Plaza life 3

Plaza life.

explore, enjoy, cherish Athens

Spring - Summer

2015

FREE PRESS | ISSUE 3

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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 Acropolis Museum, archaeological sites and tourist attractions that this great city has to offer. Discover the charming boutiques, patisseries, art galleries and cafĂŠs in the area, return for a delicious lunch or dinner at “The Parliamentâ€? restaurant and enjoy amazing cocktails at the most unique Explorer's Bar.

Suites •

A variety of Suites to suit your style

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.

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Located in the lobby area, it offers an excellent variety of coffees, homemade desserts, selection of Greek delicious wines, finger food etc.

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INSPIRED DINING DOWNTOWN Newly renovated!

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

Located in the heart of Athens, The Parliament Restaurant offers you an intriguing choice of superlative Mediterranean cuisine.

Wining and dining at The Parliament is nothing less than a memorable experience.

EXPLORER’S Bar The perfect city Centre spot for private events, The Explorer’s Bar can provide the ideal setting for the Reception you’ve been imagining.

The British-style ambience, the chic upscale atmosphere, the intricate decoration details and soft music create a perfect backdrop for friends and family to live unforgettable moments.

Make your plans for a private reception.

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Food mediterranean flavours

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With an emphasis on Mediterranean products, enjoy the delicious lunch buffet at the Parliament Restaurant.

24 â‚Ź per person

R eser va t io n s: 210 3 3 524 0 0

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.

Strawberry

Days •

The Plaza Lounges welcome Spring season with sensational strawberry desserts.

From the 1st to the 31st of May, our delicious rich pastries will be prepared with fresh & juicy Greek strawberries, tempting all of you to enjoy!

Ice cream

SUMMER EXPLOSION •

Creamy ice cream sundaes & sorbets, fresh fruit smoothies, milkshakes.

wine by the glass •

Choose from a variety of some of the best Greek wine labels and enjoy it by the glass.

Delicious House Wine N. Lazaridi Tselepos Estate Hatzimichalis Sauvignon Blanc Chateau Julia Merlot and many more!

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Free time Easter in Athens Greek Orthodox Easter is a wonderful time to visit Athens.

One of the greatest celebrations of Christianity is Easter. The faithful Christians all over Greece follow the Holy Week ritual devoutly, rejoicing in His Resurrection.

Easter brioche (“tsoureki”) is traditionally prepared and eggs are dyed with special red dyes, a custom that symbolises the rebirth of life and nature.

On Good Friday, the Epitaph is decorated with flowers and, in the evening, it is carried out from the church in a procession. Athenians join it on its way through the streets, carrying candles in a mystic atmosphere of devout concentration.

On Easter Saturday morning, “maghiritsa” (a rich, thick lamb and herbs soup) is cooked at homes and restaurants. Before midnight, people gather in church holding white candles, which they light with the “Holy Light”. When “Christos Anesti” is proclaimed at 12.00 sharp, an impressive display of fireworks light up the night sky. After the Resurrection ceremony, they all gather around the festively laid table, they crack red eggs and feast on the traditional “maghiritsa”.

On Easter Sunday morning, lamb is prepared on the spit or roasted in the oven.

The Easter tables are set and people merrily rejoice, eat and drink until late at night.

Kapnikarea Kapnikarea Church stands out as a major landmark in Athens’ Byzantine past. Dating back to the 11th century AD, the church lies in the middle of Ermou Street and is dedicated to the Presentation of Virgin Mary.

The church was built atop an older Christian temple, commissioned in the 5th century AD by the Byzantine Empress Eudokia, wife of Theodosius the Younger. Constructed on foundations of the ancient temple of Athena or, perhaps, Demeter, Kapnikarea Church is today owned by the University of Athens.

Many of the interior murals were painted by famed artist Fotis Kondoglou.

The church was originally named Kamouharea, after the famous silk cloth workshops (kamouhades) that operated in the area. The temple was then renamed by its first owner who, according to the tradition, collected the tobacco tax (kapnikos foros) in the city.

Ermou & Kapnikareas Str., Syntagma

Kerameikos Located at the end of Ermou Street, Kerameikos archaeological site is of major importance in Athens. Although only a small part of this ancient city quarter is open to the public, the site – home to the kerameis (potters) in antiquity – offers a fascinating glimpse into the distant past.

