Happy New Year 2013

Wishing you a year that is filled with all the fragrance of roses, illuminated with all the lights of the world and be blessed with all the smiles on the planet. 

Hope this year will be the year when all your dreams come true. Happy New Year 2013.

 http://agrotourismgreece.blogspot.gr/

Small Ski Resorts in Greece

All over Greece, there are many ski resorts worth to visit. Greece is after all a mountainous country with many places of extraordinary beauty. 

Except large and well organized ski resorts, there are also some smaller ones that usually operate with 1-2 lifts while they boast 1-4 ski runs:

• PAGGAIO ski resort at Kavala perfecture, northeast Greece
• FALAKRO ski resort at Rodopi perfecture, northeast Greece
• LAILIAS  ski resort at Serres perfecture, north Greece
  
• PISODERI ski resort at Florina perfecture, northwest Greece
• VASILITSA ski resort at Grevena perfecture, northwest Greece
• ELATOCHORI ski resort at Pieria perfecture, centraleast Greece
• PERTOULI ski resort at Trikala perfecture, central Greece
• OLYMPOS ski resort at Larissa perfecture, central Greece
• METSOVO ski resort at Ioannina perfecture, centralwest Greece
• ZIRIA ski resort at Korinthia perfecture, south Greece
• MAINALO ski resort at Arcadia perfecture, south Greece

Most of them include some facilities such as cafeterias, first aid stations and ski equipment rental stores.

The Charakas Gorge

 

The gorge is located next to Charakas beach, at South Evia perfecture.

It is a small (2km long) but beautiful gorge. Lentisks, cedars, and plane trees create a magnifiscent scenery, especially in automn. It is a relatively easy gorge to cross. The closest town is Styra.

The Acherontas Gorge

The Acherontas Gorge (or pass of Kleisoura) is a relatively narrow gorge at Preveza prefecture. Acherontas (or Acheron) river flows through the gorge which is formed by the mountains of Paramythia and Souli. 

According to Greek mythology, Charon led the souls of the dead via the Acheron river to Lake Acherousia.

The beautiful gorge and the river are part of the "Natura 2000" network. In some places the river flows slowly while in other places, the river flows very quickly through narrow passages. The gorge is  rounded with mountains and when it rains it becomes dangerous to cross.

The Vikos Gorge

The Vikos Gorge lies on the slopes of Mount Tymfi, in Zagori region of northwestern Greece.

It is listed by the Guinness Book of Records as the deepest gorge in the world, with depth ranging from 450m to 1600m. 

It is also the second longest in Europe after the Samaria Gorge on Crete (with length of about 20 km).

The Vikos Gorge has a variety of flora and fauna and is a shelter for many endangered species (it is part of the Vikos-Aoos National Park). There are many beautiful hiking trails but since the gorge is  rounded with mountains, it becomes dangerous to cross when it rains.

The most convenient way to visit Zagori region is by car. Concernirng accomodation, there are many traditional hotels in Zagoria villages.

The Great Kleisoura Gorge

The gorge of Kleisoura is located just 15 km away from Agrinio which is the largest city of the Aetolia-Acarnania regional unit. 

The gorge is easy to reach since it is crossed by the national road of "Antirrio-Agrinio".

The impressive monastery of "Panaghia Eleousa" is carved in a rock on the gorge's limestone walls.  

The gorge is  rounded with mountains and when it rains it becomes dangerous to cross.

The Seli Gorge

Mount Vermio lies between the Imathia Regional Unit and the Kozani Regional Unit (Central Macedonia Region).  

Seli Gorge is located very close to Seli village in Kato Vermio area. It is a realtively narrow canyon, about 5km long.

It is also named as “Tripa tou Michali” (Michael’s Hole) because at its entrance lies a cave where according to rumors a sheep breeder named Michael lost his flock.  

Mount Vermio is also the site of ski resorts Seli and Tria Pente Pigadia.

Lousios Gorge

The Lousios is a river and a gorge situated near Dimitsana village in western Arcadia. The river's  length is approximately 15 km while its width is more than 2 km wide.

The river forms a deep, narrow gorge which  is very popular amongst hikers and offers something amazing for adventure seekers. 

