Drafting the new year’s resolution list has grown into a favorite habit. It has become more like an annual ritual that stirs our imagination and boosts our dreams. After all, setting yearly goals and ambitions cultivates our optimism for the future. In that spirit, our upcoming trips deserve to make part of our resolutions list …
A magnificent mountain range in Epirus, tradition, nature, altitude, natural beauty, rare flora and fauna… Metsovo guarantees all this and even more. All you have to do is pack your suitcases and head to the Prefecture of Ionnina, the capital of Epirus. Metsovo is perched at an altitude of 1.150 meters within a landscape of overwhelming …
While walking on the paved street of Staikopoulou, in the heart of the old town of Nafplio, you will come across a building with the inscription “Museum of Komboloi”. You will feel more than intrigued to cross the doorstep of the stately, two-story neoclassical. The museum is not spacious but it will immediately smother you …
The Vergina excavation already numbers several decades of research. Ever since 1938 until nowadays, the archaeologists of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the Archaeological Service have been continuously working on site bringing to light new monuments. It was in 1856 when the French archaeologists and traveler L.Heuzey during his journey in Macedonia had discovered …
Adopt Aristotle’s motto: “The energy of the mind is the essence of life”. Well-being does not concern physical health only. It is a general feeling, an internal ray of health, force and beauty. It is an on-going process. With one of the best climates in the world, with a unique variety of nature, as well as …
Herbal drinks, hot or cold, are very popular and easy to prepare. The rule is: one or one-half teaspoon of herb for a cup of water. When you use roots, rinds, or leaves, it is best to finely chop them first before use. The kitchen utensils required to make an infusion or tea should be …
Tips for Purchasing Herbs & Wild Plants If you leave in the country, but do not have the knowledge required to identify specific herbs and wild plants, or the time to harvest them yourselves, look for them in your local market or greengrocer. It is advisable to find out the origin of then herbs and …
In 1999 the National Centre of Nutrition, of the National School for Public Health, headed by Mrs. Antonia Trichopoulou, in collaboration with the Hellenic Chemistry Laboratory and company RTD of Food Industry (ETAT.S.A.) conducted a large-scale research concerning the nutritional value of a group of 17 different wild herbs which were used in cottage pie …
The deceptively barren hills and mountains of Crete, the rocky landscape, thick olive groves, uncultivated plots, even the rugged coastline host a most interesting flora, a unique evolutionary crossbreed of the European, African and Asian flora. Many of the plant species endemic to Crete actually naturalized from other continents centuries ago. In particular, the Cretan …
In antiquity ethereal oils and other aromatic substances were used daily in lay and religious activities spanning from the meticulous care of the body to treatment of ailments and devotional practices. On the basis of information deciphered in Linear B tablets found in Knossos and Pylos, ethereal oils were extracted by perfume experts in Minoan …
What Are Herbs? According to the Oxford dictionary herbs are all the useful plants whose leaves, roots, stems and flowers are valued as food or medicines by dint of their aroma or other characteristic. This definition applies to a variety of plants that are used in foods, drinks, medicines, cosmetics, etc. however, in the last …
Eating is a serious matter in Thessaloniki. No matter where you go, from the humblest fish and chips hole-in-the-wall to the trendiest “in” restaurant, you will find that a meal is not something to be rushed, but rather relished and savored. The dishes may range from a simple salad of broccoli, beets and wild greens, …
Cheeses The island has excellent cheeses to offer, either made by traditional small-scale producers – farmers who keep livestock on the island and also make their own cheese – or by commercial cheese-making establishments. Tyrovolia is a white, soft cheese that is used as the basis for traditional Mykonos savory or sweet pies. It can …
A significant amount of practical infrastructure became necessary on Delos to accommodate the needs of visitors, especially during religious festivals such as the Greater (every four years) and Lesser (annual) Delia. The hymn to Apollo further avows “…In Delos…the long-robed Ionians gather in your honor with their children and shy wives: with boxing and dancing …
One of the most memorable and fascinating experiences to be had during a visit to Mykonos is not actually on Mykonos, but a thirty-minute boat ride away…On the sacred island of Delos. If you are the type to believe in ghosts, then you’ll agree they must be here. The millennia-old history of Delos is filled …
The custom of adding resin to wine dates back to ancient times; it is hardly surprising that the vine would, at some point, meet the neighboring pine, particularly in Central Greece, where the two grow in such close proximity. And while the discovery of wine itself, has ben attributed to a random event – a …
Italian With discreet aromas of red fruits and spices, the red Agiorgitiko grape variety produces expensive rosés and velvety reds. Both can be elegant accompaniments to a host of wine-friendly Italian comfort food dishes, famed for their rare balance of richness and finesse. At the same time, for fans of pizza and Neapolitan-style tomato-based sauces, …
Malvasia In the Peloponnese, on the southeast shore of the Parnon mountain range, stands the Byzantine fortified town of Monemvasia, built in the 8th century on a towering rock separated from the mainland. According to written sources, the wine produced across the narrow stretch of water in the Laconian hinterland was exported for at least …
The Peloponnese is mountainous, with Taygetus standing above all other ranges. As a result of its position in Greece’s south, bordered by sea on all sides and its mountainous landscape, the Peloponnese enjoys a mild Mediterranean climate on its coasts, becoming more continental further inland. However, there is a broad range of mesoclimates and temperatures, …
“There are more than 60 grape varieties on Santorini” Abbe Pegues wrote in 1842, “but for the production of the ordinary wine and santo wine almost only one is used, the Assyrtiko, because it is the most prolific and the best”. Assyrtiko remains the dominant cultivar on the island, accounting for about 75% of the …
