Plaza life 2

Plaza life.

explore, enjoy, cherish Athens

Winter

2015 FREE PRESS | ISSUE 2 | JANUARY 2015

2

Welcome A luxury hotel, ideally located at Syntagma Square, in the heart of the business and shopping districts and within walking distance from the Acropolis and the Old City of Plaka. Modern style and elegance, is overall a relaxing atmosphere of casual chic. Just as atmospheric and comfortable are the rooms and suites tastefully decorated in pale tonnes with a number of suites benefitting from a breathtaking and scintillating view of the Acropolis and Stadiou Street.

Its prominent location gives one the chance to hop on any bus, metro, trolley, tram, or hire a taxi and within minutes get to one of the major Museums, such as the New Acropolis Museum, archaeological sites and tourist attractions that this great city has to offer. Discover the charming boutiques, patisseries, art galleries and cafés in the area, return for a delicious lunch or dinner at “The Parliament” restaurant and enjoy amazing cocktails at the unique Explorer's Bar.

Suites •

A variety of Suites to suit your style

EXPLORER’S Bar • The perfect city centre spot for drinks, cocktails and special events

Deluxe rooms •

The Deluxe guestrooms will bedazzle visitors with their incredible view, since they are all facing Syntagma Square, the Acropolis, Stadiou Street and Voukourestiou luxury shopping Street

The Parliament restaurant •

Newly renovated!

Its classy appearance, featuring antique furniture and sophisticated décor creates an inviting and most tranquil setting for unforgettable dining experiences

4

where city explorers meet

•

A true urban meeting point at the heart of the city centre, Explorer’s bar begins a fresh, widespread journey and invites you to discover the tastes of the world through metropolitan cocktails, superb drinks and a set of delicious dishes with fascinating flavours. The special British-style ambience, the sophisticated backdrop, the chic upscale atmosphere, the intricate decoration details and the inspiring soft sounds, turn this all day spot to a perfect hideaway in the city, reminiscent of a British club that offers unique experiences for genuine explorers.

6

Food me di ter ra ne a n flavours R eser va t io n s: 210 3 3 524 0 0

mediterranean flavours

•

With an emphasis on Mediterranean products, the new lunch buffet at the Parliament restaurant.

24 € per person

Valentine’s day February 14th •

A romantic Dinner for 2 in our Restaurant accompanied with a bottle of house wine at 90 €.

•

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a romantic sleepover & breakfast combined with a delicious set menu dinner for 2 at “The Parliament”.

Room accommodation at 190 € including Breakfast, set menu Dinner for 2 accompanied with a bottle of house wine.

Suite accommodation at 280 € including Breakfast, set menu Dinner for 2 accompanied with a bottle of house wine.

Stone baking is a primeval roasting technique, which does not require any kitchenware use. The concept derives from the fact that stone rapidly accumulates heat, which is released slowly and evenly all over its surface. Through this procedure, a crust is formed, which secures and withholds the food juice, aroma and nutrients, while its taste remains simple and authentic.

The ability of the stone to maintain high temperature contributes to the food not needing incessant flaming or smoking, thus reducing the danger of exposure to harmful substances. Stone baking is considered utterly dietetic, as neither oil nor fat is used.

February 12th, enjoy Fat Thursday “Tsiknopempti” at the Parliament restaurant.

Clean Monday February 23rd

• Clean Monday begins the season of Great Lent in Eastern Orthodox Church.

Greek Traditional delicacies of the day include olives, octopus & shellfish, salads etc.

24 € lunch buffet per person

Traditional celebration requires flying a kite & having fun with friends while enjoying music & Greek dances!

lent menu

February 23rd- April 11th

•

Great lent is the time of preparation for the feast of the Resurrection of Christ on Easter Sunday.

During this period, there will be a variety of delicious meatless dining proposals in our everyday Buffet at the Parliament Restaurant.