Canyon is  rounded with mountains and when it rains it becomes extremely dangerous to cross.

The Samaria Gorge

The Samaria Gorge is one of the most important Greek National Parks located on the island of Crete, in the regional unit of Chania. 

 

It is 16 km long, starting at an altitude of 1,250m at the White Mountains and ending at the shores of the Mediterranean Sea (Agia Roumeli area). 

It consists a World's Biosphere Reserve offering protection to 450 plant and animal species (70 of which are endemic to Crete, the gorge is also a refuge for the rare kri kri goat).

The Samaria Gorge is a major tourist attraction and it is usualy opened to the public at the beginning of May (till the end of October). Many local tourist operators provide organized tours to the gorge including transportation. There are also daily buses starting from Chania to the head of the gorge.

Olympos Gorge

 

Mount Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece, rising to 9,570 ft. 

 It is located at Macedonia, about 62 miles away from Thessaloniki city. Mount Olympus was regarded the home to the Twelve Olympian Gods of Greek mythology.

Olympos Gorge is noted for its very rich flora with more than 1.700 plant species. 

 It is a Greek National Park and a World's Biosphere Reserve. It is a relatively easy gorge to cross. The main village of Litohoro is connected by bus from Athens and Thessaloniki.

Merry Christmas!!!

 

May the gifts of peace and joy be yours at Christmas time and happiness dwell around you wherever you go! 

"Kala Xristougenna"

Velouchi Ski Resort

Velouchi Ski Resort is located  in central Greece (Mt Kaliakouda). 

The closest town is Karpenisi which is the capital of the regional unit of Evrytania. The resort is 284km away from Athens and 78km away from the town of Lamia. The highest top in Velouchi reaches up to 2314m. 

Velouchi Ski Center operates with 6 lifts and includes many facilities such as a restaurant, a cafeteria, a ski school, a store for renting equipment, etc.

Mount Kaliakouda is ideal for many sports. You can try rafting in wild Tavropos river, cross the impressive Vothonas gorge, or try canoeing in the peaceful lake of Kremasta.

Mount Vermio Ski Resorts (3-5 Pigadia & Seli)

The Vermio Mountain is located in northwestern Greece at the Western Macedonia Region. 

Mount Vermio is 22km away from Veria and 96km from Thessaloniki. It is an area of exceptional beauty where two medium sized ski resorts are available: Seli ski resort and Tria Pente Pigadia ski center.

Seli is a ski resort with 7 ski lifts suitable for beginner and intermediate skiers and snowboarders while the ski center Tria Pente Pigadia includes 7 lifts suitable for all ski levels. Both resorts include facilities such as parking space, restaurant, cafeteria, first aid station and ski equipment rental store.

Other Meteora Monasteries

The Holy Monastery of Varlaam is the second big in size monastery. The monastery's museum displays an excellent collection of wood-carved crosses, relics,  icons and embroidered epitaphoi. The library of monastery holds  over 300 religious manuscripts.

The Holy Monastery of Rousanou  is dedicated to 'The Transfiguration' and it was founded in the 16th c. The Monastery of Rousanou is decorated with extraordinary frescoes. It is one of the most attainable.

The Holy Monastery of St. Nicholas Anapausas was founded in the beginning of the 16th c. It was decorated by the Cretan painter Theophanis Strelitzas or Bathas, in 1527. 

The frescoes of Agios Nikolaos are some of the most important in the Meteora.

The Holy Monastery of St. Stephen is easily accessible. It was built in the 16th c. The old refectory of the convent is used as a museum of vestments and various religious objects. 

The Monastery of Holy Trinity is perched atop a slender pinnacle and it is extremely difficult to reach. Most of monastery's treasures were looted in World War II.

Meteora

The Metéora  is one of the largest and most important complexes of Eastern Orthodox monasteries in Greece, second only to Mount Athos. Most date to the 14th century. Metéora in Greek means "suspended rocks", "suspended in the air",  etymologically similar to "Meteorite".

 

The monasteries are built on natural sandstone rock pillars of extreme beauty (they were formed during the Tertiary Period), in central Greece (near town is Kalambaka). The atmosphere they encompass gives the visitor a sense of devoutness. 

Most monasteries are accessible by staircases cut into the rock formations.

