Archaeological sites will be open all day, every day in Greece

The Ministry of Culture and Sports has announced that 33 archaeological sites will be open every day from 08:00 to 20:00 h till 31/10/14. This way it will be easier for the travelers to organize their visits to the most important archaeological sites and monuments of Greece.

Here is the list of these 33 sites:

Attica: Akropolis of Athens, Theater of Dionysus, Ancient Agora of Athens, Kerameikos, Olympieio , National archaeological museum of Athens, Byzantine and Christian museum of Athens , Sounion

Peloponnese: Archaeological site and museum of Mycenae, Archaeological site and Museum of Ancient Epidaurus, Fortress of Palamidi (Nauplion) Archaeological site and Museum of Ancient Korinth, Archaeological site and Museum of Olympia, Archaeological site and Museum of Mystras

Archaeological site and Museum of Delphi

Northern Greece: Royal Tombs and museum of the royal tombs at Aigai (Vergina), Archaelogical museum of Thessaloniki, Museum of Byzantine Culture and Museum of White Tower (Thessaloniki)

Islands:

Archaeological site and museum of Delos, Akrotiri (Santorini)

Kos: Asklepieion, Castle of Kos

Rhodos: Lindos, Ialyssos, Kameiros, Archaeological museum of Rhodos, Palace of the Grand Masters

Crete: Knossos, Faistos, Psychro cave, Spinalonga, Archaeological museum of Heraklion

Corfu: Old Fortress of Corfu

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Greece wins the 2014 Prize for cultural Heritage, News from Greece

The European Commission and Europa Nostra announced on Marrch the 20th that Greece is among the winners of the 2014 European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage, Europa Nostra awards.

The award ceremony will take place on May 5th at the Burgtheater in Vienna. The awards will be presented by the famous opera singer and President of Europa Nostra,  Placido Domingo and the European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth,  Mrs Androulla  Vassiliou .

Six of the winners will be named as Grand Prix laureates and one will receive the Public choise award.

The 27 laurates, which are selected from 160 projects across 30 countries, are honored for  achievements in four areas: conservation, research, dedicate service and education, training and awareness-raising.

Greece excelled in the area of research for  the "Roman Vaulted Construction in the Peloponnese" , a project based on the 10 years research of Dr. Paolo Vitti.

For more info independent.academia.edu/paolovitti

SAMOS, Greek islands

Samos, the island of goddess Hera, of the great philosophers Pythagoras "the father of Mathematics" and Epicurus and the famous astronomer Aristarchus, is one of the eastern most Greek islands of the Aegean Sea. It is separated from Turkey by the strait of Mykale about 2 kms wide.
A range of mountains runs through the island. The capital Vathy is situated on the Northern coast wich is rocky , while the South coast has fertile plains and beautifull beaches.
The island is thickly wooded and known for its fertility from the antiquity, famous especially for the sweet Samian wine.
Samos was inhabitated in the Neolithic Period by the Pelasgians who established the goddes Hera.
Under the Tyranny of Polycrates, the island became one of the principal cities of Ionia.
The tyrrant Polycrates (532 BC) was a statesman of genius and profligate brigant. During this period the great engineer Eupalinos built the famous tunnel to provide the town whith drinking water which came from Great Spring. Two crews began digging the tunnel on both sides of the mountain simultaneously and thanks to the mathematical calculations of Eupalinos, they met in the middle of the mountain with no deviation... 

