Plaza life 12

Plaza life.

explore, enjoy, cherish Athens

SUMMER

2017

FREE PRESS | ISSUE12

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 in a most relaxing atmosphere of casual chic.

A Leading Business Hotel

Just as atmospheric and comfortable are the rooms and suites tastefully decorated in earthy tones 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 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 most unique Explorer's Bar.

i Corporate Social Responsibility The commitment of our Hotel, NJV Athens Plaza is to continuously acknowledge CSR, through our business ethics and social diligence, in accordance with the principles of sustainability for the society and the environment.

Our central Athens location and unparalleled quality of service makes us the ideal choice for business events, from large-scale events to more discreet business meetings in our specially designed Suites.

Our values • • • • • • • •

Responsibility Business Ethics Human Rights Qualitative Hospitality Consideration and Caring for each employee Contributing to the Society Respecting the Environment Promoting Culture

The NJV Athens Plaza was awarded the GOLD AWARD for Best Greek Business City Hotel at the Greek Hospitality Awards 2017

The NJV Athens Plaza is the first Certified “We do local” Hotel in Athens!

We do local is a philosophy under which a company operates: By spreading the local customs & traditions By introducing local cuisine By supporting local producers With respect to the environment and sustainability By supporting the local workforce

x Delicious Mediterranean Menu!

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Discover greek gastronomy in our hotel’s breakfast The aim of the “Greek Breakfast” program is to offer our Guests the opportunity to discover the gastronomic wealth of our country, while tasting at breakfast, the innumerable Greek delicious products and dishes, which are at the heart of the Mediterranean Diet.

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Offering a wide selection of sinful desserts created by one of the most talented Greek Pastry Chefs, Dionysis Alertas, as well as coffees & teas, refreshments, wines & cocktails.

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

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€ 29* PER PERSON

Salad Main course Dessert A glass of Wine *M o n d a y – Fr i d a y

Wine By the glass!

Enjoy delicious leading wine brands by the glass at the Parliament Restaurant, Explorer’s Bar, and the all-day Plaza Café!

All day Everyday!

Plazas Specials Main course Side salad Side dish €23,00

Plaza Specials

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Plaza Combos Prices start from â‚Ź11,50 Including a beer

Plaza Combos

! s n e h At Fresh Juices * Smoothies Ice Tea * Drinks * Cocktails & Non-Alcohol drinks

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC) The Athens’ new landmark, is the ultimate destination, offering a wide variety of events for adults, kids and the whole family.

Lake Vouliagmeni Lake Vouliagmeni magically stands out in a landscape of unparalleled beauty, which almost looks unreal in the eyes of the visitor, and is one of the most beautiful natural attractions in Attica. Its harmonious blend of rocks and pines, together with modern facilities and services, make it a destination for recreation, relaxation, swimming, food and coffee. An underwater cave, measuring 3.125 metres in length, is at the entrance of the bottom of the natural, oval pool.

Lake Vouliagmeni

Zea Marina

National Garden The National Garden (formerly the Royal Garden) is a public park of 15.5 hectares (38 acres) in the centre of the Greek capital, Athens. It is located directly behind the Greek Parliament building (The Old Palace) and continues to the South to the area where the Zappeion is located, across from the Panathenaic (or Kallimarmaro) Olympic Stadium of the 1896 Olympic Games. The Garden also encloses some ancient ruins, tambourines and Corinthian capitals of columns, mosaics and other features. Upon entering the garden one can notice that the city noises were muted and birds could be heard tweeting.

Opening hours: from sunrise to sunset.

Plaka

Filopappou Hill in the company of muses Formerly called Hill of the Muses, this bucolic paradise, with its Mediterranean vegetation, perfume of pine trees and the beautiful landscaping of the famous architect Dimitrios Pikionis reward those who stroll here.

Don’t miss the Byzantine chapel of Agios Dimitrios Loumbardiaris, hidden among the pines.