The Metéora rock monasteries  are included on the UNESCO World Heritage List under criteria, as a unique phenomenon of cultural heritage.

Other Mount Athos Monasteries

Chilandari

 
This monastery possesses the Wonderworking Icon of the "Theotokos Of the Akathist" as well as the Wonderworking Icon of the "Theotokos Of the Three Hands" which is traditionally associated with a miraculous healing of St. John Damascene.   

The library of Chilandari monastery contains about 20.000 printed books as well as 1.000 manuscripts (Greek and Slavic).

Dionysiou

 
The monastery of Dionysiou is an Eastern Orthodox monastery that stands on a precipitous rock at a height of 80 metres above the sea (southwest part of Athos peninsula). The Holy Monastery of Dionysiou ranks fifth in the hierarchy of the Athonite monasteries and it was dedicated to John the Baptist.
Koutloumousiou

 
The monastery of Koutloumousiou is dedicated to the Transfiguration of the Saviour. Among the numerous relics and other holy objects treasured at the monastery is the largest relic of the True Cross. The library of monastery of Koutloumousiou holds  3,500 books and many manuscript codices.

Pantocrator

 
The monastery of Pantocrator stands on the north-eastern side of the Athos peninsula. The Monastery's library holds 3,500 books as well as 350 manuscript. Among the treasures of the monastery is the Skete of the Prophet Elijah.

Xeropotamou The Holy Monastery of Xeropotamou  is dedicated to the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste. It was founded in the 10th century. The monastery holds numerous relics as well as 600 printed books and more than 400 manuscript codices. Zographou

 
The monastery of Zographou stands on a hillside on the south-western side of the Athos peninsula.The monastery is named after the icon of Saint George the Zograf. The monastery houses  Greek and Slavonic manuscripts as well as about 10,000 books.

Xenofontos

 
The monastery of Xenophontos is built next to the sea between the Monasteries of Docheiariou and St Panteleimon. This monastery has an extensive library and well preserved mosaic icons.

Other monasteries in Athos peninsula are the Holy Monastery of Docheiariou, Monastery of Vatopedi, the Holy Monastery of Karakallou, the Holy Monastery of Philotheou, he Holy Monastery of Simonos Petra, the Holy Monastery of Aghiou Pavlou, the Holy Monastery of Stavroniketa, he Holy Monastery of Gregoriou, the Holy Monastery of Esphigmenou, the Holy Monastery of St Panteleimon and the Holy Monastery of Konstamonitou.

Campaign to Support Greek Products

A new advertising campaign was launched to support Greek products. The campaign is mostly targeted in areas where there are large Greek populations, such as in the U.S.A., Australia & Canada. 

The campaign is titled "This Holiday Season Buy Greek" and it was shot in Hollywood by Greek director Konstantinos Mousoulis. One of the actors that participated is Michael Andrikopoulos.

Mount Athos Monasteries: Megiste Lavra

The Holy Monastery of Megiste Lavra was the first monastery to be built on Athos and is still the largest. 

 The  Great Lavra governs the other Athos monasteries. It is located on the southeastern foot of the Mount at an elevation of 160 metres. The founding of the monastery in AD 963 by Athanasius the Athonite marks the beginning of the organized monastic life at Mount Athos.

 

At the location of the monastery, there was one of the ancient cities of the Athos peninsula, perhaps Akrothooi, from which the sarcophagi of the monastery that are in the oil storage house come from. The history of the monastery is the most complete compared to the history of the other monasteries, because its historical archives were preserved almost intact.

The Fortezza of Rethymnon

Rethymnon is one of the largest cities of Crete and a popular tourist destination. The Fortezza is the Venetian fortress of Rethymnon. It was built by the Venetians in the 1570s in order to protect the town from the Ottoman threat.

The Fortezza of Rethymnon is located on a hill in the centre of the old town and offers panoramic view. It has the shape of a star. The fortifications of the Fortezza and some buildings are well preserved and the monument is open for visitors.

Castle of Lamia

Lamia is the capital of the regional unit of Phthiotis and of the Central Greece region.  

The Castle of Lamia (or Akrolamia Frankish castle) is built on a rocky hill above the city (5th century BC). 