Also standing here are the ruins of the imposing, double-arched Dipylon Gate, from the Themistocleian city wall, circa 478 BC. The Dipylon Gate, also known as the Thriasian Gate, was first brought down by Syllas during his conquest of Athens in 86 BC, and the final destruction took place during the Herulian sack of Athens in 267 AD. Thereafter, the area was used as a graveyard until the end of the Roman era in the 6th century.

Monday-Sunday: 08:00-15:00 Ermou Str., Monastiraki

Pnyx (The Pnyka) At the western side of the Acropolis, lies the rock of the Pnyx. Due to its unique morphology and size, the Pnyx was selected as the seat of the Ecclesia and the area of Assembly for Athenian citizens.

It is believed that official functions at the Pnyx began sometime in the 6th century during the age of the Reforms of Cleisthenes. In the New Testament, the Acts of the Apostles mention the Apostle Paul’s Homily to the Athenians on the Pnyx in 51 AD, which introduced Christianism to the Greeks.

Opening hours: from sunrise to sunset.

Acropolis area

National Garden

Protomagia (May 1st - The festival of flowers) May 1st and Greece celebrate Spring… the Festival of Flowers. Protomagia! That is the name of this celebration and as a day off for everybody we did what our ancestors did thousands years ago… Since May Day corresponds with the peak of the flower season, flower shows and festivals are common. The ancient Minoans are believed to have celebrated one of their two “New Year” celebrations about this time - the other was in October. One very common commemoration is the making of a May wreath which is hung on doorways, balconies, in chapels, and many other places. Celebrate the Mother Nature!

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.

The main entrance is on Amalias Avenue, the street named after the Queen who envisioned this park. One can also enter the garden from one of three other gates: the central one, on Vasilissis Sophias Avenue, the second on Herodou Attikou Street and the third gate connects the National Garden to the Zappeion park area.

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Shopping In Giouzenis Jewelry you will discover the world of high end jewelry design, meet the designers and share your thoughts.

Handcrafting jewelry in Greece since 1955 using top quality gemstones, combined with the expert knowledge of their craftsmen guarantees that their creations will meet the most demanding expectations.

Alongside their jewelry, a wide range of watches and gifts are offered by brands such as Longines, Montblanc, Hermès, Perrelet, Corum and Montegrappa.

2, Voukourestiou str.

Athens 10564 T. +30 210 3228688 www.giouzenis.com

Sentiments captured in gold.

Since 1969, the creators of the Maramenos & Pateras House are creating jewelry collections in Hellenic style, embodying the harmony and the simplicity of high aesthetics. More than 30 collections have been created, all inspired by the Hellenic civilization and nature. Hand crafted, in original contemporary designs, they are creations inspired by woman, the jewel of the world.

Maramenos & Pateras 2, Stadiou & Voukourestiou str.

Athens 10564 T. +30 210 3246789 www.maramenos-pateras.com

Plaka Most researchers and scholars of ancient Athens agree that presentday Plaka district of Athens has followed the same routes for the past 2,500 years.

In the 1980’s, a large part of the street in Plaka was pedestrianised, exposing a myriad of ancient monuments situated on each side of the road.

While the street is primarily commercial today, it still manages to uniquely link the past with the present!

Avyssinias Square Lined with antique shops, ouzo bars and even the occasional peddler selling antiques, this vibrant commercial square of Monastiraki area is a popular attraction for locals and visitors.

This square was named after Haile Selassie I, former Emperor of Ethiopia (the modern nation of Abyssinia), who supplied financial aid to buy food for refugees in 1922.

Rebuilt from scratch, the whole Monastiraki area now homes excellent shopping and modern architecture, as well as a few touches directly from its ancient past.

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1. Ermou street 2. National Garden 3. Kapnikarea Church 4. Avyssinias Square 5. Kerameikos Cemetery 6. Temple of Hephaestus 7. Stoa of Attalos 8. Ancient Agora of Athens 9. Erectheion

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Acropolis Station

10. Acropolis of Athens 11. Parthenon 12. Odeon of Herodes Atticus 13. Theatre of Dionysus 14. St. Demetrius the Bombardier 15. Pnyx (The Pnyka) 16. Acropolis Museum 17.Temple of Olympian Zeus

shopping • Giouzenis Jewelry • 2, Voukourestiou str., Athens, Τ. +30 210 3228688

• Maramenos & Pateras • 2, Stadiou & Voukourestiou str., Athens, Τ. +30 210 3246789

HOTEL PHOTOGRAPHY BY D. POUPALOS ATHENS PHOTOGRAPHY BY MMK DESIGN TEAM • ILLUSTRATION BY MARIA THYMI

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