bathing waters in Europe),2,016 – or an incredible 93% met the “excellent” level. For more information please see here: http://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/water/status-and-monitoring/state-of-bathing-water/bathing-water-data-viewer
4th Matala Beach Festival in Crete, 20-22 June 2014
The Matala Beach Festival, inspired by the 'hippie trail' and the Joni Mitchell album 'Blue' which detailed her experiences of living in the caves and enjoying the tranquillity of Matala Beach in Crete in the early 70s, will see its fourth incarnation between 20-22 June. The line up pays tribute to music throughout the last five decades and looks set to attract 75,000 international visitors. Emerging artists including London singer songwriter Charlotte Campbell, and tribute acts to The Doors, The Beatles, Santana, Bob Marley, The Police and Muse feature in the line up. For more information please see here: http://matalabeachfestival.com/
Island of Patmos location for new independent Britisj - American film
The island of Patmos, the northernmost island in the Decodenese group in the Aegean, will be the “star” of the new moody indie film “Interlude: City of a Dead Woman.” Supported bythe Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO), the film, which is an American and British collaboration will feature the UNESCO listed medieval town and the Cave of the Apocalypse. The island is reputed to be where St John the Theologian composed his Gospel and the Acopolypse. Greek writer and director Angela Ismailos, believes the film will give Patmos a tourism boost. For more information please see here:
http://news.gtp.gr/2014/04/02/patmos-greece-stars-independent-english-american-film/
Greek island of Spinalonga to be included in UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites
Spinalonga, subject of the best selling novel 'The Island' by Victoria Hislop, is now on the 'Tentative List' for UNESCO's World Heritage sites. A leper colony from 1903 until 1957 and now a popular archaeological site due to the fact that there are clear architectural remains from different historical periods and cultural influences, Spinalonga will extend opening hours from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week. For more information please see here: http://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5866/
Thessaloniki is multidimensional travel destination
A four-day GNTO and British Airways familiarisation trip to Thessaloniki in May showcased Greece's second city as a vibrant destination with a unique culture, history and gastronomy to nine influential tour operators. As an education hub with four universities and numerous colleges, and a large population of young people, Thessaloniki is known for its dynamic nightlife and art scene and this year has been named as European Youth Capital. As a result of the trip, there will now be a number of new city break packages. BA is also exploring the viability of extending its flight season to the city.
For more information please see here:
http://news.gtp.gr/2014/04/14/thessaloniki-promoted-wedding-destination-british-couples/
Folegandros in the “15 Undiscovered European Destinations“ list
The Greek island of Folegandros was included in Huffington Post's list: '15 Undiscovered European Destinations.' Folegandros, which neighbours Santorini in the Cyclades captivates the visitors with the untouched beauty of its beaches, the luminous blue of its waters, and the unadulterated style of its architecture. Hóra, the capital town of the island has been built partially in a Venetian castle filled with narrow cobblestone streets, white houses with multi-coloured doors and windows. try local delicacies, such as “matsáta” (handmade noodles with rooster or rabbit), sourotó (white goat cheese), and drink “rakómelo” (raki with honey) the famous spirit of the island. For more information please see here:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/fodors/undiscovered-european-destinations_b_5078795.html
Athens and Epidavrus Festival 2014 Programme 1 June – 16 August
The Athens and Epidavrus Festival – a theatre festival, which includes productions of significant ancient Greek plays in venues in and around Athens such as the ancient amphitheatre of Epidavrus – has announced its Summer 2014 programme. International and Greek productions include Bacchae and Helen by Eyripides. Highlights also include contemporary dance from Martha Graham featuring names like Isabella Rossellini and Fiona Shaw. For more information and tickets, please see. http://www.greekfestival.gr/en/program?df=01%2f06%2f2014+00%3a00%3a00&et=all&t=2&v=-1
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For further press information, please contact:
Greek National Tourism Organisation
GNTO UK & Ireland Office
Dimitra Voziki
T: 020 74959310