It is very well preserved and open for visitors offering a panoramic view of Sperhios Valley.

 

There's also a very interesting archaeological museum inside the fort.

 It is housed in a renovated building of the old barracks, built in the years of king of Greece Otto.

Castle of Amfissa

Amfissa is a town in Phocis at Sterea Greece region. The Castle of Amfissa (also known as the Castle of Orias or Castle of Salona), is built on a hill near the city.  

According to the tradition, it was built on the ruins of an ancient castle which was constructed by the cyclopes (in Greek mythology, cyclopes were giants with a single eye in the middle of their foreheads).

It is a mosaic of different cultures and civilizations (ancient Greek, Byzantine, Frank, Ottoman). Many objects that were found at the castle are exhibited at the Archaeological Museum of Amfissa (Copper Age - Roman years).

The old citadel of Corfu

The old citadel (or else old fortress) of Corfu is a Venetian fortress constructed  in the 15th century. 

 It stands on the eastern side of the town and it is built with strong fortifications surrounding its entire perimeter. The entrance to the fortress is available through Spianada square.

The interior of the citadel has been restored recently and is in use for many cultural events. 

 The central high point of the fortress is an impressive clock tower. At the botom of the observatory lies St. George's church. There's also another small church inside the citadel called Madonna del Carmine.

Diros Caves

The Diros Caves are located approximately 12 miles south of Areopolis at Lakonia and they are part of an underground river. About 5,000 meters have been exposed and accessible by small gondola-like boats and through narrow passageways. The Diros Caves are known both for their marvelous beauty and archaeological significance.

Archaeological research (Dr. George Papathanasopoulos) has shown that the caves were extensively used as shelter, storage place for goods, cemetery and a place of worship in Paleolithic and Neolithic times. Their inhabitant believed that the caves were the entrance to the underworld.

The Diros stalactite and stalagmite caves, are popular tourist destination.

Museums of Ioannina Perfecture

Ioannina is the capital of Ioannina regional unit and the region of Epirus, located about 450 km northwest of Athens and 300 km west of Thessaloniki. It is a well organized city with many historical monuments and museums. Ioannina was founded by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian in the 6th century AD while the first indications of human existence in the area are dated back to the Paleolithic period!

Museums of Ioannina:

Archaeological Museum of Ioannina: It is situated in Litharitsa park and houses archaeological exhibits such as vessels, tools and coins, from 4 regional units of Epirus.

• Address: 6 25th of March, Ioannina
• Tel. +30 26510 - 33357, 25490, 31908, 35498

Byzantine Museum of Ioannina: It is located in the Itch Kale castle and houses collections of early Christian and Byzantine sculptures, books,  icons, ceramics and silverware.

• Address: Ioannina Castle
• Tel. 26510 – 25989, 39580

Pelion Ski Resort

Pelion (or Pelium) is a relatively small mountain in Magnesia perfecture, located 345 km north of Athens and 25 km north Volos. The Pelion Ski Resort was one of the first ski centers to operate in Greece with a total of 5 lifts. It usually operates from Christmas to Easter.   Mount Pelion is a popular tourist attraction throughout the year. It is a forested mountain that offers a magnificent view of the Aegean sea. There are also many places of archaeological interest worth to visit  (in Greek mythology it was the homeland of  the Centaurs).

Next to Pelion Ski Resort many picturesque villages offer well organised accommodation services (Hania, Portaria and Makrinitsa etc).

Pelion Ski Resort info:

Kaimaktsalan Ski Resort

Kaimaktsalan (or else Voras) is a mountain located in Pella perfecture (660 km from Athens, 140 km from Thessaloniki and 45 km from Edessa). It is the third highest peak in Greece. Kaimaktsalan Ski Resort is the most important ski resort in north Greece and operates with 4 lifts and a Snowboard Funpark .

Kaimaktsalan Ski Resort includes many facilities such as parking space, restaurant, cafeteria, first aid station, ski school and ski equipment rental store.

All over Mt Kaimaktsalan, there are many places worth to visit, such as the Pozar thermal baths, the impressive Speleopark located in Αlmopia ΡΙain and the alpine village  of Agios Athanasios. 

Many villages offer options of accommodation (especially Agios Athanasios).