Temple of Poseidon at Sounion The

sanctuary at Sounion is one of the most important sanctuaries in Attica. Sporadic finds point to the conclusion that the site was inhabited in the prehistoric period but there is no evidence of religious practice in such an early date. “Sounion Hieron� (sanctuary of Sounion) is first mentioned in the Odyssey, as the place where Menelaos stopped during his return from Troy to bury his helmsman, Phrontes Onetorides. Finds dated to the 7th century BC onwards increase in number, indicating the existence of organized cult on two points of the promontory: at the southern edge where the temenos of Poseidon was situated, and about 500 m. to the NE of it, where the sanctuary of Athena was established.

Important votive offerings were dedicated during the 6th century B.C., but the architectural form of both sanctuaries remained unpretentious until the beginning of the 5th century B.C., when the Athenians initiated the construction of an imposing poros temple in the temenos of Poseidon. The building was never completed, though, as both the temple and the offerings were destroyed by the Persians in 480 BC. In the following decades, Sounion, like the rest of Attica, flourished, and an important building project was undertaken at both sanctuaries. At the end of the 5th century and during the Peloponnesian War, the Athenians fortified Sounion cape. From the 1st century BC. onwards, the sanctuaries gradually declined and Pausanias, who sailed along the coast of the promontory in the mid-2nd century AD, mistook the prominent temple on the top of the hill as the temple of Athena.

The site of the temple was known in the following centuries, as is proved by descriptions of modern travellers, who visited Sounion before the excavations started. Several of them, carved their names on the ruins, e.g. Lord Byron.

Restricted excavations in the sanctuary of Poseidon were conducted in 1825 by the Dilettanti and by the German architect W. Doerpfeld. Systematic investigation was undertaken between 1897 and 1915 by the Athens Archaeological Society, under the direction of V. Stais, with the collaboration of A. Orlandos. Since 1994, the Archaeological Society has been carrying out excavations at the Fortress.

The monuments seen on the site are the following:

The Temple of Poseidon At the end of the Archaic period an imposing temple was constructed in the position of the Classical one seen today, but it was slightly smaller in dimensions. It was Doric, made of poros, with an external colonnade of 6 x 13 columns, and an internal one which supported the roof. Its construction was interrupted by the Persian invasion and the temple remained unfinished. The later temple, that is preserved today, was also Doric, with 6 x 13 columns, made of Agrileza marble, but without an internal colonnade. The stylobate measured 13,47 x 31,12 m. It was constructed in 450-440 B.C. and, according to another theory, was the work of the architect who had also built the Hephaisteion (“Theseion”) in the Ancient Agora of Athens, the Temple of Nemesis at Rhamnous, and the Temple of Ares which was probably erected in Acharnes. The sculptural decoration of the temple, made of Parian marble, is preserved in poor condition. The frieze of the east side depicted Centauromachy, and the east pediment (of which only a seated female figure is preserved) probably depicted the fight between Poseidon and Athena for the domination of Attica. The two antae of the east side and several of the columns of the east part of the temple are still preserved today, while the west is completely destroyed.

The Fortress Sounion cape was fortified in 412 B.C. during the Peloponnesian War, in order to control and secure the ships carrying cereals to Athens. The use of various materials and construction techniques is probably the result of repairs and additions made during the Chremonideios War and the following years

(266-229 B.C.). The sanctuary of Poseidon occupies the SE end of the fortress. The wall starts at the NE corner, extends to the north and turns to the west. Shipyards for the sheltering of two war ships were constructed on the coast, at the west end of the north branch of the fortification. Inside the fortress, excavations have brought to light part of a central street, remains of houses, and water cisterns.

Sanctuary of Athena It is situated on a hill 500 m. to the NE of the Sanctuary of Poseidon. The area was evened off and enclosed with a poros polygonal circuit wall. Inside the enclosed area were erected the Temple of Athena, a smaller temple to the north, and altars. A deep pit on the SE side of the temenos was used as a deposit for the Archaic offerings destroyed by the Persians. The oval peribolos to the NW of the temenos has been identified as the “Heroon of Phrontes”. The Temple of Athena has a rectangular cella, bearing four Ionic columns at the centre to support the roof.

Today the monument is only preserved at the level of the foundation, along with the cult statue base on the west side of the cella. One of the peculiarities of the temple, mentioned also by Vitruvius, is the existence of an outer colonnade only on the east and south sides.