The principal excursions on the island are to Ancient Samos, to Heraion, to Pythagoreion , to Karlovassi to the waterfalls where the scenery is breathtaking and to the monasteries.
The site of Ancient Samos lies on the South coast of the island. The great Sanctuary of Hera "Heraion" is situated by the sea. According to mythology the goddess was born and grew up here. The same legend states that here also took place her sacred matrimony with Zeus, the father of the Olympian Gods.
The first temple of Hera was built in the 8th c. BC . The second was built in 570 by the two famous archtct- sculptors Rhoikos and Theodore. At that time the Heraion was at the height of its glory, decorated with wonderful offerings, excellent works of art from the Hellenic worldo but also from Syria, Egypt and Cyprus.The statue of Hera belongs to this era, a masterpiece of Samian art that today is in the Louvre.
After the destruction of this temple in 530 BC the enlightened Polycrates started the construction of  the last temple which according to Herodotus was the biggest building in the whole Hellenic world. The construction stopped after the death of Polycrates so the temple remained unfinished.
Today one can see its foundations and the only column that is preserved. In the sanctuary are ruins of a portico, the great Altar and three small temples from different periods. Many well preserved findings from the excavations of the Heraion are in the museum of Samos.
From the monasteries the most important are: The Monastery of Zoodochos Pigi founded in 1756 from where you have a magnificent view of the Strait of Mykale. In the plain of Vlamari is the Monastery of Ayia Zoni founded in 1695 and the Monastery of Vrontiani which is the oldest of the island founded in 1566.
Samos is a modern island with beautiful organized beaches as Tsamados, Votsalakia, Ghryssi Ammos (=golden sand) and Psili Ammos. It has cosmopolitan places as Vathy, Kokkari and Pythagoreion but also quiet and isolated places ideal for rest and relaxation as Marathokambos, Mykali and Kerveli.

Athens honors Maria Callas, news from Greece

The foundation of a museum dedicated to the worldwide famous diva Maria Callas, that will open its gates to the public in 2015, was announced by the City of Athens Cultural Organisation .

The museum will be housed in a 3-floor neo-classical building at 44, Mitropoleos street in the center of Athens.  The visit will  start  from the second floor , where visitors will be initiated to the meaning of the opera. Next, they will  enter to four "theme" rooms dedicated to her major  roles of "Norma", " Tosca" and "Violetta" (in "La Traviata") and also to her different role as a teacher at Juilliard of New York.  

At the first floor of the museum there will be a presentation of the life and the career of the great opera singer  . At the ground floor there will be the  bistro    " La Divina" and a theme shop and at  the third floor  a mediatheque and a room for temporary exhibitions, educational programs and small concerts  .

This museum is the least that Athens can do to honor the legendary Greek performer, the great diva of the opera.  

PASTITSIO, greek traditional recipies

Ingredients
For the pasta:500 gr.  ziti pasta  or bucatini pasta
2 table spoon butter
1 cup kefalotyri or pecorino cheese or parmesan, grated
For the bechamel:
4 cups milk(warm)
3/4 cup unsalted butter
1  cup flour
1 cup kefalotyri or pecorino cheese or parmesan, grated
2 eggs, beaten
salt, pepper, nutmeg
For the meat sauce:
olive oil
1 chopped onion
1/2 tea spoon cinnamon
1/2 tea spoon sugar
pepper, salt
600 gr  minced  beef
2 table spoons tomato purée, mixed with 150ml water or a medium chopped tomatoe
1 leaf laurel

1. Prepare the pasta: Boil the pasta in salted water until al dente and drain it. Melt at the saucepan  the butter and add the pasta.  

2. Prepare the meat sauce:Put 3 tbsp olive oil into a  frying pan over a medium high heat and cook the onion for about 1 minute until  slightly coloured. Add the minced meat and brown it well. Add the cinnamon , pepper, salt and tomato. Turn the heat down low and cook for about 20 minutes until most of the liquid has evaporated. 

3. Prepare the bechamel:  Heat the butter in a saucepan over medium heat till it melts. Add the flour into the butter  stirring it  continuously with a whisk . Gradually pour in  the heated milk always whisking constantly.Add pepper nutmeg and salt. Take off the heat and add the beaten eggs  and the cheese.

4. Spoon the half of the pasta into a baking dish and mix it with the cheese. Top with the meat sauce and the remaining pasta.  Pour the bechamel sauce and bake at 180 C for about 40 minutes or until golden.

Good appetit!

Thessaloniki, European Youth Capital 2014

"European Youth Capital" is the title that was launched by the European Youth Forum to encourage the development of new ideas and innovative projects.
Since 2009 the European Youth Forum gives this title to a European city for one year. After Rotterdam (2009) , Turin (2010), Antwerp (2011), Braga (2012) and Maribor (2013) it's the turn of Thessaloniki to take the title. Thessaloniki, the second largest Greek city, the capital of central Macedonia, is the European Youth Capital for 2014.
Since January 1st, the city of Thessaloniki hosts a series of actions and events. Many youth events , world championships, international exhibitions and competitions will take place during the all year.
For more info:http://thessaloniki2014.eu/en/