Kaimaktsalan Ski Center info:

Plastira lake

Lake Plastiras is located close to Karditsa city (the capital of Karditsa regional unit) in central Greece and lies at an altitude of 1.000m. Lake Plastiras  also called Tavropos Reservoir is an artificial lake fed by Tavropos river.

 

If you try canoeing in the peaceful lake of Plastira you will have the chance to admire the unique natural scenery and see many different species of rare birds. Picturesque villages (Fylakti, Neohori, Moshato) and byzantine monasteries (Neohori, Pezoula, Neraida) are located all around the lake. Plastira lake is a popular destination with many traditional hotels constructed with artistry.

Parnassos Ski Resort

Mount Parnassus (or else Parnassos) is located in central Greece. Mount Parnassus Ski Resort is the closest ski resort to Athens (less than 200km) and the largest ski center in Greece. It operates with 14 lifts (for all ski levels) and it boasts 25 marked ski runs of 30 km total length (longest run is 4 km).

Mount Parnassus ski centre includes many facilities such as restaurants, cafeterias, ski equipment rental stores, ski schools, parking lot, rescue service team, etc.
 

All over the region of Parnassos, there are many places worth to visit, such as the Archeological Site of Delphi,  the  town of Arachova,  the town of Galaxidi the village of Eptalofos, and the Byzantine Monastery of Osios Loukas. Almost all mount Parnassus villages offer many options of accommodation, dinning & entertainment.

Parnassos Ski Center info:

Kalavrita ski resort

Kalavrita ski resort is located 235 km southwest of Athens and 40 km southeast of Patras on mount Helmos (altitude: 2,340m). It is the most important ski resort in Peloponnesus and operates with 7 lifts while it  boasts 12 ski runs.

Kalavrita ski resort includes many facilities such as big parking space, restaurant, cafeteria, first aid station, ski school and ski equipment rental store.
 
All over the region of Kalavrita, there are many places worth to visit, such as the picturesque town of Kalavrita, the pine forest of Strofilia, the magical planitero village, the Cave of the Lakes and the Monastery of Agia Lavra. Almost all mount Helmos villages offer many options of accommodation (from luxurious hotels to quiet guest houses).
 

Kalavrita Ski Center info:

The Numismatic Museum

The Numismatic Museum was established in 1834 and it is one of the oldest and most important public museums in Greece. The Numismatic Museum in Athens houses one of the greatest collections of ancient and modern coins in the world, arranged in such a way so as to follow the history of coinage. 

It owns about 500.000 acquisitions dated from the 14th century BC (coins, gems, medals, weights, talents, lead bullae and obeloi).

The richest collections are those of the ancient coins dated from the 6th century BC to the 5th century AD. The Numismatic Museum is housed at the renovated Iliou Melathron (a magnifiscent Neoclassical building - 1880), on Panepistimiou Street.

Info:

Ladon River

Ladon river (or Ladonas) flows along Achaia and Arcadia perfectures in south Greece (Peloponese). 

 

It is considered one of the wildest rivers in Greece, however there are many rafting schools with experienced instructors and trainers that offer safe lessons (to beginners as well).

The wetlands of Ladon are widely known for their ecological and aesthetical value. 

There are numerous wonderful paths and trails one can follow. 

The areas around the river are also appropriate for other sports such as trekking and mountain biking.

Parthenon

 

The Parthenon is a temple on the Athenian Acropolis, Greece, dedicated to the Greek goddess Athena, whom the people of Athens considered their virgin patron. 

Its construction began in 447 BC when the Athenian Empire was at the height of its power.  It was completed in 438 BC, although decorations of the Parthenon continued until 432 BC. 

It is the most important surviving building of Classical Greece, generally considered the culmination of the development of the Doric order.

Its decorative sculptures are considered some of the high points of Greek art. The Parthenon is regarded as an enduring symbol of Ancient Greece and of Athenian democracy and one of the world's greatest cultural monuments. The Greek Ministry of Culture is currently carrying out a program of selective restoration and reconstruction to ensure the stability of the partially ruined structure.

Olympos Gorge

Mount Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece, rising to 9,570 ft. 