Some scholars consider that the temple of Athena Sounias was reconstructed after the mid-5th century B.C., while others believe that the cella was built during the Archaic period, was repaired after the Persian destructions, and the colonnade was added in the middle of the 5th century BC. A second peculiarity of the sanctuary is the placement of the altar to the south of the temple.

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our n estio g g u s BELVEDERE LUXURY HOTEL MYKONOS Mykonos Luxury Design Hotel Through the luxury hotel’s stone walled gates, one walks into an impossibly charming bougainvillea clad courtyard. Entering the design 5 star hotel lobby, one soon discovers the understated elegance, design genius and rich history that have established the Belvedere as a truly iconic Luxury Boutique Hotel in Mykonos. Member of The Leading Hotels of the World, the Belvedere 5 star hotel property is located in the heart of Mykonos Town.

Looking down towards Chora’s irresistibly pretty plateau of whitewashed Cyclades houses, the Belvedere Mykonos luxury accommodation stands for all that is beautiful in the Cyclades Islands and Greece. http://www.belvederehotel.com

Among the most beautiful Greek islands, is the island of Mykonos, located almost in the centre of the Cyclades complex.

It is particularly famous for the cosmopolitan atmosphere, the exciting nightlife, the picturesque Cycladic architecture and the magnificent beaches that make holidays in Mykonos a unique experience. There are many things to do in Mykonos Greece, an island perfect for people of all ages: walk along the narrow streets of Chora, see the sunset from Little Venice, stay in luxurious hotels and swim in exotic beaches. Super Paradise, Paradise and Kalo Livadi are fabulous places to enjoy swimming and relax under the hot sun. In the evenings, head to Mykonos town to enjoy the vividness of its fabulous nightlife! Drink and dance the night away, in trendy bars and famous clubs.

ROBERT WILSON – MIKHAIL BARYSHNIKOV | Letter to a Man, based on Nijinsky’s diaries ________________ Onassis Cultural Centre, Main Stage 10-13 July 2017 21:00

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE FESTIVAL

FULL PROGRAM & TICKETS greekfestival.gr

THEATER

Athens & Epidaurus Festival The Athens & Epidaurus Festival, aims to highlight the work of new Greek artists and promote it on an international level, while also achieving co-productions with internationally acclaimed artists and groups in the fields of theatre and dance, as well as with regional theatres and institutions in Greece, and expanding the Festival’s scope and audience by opening up to the city and organizing various educational activities.

Furthermore, in 2017 the Epidaurus Lyceum will also be launched; an international summer school of ancient Greek drama intended for drama school students and young actors from all over the world, the Lyceum aspires to a reappraisal of our approaches regarding ancient tragedy and comedy, helping bridge the gap between historic tradition and contemporary reality. The Lyceum is expected to become an international meeting point of actors, drama teachers, directors, musicians, choreographers, theatre theorists, anthropologists, and musicologists, as well as a source of spiritual and economic development for the entire Epidaurus area.

More information about Hellenic festival www.greekfestival.gr

Evzones uniform the costume of an elite Greek soldier Each Evzone carries the M1 Garand gun which weighs over five kilograms and puts enormous pressure on the body as it is slammed into the shoulder at the end of every movement. The gun however plays an important role beyond the ceremony. The soldier The Greek Presidential on duty, who is dressed in army fatigues, supports Guard or Evzones are the Evzones during their time on duty by controlling a group of elite Greek crowds around them, adjusting their uniforms and ensuring their well being through the motionless hour soldiers who are trained in heat, cold and rain. By hitting the butt of the gun to perform various on the ground, the soldier is made aware that the Evzone requires assistance. The soldier will ask ceremonial duties. They the Evzone questions and the answers are stand guard at the Tomb of communicated by blinking, one blink is ‘yes’, two blinks is ‘no’, three blinks the Unknown Soldier and the is ‘i don’t know’.

Presidential Palace and also raise and lower the flag at the Acropolis every Sunday. The Evzones uniform is handmade with intricate detail, taking many months to complete and is a symbol of the country’s nationalistic pride, representing the significant battles fought throughout Greece’s modern history. The formal version of the uniform is white and worn on Sundays and at official occasions, with a doulama or tunic worn at other times, khaki in summer and navy blue in winter.