8

Free time 1. The Acropolis museum The program "A day at the Acropolis Museum" invites visitors to spend a day at the Museum enjoying a range of activities. Take a stroll through the exhibition and address all enquiries you may have to a Museum Archaeologist - Host.

From the second floor balcony take a glance to a special and unexpected view of the Archaic Gallery.

Visit the Parthenon Gallery on the third floor with its unique views of the Acropolis.

15 Dionyssiou Areopagitou str., 117 42 Athens www.theacropolismuseum.gr/en

2. Benaki Museum Friends and Patrons of El Greco in Toledo The exhibition is organized on the occasion of the quatercentenary of Domenikos Theotokopoulos’ death, focused on the presentation of the intellectuals, collectors and patrons who constituted El Greco’s personal close circle in Toledo, inspiring and supporting him throughout his creative journey.

13 Nonember 2014 - 01 March 2015 1 Koumbari St. & Vas. Sofias ave., 106 71 Athens www. benaki@benaki.gr/en

3. The Byzantine and Christian Museum The Byzantine and Christian Museum, which is based in Athens, is one of Greece’s national museums. Its areas of competency focus on – but not limit to – religious artefacts of the Early Christian, Byzantine, Medieval, post-Byzantine and later periods that are exhibited. It also acquires, receives, preserves, conserves,records, documents, researches, studies, publishes and raises general awareness. The museum has over 25,000 artefacts in its possession. The artefacts date between the 3rd and 20th century AD, and their provenance encompasses the entire Greek world, as well as regions where Hellenism flourished. The size and range of the collections and value of the exhibits make the Museum a veritable treasury of Byzantine and post-Byzantine art and culture.

Collections Sculpture, wall paintings, Icons, minor arts, ceramics, textiles, manuscripts & early printed, books, paintings, copies, Loverdos collection, mosaics.

22 Vas. Sofias ave., 106 75 Athens www.byzantinemuseum.gr/en

4. The Numismatic Museum The Numismatic Museum owns 500.000 acquisitions –mostly coins as well as medals, lead bullae, gems, weights, obeloi and talents- dated back to the 14th century BC until today. The richest collections are those of the ancient coins dated between the 6th century BC and the 5th century AD. These are the coins of the citystates, the kings and rulers of the ancient Greek and Hellenistic world, the Roman Republic, the Roman emperors and the Roman Imperial provinces. Of similar importance are the collections of the Byzantine and Medieval coins dated between the 6th century and the 15th century. There is a large number of coins of the Byzantine empire and representative issues of all the emperors and mints, issues of states and monarchs of the Medieval West and East, as well as issues of the Frankish kingdoms established in Greece since the 13th century. The period between the 15th and the 20th century depicts most of the Modern and contemporary era states though coins.

Coins circulated in Greece are emphatically exhibited; such as issues of the Ottoman empire, coins of European states and empires and coins and banknotes of the Modern Greek state.

Iliou Melathron, 12 El. Venizelou str., (Panepistimiou str.), 106 71 Athens www.nma.gr

5. March 25th March 25th has a special meaning to the Greeks.

It is a double celebration. As Orthodox Christians we celebrate the Annunciation, and also our Independence Day. There is a school flag parade in every town / village and the military parade in Athens, on Vas. Amalias street, a spectacular view from our verandas.

6. Metaxourgeio Carnival Street Party The best Carnival in town is back for the 6th time!

Get your costumes on and be part of the celebrations.

When: Sunday 22/02, at 11:00 till sunset!

Where: parade starts at Avdi Square, Metaxourgeio district.

10

Shopping Stadiou & Voukourestiou street Luxury jewelry shops next to our Hotel at Stadiou & Voukourestiou streets.

• Chopard (Stadiou str.)

• Maramenos & Pateras (Stadiou str.)

• Li.LA.Lo (Stadiou & Voukourestiou str.)

• Omega (Voukourestiou str.)

• Giouzenis (Voukourestiou str.)