 It is located at Macedonia, about 62 miles away from Thessaloniki city. Mount Olympus was regarded the home to the Twelve Olympian Gods of Greek mythology.

Olympos Gorge is noted for its very rich flora with more than 1.700 plant species. 

 It is a Greek National Park and a World's Biosphere Reserve. 

It is a relatively easy gorge to cross. The main village of Litohoro is connected by bus from Athens and Thessaloniki.

Petrified forest of Lesbos

The Lesvos Petrified Forest  is one of the few known petrified forests. 

The Lesvos Petrified Forest Geopark has been declared a Protected Natural Monument  and it is a founding member of the European Geoparks Network. 

Actually, it is a petrified forest ecosystem made up of hundreds of fossilized tree trunks which were covered by volcanic material and petrified 20 million years ago, during the Late Oligocene to Lower–Middle Miocene. 

Impressive fossilised plants have been found in many areas on the western part of the island.

 There is a series of footpaths of particular geotouristic value that tourists can follow in order to admire the the fossilised plants. 

There' s also a well organized Museum at Sigri town, the Natural History Museum of the Lesvos Petrified Forest.

Pozar Thermal Springs

Pozar Thermal Springs (or Pozar thermal baths or spas Pozar) are located at the foot of Mt Kaimaktsalan. Kaimaktsalan (or else Voras) is a mountain located in Pella perfecture (660 km from Athens, 140 km from Thessaloniki and 45 km from Edessa).

It is a place of amazing beauty with spectacular waterfalls, thermal water springs and rich wildlife.

Pozar Thermal Springs are famous for their therapeutic and healing properties. The Pozar area is well organized for tourists with traditional hostels, luxury hotels, spas and restaurants.

Museum of Greek folk art

The Museum of Greek Folk Art is located in Athens and consists of four annexes. 

This ethnographic museum houses numerous exhibits of folk painting, pottery, woodcarving, weaving, embroidery, regional costumes, masquerades, shadow theatre,  silverware, metalware and stone carving.
 

The four annexes:

• The Central Building, at 17 Kydathinaion Str., Plaka.
• The Tzisdaraki Mosque, at 1 Areos Str. in Monastiraki Square, housing the folk ceramics collection of V. Kyriazopoulos.
• The Bath-house of the Winds, 8 Kyristou str., Plaka. The only remaining Public Baths of Old Athens.
• The Building at 22 Panos str., Plaka, housing the latest permanent exhibition.

Info:

Lake Kerkini

Lake Kerkini is a significant birding site in Greece located at north Macedonia. The role of lake Kerkini is very important since it is situated along the migratory flyway for many species of migratory birds.  

The lake hosts at least 300 kinds of birds, many of them rare. 76 of them are recorded in the National Red Catalogue, and more than 30 of them are protected by EEC's Directive concerning wild life.

The wetland of Kerkini is included in the catalogue of the Ramsar Convention. It is considered the most significant area for hibernation of the Dalmatian Pelicans in Europe. 

Some rare species that use the wetland area are: the little egret, the European cormorant, the short toed eagle, the black tern, the pygmy cormorant, the squacco heron, the spoonbill, the white stork, the purple heron, the glossy ibis, the little grebe, the peregrine, etc

Panathenaic Stadium

The  Panathenaic Stadium(also known as the Panathinaiko Stadium or as the Kallimarmaron) is an athletic stadium in Athens that hosted the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. It' s the only major stadium in the world built entirely of white (Pentelic) marble.

 

The stadium was originally built  by Lykourgos in 330-329 BC for the athletic event "Panathinea". 

Between 140 and 144 AD, Herodes Atticus restored the Stadium, giving it a seating capacity of 50.000 people. Finally, the stadium was rebuilt at the end of the 19th century.

The Panathenaic Stadium is now a tourist attraction, used only for specific events. It is located in downtown Athens, next to the National Gardens and near the Zappeion Exhibition Hall.

The Methana volcano peninsula

The Methana volcano peninsula is situated just 50 km southeast of Athens and it contains 32 volcanoes (mostly andesitic and dacitic lava domes). It is part of the Hellenic Volcanic Arc and it has been historically active. The volcanic activity began one million years ago and continued gradually until 300 years ago. 