BY WHY ATHENS - whyathens.com

The Farion cap is made from a soft red baize and features a long silk tassel. The uniform of the islands, often referred to as the Cretan uniform, features a shorter tassel. The tassels extreme length, can require untangling by the soldier on duty after a march or movement and skilled Evzones maintain an extreme upright posture to avoid the trouble. The front of the caps have the Greek coat of arms with the officers rank displayed underneath. When a salute is made, the Evzones point two fingers toward the coat of arms at the front of the Farion.

The Fermeli is the most intricate part of the Evzones uniform. Hand embroidered entirely from wool, the thousands of stitching holes are hidden on the reverse side of the waistcoat which can take a period months to complete and can last up to ten years. The Fermeli also distinguishes the rank of the Evzone, although it will take a keen eye to identify the subtle stripes placed at the back right tail of the coat, one for a Corporal and two for a Sergeant, and none will be visible for Privates.

The Ypodetes is the extremely wide sleeved white shirt worn by the Evzones which flare as they march and thought to symbolise the purity of the national purpose. Underneath the wide sleeve, there is a button down long sleeve which reaches the wrist.

The Foustanella is made from over 30 metres of fabric and features 400 pleats to represent the liberation of Greece from the years of Ottoman occupation. The Krossia (braided fringes), are blue and white after the colours of the Greek Flag. The origins of the kilt like garment are widely contested by historians as other Balkan countries such as Albania and Bulgaria identify with their own version of the garment. However archaeological evidence painted on vases from the Byzantine period show the Foustanella was in The Tsarouchia shoes use in Greek territories in the 12th century of the Evzones weigh over AD whilst kilt like garments were three kilograms and feature at represented in sculptures found in least 60 nails on the base of the shoe the Attica region dating back to which simulate the sound of battle during the 5th century BC. the movement of the Evzone. The toe of the Tsarouchia is pointed upwards and covered by a black silk pom pom which is hand cut to shape. The base of the shoe is made from cowhide and over 300 hand stitches are required to hold each shoe together. The Evzones wear two pairs of Periskelides (woollen stockings) on each leg which are held up by the Epiknemides (silk garters) with tassel.

e-shops for a good reason forgetmenotathens.gr In the region of Plaka, at 100 Adrianou str., where Theodoros Kolokotronis, the leader of the Greek War of Independence (1821–1829) against the Ottoman Empire, used to live, a shop opened in March 2014, aiming to create another type of “revolution” in the field of Greek Design.

wecreateharmony.com WCH collaborates with young designers as well as organizations and other start-ups. Designers are handpicked and their pieces are carefully chosen.

ergonmykonos.com Minimal lines, style and modern techniques define the product line, presented through a range of modern compositions of everyday life; jewelry, clothing, accessories even homeware.

ancient-greek-sandals.com/en/eur/ Christina and Nikolas’s love for Ancient Greece and its history, combined with their individual technical skills naturally led to the creation of ‘Ancient Greek Sandals’.

The collection is inspired by ancient Greek Gods and myths, pottery, jewellery and sculpture.

thegreekimp.com The Greek Imp embraced the man-eater Minotaur, the one-eyed giant Cyclops, the fury of Medusa and the reviving heads of Hydra and guided them into the Greek summer. Hence, the monsters enjoy the sea and sun and forget their ferocious nature.

Jewelry made with Passion In Giouzenis Jewelry you will discover the world of high end jewelry design, using top quality gemstones. A wide range of watches and gifts are also offered by brands such as Longines, Corum, Montblanc, Perrelet, Titoni and Montegrappa.

2, Voukourestiou str.

Athens 10564 T. +30 210 3228 688 www.giouzenis.com

Giouzenis Jewelry, designing and handcrafting jewelry since 1955!

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HOTEL PHOTOGRAPHY BY D. POUPALOS - ARTWORK BY MMK DESIGN TEAM

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1. National Garden, Botanological Museum and Zappion Gardens 2. Psirri 3. Monastiraki - Avyssinias Square 4. Ancient Agora 5. Anafiotika 6. Acropolis Museum

7. Benaki Museum 8. Byzantine Museum 9. Cycladic Museum 10. Museum Herakleidon 11. Ermou Street 12. Giouzenis Jewelry