• Sabanis (Voukourestiou str.)

Kolonaki For brand name Kolonaki shopping area is the one you are looking for!

All the great fashion brands, the best jewelries and all the designer trends of each season gathered together in a small area in the center of Athens, near Syntagma Square.

Plaka •

The old historical neighborhood of Athens, located right under the Acropolis.

As a main tourist attraction, Plaka has a lot of shops mainly with tourist items such as Greek art, furs and jewelry, as well as many small restaurants & cafés.

Ermou Street •

Ermou Street, in the heart of Athens, begins from Syntagma Square and ends at Monastiraki. It is the most famous shopping promenade and one of the best choices in Athens for clothing, accessories and quality souvenir shopping.

Especially if you are looking for shoes, Ermou Street is the best choice as it offers a great number of shoe stores!

S

Voul is

1. Ermou street 2. Numismatic Museum 3. Acropolis Museum 4. Plaka area 5. Agias Irinis Square 6. “Varvakeios” Central Market

uka

mva tou Va

Sekeri

Merlin

sta Zaloko

Va s.

A

ikou Irodou A tt

as m

ali

nni

us

Va s.

Temple of Olympian Zeus

i

nt

Ol

a st

u no

ue en v A

u

no

a ki

Fo

n Ko s. a V

ga

sA ve nu e

Panathenaic Stadium

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

National History Museum (Old Parliament) Benaki Museum Museum of Cycladic Art Lycabettus Hill Byzantine and Christian Museum Kolonaki area COVER PHOTO BY MILAN GONDA HOTEL PHOTOGRAPHY BY D. POUPALOS SEASONAL PHOTOS BY THEOFILOS VENARDOS ATHENS PHOTOGRAPHY BY MMK DESIGN TEAM CONCEPT_ARTWORK BY MMK DESIGN TEAM • ILLUSTRATION BY MARIA THYMI

Virona

ikr ato

rigia

3

u

Mak

Mitseon

ou

B

i ar ag Ts

iou Areo pagit

Vas. Georgiou

Presidential House

u

lou

Dionis

11

lo

Lis

Frinichou

il Thras

Acropolis

National Garden, Botanological Museum and Zappion Gardens

rio

Th a

u

ri

te

As

Da

Afrodit

is

Vakch o

Sou

Av en ue

Patroou

Ipatias

Nikis

s rea ika Aggelou Vlachou

Pentelis

n

is

on

u idalo

8

tos

Filellino

rou Kod

d Ki

e

Xenofon

ou

M

i lle a kav

Se

Rag

4

on

ine

ath

s Avenu

9

s

u

iano

e Ip

Kolonaki Square

Kanari

Greek Parlaiment

Othono

Nikodim

u

o rid

12

Vas. Sofi a

Syntagma square

Skoufou

Ipitou

s

Fle

Navarchou

dou

n

sa

kidi

u Tho

odo

Vas. Georgiou

Apollonos

Andr

Tri p

ias

1

Petraki

u

to

zo

rgi Ser v

Pi

tou Do

ou

Aiolou Ka pn

eos

ko

u Vo

u ro

a nd

u

Mitr opol

Ermou

Karagio

u

tio

es ur

to Irodo

os Fokion

Evaggelistrias

Perikleous

ou ul lof u po ka ido sa sto kil T no Fo g fa a ou An Sk

os

m

Di

s

ie Kr

u dio

Athinaid

S ta

nis

ni

Kalamiotou

s Iri

2

7

ou

rit

ok

iki

er

Am

iou

us lo ite

ax Pr

ou ark uM

Kolokotr o 5

ias

tim pis ne Pa

io Ag

Ch

s

ssi

oti

pili

os lon So

Om Klafthmonos Square

s riso

L

u iro

im ad Ak

idou

10

ou

t vit ika

Neofy

6

Evrip

Agia

Lykabettus Hill

a in

Neofy

leous

12

Aristid

Athin as

Sofok