The latest eruptive activity was around 1700. 

Famous ancient writers such as Pausanias, Strabo and Ovid, reported a volcanic eruption in Methana around 230 BC (at Kameni Chora area).

There are many different kinds of volcanoes on Methana (explosive, domes, hdrothermal craters etc).There are many thermal springs as well as impressive gas exhalations. The volcano consists of a basaltic-andesite to rhyodacitic lava dome complex. The central caldera of the Methana peninsula is called Stavrolongos.

The Stoa of Attalos

The Stoa of Attalos or Attalus was built by King Attalos II of Pergamon (between 159 BC and 138 BC, Hellenistic age) as a gift to the city of Athens in gratitude for the education that he received there. 

The stoa is situated in the Athenian Agora. The Stoa of Attalos was almost destroyed by the Heruli in 267. Soon after, the ruins became part of a fortification wall. Fortunately, in the 1950s, the stoa was fully reconstructed.

The Stoa of Attalos was made of limestone and Pentelic marble while the architects used both the Doric and the Ionic order (the walls were made of limestone, the facade of Pentelic marble while the roof was covered with tiles). 

The stoa's original dimensions were 377 by 65 feet wide.

Cave of the Apocalypse

The book of Revelation states that its author, St. John the Theologian (Apostle John), was on Patmos when he was given a vision from Jesus (around 95 AD).

 

"I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet..." (Revelation 1:9-10)

Tourists can visit the cave where John is said to have received his Revelation (the Cave of the Apocalypse). The cave entrance is marked with a mosaic showing the visions of St. John. Inside the cave, seven silver lamps have been hung of which the largest is above the place where St. John slept.

The cave was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO (2006). The superior of the Cave provides to the visitors a description of how the book was written. Brochures are also available.

Nikopolis

Nikopolis is a very important archaeological site next to Preveza. Preveza is a town in the region of Epirus, northwestern Greece. Ancient Nikopolis (Victory City) was founded by the Roman Emperor Octavian to commemorate his victory against Mark Antony and Queen Cleopatra of Egypt.

Within the archaeological site one can see many ruins of great significance such as the Roman fortifications, the Odeon,   the Theater,  the Nymfaion,  the “Vassilospito” and others.

The Nikopolis archaeological site  is open for visitors. The Archaeological Museum of Nicopolis is built near the site and displays exhibits of the city in Roman and Early Christian times.

The Medieval Castles of Kos

Kos is of the Dodecanese islands in the eastern Aegean and a popular tourist destination. There are several easily accessible medieval castles. The most famous castle of Kos island is "The Castle of the Knights".

It's a 14th century fortress at the entrance to its harbour, erected in 1315 by The Knights of Saint John of Rhodes.  Its impressive circular towers are located in the four corners. It is a monument well preserved worthwhile to visit.

Another  medieval castle (next to Antimachia village) is called "The Venetian Castle of Antimachia". It is located on a hill near the village. More castle ruins can also be found in Pili area as well as in Kefalos area.

Agrotourism and Ecotourism in Greece

Ecotourism is a form of tourism which purpose is to educate the traveler and to promote respect for different cultures. 

It involves travel to destinations where fauna, flora, and cultural heritage are the primary attractions. Ecotourism focuses on socially responsible travel, environmental  awareness, promotion of sustainable use of biodiversity, and personal education.  

 

Greece is a country of exceptional beauty: it has 16.000 kilometres of coastline and thousands of islands while 80% of the country consists of mountains with protected fauna and flora.

 
It is one of the best countries for cultural tourism: prehistoric findings, Classical and Hellenistic monuments, Medieval castles, Byzantine buildings, Gothic churches, Mosques and traditional villages, create a unique mosaic of different cultures and civilizations.

Architecture in Greece varies greatly from one area to the next depending on the local history and geography.

Visitors will find apart from ancient monuments, neoclassical  buildings in the cities of Ermoupolis and Nafplion, ottoman architecture in the regions of Grevená and Kozáni, byzantine Orthodox monasteries in Chalkidiki, Castles in Kos island, whitewashed homes and windmills on Cycladic islands,  baroque homes on Corfu island and a whole Medieval city in Rhodes island.

Here is a list of list of the most important Greek monuments: