Sani Magazine 2021 by Sani Resort

SANI M AG A Z I N E

τηε PHOS ISSU E - SUM M ER 2021

BIG BANG ONE CLICK 18K King Gold case set with diamonds. Self-winding movement. Interchangeable strap using patented One-Click system.

ERES pop up store

Sani resort beach ERES Cabana - Bousoulas beach

eresparis.com

ERES Boutiques

Athens Voukourestiou 6 Mykonos Nammos Village Psarou Beach

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

EDITOR'S LETTER

We make every effort to keep the human touch very much alive and genuine – I truly believe this is the essence of Sani and why we have the joy of welcoming you and your family year after year

With great pleasure I welcome you to Sani Resort and the latest issue of Sani Magazine. This past year has been one of unprecedented challenges for all of us. As you will discover, we have adapted our services to offer you the greatest protection in our warm and beautiful surroundings. We are proud that to date these changes have been successful and we will continue with these measures until we can be sure the pandemic has subsided. Now you are here, I know you will enjoy Sani’s beauty, vibrancy and fabulous new facilities more than ever! The stunningly refurbished Porto Sani has been enthusiastically received by all our guests. And as part of our “Only at Sani” offering we invite you to enjoy exciting collaborations including the Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre, Chelsea FC Foundation and the Bear Grylls Survival Academy – all promising a truly unique experience. While innovations such as the chauffeur-driven private tour in a luxurious Volvo plug-in hybrid car are a sustainable adventure for the whole family, taking you on a tour of the breathtaking Kassandra Peninsula. Once again, we are very proud of the accolades we have received from the travel industry in recognition of the brilliantly consistent efforts of our staff, partners and everyone involved. Our latest awards include the World’s Leading Family & Beach Resort and the World’s Leading Luxury Green Resort at the World Travel Awards in 2020, while Sani Dunes claimed a top-three place in the best hotels in the world at the TripAdvisor Awards. Our guests are always the centre of attention and we make every effort to keep that human touch very much alive and genuine – I truly believe this is the essence of Sani and why we have the joy of welcoming you and your family year after year. I warmly welcome you to our tranquil world of natural beauty, unrivalled service and understated elegance. It’s time for you to relax in our exquisite Mediterranean setting, soak up the sun and enjoy the smiles of our people, who are always here for you. Wishing you an unforgettable stay.

Stavros Andreadis President Sani SA

photographer Aris Rammos

Dearest guests,

CONTENTS DISCOVER THE ISSUE YOU’RE HOLDING IN YOUR HANDS

28 Phos & shades In search of Greek light in literature, poetry and photography through the lens of ten established Greek photographers

42 Eleftheria Deko Greece’s “national” lighting designer explains how light literally changed her life

48 1821-2021: Here O Here Eleftheria Modern Greece interprets the message of the historic anniversary for both the present and the future

64 Inspirational Revolution Design pays tribute to the Greek revolutionary spirit

I I LIGHT

GREECE HISTORY, CULTURE & DESIGN

52 Culture talk Three ambassadors of Greek culture, Katerina Evangelatos, Giorgos Koumendakis & Afroditi Panagiotakou, share their vision with us

68 Mary Katrantzou The fashion designer, whose talent made her famous in all corners of the globe, speaks about her life and her work

I SANI RESORT EXPERIENCING “PARADISE”

74 Back to Eden A lively narrative about Sani Resort is clear evidence that paradise is a thoroughly personal affair 80 20 + 1 reasons to go to Sani Resort Everything you need for your dream vacation is here! 86 Porto Sani: Updated elegance A new and modern option in world class luxury holidays in the superbly renovated hotel by architect Niki Manou – Andreadis

92 Chasing the Light Hunting down the sunrise and the sunset, we select the finest resort wear for classy, timeless elegance

FASHION FILES

126 Wish List Absolute must-haves for summer outfits that will make an impression at all times of the day

112 A precious dreamy stay A hospitality experience reveals a world of discreet luxury, high aesthetics and a sensitivity towards man and the environment 122 The Utter meeting point Cosmopolitan Sani Marina is the most beautiful setting for action, fun, shopping and socializing

132 Melissa Odabash The swimwear & beachwear designer knows what women want in the summer, which is why her designs reflect an eternal sunshine 150 Forces of Nature Earth tones, soft textures and natural materials blend with the natural beauty of the resort’s wetlands

Leasing & Car Rentals

Tailor-made experiences that are as unique as you

We rent experience Plan an unforgettable experience with Auto365. Auto365 is a car rental company that has the largest and most premium selection of exotic and luxury automobiles in Northern Greece. Our fleet of luxury cars will satisfy even the most passionate car enthusiasts. Wide range of brand new, company-owned, premium cars. Executive VIP and chauffeur services with a fleet of luxury cars. Tailor-made premium experience tours that elevate your stay in Greece to a luxury level. Auto365 delivers premium experience tours and offers ground transportation services to numerous destinations in Halkidiki, Thessaloniki, and Northern Greece. You can select one of our existing itineraries or turn to our travel consultants to create a custom itinerary based on your interests and needs.

Main Office: 9km Thessaloniki-Moudanion, 55535 Thessaloniki / Phone: +30 2311 111 365 / Email: info@auto365.gr / www.auto365.gr

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

136 Explore your inner beauty Sophisticated SPA treatments based on Anne Semonin Paris luxury brand products

WELLNESS & SPORTS

140 Beauty Essentials The beauty products for your summer holidays 164 Work on you, for you Exercise mind and body indulging in the various actions on offer at the resort

144 The Eco-Friendly Utopia Eco-philosophy meets luxury and safe hospitality at a resort that puts sustainability first

I ECO LIFE & SUSTAINABILITY

158 Planet Passionate Eleni Andreadis is working hard on proving that the stakes placed on making tourism sustainable can be won

178 A Cultural Gourmet Heritage Sani Resort’s investment in taste culture gave birth to the Sani Gourmet institution

I GASTRONOMY

184 UnforgoTEN Delights A top ten tasting experience by a food critic who always chooses the best

198 Halkidiki: make the most of it A five-day journey along the peninsula

LAST PAGE

210 Get your Borsalino luxury hat at the Sani Pop-up Store

I I ROAD TRIPS & DESTINATIONS

168 Rafa Nadal The tennis legend conveys his knowledge and experience via the RNTC at Sani Resort 172 Born a Survivor The Bear Grylls Survival Academy calls on those who feel adventure running in their blood

160 Nature-lism Sani Resort Eco Guide, Giorgos Andreou, shows us how to embrace nature 176 Love Food, Food Waste No More Why do we throw away 1/3 of the food produced in the world when one in nine people goes to sleep hungry at night?

188 The Finest Flavors The five executive chefs and two pastry chefs of the Sani Resort Hotels deliver exclusive cooking lessons to Sani Magazine readers

204 Thessaloniki: where History meets Art A city with a history of 2500 years is never boring

SANI M AG A Z I N E

ANNUAL EDITION 2021

Group Brand Strategy Director Pepy Siouti Creative Director Sofia Georgakis PR/Communications Manager Greece Georgia Dodou

I PRODUCTION Nasta Publications Ltd., 81 Tsimiski Str, Thessaloniki, 54622 Greece, T. +30 2310 220897 Head of Publications Nano Kougioumtzoglou Editor in Chief Aris Kavatzikis Creative & Design Director Niki Tabaki Production & Deputy Manager Eleonora Kanaki Art Director Melina Maltsidou Editorial Team Dimitris Antonopoulos, Vasiliki Doukoumopoulou, Dimitris Koparanis, Iliana Magra, Eleni Papaioannou, Niki Pilidou, Kalliroi Simitzidou, Aristotelis Spiliotopoulos, Sonia Talantinou, Konstantinos Tanias, Antigoni Tsangopoulou, Kosmas Vidos, Maria Zafeiratou Fashion Editorial Photographer George Katsanakis Styling Director Natasha Lionaki Translators Your Translator, Amelia Zavacopoulos

I I PRINTING

Skordopoulos

COVER Photographer George Katsanakis , Styling Director Natasha Lionaki , Makeup Maria Pagonaki , Hair Kanakis Peristeras , Photographer Assistant Dimitris Katsanakis (10AM), Styling Assistant Michalis Terzakis , Model Mariina Keskitalo (D.Models), Dress Melissa Odabash , Sani Marina

SANI@ is a Registered Trademark in the European community, owned and controlled by Sani SA

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

PHOS & SHADES

words by Aris Kavatzikis

Throughout the centuries, light continues to be a source of inspiration, creation, and rebirth. The everlasting allure of an enlightened existence and reality steers people towards the constant pursuit and collection of every radiant ray surrounding them, something that, in essence, justifies the very journey of people through life.

I’ve travelled to 133 countries and I can reassure you that Greece is the most beautiful place in the world. Marina Vernicos

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

TEN distinguished PHOTOGRAPHERS SHARED WITH US THEIR own MOMENT OF CAPTURING GREEK LIGHT, AS well AS ONE thought OF THEIRS ABOUT THE moment THEY CAPTURED IN THEIR pictures. WE THANK THEM wholeheartedly

We owe our existence to water and air, two elements so discreet that almost no one ever notices. Having travelled the breadth and width of Greece, I can assure you that Greek light showcases them in such a way that it often overlaps with poetry. (Oitylo, Mani, from the series Mare Liberum 2000-forthcoming) Yiorgis Yerolympos

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

The light that pierces shadows, that eternal, unique light that registers countless shades of color, creating indelible images in your mind. Ioanna Roufopoulou 32

Greece is bathed year round in the most radiant light. Light plays an integral part in our lives and mood; it is translucent, elevates our surroundings to the sublime, and when summer comes, it reflects back up off the Aegean sea and makes everything sparkle. It's pure magic and you have to see it to believe it. Katerina Katopis-Lykiardopulo

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

The existence of light has served as a fundamental pillar of science, philosophy, and religion - “…and God said, ‘let there be light’, and there was light...”. Then, light moved into the realms of literature and poetry, where it was exalted as an almost divine entity. The visual arts and photography are its par excellence “devotees” and celebrants, since each ray has a different outcome, while shading and visual balance are always the goal of each depiction. In fact, testimonies offered by experts make mention of the superiority of Greek light. That is no coincidence, were we to take into account that even Greek mythology had sought the origin of light. Antiphanes, the Middle Attic Comedy’s most prolific poet, maintained that “from Night and Silence Chaos was born, from Chaos and Night Eros was sired, from Eros there came the Light and, from the Light, there emerged the first generation of the Gods”. Case in point, Apollo, who was anointed Supreme God of Light. Even the flourishing of democracy and culture in the so-called “Golden Age of Pericles”, interacts with a primordial light. In analysing Greece’s 5th century B.C., French historian of philosophy François Chatelet states: “There is no Greek miracle. There is Greek light which constitutes the main element for everything that we call intellectual civilisation today”. The Greek horizon, born of this singular light, dips into a unique palette of all shades of blue, and munificently produces images meant for the great exponents of our intellectual world. In turn, they relay feelings of mental exaltation by means of their work. Odysseas Elytis, “the poet of Light and the Aegean,” renowned for the fervent tribute he pays to Greek light, writes: “Europeans and Westerners always find mystery in the somber, in the night, while we Greeks find it in the light which is something absolute”. And who could render more beautifully the divine dimension of Greece and its light than he? The images of Elytis are abrim with colours, fragrances, and memories. They are images of the Greek summer, filled with endless blue, heavenly skies and light. One year before becoming the recipient of the

Nobel Prize in Literature (1979), Elytis published his poem ‘Maria Nefeli’. With lyrical sensuality, the grand poet of metaphysical light writes: “God, the lengths you go to spend the blue so that we don’t get to see You...” In fact, during the speech he gave to the community of Greek expatriates in Sweden after receiving the Nobel Prize, he told his compatriots: “For us, Greece is these shores, singed by the sun, and these blue seas of foaming waves. It is the young, dark-haired or brown-blond women, it is the tiny, white-washed houses and the small tavernas, and the songs by the moonlight on the beach or under a plain tree. It is our fathers and grandfathers, rifle in hand, the ones who freed our country, and going even further back, all our ancestors, who had but one thing in mind —just as we do today: the struggle for freedom”. Is this not, truly, the purest, most beautiful, and enviable image of Greece, even today? Isn’t that the image that all visitors to Greece long to experience in person? Returning to his magical imagery, Elytis bestows upon us one more image, from his collection ‘The Sovereign Sun’: “Though it is all lands I roam, it’s this one I love, my own, with its gamins astride its dolphins, with its girls on the sand lying bare, just roasting there, with its loony roosters, and their cock-a-doodle-do’s. We’ve paid no mind to cataclysms, we’ve undergone it all and made it after all, and right atop our mast, our own eternal lookout is the Sovereign Sun!” Through his work, Giorgos Seferis, the other Greek Nobel Prize winner (1963), identifies the role of light in the life of human beings as being a bearer and source of self-knowledge. He writes: “When light dances, my words are just”. His words need no explanation, but they do denote that the existence of abundant and unobstructed light promotes Truth, both our own and that of others, and symbolises clarity of thought. Perhaps, few are those who know that Giorgos Seferis was an expert photographer. He had taken up photography as a student in Paris and continued until his last travels around Greece. “Years ago, you said: ‘Deep

As the sunlight slowly dims and sweetens, we prepare our senses for a sunset... where somewhere on Hydra, the sun plunges into the sea, along with a male body... Costas Avgoulis 35

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

White, blue, sun, salt air, nakedness... Yiorgos Kordakis

“Forever kept within me...” (from ‘The Little Mariner’ by Odysseas Elytis)

Nikos Kokkas 37

Bournias photo - Model: Carmen Maria (Ace Models Athens), Styling: Dada Ioannidou, Make up and Hair: Yannis Siskos

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

“And what is it about Greece that makes you like it so much?” asked someone. “The light and the poverty,” I said. “You’re a romantic,” said the man. “Yes,” I said, “I am crazy enough to believe that the happiest man on earth is the man with the fewest needs. And I also believe that if you have light, such as you have here, all ugliness is obliterated”. (Henry Miller) Yannis Bournias 38

There is always a crack somewhere. That is where the light shines through. It thinks it travels faster than anything. But when it reaches its destination, it always finds darkness awaiting it. (untitled, from the series ‘Archipelago’) Stratos Kalafatis

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

down, I’m a matter of light’... you go looking for that spear, that specific one, to pierce your heart, so that it may open up to the light”, writes “photographer” Seferis. His extant archive is now in the possession of the National Bank of Greece Cultural Foundation, and an album of his has been published whose black-and-white photographs bear his aesthetically flawless gaze. Going further back in time, we find out that Dionysios Solomos, Greece’s national poet, in his ‘Hymn to Liberty’ and, more specifically, verses 94 and 95, “bathes” Liberty in a crystal-clear, pure light that eradicates the darkness of subjugation, imbuing it with beauty and superiority. “Oh! The light that adorns you, like the sun’s radiant light, that shimmers from afar, it does not, no, it doesn’t emanate from the land; it has a glow, a fiery glow, lips, brow, eyes; light on the hand, light on the foot, and all around you all is light.” Life-giving light; a source of energy: nourishment. It’s not merely important in terms of biology, it is also a pillar of mental balance, with the power to trigger the alternation and transformation of human moods and emotions. Light seduces, awakens, mobilises, soothes, elates. It is precisely that almost divine aspect of Greek light that is praised by British sculptor Henry Moore, one of the most important creators of the previous century. In 1951, he was in Greece for a touring exhibition of his work, and he visited sites of archaeological interest. In fact, he summarises the impact archaic, classical, and Cycladic art had on his work, as follows: “Greek light is, just as everyone says, something that you cannot imagine unless you experience it. In England, half the light, in some way, is absorbed by the object. However, in Greece, the object seems to emit light,

as though illuminating itself from within”. Last March, when British writer Victoria Hislop –an honorary Greek by now- referred to the issue of the return of the Parthenon Marbles, something she fervently supports, and stated that if she found herself face to face with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, she would tell him, word for word: “You’re keeping something in a gloomy room of the British Museum and you’re not letting it see the light —literally and metaphorically. Yes, the Acropolis Museum is awash with light.” This Greek light has obviously and repeatedly enchanted and inspired Hislop herself, as she chooses Greece as the location where the action in her bestselling novels takes place. Moreover, distinguished American author Donald Richard “Don” DeLillo, a main representative of post-modernism, in his complex and absorbing novel ‘The Names’ (1982), delivers a book that is full of summer and full of Greece. He confesses: “I lived in Greece for some years and I feel deeply influenced by the Greek light and the Greek landscape. During my Greek period, every day I would see or hear a number of things that would inspire me. I was writing ‘The Names’ at the time. It was a book that was tough to write, but my every memory from that time is intertwined with something beautiful: the sound of the Greek language, the shape of the Greek letters on the ancient marbles, the comforting sense from a plain meal at a taverna by a Greek beach”. Last, given that light is associated with existence itself, let us remember the conclusion reached by Nikos Kazantzakis. In his own effort to define the deeper meaning human life has, he wrote: “We come from a dark abyss; we end up in a dark abyss; the luminous interval in-between, we call Life”.

I always chase the great sunsets, especially during summer, where the sea and the sky meet together to celebrate the purity of this event. As sunset approached, the caressing light of the sun's rays, the gentle melody of the wind rocks us in the waves, and makes us vibrate. The birds and other diurnal animals in the area ceased their chorus, and all was quiet. The beauty of the colors into the Aegean as the sun goes down — it's a sight everyone should experience at least once. Costas Spathis 41

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

Eleftheria Deko

IN NATURE, EVERYTHING IS LIGHT

interview by Aris Kavatzikis

Spotlights illuminate stories and emotions in darkened rooms. Beams of light set free pride and respect, as they ascend to the skies of Greece. Architectural masterpieces are bathed in the light of radiant beams, showcasing their powerfulness. Narratives of light and darkness by our “national lighting designer”.

photographer Dimitris Vlaikos

She has designed the lighting for more than 450 theatrical plays, opera, music, multimedia shows, dance performances, art installations and exhibitions as well as for numerous architectural lighting schemes. A significant moment in her career was her participation in the Opening and Closing ceremonies of the Olympic Games in Athens 2004 as a lighting designer and lighting director. For the Opening Ceremony, she won an EMMY award for “Outstanding Lighting Direction”. The New Lighting of the Acropolis in Athens won three important accolades at the 2020 Darc Awards which are considered the “Oscars” of lighting worldwide. 42

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

What do you always carry within you from your homeland, the island of Tinos? Did it mould you? I carry within me my first love as a teenager, the night swims at what, to me, are the world’s most beautiful seawaters, the sense of humour and warmth of the locals, the gusty winds that my mother taught me to listen to as if they were a song, a symphony of Nature, and the humility and incredibly powerful faith of some of those on a pilgrimage to the Virgin Mary. I carry within me the love of the islanders of Tinos towards their land, and the hard manual labor of the stonemasons or the artists crafting marble, I admire the bond of the older people with their land, their traditions, and Nature... But, most of all, I carry within me the light, and the shades of white and blue of the sky and sea. I do so love that light of Tinos! How it reflects on the olive-colored and silver-grey stones, the olive-green beaches, and the dry fieldstone walls; the game between light and shadow in the architecture, the lime-washed houses, the indigo —which they used to add to the lime and would emerge on rainy days and vanish once the sun had warmed it... And I love this unique purple-grey light of dusk in the summertime. I love Tinos, and this love did indeed mould me and made me richer in feelings, images, and experiences, all precious to an artist.

You had been studying Performing Arts in NYC when you accidentally stumbled onto the course in Lighting Design by chance. What was it that clicked inside you, enough to make you change your vocational path? I wouldn’t describe it as a “click”, but as an intoxication... I was enchanted, I stepped in, and let the magical world of lighting carry me away. I did not know at the time that it was going to be the profession I would follow and the art I would serve. I was simply enchanted by the light and the craft of the lighting designer. I was enchanted by the ability to color the stage with intangible paintbrushes, to play with shadows and light shading, with the illusion of the stage, and the artistic power of the light as an intangible tool. But most of all, I was enchanted when I discovered the power lighting had to create an ambience of tenderness or mystery, suspense or reverence, to define both space and place, and to contribute in synergy with stage direction and acting to the emotions of an audience. I lit my first show in 1990, in New York, and approximately 500 more have followed since then, but I have to say that each time I encounter that enchantment, it is as powerful as it was the first time. Next came my involvement with architectural lighting, another dimension for the same medium, a different creative journey.

photography by Gavriil Papadiotis

Acropolis of Athens & Monuments

Opening Ceremony, Olympic Games 2004, Athens

LIGHT becomes MORE important WHEN it IS ABSENT

Do you love natural light and artificial light the same? Does daylight have the same hold over you as do the lights at night? I don’t make distinctions between the two. It’s just that the light of nature is perfect. As a human being, however, I also love imperfections, as long as they move me. In nature, you know, everything is light; even on a moonless night, there is light. What you never find in life/nature, is absolute darkness. Natural light becomes especially interesting and provocative in its interaction with human works, be it by design or accidentally. When a sculptor or an architect impede it or embrace it, or play with it in their work; when they allow it to caress surfaces and volumes or bypass them untouched, there are such wonderful things that happen in the magical land of light and shade. I find this game of light and shadow captivating, whether it has to do with natural or artificial light, because, I must say, light becomes more important when it is absent.

and majestically down the mountainside. I will never forget the dry heat this living “organism” was giving off as it silently rolled down, smothering everything in its path, or how it illuminated everything in an almost ironic, sweet-peach-colored, warm light. My experience in a sacred cenote cave in Tulum, Mexico was just as unique. There, I swam underwater for 2 minutes without a snorkel, to get to a water cave where the only light was a reflection coming from within the water from 50 meters away. There was another unique dive, with a full moon, in waters abundant in plankton in the Cyclades, where our bodies took on an otherworldly glow. And another luminous reward I recall was when, after hours of hiking up Machu Pitsu, I arrived a few minutes before sunrise just as -literally- the first ray was casting its light ray onto the mountain where the grandeur of a civilisation “wed” to one of the most beautiful places on the planet. I remember one more

What is the most extreme action you have taken to capture a particular light at a particular moment in a particular place or space? I wouldn’t call it extreme; perhaps I have not experienced it yet. Still, I had the unique experience of being in Hawaii, on Hilo Island, a few weeks after the eruption of an active volcano, and I got about a meter away from the lava which was rolling slowly 45

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

experience connected to light. In the years when I was still living in New York, tranquillity tanks were all the rage. They provided an experience for the brave. You would enter a small individual tank filled with water of high-density salinity, so much in fact, that you actually floated while lying down. There was complete darkness and silence. In this complete darkness I “saw” the most beautiful colors, while space and time had broadened or shrunk. I must say that my experience in absolute darkness was very enlightening!

Looking at the Acropolis, we see a magical image with no dissonance. What did you want to illuminate through your design? I wanted to bring out its own light, the light of the rock, of the Parthenon, the monuments, the history, and the culture secured within them. What goes through your mind now, when you look upon the illuminated Acropolis? Do you have a “dialogue” with it? In a way, it embraces me and I embrace it...

Is darkness as useful as light? Does it have the same hold over you? Yes! Only through the opposite does the value of either one increase. Light and darkness are as tightly intertwined as yin and yang. They dance, play, quarrel, but they do coexist.

Are you working on some project that keeps you creatively vigilant? We have architectural lighting projects, public and private, which challenge us creatively. However, I can’t wait for theaters to reopen, for art to begin breathing among us again. There is no greater medicine for a hardy immune system than the joy Art brings to people, both in its creator as well as in the participant and recipient.

You have insisted in the past that lighting is not a technique, it is Art. However, can Art stand alone without a technical base and support? Naturally, technique is necessary, but technique should serve art, not impose itself on it. It requires moderation. It is precisely that moderation I believe that is the continuous struggle that artists have with their work.

When you hear the expression “our national lighting designer”, how do you feel? I’ve grown to like it. My take is that it’s a small medal pinned to my chest by the citizens of my country for my services to the Art of lighting.

How did you and your daughter, Iris, feel when you shared with her the fact that your pregnancy with her was the inspiration behind the pregnant woman with the illuminated belly at the Opening Ceremony? We laughed a lot, because my daughter is very witty and she knows how to debunk everything in a way that silences you.

What are your summers usually like? In recent years, unfortunately, my summers have been very busy ones, but in the past... they’d find me barefoot on a beach.

Are there moments, images, works, or architectural constructs that made you feel ecstasy as you observed their light? Yes! The light of Impressionist painters and the light reflected off ancient Greek sculptures. There’s also that transcendental light that is hidden somewhere within us, which uplifts us when we see it. The light of some dreams... Also, the light radiated by the eyes of very young children, wise old men, great actors, singers, and dancers on stage.

Athens International Airport New Extention, South Wing - Facade Lighting

At present, what is the greatest challenge for you and your work? My greatest challenge is not repeating myself.

photographer Gavriil Papadiotis

In your own eyes, of course, do human emotions radiate light? How would you light surprise, birth, love, tranquillity, joy, or mourning? The surprise young children feel, when they open their presents, has a different color than the surprise of a woman who is given a flower or of scientists who, after months on end, see their experiment work. Love, as well has many bittersweet nuances and intensity. The same holds true of birth, mourning, or joy. Be they multicolored or solid-colored, vivid or soft, emotions of all sorts illuminate and are illuminated. I believe that the shades for each emotion are as many as there are on Earth. 46

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

The illustrious anniversary for the two centuries that have elapsed since the Greek Revolution of 1821 becomes the occasion to interpret in contemporary terms the message of the Greek Revolution since “’tis virtue and bravery that freedom needs” so that freedom may become the source of inspiration for both present and future.

twilly by grecian chic

words by Niki Pilidou

HERE O HERE * ELEFTHERIA 1821-2021

*Verse from the “Hymn to Liberty” by poet Dionysios Solomos. The two first stanzas of the hymn, set to music by Nikolaos Mantzaros, constitute the National Anthem of Greece and Cyprus.

1 2

1. Portrait of Photini Mauromichali in National Costume, “1821 Before and After” exhibition, Βenaki Museum 2. Krater with handles: young Greek mother awaiting the outcome of the battle, © The Thanassis and Marina Martinos Collection 3. Exhibition Antiquarianism and Philhellenism, Museum of Cycladic Art

photographer Paris Tavitian

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

When poet Andreas Kalvos wrote “’tis virtue and bravery that freedom needs” he coined his own definition of the idea behind the 1821 Greek War of Independence. In all likelihood, he could not have imagined how timely his message would be two centuries later. This year's celebrations for the 200 years since the uprising of the Greek people against the rule of the Ottoman Empire coincide with the dire times of a pandemic which also seems to require virtue and bravery. In addition to the emotionally charged celebrations throughout the world which clad the entire planet in the white-and-blue colors of the Greek flag, there is also a new approach to the 1821 Greek Revolution, as both a national and international event, which aspires to assisting us in grasping crucial contemporary issues so that we may draw inspiration from it with a view to facing our present and future. In spite of those who argue that we have exhausted 1821 by never-ending parades and flag waving, a recent nationwide poll confirmed that today’s Greek citizens perceive the War of Independence as a common point of reference that unites them. Regardless of age, gender, educational level, or ideology, the overwhelming majority of Greek people understands the Cause that led to the establishment of the Modern Greek State as a series of heroic deeds and sacrifices, and declares itself particularly proud of all. It could not be otherwise: this chapter in history is composed of stories about the heroism by well-known freedom fighters such as Kolokotronis, Karaiskakis, Androutsos, and Makrygiannis; about strong women such as Bouboulina and Manto Mavrogenous; about the support the Cause received from the Philhellenic Movement, the Filiki Eteria (Secret Society) and the selfless contribution proffered by Greek islanders and merchants, as well as the Greeks of the Diaspora. The memory that the bicentenary awakens, has an emotional dimension as well, a dimension that cannot be rivaled either by Greek Antiquity or Byzantium. In her study on the period in question, Dr. Christina Koulouri, Rector and Professor of Modern and Contemporary Greek History, Panteion University,

Athens, notes: “the personal relationship we have with those instrumental in the ’21 uprising determined the Revolution’s historic weight. It is no coincidence that the heroes of the 1821 Revolution are perceived as vibrant personalities in full color, as opposed to the ancient Greeks who are thought of as marble statues.” The emotional dimension of history uplifts the national spirit. Be that as it may, does it suffice in interpreting and showcasing history today? No. That is the answer provided by historians who believe that the bicentenary can become the occasion for reassessing the past and setting new priorities for the future. “We have become all too comfortable with a one-dimensional view of the Greek Revolution. And that does not do us justice...,” stresses historian Maria Efthimiou. In fact, she views the revolution as a complex set of events that does not exhaust itself upon arrival of a successful outcome. After all, it introduced into play a multitude of parameters involving the Greeks of the Diaspora, Greek merchants and mariners, and the intellectual world which gave birth to Modern Greek Enlightenment. Moreover, the Revolution showcased the endurance and fortitude inherent in all Greeks, maintains British historian Mark Mazower, Ira D. Wallach Professor of History at Columbia in New York. A scholar 50

GREEKS today perceive THE REVOLUTION AS A common POINT OF reference THAT UNITES THEM

2 1 “Faces of the Hero”, Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center 2 Collectible coin from the unique collection of 14 that depict the 200 year history of modern Greece

3. “Grateful Creece” by Theodoros Bryzakis, National Gallery 4. Μulti pleated dress, part of an older type of costume found in Hydra, Spetses and Ermionida, exhibition “A thousand stories stitched on a piece of cloth”, Lykeion Ellinidon 3

2.photographer studio Kominis

THE COUNTRY WE love TODAY WAS SHAPED AROUND THE events OF 1821

and an expert on the history of Greece, in his new book on Greece’s struggle for freedom, Prof. Mazower employs the endurance Greek society exhibited during the Covid-19 pandemic as his springboard to delve into the factor of human anguish and how the Greek society of 1821 dealt with it. In an online lecture, he characteristically says: “It wasn’t that something began, it wasn’t that the revolution began, it was that the thing went on longer than anybody expected, longer than the Sultan expected, longer than the European diplomats expected, frankly, longer than many of the so-called heroes of the Revolution expected.” Perhaps, the time has come for modern history to claim its rightful place, because “yes, it might be true that modern Greece would not exist without ancient Greece, however, the country we love today was shaped around the events of 1821, and not by antiquity itself,” says philhellene Roderick Beaton, Koraes Professor of Modern Greek 51

and Byzantine History, King’s College, London. In fact, he urges us to take pride in the Greek Revolution which, along with the French and American ones, changed the course of history. That is precisely the spirit of the bicentennial events program: a wealth of art exhibitions and academic actions have been organized by the Greece 2021 Committee (greece2021.gr), in cooperation with private and public agencies and in partnership with banks and universities. Celebrations begin with a special display of 1,000 works of art, titled “1821 in Art: Greece Demands its Historical Art Gallery». The same exhibition also marks the inauguration of the new National Gallery in Athens (nationalgallery.gr). Celebrations continue at the Benaki Museum (benaki.gr) with the largest exhibition to date revolving around Modern Greek Hellenism of 1,200 works of art and other exhibits. From there, the relay baton passes to the Museum of Cycladic Art (1821.cycladic.gr) whose exhibition titled “Antiquarism and Philhellenism” displays 60 works of art from “The Thanassis and Marina Martinos Collection”. Continuing in the same vein, with its “Women in the Greek Revolution of 1821”, the Theocharakis Foundation (thf.gr) sheds light on women of the time, featuring paintings as well as 19th-century objects d’ art and porcelain clocks from the collection of Michalis and Dimitra Varkarakis. The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (snfcc.org) contributes its mite by taking an in-depth look at the heroes of 1821 and at the contemporary interpretation of the meaning of heroism. Equally keen on contributing, the Greek National Opera (2021.nationalopera.gr) has commissioned new music & and theatre pieces from various artists, while offering a retrospective on seminal Greek composers, starting with the work of Mikis Theodorakis. STEGI, at the Onassis Foundation (onassis.org/onassisstegi), applies the tenets of the Greek War of Independence to the future by bringing forth “Past Forward”, an online initiative where all active citizens can post and share their ideas, thoughts, and questions, as to the potential of a future revolution.

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

CULTURE TALK

In this special moment in time, namely the 200-year anniversary of the Greek Revolution, and on the occasion of cultural events reopening around the country, Sani Magazine speaks with three important ambassadors of Greek culture.

photographer Ioanna Chatziandreou

interviews by Aris Kavatzikis

KATERINA EVANGELATOS

DIRECTING IS connected TO my EXISTENCE

Being at the helm of the Athens and Epidaurus Festival as Artistic Director, Katerina Evangelatos was, unfortunately, not able to present the program she had created in 2020 due to the pandemic, while it seems as though there will be a festival this summer — with all necessary protective measures — despite the difficulties and obstacles. Fortune was not on your side when you took over your position. When I took over in the summer of 2019, there was no indication of the unprecedented situation that we are currently experiencing. The first five months, until January 2020, were spent in a whirlwind of creative stress and a staggering workload. We were certain that everything we were building towards the Festival would take place as planned. However, unfortunately, what occurred affected the entire planet. So, this is the second year of my three-year term, and once again we will not be able to implement what we had initially envisioned, at least not in the way we wanted to, with the

freedom, momentum, and perspective we desired. It is hard to stay on top of things under these conditions: on the one hand, there is your responsibility to the audience, the artists, and the Festival’s staff, and, on the other, there are the obstacles presented by the pandemic on every level. No one comprehends the complexity of the project’s magnitude; suffice it to say, that this year we have more than 90 productions — Greek, international, and co-productions — with groups of artists ranging from 25 to 200 people each, travelling here from all over the world. The logistics are unfathomable, especially if someone tests positive, slowing the entire production down. It is a nightmare. 53

What do the Festival’s themes include this year? The themes included this year are gender identities with an emphasis on the Feminine, as well as trans visibility and the LGBTQ+ community, a short section on the Greek Revolution of 1821, for which commissions were made to subversive theatre and dance creators — they are not triumphalist pieces, but socially and politically oriented approaches that will spark discussion, viewing this heritage with what is perhaps a more sarcastic and subversive note. Unexpected artistic gatherings and unconventional, alternative ways of showcasing the Festival venues are also encouraged. The jazz section will continue as far as music is concerned, modern composers at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, and, naturally, a new look at the heritage of ancient drama, supported by the commissions for new pieces to writers inspired by ancient drama, as well as remakes of well-known myths by modern artists. We should note that we will have the most extensive programme in decades at Epidaurus. What gave you the most trouble? Being a woman director, directing at a very young age, or the weight of your parents’ name? (Ms Evangelatos is the daughter of distinguished director and academic Spyros Evangelatos and actress Leda Tasopoulou). Nothing gave me enough trouble to become an obstacle. What is the most complicated thing, I think, not for me,

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

but for how others perceive me, is the issue of my family. I don’t think my gender or age stood in my way. In the early years of my career in the theatre and before my own artistic identity had been shaped, my family background increased the distrust of certain people who thought I was just another kid with famous parents who is breezily following the tradition, without having worked hard or done her homework. This happened on occasion, but as I evolved and progressed, it gradually faded away. I’m not saying that gender or age are not sometimes a problem — some people treat you differently because you are a woman — however, I have not faced obstacles because of these two things. At the same time, I do know many women who are having trouble getting what they are entitled to, just because they are women. This has to change. At the Festival this year we have very interesting pieces that revolve around themes concerning female empowerment. Could it be that, subconsciously, you repeatedly took flight, from Athens to England and from there to Russia, in an effort to distance yourself from your name? No, but as I was convinced that due to my name there would be distrust, I understood, because of my character and mentality, that I would have to try ten times as hard as other people. I do feel that I had to try harder than other people my age. I didn’t want anyone to think that I was working in theatre without having given it much thought. Furthermore, I never thought of directing without having studied and learned at the side of directors. In directing, you need to be ready to dedicate a large part of yourself to theatre. It is not simple, because in order to reach a particular level, you have to sacrifice things. For a project to work, as a director, are you democratic or do you tend to micromanage? Neither. Directors must have the will and the strength to take responsibility, to guide, but also to be inspired by their collaborators, and in general to work on

every detail. The final result is in their hands, the good and bad decisions. Do you think of yourself as a strict director? I am a director who really loves what she does and has connected it to her existence. Firstly, I am very demanding of myself, and that holds true for everything I do in my life, whether it be planning the Athens and Epidaurus Festival program, or directing a play of my own, or choosing what shade to paint a wall in my house, observing how the colour changes depending on the time of day. It comes down to character. However, when preparing a performance, being strict alone means nothing, unless you also bring others together and inspire them to work and sacrifice things. I don’t want anyone on a team -myself included- to compromise with a part of themselves that is less than the best they can deliver. I won’t say perfect, no one is perfect and perfection isn’t interesting. How do you overcome hurtful remarks? I’ve been used to this since I was young, observing my parents, whose long journey saw them receive praise, as well as negative or hurtful comments. I would say I don’t care. If something hurts me because it is unfair, I will feel down, but I will just forget it by the next day. Is there a lesson you learned from your parents which you still carry with you? It is difficult to isolate something, because my parents were not people who gave advice, offered counsel, forced things, or limited me. Everything we are talking about today is due, to a great extent, to my upbringing and the way they raised me, because they were great artists, who also faced obstacles in their way. I learned from them and I have seen what self-denial for your art means. Of course, I was not shaped solely by my parents; there were also my friends, my partner, my colleagues, and much more. Do you take as much care of your personal life as you do of your professional life? Certainly. It is tried, no question, when I 54

I DO feel THAT I had TO try harder THAN OTHER people MY AGE have a heavy workload and there are no working hours. However, I never had a person on my side who did not understand or demanded I kept my concerns, dilemmas, or the joys of rehearsals to myself. That is important and a deciding factor for who you choose as your life partner. I could not be with a person who does not accept me for who I am, who does not feel my passion. You have experienced much loss in your life. Are there periods or moments, when your family was all together, that you look back to and get temporary relief from? Of course. There are all the moments until my mother’s illness, which lasted seven years. As her illness grew worse, the atmosphere became heavier and heavier. Until she left us in 2005, we were a very closelyknit family, with joyful moments, trips, and excursions. My parents were either at the theatre or at home. They did not care about lifestyle or public relations. We have experienced many beautiful moments all together and it is always a relief to remember that those moments existed, because the years that followed were very difficult. However, I do not want to live in the past, I have my own course in life now, with my own people who love and support me. Do you love summer? I have loved it very much, since I was a child. For me summer is the sea, the moment you feel dizzy from the sun, and a sweet numbness spreads over your whole body, on a deserted beach; and it is that exact moment when you decide that you feel warm enough to dive into the sea. That sweet numbness, that sudden freshness, and that nipping vitality a long dive gives you, is what summer means to me. www.aefestival.gr

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

You were called upon to undertake the artistic direction of the Greek National Opera (GNO) in 2017, during its relocation to the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre (SNFCC). Do you believe that the timing worked in your favour on a professional level or did you consider it a potential hindrance due to the new circumstances? 2017 was a landmark year for GNO, due to its relocation from the Olympia Theatre to the new ultra-modern facilities of SNFCC, thanks to the significant donation of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation. The pace was so intense that the dilemma you mention did not cross my mind for a single moment. There was an urgent need for many important steps to be taken in a very short period of time, so as to ensure that there would be no further interruption to the Organisation’s activities, and that we would enter this new era under the best of conditions. I was well aware of the dangers lurking in the shadows, as well as the opportunities opening up before us. Four years later we have certainly seen that the public has embraced our effort and rewarded our new artistic identity, while, at the same time, the GNO has emerged as a force to be reckoned with among European operas. Do you feel that your creativity as a composer is being repressed in your new institutional role? I undertook this position fully aware of the fact that my work as a composer would be side-lined — and indeed it was. I cannot pretend that this does not sadden me on a personal level, however, at the same time, my position as artistic director is, to a great extent, similar to musical composition. And I must say that I face all aspects of my

life and work as a composer. In fact, the concept of circles, circular time, is something that has existed in my life ever since I was young: whenever I embark on a project or challenge, I dedicate myself fully to it, and as soon as I feel that what I had in mind has been completed, I move on to the next thing. This is what I did during my years in Paris and Rome, it is what I did during my four years of preparation for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Athens 2004 Olympics, it is how I continued immediately afterwards, during my isolation on Tinos island to write ‘The Murderess’ opera. I am doing exactly the same now at the Greek National Opera. I won’t lie, I am already thinking of my new life, in 2023, when my term here will be completed. How has the coronavirus impacted your life and decisions, both on a personal and on a professional level? It has been a very intense year. It has been hard on us all, we’ve tried and are still trying to stand tall, and we feel that we have succeeded in surviving and keeping our relationship with our audience alive. If one looks back over history, they will see that at such difficult times, people find new ways to survive and create. This pandemic, an unprecedented event for our generation, has highlighted the great importance of the progress of technology and science. On the one hand there is the internet, which provided some comfort during the isolation, and on the other, the vaccine, which was made available very quickly, and which we hope will bring this cruel misadventure to an end. During the pandemic, the GNO increased its digital presence, it created GNO TV, and it performed in dozens of archaeological sites throughout Greece, in 56

Giorgos Koumendakis

I LIVE MY life IN CIRCLES

The Artistic Director of the Greek National Opera is a gifted and versatile composer who had to temporarily suspend his creative composing, in order to take the lead on the artistic direction of this prominent organisation. Everything seems to indicate that the maestro is in full command of his new institutional role.

photographer Andreas Simopoulos

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

MUSIC IS inside MY HEAD, I RARELY use IT AS AN accompaniment TO MY daily ACTIVITIES the framework of the Ministry of Culture and Sports' festival, ‘All of Greece - one culture’, the highlight being the recital by the great mezzo-soprano Anita Rachvelishvili at the Roman Agora of Athens. You announced a rich anniversary program on the occasion of the bicentennial celebrations for the Greek Revolution. What stands out for you from everything you have planned? The 2021 program moves along two main axes: there are anniversary productions and, running alongside them, there are some productions that were cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic, such as Lanthimos, Abramović, ‘Rigoletto’, ‘Don Quixote’, the Kaufmann recital at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, etc. In the framework of the anniversary program, we will watch (either live or on GNO TV) operas of the Eptanesian School by Karrer, symphonies by Kalomiris and Skalkottas, an entire Mikis Theodorakis cycle, as well as a series of commissions by eminent Greek composers of our time. At the same time, we will watch operas connected to the concept of revolution, in one way or another, such as, among others, ‘Andrea Chénier’ by Giordano, and ‘Juditha Triumphans’ by Vivaldi, while our ballet will present the ‘Greek Dances’ by Skalkottas and 'Zorbas’ by Theodorakis. The GNO Alternative Stage will present anniversary musical theatre productions of a smaller scale, operas, installations, thematic cycles, such as the ‘Odes to Byron’, and the ‘The Revolution Through the Eyes of the Other’. In fact, this cycle will include the new musical work commissioned to Turkish artists, which will present the point of view of the defeated side. That is interesting; at a time when the crisis in Greek-Turkish relations is escalating, were you not afraid to commission Turkish artists to compose a musical work?

Why would we ever be afraid of commissioning a new work of art? Remember, our job is to create art. Art is not intended to lead to any sort of resolution of political differences. Within this thematic cycle, our goal is to explore and to listen to the side of the defeated as well. We are not here to draw historical conclusions, nor do we want to teach anyone anything. On the other hand, it would be truly beneficial if such an artistic collaboration did lead to stronger relations between the peoples of the two countries. Is the purpose of the anniversary program to awaken our memory or to reposition us in an ecumenical future? Our goal is to reflect on this major historical event through art and through the “voice” of the collaborating artists. We are not looking to interpret history in our own way, nor do we wish to organise fiestas and speeches. Opera, musical theatre, and dance are our own way of honouring the landmark of the 200th anniversary. We are talking about the concept of revolution, not on a local level, but on an international scale, as our goal is to highlight the importance of this notable historical event on a global level. Do you have any goals and dreams with regards to the GNO that you would like to see turned into reality during your term? There is a lot we have scheduled and which we hope can be materialised on stage. In recent years — prior to the spread of the pandemic — thanks to the major donation by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation with a view to boosting the GNO’s outreach, we have spread our wings, travelled, met with artists and artistic directors, and created a road map to take the GNO where we envision it needs to be. The pandemic showed us that sometimes life decides for us, with no regard for our grand schemes and artistic planning; but I have 58

faith that very soon we will be allowed to dream and plan once more — both on a personal and on a professional level. Along these lines, I am looking forward to implementing important partnerships and co-productions with European and American operas and leading artists. If you had to dedicate a soundtrack to your day, what would be playing when you woke up, at the office, or when you unwound in the evening? Music is inside my head. I rarely have music on during my daily activities. But to answer your question in somewhat more general terms, I would like to say that my greatest loves will always be baroque and Byzantine music. What is your life like when you manage to set the role of artistic director of the GNO aside for a few hours? Since 2017 there is no life out of the GNO. Only when I became ill with coronavirus and was forced to miss my daily work activities for a few days did my mind start to revert to thoughts of how my life used to be. Like I said, when I am involved in a certain ‘circle’ of my life, I am completely drawn into it, and I do not think or reminisce about anything else. Will you share with us some images from your homeland, Rethymno, which you cherish and always carry with you? It is with great joy and wonderful memories that I hold on to the following images: The old town that combines the Renaissance and the Ottoman Period in such a unique way, with Fortezza as the must-see destination. The city’s wonderful mosques and the one-of-a-kind alleys that are reminiscent of Venice. The beaches of the Libyan Sea, from Frangokastelo to Plakias and Ammoudi. Preveli Monastery and the shores of Preveli lake. The two beautiful gorges of Kotsyfos and Kourtaliotis.

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

Afroditi Panagiotakou

NO ONE SHOULD

stand

ALONE

The Director of Culture of the Onassis Foundation, along with her team, are fighting the good fight to change the core of Greek society. By opening windows and eyes, they embrace the voices that are fighting to be heard, and deliberately choose their “enemies”.

Onassis Stegi has completed ten years of operation. How would you describe what it has managed to communicate to the public, to “touch upon” and to change in Greek but mostly in the Athenian society? We’ve given Athens and Greece a new narrative. We’ve tried to show what contemporary Greek culture means today, and how Greek artists engage with what’s going on in Greece and around the world. And above all, I think we’ve sparked debate on glaring civil rights issues that aren’t yet generally accepted. At the end of the day, the point is to shake things up a bit, to leave a lasting mark, as best you can. Our job, at the Onassis Foundation and the Onassis Stegi, is to always act as a springboard, for both individuals and collectives. Ultimately, the way we see it, success is helping people spread their wings so that they can quickly go it alone. And a foundation that has this power to act, a prestigious institution in Greek society, has been talking about issues that, for some, belong to the margins. Ten years on, I think one of our foremost achievements is that we have taken a prominent stand on LGBTQIA+ rights, on the death of Zak Kostopoulos, on Golden Dawn and all it entails, and on censorship, all through our program of arts productions, talks, and open forums for dialogue and debate. That is why I think we’ve contributed to turning Athens into an even more stimulating city, because we’re interested in citizens who are actively engaged in society. Precisely because we’re living in a truly major city, we had to rise to the occasion. What’s great is that we’re free to take the risks we want. Our greatest achievement is that we’ve maybe somehow managed to exorcise fears of many things, 60

photographer Yiorgos Kaplanidis

combining our method with our madness in ways we think our founder would himself have appreciated. Was there a personal shift in terms of your own convictions and goals in this decade? To shift on things is to develop. Sure, I’ve kept hold of the value system I inherited and was nurtured with. For as long as I can remember, the same issues have incensed me and driven me to rise up. But my tools have changed – I’ve since armed myself with more patience and greater tolerance, which makes talking to people with whom I 61

disagree more fruitful. But now, more than ever, I appreciate being part of a team – I appreciate togetherness. No one should stand alone. It follows that the Onassis Foundation could not have a profile that addresses only the few and the elite. On the contrary, your actions aim at the core of a new Athens, which is not homogeneous. Could you explain that? It’s in our DNA. Passed down from our founder, right to the present senior management team. We believe in “both-and” and not in “either-or”. We believe in the

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

picture of Aristotle Onassis standing with [opera star] Maria Callas on his left, and [rebetiko artists] Stamatis Kokotas and Giorgos Zampetas on his right. If you don’t roam the city center, meet strangers, then you aren’t living – you’re shielding yourself. For us, safety that leads to a shielded life is a dangerous state of affairs. We’d be boring if we were a financially powerful foundation that simply rested on the laurels of its great founder’s name and acted along the lines of a charitable institution that sought everyone’s praises for its generosity. The Foundation’s senior management team have brought in people who do walk the city center streets, who stay out late, who demand rights for the powerless, and who love culture, not as some ornamental element of good taste, but rather as the natural extension of people’s imaginations and minds. Each year Onassis Stegi and Onassis Foundation stress their social sensitivity and awareness even more. What is your vision for the future? Our ultimate dream is for a time when no public benefit foundations are needed. Making the world a better place is a concern that takes ongoing effort. The world would have to end for this hope and this effort to end. So, we’ll just keep trying to make the world a better place, until the very end. The fact that you do not burden Greek taxpayers gives you a freedom of choice. Can this also constitute a point of inspiration? Taking a stand is worth the effort. You choose your enemies just like you choose your friends. And we prefer for our enemies to be the fascists and the racists. We’re very happy not to be a burden on the Greek taxpayer, for whom we have a great deal of respect. We work for the Onassis Foundation, making use of assets that the Foundation has increased tenfold since its founder’s decease, amassed through the hard work of our business team, assets that allow us to invest 40% of all profits in initiatives for the public benefit. We are employees who pay taxes and are active in

WE’LL keep TRYING TO make THE WORLD A better PLACE society. It was once considered backward to talk of such things – but when a powerful foundation does so, people listen. People will always be judgmental of the projects funded by the Onassis Foundation. Are you always ready to deal with negative critique or “war” on the social media? Do you allow yourself to get hurt? I do get hurt, though such things affect me less as time goes by, because I truly, deeply believe in what we do. But we do listen. And change our minds. But some things are a matter of principle. I feel proud when people attack us for talking about the Afro-Greeks, or for projecting the protest slogan “No Fear Here” onto the Onassis Stegi building. It scares me that such people exist, and that there’s so many of them – it makes me worry for our society. You wonder how you might enter into dialogue with a society that’s so hostile simply because it has never come into contact with the other side. There are people who choose to remain neutral, who don’t think they’re part of the problem – if an issue doesn’t affect them personally, they’re not interested in it. And therein lies the problem. People who are neutral or disinterested, those are the ones you have to bring into a different reality, to make them understand that when someone gets raped, the clothes they were wearing aren’t to blame. When someone gets beaten out of prejudice, it’s not the victim’s fault. Despite the pandemic, is there a plan for projects and events, or artistic programming for the period up until the end of 2021 on the occasion of the 200-year anniversary of the Greek Revolution? 62

Since the very start of the pandemic, our presence in the digital public realm has been strong. To date, the Onassis Channel on YouTube has clocked up more than 4.8 million views across some 100 countries. As for the bicentennial of the Greek Revolution, our message is “Past Forward”. Who will be the heroes of 2121? What kind of revolutions will we be fighting for one hundred years from now? What kind of Greece do we want? If this was once independence, what will it be now? The environment? Equality? The Onassis Library boasts the largest collection of publications dating to the pre-revolutionary period, and it’s well worth reading there what anonymous Greeks were demanding from the Greek authorities. If we are to keep something of Rigas Velestinlis in mind, it’s the phrase “whoever thinks freely, thinks well”. So, we, at this moment, need to ponder what has to be done so that we can think freely and well, to fire up the revolutions we need to instigate, the issues we need to oppose to, and the initiatives worth acting on, so that we’re not just gliding through life. How do you achieve this rare balance? Do you think one is complete if s/he is solely successful on a professional level? To each their own. Every individual defines their own happiness, whether that’s nonstop work or complete inaction. I want to be a good mum, and to see my friends as well. To enjoy time alone, and with my partner as well. To go on trips and stay out late. To work till I drop but also to laze about. That’s how it works for me. Can you share with us images of summer joy, family happiness or personal, absolute idleness, which are linked with Greece? That moment where the sunlight slants in through the window and you gently doze off to the sound of others saying how much food we all had again, oh how fresh that fish was, and how on earth did we end up this tipsy, I thought we weren’t going to drink at lunch… And clearly the Cyclades are lovely, the Ionian isles are magical, Crete is the land of the brave, but there’s nowhere quite like Halkidiki.

photography Vangelis Kyris & Anatoli Georgiev

From left: Vangelis Kyris Photography, Lalaounis’ "peskouli” pendant, Clog Ancient Greek Sandals x Zeus + Δione

1821

Inspirational Revolution Celebrating 200 years of Greek Independence, these amazing, flattering, and sometimes anarchistic designs are a true homage to the rebellious Greek spirit!

From left: Bookmark designed by Ioli Leivada exclusively for the Benaki Museum, CHOE candle Dionysios Solomos

From left, clockwise: Jewellery Collection Katerina Ioannidis’ «My Hero», Hellas Vase Ancient Kallos, Yannis Sergakis’ Fustanella, Joy Stathopoulou and her Reywal Totems

2021

words by Eleni Papaioannou

Greek design has experienced a fascinating boom in the past years, as it came out blooming from the ashes of the 2013 economic crisis. Even though austerity hit hard, it became a springboard for new talents to fearlessly expose their aesthetic cosmos. This year, silently, behind the closed doors of endless lockdowns, creativity sprung through a common feeling of belonging, tradition, shared values and semiotics that has given us a beautiful and extremely interesting bouquet of instant classics, designed to commemorate the historic anniversary. These are our favorite ones.

The art of remembrance The National Historical Museum in Athens holds an exclusive collection of garments that once belonged to the heroes of the Revolution, from Karaiskakis and Lord Byron, to folk heroine Kyra Frosini. Photographer Vangelis Kyris along with embroidery artist Anatoli Georgiev were granted 65

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

From right, clockwise: Grecian Chic, SwatchXGreece, KakaniasXSuperga, Mareva Grabowski’s bracelet for Ileana Makri

permission to photograph these garments worn on today’s people, for the first time ever after 200 years, in a project that lasted a little over a year, for the book “Raiment of the Soul”. Another hero, Andreas Miaoulis, is the figure depicted on artist Ioli Livada’s bookmark for the Benaki Museum, as part of their extensive collection “1821, Before and After”, that recruited designers from different disciplines to interpret the Revolution in their own way. Commissioned by the House of Hermès, painter Elias Kafouros created an iconic silk scarf, with the word ΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΙΑ (freedom) written on a backdrop of Greek inspired scenery. Resembling a flag, the design is a tribute by creative director Pierre Alexis Dumas to his Greek heritage.

Future souvenirs Great design finds itself in the most common places. Such is the case with the limited-edition plate designed by artist Konstantinos Kakanias for the Cycladic Museum, part of a collection commemorating the Greek Revolution. In a truly original manner, CHOE candles decided to pay tribute to national poet Dionysios Solomos, with a candle scented like the pages of a book (book lovers can only ponder in awe), and stanzas from his work "The Free Besieged", inspired by the third siege of Messolongi (1825–1826), written on its canvas. A commemorative porcelain Fustanella, aka the most visible item of the uniform worn by those who fought the Greek War of Independence, 66

has become one of the most iconic “future souvenirs” of this year’s anniversary. A Concept by Yannis Sergakis & Ellie Sofianopoulou, it was sculpted by Giorgos Katsigiannis, reflecting “a Greek story of struggles, dreams, vigor, collectivity, hope and joy”, as the designers say. Artist Joy Stathopoulou created a series of Reywal Totems to honor the Revolution, made with thread tied meticulously around metallic shapes. Part of the Benaki Museum’s collection, her totems shed a bright light on today’s nod to the past. Simple but not simplistic, on the other hand, Ancient Kallos’ Hellas vase, the fashion brand’s very first custom handmade ceramic piece made by artist Alexandra Manousakis is inspired by the Greek Flag, on which the five

From right, clockwise: Hermès scarf, Zeus and Dione, Callista Crafts, KakaniasXBenaki

blue stripes represent the word “Freedom” (Ε-ΛΕΥ-ΘΕ-ΡΙ-Α), while a splash of red symbolizes the blood of the heroes of 1821.

Past perfect Two special edition SwatchXYou watches are part of SwatchXGreece, the project with which Swatch pays tribute to Greek history, through the eyes of graphic designer Panagiotis G. Fotos. Meanwhile, we come across yet another design by Konstantinos Kakanias, this time for Superga. His alter ego, Mrs Tependris, finds herself being a heroine of the Revolution, while the artist exclaims «I think revolutionary-I wear SupergaXKakanias-and run towards freedom”. Callista Crafts created the 1821 pouch inspired by the traditional

Greek costume, in order to focus on the fundamental elements that still trigger our collective memory, using authentic materials from the Mentis-Antonopoulos Passementerie ("NEMA") of the Benaki Museum. Zeus and Dione, on the other hand, relied on the core elements found in tradition, transforming them into a revamped but still bold Hellenic style. The brand’s designer Marios Schwab also collaborated with beloved brand Ancient Greek Sandals, in order to create a line of handmade clogs and sandals reminiscent of the traditional “tsarouhi” shoe. Mareva Grabowski relied on classic “syrmateri” techniques to create a one-of-a-kind goldplated silver piece bearing the two years 1821-2021 on either side. The bracelet is 67

available at the boutique of Ileana Makri. Grecian chic and Elena Zournatzi have given us a beautiful collection of limitededition scarves, while the historic house of Lalaounis gave a new breath to the traditional “peskouli”, a pendant in 18k gold that carries the weight of tradition with a contemporary feel. Last but not least, Katerina Ioannidis leans on archetypical traditional designs to create a line of jewelry named My Hero, for the men and women of today that still carry the spark of rebellion and pride bestowed upon them by their ancestors. The bicentennial anniversary celebrations may have been modest this year, due to the pandemic, creativity however seems to have bloomed, bringing forth a familiar yet fresh rendition of good old Greek DNA.

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

MARY KATRANTZOU

I “Wisdom Begins in Wonder”, S/S 2020 collection, Temple of Poseidon on Cape Sounio, celebrating the 30th anniversary of ELPIDA 68

UN RO D

TALENT MAKES HER WORLD GO interview by Aris Kavatzikis

The Greek fashion designer is recognized worldwide for her ingenuity. Her inexhaustible source of talent and her hard work led her to success, as she managed to break into the international fashion industry and to dominate, revive prints and redefine the fashion business with her aesthetics and unique creations.

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

Your inclination towards design was already apparent in childhood. Did you have a similar interest in fashion? Did you seek out relevant magazines or shows? I grew up around design and I started to draw early on, but there was never an indication that my career would be in fashion. My mom had an extensive collection of magazines like Architectural Digest and World of Interiors. I remember tearing out different pages and creating worlds of my own through collage. In my late teens, I started painting more and I found it deeply meditative. The pivotal moment for a creator is the one when she makes her mark. Yours came as soon as you appeared on the scene, and it was your digital prints. Have you ever felt “trapped” in the digital world? When I first started out, print allowed me to define my work as an image maker. It was a moniker used to describe my work and my influence on the medium. There is always potential to push the boundaries of a field where there are constant advances in technology. You can achieve so much in print that was impossible 10 years ago and that’s inspiring creatively. As my brand matured, I felt I had said so much through digital printing that I wanted to expand my bandwidth. I never felt restricted, and I wanted to apply the same courage of invention to craftsmanship and form. The shift from print felt like a natural progression, building on a new visual medium where strong narrative defines each collection. Can you share with us the way you usually operate, creatively? Are there, for example, some keywords in your mind for each collection? My creative process has changed over the years. My collections have always been thematic, so I don’t start with a time period or a muse; I start with an idea that defines the collection but recently the idea itself can be quite abstract. For our show at the Temple of Poseidon in Sounio, for example, the collection was based on ideas that emerged in Greece at the time the temple was built (450 BC). Every season, my team

1 “Wisdom Begins in Wonder”, S/S 2020 collection, Temple of Poseidon on Cape Sounio 2 Serpenti Metamorphosis Bag, Mary Katrantzou x Bvlgari

and I start with a blank canvas looking at ideas centered on key themes. Taking inspiration from our research, we then flesh out the collection as we build key stories. Each of these stories then starts to take on a life of its own, growing into different techniques and silhouettes to achieve a harmony of texture, color and form. Early on in your path, you expressed a keen interest in the value of collaboration and teamwork as an important worldview of yours. Such was the case with the house of BVLGARI. What was it like working with this iconic house? In October 2019, BVLGARI generously loaned us their one-of-a-kind high-end jewelry and archival pieces dating back to the 1960s for my first couture show at the Temple of Poseidon. It was our first collaboration and we both felt a strong synergy and mutual appreciation, so it felt natural when they invited me to interpret “Serpenti Through My Own Eyes”. I was honored to be able to contribute to the evolution of Serpenti, which has become such an important symbol in the BVLGARI universe. As a starting point, I went to Rome and met up with Mireia Lopez Montoya, the Managing Director of Accessories, who showed me around BVLGARI’s historical archives. I had the opportunity to see all the iconic pieces that became the inspiration for our collection. I believe the future of fashion is built on the idea of collaboration. I grew up appreciating the codes of BVLGARI and I’m grateful to BVLGARI for giving me this opportunity and for making me feel like family throughout our collaboration. 70

Why did you “envision”, really, the Temple of Poseidon for your show in Greece, which took place in collaboration with ELPIDA? This show was so meaningful and vitally important to me because it was not just about designing beautiful clothes, but the opportunity to communicate the values of hope and humanity across the world. We dedicated this show to raising funds and awareness for ELPIDA, the Association of Friends of Children with Cancer. The show was a homecoming, and a personal love letter to Greece. I had wanted to do something in Greece for such a long time and joining forces with Marianna Vardinoyannis to create something special felt like the right moment. Meeting Marianna inspired me to look at my work and purpose as a designer through the lens of philanthropy. It was important for me to stage this event at a location that could bridge our historical past, cultural present and our future by supporting the children of ELPIDA. We knew this would be difficult, but the symbolic nature of the Temple of Poseidon was important to me in designing a collection focusing on ideas born in Greece at the time the Temple was built. Vangelis created the soundtrack that gave a voice to the Temple and I’m so incredibly grateful to him for his friendship. People talk about Greece with emotion; they feel inspired when they visit our country. It’s so important to maintain this powerful narrative and believe we can effect change by advocating for unity, perspective, and prosperity. Do you ever feel that you belong to a large group of women who are trying to make the world a better and more enlightened place? In Greece, for example, we have the first woman President, with whom you have met for the ceremonial gifts you designed. Also, what do you think connects the women who wear your clothes to each other? It’s a privilege to be part of a new wave of female designers who have a strong voice in fashion. I am lucky to have met incredible women who have become my close friends and supporters and who inspire me with their own generosity and achievements. I

admire women who make change, women who are pioneers in what they do. President Katerina Sakellaropoulou is definitely one of these women and I am honored to have been chosen by her to design the Greek Presidency ceremonial gifts. Our brand is about empowering women to be fearless and generous and lead their life with the belief that anything they can imagine can become a reality. I design for strong women who want to stand out and who occupy different roles in their lives. They embrace their individuality, and my clothes are an extension of that. How much Greece is there in your daily life in London? During lockdown, I experimented a lot with cooking, especially Greek recipes, and it made me feel close to home. What do you think about when you hear the words “Greek Light”? I think about culture and civilization. I think of the light that belongs to the world but originated in Greece. You were raised with great love in your family. In which of your own traits do you see your parents today? I am grateful to my parents, who raised me with strong values. My mother is an interior designer and my father’s background is in textile engineering. They were both entrepreneurs in their own right who worked long hours, and that definitely instilled in me a drive and a work ethic I didn’t know I had. I owe a big part of who I am today creatively to my mother and intellectually to my father.

I admire WOMEN WHO MAKE CHANGE, women WHO ARE PIONEERS IN WHAT they DO 71

What is Mary like at home? Do you go offline, switching off phones and laptops? Are there “sacred” moments you keep for you and your partner or are you online 24/7? My phone is never switched off, unless it runs out of battery, but I always try to be present. I am 100% present with my team when I’m at work and 100% present in my relationship or my friends and family when I’m with them.

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

BACK TO EDEN 74

A personal recounting from a journalist remembering past emotions, images and feelings from her childhood to this day, at Sani Resort. This is probably the best personal account to illustrate the fact that this country is ideally suited for people to discover their own real paradise.

words by Iliana Magra*

The road ahead stretches out long, patterned with sky-high pine trees along the sidelines and sunflowers looking up at the bright blue sky. I open the car window; the smell of freedom engulfs me – I am home. No matter how many years go by, each arrival at Sani is signaled by the first deep breath of the year, the most exhilarating one. “The light of Greece opened my eyes, penetrated my pores, expanded my whole being”, the American author Henry Miller once said of Greece. Though I have travelled far and wide across the country, it is here that I first experienced this soul-stirring light, and only here that I find it in its blissful entirety every time I am blessed to return to this ancient land. 75

photographer Marina Vernicos

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

photographer Marina Vernicos

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

For the people who have stayed at Sani, the place is much more than just another holiday destination. Those of us who were lucky enough to spend the months-long summers of our childhood here, experienced countless firsts that through the years ended up becoming the defining moments that shaped our lives, and our sense of pleasure. On the intersection of Apollonos, the main, hilly road around which the so-called villas lie, and the one that leads to “Sani Club”, one of the five luxury hotels of the resort, I met my first best friend when we were both at primary school. We had our first tastes of independence at Sani – walking across the ever-safe marina - unsupervised at night, staying out late at “Sea You”, the seaside bar at the end of one of its stretches, where our parents were drinking and dancing till early dawn, spending hours on end swimming at “Bousoulas”, planning our future, talking about where life would take us. The friendships that I have made here became the backbone of my life, their bonds being so unique because of our shared, blessed experience at Sani. We would plead with our parents to allow one more Slider ride at the water sports near the “Asterias Suites” or another Banana boat ride at the other water sports spot at “Sani Club”. Cycling around the marina while exploring its numerous sites – from “Sea You” to Sani Hill, with a mandatory stop at “Porto Sani”, to take a dip at the swimming pool there, in order to refresh ourselves from the heat of the Greek summer or at the “Patisserie” in the marina, to get a scoop of ice cream – we always enjoyed that. At night, we would all meet at the empty sunbeds on the beach in front of “Sani Club” or gather at the lifeguard’s post at “Sea You”. I had my first date with my first love on that same beach, our second being under one of the lighthouses that flash green and red lights to the incoming and outgoing boats, with the only sound being that of waves licking the marina rocks on which we lied. Our first cocktails were had at the terrace of “Mojito”(now – Marina Crêperie), a bar near the amphitheater where we played as children, my first shot at a party at “Bousoulas”, where the best burgers were also to be had. I tried sushi for the first time at “Sea You Up”, a sushi restaurant of quality comparable to the world’s best. Sani is a paradise on earth for everyone, but especially for the young, as there is so much nature to explore: the trekking paths on its northern side, unforgiving though their hills might be, that take you to breathtaking views of the crystal-clear sea ahead; the woods that span behind “Bousoulas”; the unorganized beach that can be found on its side, where I have enjoyed the most exquisite sunsets of my life, while eating lush peaches and drinking ice-cold beers with friends. The summers eventually grew smaller, but in the equation of our evolving lives, Sani remained a constant. After finishing high school, most of us were scattered around the world to study or work abroad. But Sani – its beaches, its bars and restaurants, our neighboring houses – is still our annual meeting point, the games now giving way to endless political discussions, the walks having been replaced by equally pleasurable drives around its maze-like roads that take their names from ancient Greek Gods and mythical heroes. It is not only friendships that are fostered in this entrancing

place – as Sani is equally enjoyed by every member of a family, young or old, this shared love of space helps create the best family memories because, at Sani Resort, one is never bored, regardless of age. The activity options are infinite: from wake boarding and parasailing, renting bikes or learning how to water ski, to playing tennis, football or golf in the courts, there is so much to do for those who want to stay active, and an equally enough eternal beauty to admire for those who prefer to simply relax on the beach or sail across the Aegean with Sani as their starting point. And then there’s Sani Festival, my unmissable event of every summer. Over the years, I would plan my stay at Sani depending on the dates of my must-see concerts – the musicians ranging from exquisite Greek artists to acclaimed international jazz players. I saw the excitement of this experience being mirrored in my niece’s eyes when she attended the first concert of her life at Sani Festival – the experience of watching live music on an ancient rock, the gloriously-lit marina lying beneath it, the dark blue sea engulfing the area around it, the night stars shining bright above our heads, while sitting on chairs on the freshly-cut lawn, left her enthralled. The resort’s uniqueness is not only underlined by every activity undertaken here, but is also present throughout most seasons. Though summers at Sani are truly unique, my favorite Easter holidays have also been spent here. I was always too hesitant to take a swim in spring, but seeing brightly-lit candles outside the local church on Easter Saturday, and afterwards having “magiritsa”, a traditional soup, at “Psaroyannos”, a taverna in the marina, gave the place an even more captivating sense. Sani is a luxury resort of the highest regard, with all the comforts this provides – world-class cuisine, ranging from sushi and Thai food to the best fish I have ever tasted at “Alexis”, another taverna in the marina, A-class service everywhere you go, top notch clothing and jewelry stores, clean, sandy beaches, warm, light-blue waters, swimming pools, spas. But its true pricelessness lies in its physical beauty, and most of all, in its energy – the feeling that nothing can go wrong here is palpable. If I have ever experienced the slightest bit of freedom, it was while racing on a speedboat leaving the marina, passing in front of Sani hill and into the unknown of the endless sea, the wind blowing strong, rejuvenating, free. It is here that I have been blessed to watch the sun, glorious, huge, and pink, diving into the sea and then vanishing, the moon rising white on the purple-coated sky of dusk, turning bright yellow and enormous, while I was swimming in the warm sea on unforgettable full moon nights in August. It is here I return time and again when I want to convey the inexplicable to people I met later on, and when I want to experience life in its purest, most serene, blissful and effervescent form. For there are few happier moments in life than wearing a swimsuit after having just had a swim, and staring at the tranquil sea and the dock-tied boats that gently rock from side to side, while eating a red rockfish and drinking a cold glass of tsipouro, surrounded by loved ones and the glorious light of the sun shining bright above this private, worldly Garden of Eden that is Sani. 78

photographer Marina Vernicos

IT IS HERE I return TIME AND AGAIN WHEN I want TO experience LIFE IN ITS PUREST, most SERENE, BLISSFUL AND effervescent FORM

* Iliana Magra studied Political Science in London, but her true calling was journalism. Today, she lives in Greece, she works as a journalist for “Kathimerini” newspaper and she is a contributor to The New York Times. The last 20 years of her life are intertwined with Sani Resort, as she always spends her summers here! 79

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

#OnlyatSani

20+1

reasons to go to Sani Resort photographer Marina Vernicos

words by Aris Kavatzikis

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

the sea and the sky is tinted with shades of crimson. Celebrate it with a cocktail!

The primar y concern for us all, especially this year, is none other than safe holidays. Adopting international health guidelines as well as the innovative #OnlyatSani protocol, the Sani Resort is creating an invisible safety net for its visitors featuring tests and screening upon entry, medical coverage, contactless transactions and service.

Romance comes to life in a fairytale “setting” with candles, waves lapping nearby and the soft sand under your feet on Bousoulas beach. Do not miss out on this exclusive, private dining experience under the stars.

Without its exportable culture, our country would not be the same, and the value of cultural action takes on a special dimension here. On Sani Hill, the one-ofa-kind Sani Festival involves jazz sounds in an incomparable idyllic setting, inviting you to relive your childhood as you listen to music, laying on the grass.

Every resort exudes its own individual atmosphere, yet they all share one commonality: exceptional service. Ranging from the lavish and vibrant Sani Beach, the discrete and refined Sani Club, and the exclusive and intimate Sani Asterias, to the relaxed and elegant Porto Sani and the private and stylish Sani Dunes, the experiences are endless. Just listen to your heart and your personal lifestyle.

Sani Resort’s gastronomic sky is illuminated with the many Michelin stars collected over the years. This is the quintessential Greek destination that showcased and invested in Gastronomy, as a beacon of cosmopolitan culture and enjoyment. The multidimensional offerings in the hotels and the marina will delight even the most demanding gourmands.

The carefully curated luxury, and stars awarded to the resort’s five hotels do not impose on the natural beauty and lush natural landscape that boldly embraces every minute of your day here, and every square meter of summer relaxation.

The coastline extending before your eyes is always “adorned” with iconic Blue Flags; take advantage of the opportunity of experiencing the multitude of different swimming and sunbathing experiences on offer along the entire stretch, featuring a perfect composition of shades of blue.

Should your dietary needs embrace a more holistic outlook and healthy approach to nutrition, there is no need to worry: every restaurant, bar and buffet features countless vegetarian and vegan options packed with super foods. Let’s not be greedy; children are also entitled to their gastronomic realm. Thanks to Annabel Karmel, leading global expert in baby and children’s food, they can indulge in nutritious foods, filled with flavor and packed with goodness. She invites children of all ages to refuel on her rainbow of fresh, colorful dishes across the resort.

For Sani Suite Collection Guests, every moment counts in this terrestrial paradise: a personal concierge will organize your individual vacation plan featuring priority bookings, chauffeur car services in a Volvo, exclusive beach bags and special upgrades.

There are countless majestic Greek sunsets to be seen in travel guides around the world, yet the sunset at Sani Marina is truly awe inspiring, as the sun melts into

If you would like to combine your stay with a luxury yachting experience, this is 82

photographer Marina Vernicos

JET SHARING CHARTERS THESSALONIKI — MOSCOW EACH FRIDAY PRIVATE CHARTER FLIGHTS AROUND THE WORLD

JET PARTNERS — YOUR SMART AVIATION SOLUTIONS. NO RESTRICTIONS. NO LIMITS. NO STRESS. 83

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

the right place. The elegant yachts of the Sani Resort fleet will help you discover the most peaceful and inaccessible beaches in privacy and style, with first-class service.

The Volvo professional chauffeurdriven private tour presents all kinds of fabulous photo opportunities. It takes you down forest tracks, through olive groves and along dramatic cliff top paths. The highlight of the trip is a stop at the tip of Cape Posidi where guests are treated to magnificent views of the Aegean and Mount Olympus accompanied by a glass of sparkling wine. Every wish and desire is just a … day trip away.

Sani Marina is undoubtedly the liveliest part of the resort, with a cosmopolitan flair that every jet setter would love. In addition to the countless options for lunch, dinner, coffee and cocktails, this is also the ultimate luxury shopping destination featuring concept stores, niche collections by Greek and international designers, and numerous beachwear collections.

Holidays imbued with environmental awareness and social consciousness. The resort complex promotes sustainability, reducing its carbon footprint and use of plastics, limiting and recycling waste and adopting an ultimate Sani Green philosophy in all aspects of its operations. In fact, in 2020, it successfully became the first carbon neutral resort in Greece.

It is not just the sea and forest that are vying for your attention here; do not forget the precious wetlands of incomparable beauty, home to 220 species of wild birds. Experience their charm up close by taking a unique bird watching tour.

If you love flowers and art, then you have come to the right place. The resort’s verdant and amazingly well-kept gardens are veritable artworks; take a mental and

spiritual breather as you wander the luxuriant grounds, a testament to the resort’s all-green philosophy. The resort gardens also seem like an open-air exhibition, as internationally acclaimed Greek artist Kostas Varotsos has installed his modern sculptures in various unexpected places. The use of metal and glass is his trademark.

The people who love this resort and give a piece of themselves are those who create hospitality and service with personality. Sani Magic is synonymous with meeting your every desire, knowing your every preference, identifying with your point of view regarding tailor-made services and personalized treatment. A service that goes above and beyond, offered by people who know that every moment here is invaluable.

Children are also VIP guests here, and everything designed for them exceeds the imagination. The sports activities, named kids club and teen house respectively, the soccer and tennis academies, the eco activities and the brand new Bear Grylls 84

Survival Academy will not allow your young – or even slightly older – “treasures” to feel a second of boredom.

The ultimate wellness combination of Sani Spa and the “made-to-measure” concept by Anne Semonin Paris is synonymous with contemporary well-being. Pamper yourself in one of the resort’s five elegant spas, where safety is guaranteed thanks to the Covid-free protocols. Indulge in signature treatments with products created by the Parisian luxury skincare brand that combine natural ingredients with cosmetology research and specialization.

And yet… despite these high-end services and luxury amenities, at Sani Resort it really feels like home. Everything is within walking distance, the sea, forest and wetlands coexist in harmony, family goals become reality and the coziness that imbues every moment and activity will make you think that “Greece’s own little Monaco” – as Vogue UK once characterized Sani – is truly a unique destination.

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

Harmoniously incorporated into the natural environment of Sani Resort, the superbly renovated Porto Sani presents a new modern proposal for world-class luxury holidays. Niki Manou-Andreadis, head of Nimand Architects, talks to Sani Magazine about how words by Niki Pilidou her team approached this project. 86

photographer Aris Rammos

PORTO SANI

UPDATED ELEGANCE 87

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

Upon arriving at Porto Sani, you realize that no matter how many times you have visited the Sani Resort complex, you always want to return. The first thing that hits you is nature; the pine tree forest, the sea, the endless beaches, and Mt Olympus dominating the horizon across the bay. A sense of freedom overcomes you, unfettered by the discrete, elegant buildings, designed to accentuate nature instead of tempering it. Niki Andreadis sits smiling next to me in the truly impressive, brand new Porto Sani facilities and talks to me about what she calls "the adventure of designing this new hotel". "It all began in 1993. My newly established company was commissioned to design the first five-star hotel of Sani Resort, a hotel with suites overlooking the marina. It was a bold move on behalf of the owners, but also a great challenge for us. I believe we lived up to their expectations and Porto Sani, with its small scale, its mild building volumes and its earthy tones became one of the most beloved "children" of Sani Resort and gained enthusiastic supporters ". It is no coincidence that it has repeatedly been awarded the title of Top Luxury Hotel and voted as one of the Top 10 Hotels for families by TripAdvisor, while it has also won awards from Condé Nast Traveler and the World Travel Awards. This can all be summed up into one phrase that Niki Andreadis recalls; the spontaneous comment of an English guest as he opened the door to his room, took one look outside, and said: “Let’s go inside”. Twenty-two years later and after many interventions, the company decided to radically reconstruct the hotel, aiming for its aesthetic and functional enhancement as well as its simultaneous adaptation to current requirements, mainly focusing on the needs of families with young children.

“Designing the renovation of their own project always poses a unique challenge for architects“ Niki Andreadis tells us. For me, this feeling was even more intense as Porto Sani was my first major project. On a more personal note, I must say that I have a deep emotional connection to Sani Resort. I have lived there with my husband, Stavros Andreadis, since I was very young and I have participated in its unique course of development. Being able to design for this place has always been a blessing for me”. “I don’t think architecture should try to take over and impress with exaggerations”, Niki Andreadis says, always smiling. On the contrary, I would like it to initially generate feelings of relaxation and tranquility to guests, and then invite them to explore the facilities and surrounding areas. With emphasis to simplicity and starkness of the morphological elements, only the building shells were preserved from the original structure. Much larger openings were created, and the relatively small balconies on the suites of the first floor were replaced with spacious verandas, offering comfort and privacy. Wherever possible, large private gardens were added to the ground floor suites. Protected by thick hedges, they are ideally safe spaces for young children. All common areas were redesigned from scratch and new spaces were added, among which the exceptional Spanish restaurant ‘El Puerto’ which became the guests’ favourite from the very beginning. The project follows the latest principles of bioclimatic design, respecting the surrounding habitat. Energy consumption is optimized by modern technologies that help with natural ventilation and cooling, and passive shading systems, such as blinds and pergolas. “It is very important for me to be involved in all aspects of the project design, from the 88

“I have AN intense INTEREST IN NATURAL AND architectural LIGHTING”

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

initial architectural planning and shaping of the buildings to the decorative details, the lighting fixtures, the furniture, the staff uniforms, the gardens, even the restaurant china. Naturally, this requires a lot of effort; nevertheless, I believe it is crucial in achieving a unique final result”. “I have an intense interest in natural and architectural lighting. The natural light enters the main service areas gracefully through roof openings, modern lattice screens and pergolas. Particular emphasis was placed on the study of architectural lighting with the installation of modern lighting systems and scenarios.” The brand-new design of Porto Sani combines the straight lines of the austere bungalow forms with the main building’s soft curves, the pergolas, the cobbled streets, the lagoon pools with surrounding lush vegetation and the gardens. With its earthy tones and drenched in the brilliant Mediterranean light, the setting exudes minimalistic, atmospheric aesthetic creating a luxurious as well as friendly environment and warmly welcomes guests inviting them to a unique and memorable experience.

“I DON’T THINK THAT architecture SHOULD TRY TO TAKE OVER and IMPRESS WITH exaggerations” 90

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

Light masterfully colors the day and landscape. The desire to hunt down every minute of the sunrise and sunset leads us to resort wear selections that stand out for their classy, timeless elegance.

Chasing the LIGHT

photographs by George Katsanakis (10AM) styling director Natasha Lionaki

Dress Zimmermann, Grigio – Sani Marina 92

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

LEFT Dress SportMax, Max Mara Boutique RIGHT Swimsuit Zimmermann, Grigio – Sani Marina 94

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

Dress and bag Etro, Intervista Sunglasses Dior, Optomania – Sani Marina Slides Steve Madden, Nak 96

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

LEFT Swimsuit Melissa Odabash, Melissa Odabash Boutique – Sani Marina RIGHT Shirt Valentino, Grigio – Sani Marina Swimsuit Marysia, Apoella – Sani Marina Visor «DIORCLUB V1U» Dior, Optomania – Sani Marina 98

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

100

Sweater Marella, Dil Fashion Group Gold K18 bracelet, Thalia Exarchou Jewellery – Sani Marina

101

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

Swimsuit Agua Bendita, Rodanos – Sani Marina Gold K18 bracelet «Lunaria Collection» Marco Bicego, Gofas – Sani Marina 102

103

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

LEFT Bikini top and briefs Marysia, Apoella – Sani Marina Sunglasses Gucci, Optomania – Sani Marina Gold bracelets «Happy Hearts» Chopard, Era Jewellery – Sani Marina RIGHT Dress Chio, Rodanos – Sani Marina Gold K18 bracelets, Thalia Exarchou Jewellery – Sani Marina 104

105

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

LEFT Playsuit Missoni Mare, Missoni Boutique – Sani Marina RIGHT Dress SportMax, Max Mara Boutique 106

107

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

108

LEFT Belted dress Michael Michael Kors, Attica The Deparment Store Titanium and brilliant earrings, Link Jewellery Bag Celine by Hedi Slimane from personal collection Scarf Etro, Intervista Slides Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello, Grigio – Sani Marina RIGHT Top and pants Max Mara, Max Mara Boutique Gold K18 earrings and rings, Thalia Exarchou Jewellery – Sani Marina Bracelets Ileana Makri, Thalia Exarchou Jewellery – Sani Marina 109

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

makeup Maria Pagonaki hair Kanakis Peristeras photographer assistant Dimitris Katsanakis (10AM) styling assistant Michalis Terzakis model Mariina Keskitalo (D.Models) 110

Bikini top and briefs Marysia, Apoella – Sani Marina 111

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

unpleasant daily grind of the city. I knew that this hotel resort is considered one of the best and most luxurious in Europe, and that its reputation attracts guests from all corners of the world. I also knew about the successful music festival organized on its grounds every year. But I did not have a firsthand image of this impressive expanse, exceptionally designed and organized in its verdant glory, a veritable oasis waiting for me on the naturally lush, first ‘leg’ of the Halkidiki peninsula. I have travelled a lot in my life. I have stayed in fine hotels in Europe, America and Asia. I have experienced high quality hospitality services up close at resorts in Thailand and five-star hotels in Singapore and Hong Kong; aristocratic finesse at iconic hotels in Paris and Vienna; expansive rooms and spaces at hotels in the United

*Kosmas Vidos is a journalist with many years of experience and important collaborations in his arsenal. He works at “To Vima” newspaper and specializes in Culture and Travel features.

words by Kosmas Vidos*

A precious dreamy stay

1. Lounge vibes at the Beach House, Sani Dunes 2. Green ambience at a private terrace & garden of Porto Sani 3. Infinity Pool view, Sani Club

The diary of a short stay at Sani Resort reveals a world of impressive luxury, haute aesthetics, awareness and sensitivity for people and for the environment.

112

photographer Marina Vernicos

The light, refreshing drizzle that greeted us made the atmosphere even clearer, releasing the intoxicating aromas of Greece’s natural wealth. Hints of freshly-cut grass, wet wood and flowers in bloom imbued the air and had a relaxing and invigorating effect on us as we traversed the well-tended gardens to the room where we would spend the next few days. The soothing sound of water flowing from a fountain added to the Zen-like setting. Freshly-washed palm trees, olive trees, plane trees and many more trees, bushes and succulents gleamed under the rays of the sun, which highlighted the beauty of this Paradise, making the landscape even more enchanting. These are my first impressions as I arrived at Sani Resort: almost like a return to a Paradise that I had lost for many years, trapped in the

113

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

1. Excellent beach service at Sani Club 2. A family room at Sani Dunes 3. Minimalism at the Beach House, Sani Dunes 4. View of Artemis Restaurant, Porto Sani

States; extraordinary luxury at monstrous structural miracles in Dubai. But I had never imagined a place that combined all of these elements together – and this is what I encountered in Halkidiki. A resort that ideally showcases the basic ingredients of Greece – sun, sea, Mediterranean landscape, warm hospitality, divine food and wellness – in an openhearted setting that restructures and enriches all of the above to offer a unique transcendental experience.

“Diving” into tranquility Almost like the cogs of a well-oiled machine, the young man who greeted us at the protected entrance and gave us instructions for parking our car, his colleague who arrived in a small, open vehicle to transport us and our luggage to the reception, as well as the girl waiting for us armed with useful information and tips, these touches were instrumental in transforming the often boring and time-consuming check in process into a brief and pleasant experience. “Is this your first time visiting our hotel?” “In fact, this is the first time I have left my house after almost a year of lockdown. I had almost forgotten what excursions, nature and open horizons are.” “We are here to remind you. I am sure that you will have a wonderful 114

The quiet that surrounded us, the healing silence that only those who live in the noisy city center can appreciate, immediately impressed me

time with us.” After so many months, this was exactly what we needed! Soon after, as I gazed over the verdant parterres, the shiny turquoise swimming pools, the pine forests dotting the hills beyond and the yacht masts swaying in the marina, I felt my detox journey had already begun. The quiet that surrounded us, the healing silence that only those who live in the noisy city center can appreciate, immediately impressed me. Soon after, as I took my first walk around the resort complex, I realized that all the bungalows, suites and rooms were structured in such a way as to – even when brimming with guests – evoke a sense of tranquility and reassurance that you are the only person there; the focus of everyone’s care and attention. Peace, calm, respect for every guest’s privacy. Even during the day by the pool located near my room – one of the dozens of heated indoor and outdoor pools dotted across the complex – when families with young children would gather and play in the water, I still had the feeling that an invisible filter muted their voices. After observing the details over the next few days I realized that this feeling was no coincidence, but the result of ingenious planning and organization. These first highly positive impressions were not limited to the resort grounds, but also extended to the apartment where I 115

would be staying for an entire week – oh the joy! Had they told me that I was the first person to stay there, then I would have believed them. The furniture in the bright living room and the spacious bedroom seemed brand new. Everything seemed perfect, even down to the last detail. The white orchid in bloom on the table in front of the sofa was yet another reminder of the natural extravaganza that surrounded me, inviting me to discover its magic. Yet I did not want to leave before enjoying the space: the enormous bed with fluffy pillows, the comfortable lounge chairs on the veranda, the two television sets with Greek and international channels and news channels, the platter filled with welcome gifts such as fruit and sparkling wine, the large bathtub by the window or the waterfall shower (which admittedly is one of my greatest pleasures every time I stay at a fine hotel). Relaxing bath or invigorating shower? I chose the latter, to settle in after my long trip and save some time for my first stroll and dinner. Fruit may be delicious and healthy, but it would be a shame not to savor the gourmet dishes on offer at one of the Sani Resort restaurants.

Everything your heart desires! There were many options to choose from, as over the next few days I realized that

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

A mega-hotel that manages to respect the natural environment while also having 1800 employees and hosting thousands of guests there were dozens of restaurants where award-winning and talented chefs transformed every meal or dinner into a unique experience. A magical gourmet journey that begins in Halkidiki, and can take you all the way to Italy, Spain and Japan. I was not able to try them all – thankfully, because I would not be able to fit into my clothes – but everything that I did try was exceptional, both in flavor and aesthetically. I may not be a professional connoisseur, but as a person with a penchant for good food and taking every opportunity to enjoy it, I encountered a feast of high gastronomic offerings. I often felt I was a judge at some international cooking competition, and that the participating top chefs were trying their best to impress me. At Artemis, Katsu, Macaroni, El Puerto, Tomata, Vosporos grill, Psaroyanno, Alexis, Beach House, Cabana, Ergon Deli, Fresco, Grill by the pool, Poseidon, The market, Over Water, Water, Ouzerie, Pines, Club Lunge and Olympos, I experienced it all: from traditional dishes to sophisticated and innovative; Greek meze and Spanish tapas; meat and fish; pasta, pizza and sushi. Like all guests I also installed the Sani Resort application on my phone and could easily access the restaurant menus on a daily basis and thus, make my reservations online. I also used the Dine Around service which offers hotel guests the opportunity to try the daily menus prepared in certain restaurants, without additional charge. So if you do not know what to choose, leave it to the chefs to decide for you. I obviously

used the excuse of being on vacation to indulge in the delights at the pastry shop in the marina – again and again… I am rather nostalgic for this now that I have started my diet back home, to lose the extra kilos I gained. Like all sins, holiday sins must also be paid for. In this case, with a strict diet. But it was well worth it! Of course, these thoughts did not concern me on that first night. I enjoyed my food, ate my dessert, drank my wine, and enjoyed my great company and then… I’m not quite sure. It may have been the alcohol, my low tolerance, the fatigue of the day catching up with me, the relaxation that is almost imposed by the resort… I faintly remember climbing the steps to my apartment, in that sybaritic haze of summer holidays, with the aromas of freshly-watered gardens suffusing the night with a magical quality. Families with young children, couples and even people on their own, sitting on their balconies and gardens, enjoying their sweet reveries like me, protagonists in a story about wellness; all those small moments that make us happy, the joy of holidays, the tender ending to a beautiful day and the anticipation of an even more beautiful day to come. I fell asleep in the embrace of this anticipation, with the distant sound of the fountain lulling me to sleep.

Activities for all A great day is synonymous with a good start. Namely with a good breakfast, an integral “ingredient” for exceptional holidays in a hotel complex like Sani Resort. And so the next morning, after indulging in a royal breakfast – I can still taste the aromatic butter pancakes and tart with fresh strawberries – I set off to explore the enormous expanse that houses the five Sani hotels. Each one has its own character and style, but together they compose a harmonious whole. A mega-hotel that manages to respect the natural environment 116

while also having 1800 employees and hosting thousands of guests. Not only does it not damage the environment, but it showcases it everywhere, in the gardens and facilities. With an acute awareness of ecological responsibility: Sani Resort was recently recognized as the first hotel in Greece to operate with a zero carbon footprint, which says a lot about its philosophy and the vision of its people. But let’s get back to our tour of the hotels: the recently renovated Porto Sani, whose gardens and swimming pools make it a family favorite; the cosmopolitan Sani Dunes; the exclusive Sani Asterias; Sani Beach with its amazing sea views and Mount Olympus in the distance; and the more isolated Sani Club, with its vintage aura that to me seemed to belong in a James Bond movie. I could easily imagine him landing by the pool in a helicopter, or enjoying a cocktail under the palm trees, as the astounding figure of Ursula Andres emerges from the crystal clear sea. Five hotels, five different microcosms, each with its own beach, swimming pools, and well-kept gardens. All of this focused around the marina lined with moored yachts – the resort’s fleet used for small cruises as well as private yachts. The marina is also where you will find the most restaurants and a selection of boutiques and shops, such as Missoni, Vilebrequin, Melissa Odabash, Grigio and Apoella, featuring dozens of international and domestic brands, Ulysses, Trés doux, Optomania, Era Jewellery and many more, to satisfy even the most discerning shoppers. What else can you do here? Spa treatments in My Spa at Sani Beach, The Club Spa at Sani Club, The Spa Suite at Porto Sani, Spa Retreat at Sani Asterias or The D Spa at Sani Dunes. You can also burn the calories you enjoyed consuming at the state-of-the-art gym. Or play a game of tennis on the professional courts. Or football, or basketball, or volleyball… Enjoy yoga sessions al fresco, by the sea. More

1. The deluxe living room of a suite at Sani Asterias 2. Impeccable housekeeping at Sani Resort 3. Blu horizon at Bousoulas Beach

117

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

adventurous guests can try climbing or challenge their stamina and vertigo limits at the Adventure Park. Or take endless bicycle rides along its extensive route network. There are also many options for watersports, ski, scuba diving, even fishing, always under the guidance of experts. These activities can be enjoyed by the entire family, unless you prefer to let the children play in the playground as they make new friends, while you dedicate some precious time to yourself. Holidays are for everyone.

Wetlands “Adventures” I opted for a walk around the neighboring wetlands, a Natura European Network area of Protected Natural Beauty, composed of an impressive pine tree forest growing on the sand dunes that lead to the white Bousoulas beach and two lakes – Stavronikitas freshwater lake, and Gerani lake with more brackish waters. My guide for this special nature-loving day trip was Giorgos Andreou, who conveyed to me his love of the land and nature, giving me very interesting information about the area’s flora and fauna. We walked through the coastal forest, through the olive groves and grain fields, along the paths lined with reeds and rushes, where many rare and endangered bird species build their nests. In the colorful meadows I felt I was walking in a painting by Van Gogh, Constable or Gauguin. We spied – from a safe distance so as not to disturb them – rare herons and a large flock of flamingos scanning the waters for food. And now, thanks to Giorgos, I can identify whether the prints left in the soft ground or sand belong to a tortoise or a sea turtle. I even know why some flamingos are pink and others (like the ones more common here) are white. It was another wonderful day in Paradise. One of those days that are relaxing, allowing you to reflect while interacting with nature, but also giving you much food for thought. Back in my room, on the last night, in the priceless quiet and

tranquility of the setting, putting my many and intense impressions in order, among other things I thought about how much care and work, from so many people, is hidden behind this well-made, idealized setting. I was certainly impressed by the size of Sani Resort and its great specifications; but I was mostly impressed by how it has not only managed to respect the fragile ecosystem that surrounds it, but how it protects and regenerates it like a most dedicated and mindful guardian angel. And this is how I want to finish this small narrative of my stay on the first ‘finger’ of the Halkidiki peninsula. With a reminder of the utmost importance respecting the natural environment has for every one of us. With the image of a world filled with small and large miracles, molded from sea and sand, pine trees, pistacia plants, reeds, centenarian olive trees, grains and oleanders. With smiles and courtesy. A world flooded with light and sun, where the human presence is tender, respectful and supportive. This is the image I took away with me, an image of an ideal and almost Zen peacefulness in the Spa exterior, Sani Club

118

Five hotels, five different microcosms, each with its own beach, swimming pools, and well-kept gardens dreamy Greece. A Greece that embraces all the shades of Mediterranean wellness, taking them to another level. A Greece that we are used to referring to as lacking in organization, aesthetics and responsibility in our daily life. But Sani Resort, boasting years of experience, simply confirms that this intoxicating Greece bursting with senses, flavors, and colors, as well as professionalism, consistency and respect, can indeed exist. And it does exist here! And this is perhaps the most significant realization that came from this holiday: the precious realization of an expectation that seemed almost unreal.

CMY

119

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

120

121

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

The utter meeting point!

words by Vasiliki Doukoumopoulou

Sani Marina offers the ultimate in summer dreams: days and nights when time stands still; moments when sea and sky come together as one; and experiences of sophisticated luxury that will linger for a lifetime.

However many words you use to describe a summer at Sani, you still won’t have used enough. That’s because no words can come close to describing how unique, perfect, romantic and, above all, cosmopolitan summer at Sani is. The heart of the deluxe Sani Resort beats at its marina. Vessels from around the world, gourmet restaurants, friendly cafés, lively bars, and the most irresistible fashionable venues are to be found right here, making Sani Marina a dream come true for each and every visitor. How could it be otherwise? Who could possibly turn a blind eye to that spellbinding color the sun turns as it slowly sinks into the marina’s sea waters? And how could you possibly turn your back to a place whose vibrant pace becomes part of you as soon as you set foot here? At Sani Marina Piazza, the terms “top quality” and “good life” are defined anew. The piazza’s variety of venues offering 123

tantalizing flavors, intoxicating scents, must-have art objects, and beckoning fashion trends composes the ultimate setting, of a lively site with an international lifestyle. However, let’s take this from the top: it’s time we abandoned ourselves to the joys of an incomparable “voyage” to Halkidiki’s ultimate summer destination.

First Things First Fully in harmony with the natural terrain that surrounds it, Sani Marina captivates you as of the very first moment. Bathed in sunlight, sleek, eye-catching vessels from the world over dock at the marina. It is a setting that is as soothing for the soul as it is magical for the eyes. As you stroll along the pier, you cannot but conjure up images from one of the Mediterranean’s cosmopolitan Riviera destinations. Yet, the modern architectural optics of the structures serenely blend with the surrounding landscape’s tranquility, turning

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

1. You can embellish your stay with a wide range of gastronomic choices available

the site into a seductive summer retreat. It is a setting that delights young and older visitors alike. The marina’s component parts are designed in such a way as to allow visitors to embrace it, feel one with nature, and abandon themselves to its relaxing presence. Perfectly suited for family moments, Sani Marina offers children its reassuring safety, and becomes the perfect destination for games, strolling, cycling, and lots of other fun activities that make it kids-friendly. No matter what time you decide to take your stroll around the marina, the sun will be your ally whether you simply wish to bask in its warmth or snap those great Instagrammable shots. You might say that the sun is the true master and commander of the scenery around you since each and every change in its position or light ‘paints’ the landscape in a different way, allowing you to take photos that will become cherished mementos.

Smells Like Summer The aroma of freshly ground coffee roasting will be the first thing to greet you as you approach Patisserie, the marina’s bakery, where you can enjoy a sumptuous

breakfast, with just-out-of-the oven croissants, scrumptious bread rolls, mouthwatering desserts, or pick-your-flavor ice cream, making your mornings just as special as the rest of your day. So, what’s next? What else? Under the sunlight of summertime, go for a swim since Sani’s crystal-clear waters are something to think about for the rest of the year. Take along your sunscreen tube, your stylish hat, and anything else you feel you need, and relax in the luxury of Sea You Beach. Lose yourself on its sundeck on the sand while you sunbathe on its elegant deck chairs. Complete your already amazing experience by sampling the refreshing cocktails and gourmet finger food choices the place offers, while you take in the most spectacular sunset you have ever seen.

Gastronomy There is nothing more gratifying at Sani Marina than its wide array of gourmet choices curated by renowned chefs: the Mediterranean Basin meets East and Asia, while international dishes with an authentic temperament stand out and await you at a variety of restaurants which define fine dining. 124

#Greeks_Do_It_Better Starting from the truly Greek Tomata, the magician of haute cuisine Chrysanthos Karamolegos is innovating by mixing and matching traditional and modern flavors to create the ultimate contemporary version of traditional Greek dishes. Faithfully staying with Greek cuisine, Psaroyannos, the marina’s seafood taverna, offers delicious, mezé-style appetizers and fresh fish to go with your ouzo or other aperitif, making sure that each dish brings Greece to your table. Must-try: its homemade and oh-sotraditional ‘spoon’ sweet preserves! For meat lovers, Vosporos will be the perfect choice. It is there that you can savor the best in tantalizing, grilled meats, freshly made fries, and salads featuring the choicest of ingredients. To ensure that you enjoy each and every bite of your meal in ultra comfort, the grill house seats you in the verdant oasis of its lovely garden.

International Cuisine For those seeking a taste of the Far East in the form of a candlelit dinner on a lovely summer night, Asian Restaurant offers the most exotic aromas and flavors. From its iconic dim sum to its classic Cantonese

Combine your evening walk with some chic and cosmopolitan shopping

The scene creates a sense of wonder both for young and old

dishes created by celebrated Paris chef, Thiou, your choices never end. As to the cosmopolitan Katsu Japanese, it will wow you with its inspired Japanese fusion cuisine, while the Italian restaurant Macaroni will excite your taste buds with culinary temptations from our neighboring Italy, such as irresistibly aromatic pizzas, tasty pasta dishes, and a wine list that leaves nothing to be desired.

Deli World Your fine dining-by-the-sea experience would not be complete without a visit to Ergon Deli, the marina’s haute cuisine destination, right in the piazza. With restaurants in Brussels, Miami, and London, Ergon Deli becomes ‘the place to be’ when it comes to breakfast, your afternoon coffee, or the enjoyment of authentic ouzo and appetizers in the company of friends. While there, don’t neglect to supply yourself with some of its gourmet delicacies that can be found at its well-known Pantopoleio grocery that operates in the same space.

Don’t Miss If you are looking for a one-of-a-kind experience during your holidays, look

2. Organize a dreamy cruise around the Aegean that will lead you to discovering one of the many gorgeous locations that are Greece’s ‘hidden treasures’ 3. & 4. Combine your evening walk with some chic and cosmopolitan shopping

no further than the Sani VIP Services. With us to help you every step of the way, you can experience the unique charm of chartering a sailboat complete with crew for a day, a weekend, or for as long as you like. Starting at the marina, you are given the opportunity to live an adventure by organizing that dreamy cruise around the Aegean that will lead you to discovering one of the many gorgeous locations that are Greece’s ‘hidden treasures’.

The Golden Hour When the sun sets, you get the sense that you’re starting again from scratch. Choices abound and the pleasures are dreamlike. While dusk falls, put on your most ethereal dress, stroll to the piazza, and try a scintillating cocktail at one of the piazza’s bars. Let the rhythm of Sani 125

Marina sweep you away into an adventure for the senses and combine your evening walk with some much-needed chic and cosmopolitan shopping therapy. Iconic fashion houses such as Missoni or Melissa Odabash; emblematic Greek brands from premium stores such as Grigio Concept, Attica Selections and Apoella; or jewelry houses such as Thalia Exarchou and Gofas are all there to make your shopping experience a spectacular and high-end one. The superiority of a location that combines the modern holiday experience with the sense of a relaxed family vacation, Nature at its best, and understated luxury anywhere you look, goes by the name of Sani Marina. This year, Sani Marina invites you to explore its every fold, leave everything behind, and experience the most liberating summer of your life!

LIST

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

The absolute must-haves for summer outfits that will make an impression at all times of the day.

fashion editor Eleonora Kanaki fashion assistant Aliki Siamkouri

WISH

EARTH TONES 1. Earrings in 18K yellow gold with citrine topaz and brown diamonds, Thalia Exarchou – Sani Marina 2. One piece swimsuit Pain de Sucre, Tres Doux – Sani Marina 3. Mules, Missoni Boutique – Sani Marina 4. Sleek leather pouch with drawstring straps Ioanna Kourbela, Posh – Sani Marina 5. Poppy tie shoulder swimsuit Zimmermann, Grigio – Sani Marina 6. Bandeau & high-waisted bikini briefs Gredin, Eres – Thessaloniki 7. Large canvas bag with circular leather handles Scorpio by Zeus & Δione, Apoella – Sani Marina 8. Brown-to-pink shaded square sunglasses Ultradior SU by Dior, Optomania – Sani Marina

8 126

127

LIST

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

THE POWER OF RED 1. Slides for men Dsquared2, Rodanos – Thessaloniki 2. Chloe dress Etoile Coral, Apollonia Politia – Thessaloniki 3. Leather bag Circle Zeus & Δione, Apoella - Sani Marina 4. Angel ring in 18K white gold with marquise, pear and brilliant cut diamonds by Messika Joaillerie, Gofas Jewelry – Sani Marina 5. T-shirt for men Stefano Ricci, Diamantis – Thessaloniki 6. Top-Handle Tote Etro, Intervista – Thessaloniki 7. Watch Happy Sport by Chopard with sapphire diamonds and a moving heart with red inlay, Era Jewellery Boutique – Sani Marina 8. One-piece bustier Cassiopee, Eres – Thessaloniki 9. One piece swimsuit Emmanuela Swimwear, Apoella – Sani Marina

WISH

9 128

129

LIST

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

SUMMER BLUES 1. Bag for men Boss x Russell Athletic, Nous & Body activation – Sani Marina 2. Swimwear, Vilebrequin Boutique – Sani Marina 3. Polo sweater Stefano Ricci, Diamantis – Thessaloniki 4. Bucket hat Μaison Scotch & Soda, Attica Selections – Sani Marina 5. Οne piece Arizona swimsuit, Melissa Odabash – Sani Marina 6. Lurex clutch bag Kleos Ames Bags, Summer Stores – Sani Marina 7. Espadrille Kenzo, Intervista – Thessaloniki 8. Big cotton beach bag, Vilebrequin – Sani Marina 9. Swimwear for men Boss x Russell Athletic, Nous & Body activation – Sani Marina

WISH

9 130

131

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

MELISSA ODABASH

ALWAYS the SUN

interview by Eleni Papaioannou 132

You could even call it good fashion karma. When the former swimwear model turned into a designer, she knew exactly what women were looking for in their summer wardrobes. And she delivered this with such charm, that, today, her best-selling designs have become the manifestation of the endless summer sun, all around the globe. How can she love summer and not hold Sani Resort dear to her heart? Sani Resort truly stands out and it's where one can find the swimsuits and swimwear she designs.

Hailing from New Jersey, her fresh summer looks endowed her with a very successful swimsuit-modeling career in Italy, while still in her early 20’s. Swimsuit after swimsuit, she was fast to realize what was truly missing from the industry. And she introduced her personal take on swimwear, with style and grace. She launched her brand in 1999, and her designs kicked off when they started being featured in the Sports Illustrated calendar, on the likes of Tyra Banks and Naomi Campbell. Sculpting and enhancing the silhouette for each and every body type, empowering women and giving them classic pieces made from Italian fabrics of the finest quality, has become Melissa’s calling, earning her a distinguished place in the world of fashion. Melissa, thank you for this interview. I was wondering, what was the first design you ever created? Surprisingly, it wasn’t a bikini, it was actually a white hand-crocheted mini dress. Why did you feel the need to design swimwear? I was a swimwear model and didn’t like anything I was modeling. I wanted design styles that were print free, focusing on high-quality fabrics in solid colours. While I was modeling it was all about bold, bright prints! You mention modeling…being a swimwear model, what was missing from what was available to women according to you? I found there were 3 key things missing: Great fit, chic cuts, and timeless style. I wonder, who is the woman you design for?

How would you describe her? I design for every type of woman! I sell to 63 countries and we all like different styles, my clients’ age ranges from 20 to 85, they all love to feel confident, chic and own pieces that last. Give us five classic basics for the ultimate holiday suitcase. 1. White beach cover up 2. I love a white or black, classic swimsuit 3. Metallic or tan leather sandals 4. My Jemima Hat (so easy to pack!) 5. A big pair of sunglasses You have two teenage daughters. What is the core value you have instilled in them? To be grateful, kind, to always help those who are less fortunate and don’t ever give up doing what you love! You grew up in the heart of New York. Which place in the city has followed you, always, from childhood, one you still hold dearly today? I have two. The Plaza Hotel, where my mother would take me for high tea. We would order English scones and tea and pretend we were in England. The second one is Bergdorf Goodman’s. I would just go from floor to floor admiring the fashion. One can’t help but wonder: Why design resort wear during a pandemic? I have been doing this for twenty years; it’s actually a feel-good product. Holidays are usually our best memories. What has kept you sane during constant lockdowns? I cycled everyday, discovering new areas of London I had never seen before. I believe I

could be a taxi driver now, as I am familiar with every area.It was amazing, London is truly one of the most beautiful cities. “The eye has to travel…” said Diana Vreeland. What is your way of broadening your mind and aesthetics? Well, I travelled non-stop pre-covid.I love visiting local artisans and markets. I just love discovering new places. What will be this summer’s soundtrack, for you? I love Elton John. You have visited many places, indeed. So, what would you say is so unique about Greece? I love Greece. Why travel to the Maldives when you have the same beaches and transparent waters here. I love that you have so many islands, so close to each other yet so different, and of course the nicest people. Your favourite Greek spot? I love Sani Resort as I have never seen a more beautiful beach. What makes Sani a great holiday spot? So many different places to eat and shop at, beach clubs, you never get bored. The Melissa Odabash shop is of course my favourite, haha! What was the first thing that caught your attention when you visited Sani? The colour of the water and the chic organic interiors. And, finally, your favourite memory of the place? Zip Wiring – I have never laughed so much!

You can find the Melissa Odabash summer collection at the monobrand boutique Melissa Odabash at the Sani Marina. 133

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

134

135

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

EXPLORE YOUR INNER BEAUTY

words by Aristotelis Spiliotopoulos

136

Our times demand a complete turn towards wellness and sophisticated treatments that highlight wellbeing and transform us into the better version of ourselves. Anne Semonin Paris, the leading green skincare brand that has represented a premium holistic beauty experience for many years, offers unique beauty treatments to fortunate Sani Resort guests, showcasing Greece as the ultimate rejuvenating summer destination.

1. Aline Marcadet 2. Phytarosa Serum Anne Semonin Paris 3. Boutique Anne Semonin Paris, Sani Dunes D-Spa 137

When discrete luxury is skillfully blended with expertise, innovation, beauty and Parisian elegance, then the result could not but be something beyond outstanding; a veritable wellness and relaxation experience. Yet the aforementioned equation also needs to consider the particular needs of each complexion, which varies and changes depending on lifestyle, climate and many other factors. A demanding reality that involves a fast – almost high-speed – pace requires targeted and effective treatments that meet the needs of all skin types – as each one is unique, much like personalities. Nevertheless, the core tenet remains the same: sophisticated, tailor-made formulas and updated treatments that keep up with developments in cosmetology are de rigueur.

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

Sharing the same DNA It is this philosophy that has shaped Anne Semonin Paris, the Parisian skincare company that has more than 30 years of expertise, leading innovations in the field. Marrying the best elements of nature and scientific knowledge, these fine beauty products ensure unrivaled results. The exceptional quality, attention to detail, French aesthetic and the company’s environmentally friendly philosophy are an ideal match with Sani Resort. The result? A collaboration that counts over 15 years, offering every guest an unforgettable summer. With the goal of creating a comprehensive wellness experience, two innovators combine forces to become the beauty secret of the international jet-set. Besides, they share the same vision: nurturing a trusting relationship with the public based on ethical choices and approaches. The need for innovation and exceptionality has always shaped Sani Resort’s DNA. This magical “union” with Anne Semonin Paris is in harmony with the new post-Covid reality that seeks the complete relaxation of body and spirit, aiming for substantial and holistic rejuvenation.

the exclusive “Inner Calm Outer Glow” collection. The three innovative treatments - Dawn of a New Day, The Ultimate Bounce Back & Resilience Ritual - gradually relax tense muscles and “clear” the mind. In addition, the brand’s neuro cosmetics detox, release endorphins to de-stress the skin. It is the combination of the neuro cosmetics with Spirulina - the ingredient that detoxifies and acts on the immune system -, that makes the “Inner Calm, Outer Glow Treatments” so special! Using ingredients such as microalgae, marine salt, essential oils and spirulina in combination with cryotherapy, Anne Semonin Paris unique beauty treatments are designed to hit the “restart” button for body and soul.

1. Mémoires D'Été Collection, Anne Semonin Paris 2. Botanical toner, Anne Semonin Paris 3. The Spa Suite, Porto Sani

Α great part of history From its foundation in 1982 by Madame Anne Semonin – one of the most acclaimed beauticians of her generation whose clients included iconic Hollywood stars such as Grace Kelly and Catherine Deneuve – the skincare company has been writing its own history in the beauty field. However, when current President and “soul” of Anne Semonin Paris, Aline Marcadet, took over 20 years ago, the brand took off and became well-known around the world. She was the one whose lifegoal was to create a “legend” of premium and exclusive beauty products, bringing revolutionary innovations to the field over the years. «Anne Semonin Paris beauty and wellness therapies revolve around the superiority and efficacy of our luxury products. However, our high-qualit y ser vice,

New Wellness Trends Experiencing a new post-Covid reality, wellness trends have been redefined and their representatives have to follow suit. The motivation of the French skincare company however has always been innovation and understanding the needs and concerns of the public. Anne Semonin Paris is once again one step ahead in the development of 138

“ANNE SEMONIN PARIS high-quality SERVICE, CLASSIC FRENCH TOUCH, AND exclusive HOLISTIC approach PLAY A significant ROLE IN OUR THERAPIES’ SUCCESS” ALINE MARCADET

classic French touch, and exclusive holistic approach also play a significant role in our therapies’ success. They are combined with our results-driven products to make for unrivaled spa experiences», says Aline Marcadet, highlighting that wellness and beauty treatments should not just follow trusted formulas, but also meet the needs of all skin types and complexions.

The world class luxury experience At the atmospheric spas of Sani Resort,

guests can indulge in treatments based on the great skincare products of the finest French brand. The aromas, textures, discrete luxury and timelessness guarantee a unique experience… Starting with the brand new Mémoires d’Eté Bath and Body Collection, inspired by the salty and fresh sea aura of sunlit coasts and the captivating aroma of citrus plants. Formulated with antioxidant marine and botanical ingredients, this collection aims to revitalize the skin and the senses thanks 139

to its refreshing notes of lemon, grapefruit and mint. The ideal combination of relaxation and wellness in an unforgettable beauty experience! The Gold-inspired Collection is also a must, inspired by the natural radiance of the skin when it is healthy and rested, which you can try at Sani Resort’s D Spa. Your skin acquires a youthful appearance, fine lines and wrinkles are considerably reduced, collagen increases and your face acquires its smooth texture, elasticity and glow once more. At the same time, the lack of sleep, atmospheric pollution, stress and psychological fatigue will just melt away, replaced by feelings of wellness, relaxation and positivity. Let yourself go on a journey of premium relaxation, where beauty, wellness and a healthy way of being take center stage. French innovation, the timelessness of Anne Semonin and the creativity of Aline Marcadet guarantee that nobody will leave Sani Resort without making a mental note to return one day. Besides, the fact that a premium skincare brand and the greatest name in Greek hospitality choose to join forces is enough to inspire blind trust, knowing that this synergy is almost magical. Perfection at its best. Greece has always been identified with a lifestyle that promotes wellness and places personal welfare as a primary goal. People can only identify their inner needs when in a welcoming, safe and peaceful environment – an experience that Sani Resort and the sophisticated beauty services of Anne Semonin Paris offer with great expertise.

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

GLOW Combat jetlag or give your skin a couple of extra boosts of radiance after a long night out with Express Radiance Ice Cubes by Anne Semonin Paris. Apply frozen right from your freezer to firm your skin and restore its glow. Spa areas, Sani Resort THE PERFUME

THE SERUMS The The luxurious Anne Semonin Paris Firming & Lifting Serums provide your skin with effective age-fighting benefits. They plump up the skin, reduce wrinkle size and depth, refine pores, and increase collagen synthesis so as to improve your skin’s texture, firmness, and elasticity. Spa areas, Sani Resort

What makes Bal D’Afrique Eau De Parfum by Byredo stand apart is its romantic and carefree profile provided by the heavenly aroma of vetiver. Aroma, Sani Marina

The beauty products that will stand by you during your summer holidays.

beauty editor Eleonora Kanaki

THE SCENT Tom Ford’s Eau de Parfum Soleil Blanc is a floral scent that is addictive, sun-loving, and radiant. It exudes seductive finesse and offers exhilarating elegance. Its notes of cardamom and pink pepper spice up the vibrant aroma of bergamot. Aroma, Sani Marina

BEAUTY ESSENTIALS

SUNSCREEN Vichy Capital Soleil UV- Age Daily with SPF 50+ is a thin-textured facial sunscreen that offers advanced protection against UVA & UVB rays, all the while combating photoaging, wrinkles, and blemishes. The Drug Store, Sani Resort

140

SHAMPOO

Designed to meet the needs of many types of hair, Shu Uemura’s Cleansing Oil Shampoo hydrates deeply.

Yianni Hair Spa, Sani Beach Hotel & Porto Sani

141

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

BEAUTY IS LIFE Beauty is a need, and maintaining it can be an easy matter, as long as we make the right choices. Facing the consequences of time, science is able today to provide solutions that do not alter your features. Get a truly impressive result, leaving behind the aesthetic interventions of the past. Leading aesthetic treatments swiss company Labo created Fillerina, a revolutionary product that visibly improves facial anatomy without deforming it. Fillerina is an easy-to-use dermocosmetic treatment that fills the wrinkles, fights tissue relaxation, improves facial features, improves facial relief, and enhances the volume of cheekbones, lips and chest. It simply reverses the consequences of reducing hyaluronic acid deposits on the skin, which is observed over time. FIllerina’s innovation is patent-protected and awarded by Aesthetics Awards 2015. The treatment is simple: Apply the product with the special applicator on face and neck with specific movements, which are described in detail on the package, every evening for 15 days. For a more spectacular result, you may drink two glasses of water, half an hour before the appliance. Note that the treatment is customized depending on the needs of each user and it is available in five different grades, that are capable of dealing with even the most serious problem. Results last up to four months and treatment can be repeated three times a year or more if necessary.

“ ”

Fillerina’s dermocosmetic treatment gives the answer to the quest for beauty easily, quickly and with absolute safety!

” 142

143

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

Idyllic environment. Cosmopolitan ambiance. High end services. An eco-conscious philosophy and an environment especially designed to offer safety during the entire guest experience. At Sani Resort, we set the standard for the ultimate and complete holiday experience. words by Sonia Talantinou

THE ECO-FRIENDLY

UTOPIA 144

145

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

OVER

220 species of RARE birds

Visitors can witness two miracles at Cape Sani. The first miracle is of course the uniqueness of nature around the resort, and the second is the ecological mindfulness of the people. They have created the ultimate eco-friendly and COVID-safe sanctuary, and Sani Resort can boast being the first resort complex in Greece to be carbon neutral, not a small feat for its size. At the same time, the Sani Green sustainability program is in full swing, returning nature’s gifts to the earth, while at the same time letting visitors experience unique Greek hospitality.

NATURAL BEAUTY Sani Resort covers a total of about 1,100 acres with a magnificent view of Mount

Olympus and the Aegean. A beautiful pine forest covers 300 acres of this land, surrounded by pristine Greek beaches, which for the 15th year running have been awarded the Blue Flag. The whole area, including the Sani Marina, has been awarded with a total of ten Blue Flag awards. Guests will find a multitude of opportunities to lose themselves in the forest trails and to enjoy the 7 kilometers of shoreline, with its turquoise waters and golden beaches. This background of unsurpassed beauty is completed by the Sani Resort wetlands, which are home to over 220 species of rare birds across an area of 270 acres.

A SAFE DESTINATION One of the most important requirements these days is safety, and Sani Resort, with zero COVID transmission cases in 2020, is ready to welcome guests for even safer holidays in 2021. Following strict health criteria and a world-class #OnlyatSani protocol, Sani Resort has created an invisible safety net for its guests, while emphasizing the idyllic environment and fascinating experiences that nature has to offer. The internationally acclaimed and awarded protocols of COVID prevention ensure an all-tested environment, a contactless service experience, unlimited outdoor and indoor entertainment options, a genuine relationship with nature and maximum privacy, and guarantee an on-site partnership with leading health provider, Euroclinic.

THE GREEN CORE The acclaimed program called Sani Green remains at the heart of our philosophy and operations here at Sani Resort. It serves as the core of dozens of initiatives and innovative actions around climate change, water, waste and plastic pollution, the protection and promotion of local biodiversity and support of the local community. Sani has reduced single-use plastic by over 80% in the last eight years and has plans to 146

147

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

kilometers OF SHORELINE

The Zero Carbon Footprint Project

THOUGHT FOR FOOD sourcing 100% of its electricity exclusively from renewable sources with guarantees of origin. Zero Carbon Footprint project initiatives extend to building up a net zero path and cover an array of programs being rolled out, such as carbon efficiency upgrades through retrofitting of all properties, electrification of energy used and planned, significant investment in solar parks within the Sani area, that feed into the hotels through net metering, to further increase renewable local power.

A green lung The amazing beaches are not the only attractions for visitors, the surrounding pine forest sports 20 or more kilometers of trails to hike through, with rich vegetation and fauna. Here visitors can be truly at one with nature. The Sani Resort forest protection team has taken on the task of protecting this natural "treasure", as well as the wider region of Halkidiki. At the 148

Our “Thought for Food” program focused on the agricultural and food education of four local Halkidiki producers, informing them of the innovations in the olive, tsipouro, honey and livestock industries. The program was made a reality by the American Farm School, supported by SANI SA, and managed by the Bodossaki Foundation. By endeavoring to map the production processes and administration of their businesses, the participants were informed about environmentally friendly methods of production, as well as the use of technology to gather soil and weather data for their crops, with the aim being to streamline and optimize the use of natural resources to minimize their environmental footprint.

Sani is committed to contributing to the fight against climate change, with the aim to mitigate emissions, increase renewable energy use and balance out remaining emissions. In 2020, Sani Resort successfully became the first carbon neutral resort in Greece, balancing its net emissions to zero through investing in trustworthy renewable energy Clean Development Mechanism Projects (CDM) certified by the United Nations. Since 2019, the resort has been

become zero plastic, has been using 48% less water per guest since 2016, and annually recycles more than 300 tons of waste. Our endeavors were recently recognized at the World Travel Awards 2020, where Sani Resort was voted the top international destination for high quality vacations, with its strict adherence to sustainability criteria and safety, in the “World's Leading Luxury Green Resort” category. Sustainability, however, is a collective responsibility, which cannot be accomplished without the human factor. Apart from our employees, who are at the heart of Sani Green, visitors are invited to play a key part, either as participants or protagonists in a creative chain of initiatives focusing on experiences, such as Ecodays, or complimentary tours of the wetlands, or pop-up events to highlight the location and the products it offers.

SANI SUPPORTS over

same time, the “Plant a tree” initiative has achieved having more than 10,000 trees planted in areas affected by forest fires.

photographer Marina Vernicos

The power of the ecosystem Life around wetlands creates a kind of “tradition”, and thus Sani Resort strives to safeguard and develop this area, protected as an area of natural beauty by the Natura network, as it is home to several threatened species. This all strengthens our vision for sustainable tourism, through the protection of biodiversity and education on the subject of climate protection. For example, in our eight-year collaboration with the Hellenic Ornithological Society, partner of Birdlife International, we have documented the bird species in the wetlands area and implemented measures for their protection, while we have also been organizing bird watching tours for guests, the local community, as well as schools, making the

Eco Excursions some of the most fun and inspiring experiences. In another example, this year, through a partnership with iSea, the marine protection organization, we will be documenting the dolphin populations in the Sani waters, as well as in the wider Thermaikos Gulf region, and teaching kids what a marine scientist’s job entails, as well as how to spot different local dolphin species.

A blessed land Sani Resort honors Halkidiki’s gastronomic heritage, giving visitors the chance to experience an authentic feeling of the land and its timelessness, through its variety of menus, with 60% of produce coming from a 100-mile radius from the resort. Our line of local products “Land of Grace” introduces visitors in a wonderful way to the multifaceted nature and variety of tastes from Halkidiki. 149

CHARITIES AND organizations Focus on the local community As a group, Sani Resort aims to support the local community, with a particular focus on supporting vulnerable families and children. Sani supports over 40 charities and organizations, such as schools and hospitals on an annual basis. In 2020, the group managed to donate ICU unit equipment to three hospitals. Other past initiatives have included outfitting a local pediatric trauma unit, with over 18,000 kids so far having benefited from it, establishing a center for abused women in Athens with the Salvation Army, renovating the kitchens of two refugee hostels for unaccompanied minors from Syria up to a professional standard, or supporting local families below the poverty line.

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

Blouse and shorts Zimmermann, Grigio – Sani Marina Hat Jacquemus, Grigio – Sani Marina

Forces of Nature

photographs by George Katsanakis (10AM) styling director Natasha Lionaki

The resort wetlands compose the ideal setting for expressing love and respect for the environment, with stylistic choices that invest in earth tones, soft textures and natural materials. 150

151

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

152

Dress «Porpi» Zeus + Δione, Apoella – Sani Marina Long necklace with clutch bag Max Mara, Max Mara Boutique Bracelets «Bohemian Luxury Collection», Katerina Ioannidis Jewelry Sandals Bohonomad, Nak 153

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

154

LEFT Blouse and skirt Chloé, Luisa World, luisaworld.com Sandals from personal collection RIGHT Vest and shirt Etro, Intervista Shorts Emporio Armani, Intervista 155

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

Shirt dress Mario Fresh, Posh – Sani Marina Bag Melissa Odabash, Melissa Odabash Boutique – Sani Marina Sandals Bohonomad, Nak

makeup Maria Pagonaki hair Kanakis Peristeras photographer assistant Dimitris Katsanakis (10AM) styling assistant Michalis Terzakis model Charlotte Claussen (D.Models) 156

157

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

ELENI ANDREADIS

Respect for Nature and humankind is not merely a stance: it is the philosophy of a lifetime, the awareness that you gradually develop, the choice that defines you. As the Director for Sustainable Development and Corporate Social Responsibility of the Sani/Ikos Group, Eleni Andreadis is working hard on proving that the stakes placed on making tourism sustainable can and will be won.

PLANET PASSIONATE

interview by Sonia Talantinou

158

Personal Vision

energy capacity, while cutting down on carbon emissions. We’ve reduced single-use plastic by over 80% in the last eight years, are using 48% less water per guest since 2016, and annually recycle more than 300 tonnes of waste. Over 60% of our produce is from within 100 miles of the resort. We support more than 40 organizations such as hospitals, schools, and cultural associations. We were proud to receive in 2020 from the World Travel Awards the World’s Leading Luxury Green Resort Award which is one of our sector’s pre-eminent sustainability awards. Sani Resort is the first hotel complex in Greece to attain carbon-neutral status in 2020. The company has launched a series of actions aiming at limiting carbon dioxide emissions, intensifying its use of renewable energy, and offsetting all residual emissions.” As to the company’s ‘Zero Carbon Footprint Project’, Eleni Andreadis clarifies that they are “envisaging a considerable investment in solar energy in the area that will be supplied to our hotels via a net metering system.”

When you begin, as early as your childhood, to demonstrate your love for Nature by devoting your spare time to environmental causes or to volunteer work, you signal your intention to offer to Planet Earth readily and of your own volition. It is akin to an affinity whose existence can be found in the deepest layers of consciousness, an affinity that determines the future. Eleni Andreadis could not have envisaged the course of her chosen path which begins and ends at the doorstep of her interest in the relationship between humankind and Nature: “As a child, I probably couldn’t have imagined that the pursuit of sustainability would become my profession. I feel very grateful that I’m able to devote myself to this. Sustainability concerns, first and foremost, humankind; the here and now as well as the future; the quality of our life; health and fairness when it comes to socially vulnerable groups which are the ones more severely impacted. Sustainability issues permeate each and every aspect of our daily lives and decisions, be it on a personal or a professional level.” Eleni Andreadis has twelve years of experience on an international level. After working mainly in the United Kingdom and the United States of America as an environmental policy strategist and sustainability advisor, she returned to Greece. It is here that, as a third-generation member of a prestigious family business, she picks up the gauntlet for sustainability and begins her journey into tourism, one of the most dynamic sectors of the Greek economy: “I am keenly interested in the tourism sector since it can contribute significantly to the sustainable development and prosperity of the country, as long as we successfully meet the enormous challenge of our times, that of restoring our balance with the planet and of turning our economy into a sustainable model. No longer can sustainability be a mere goal. It must be the starting point. Travellers in the post-Covid era, and especially the younger ones, seek destinations or companies relating to their travelling needs that have sustainability stamped on their DNA.”

Life Itself For Eleni Andreadis, living beings are in the nucleus of all efforts. Contemplating that, in the the last 50 years, 60% of the planet’s fauna has become extinct, she remarks that, in contrast, the way through which the company seeks to inspire in its visitors respect for Nature is based on conservation of fauna and the joy that ensues from actively engaging in such a pursuit. She stressed that “we are working with a number of organizations on the protection of our local biodiversity, such as the Hellenic Ornithological Society on the study and protection of bird life in our wetland habitat, or iSea, the environmental organization studying and preserving aquatic ecosystems, which we support by funding a program on recording the dolphin populations at Sani and the Thermaikos Gulf. We also give our guests the opportunity to participate in various activities that bring them closer to nature, such as birdwatching or beekeeping.”

The Green Perception

Eco Future

As of the outset, Sani Resort has manifested its singular profile by offering an authentic escape to a bountiful natural environment of crystal-clear waters and mile upon mile of hiking experiences, all close to its local community. For Sani Resort, that has been a vision to which it remains loyal, a vision that revolves on three key pillars: its hotels’ sustainable operation, protection of the local biodiversity, and the bolstering of its local community and of the population within that community. In two words: "Sani Green". Still, how has the very “heart” of such an innovative program been evolving today? Eleni Andreadis explains: “We run on 100% green-powered electricity with guarantees of origin certificates, which saved 12,500 tonnes of carbon in 2019 alone, and 2020 was our first carbon-neutral year. As part of our Zero Carbon Footprint initiative, we’re greatly increasing our renewable local

Ms Andreadis highlights that, in her effort to empower the resort’s sustainable profile, despite the next-to-impossible challenges such a task poses for tourism, she sacrificed no natural resources, staying firm on her eco-friendly philosophy and looking for solutions to even the broader issues so that the resort may remain the ultimate eco-refuge for any and all forms of escape. "2021 is a year that is of crucial importance to the future of the planet, the climate crisis, biodiversity extinction, and plastic pollution. Fully acknowledging our duty and ability to be part of the solution -and as much as possible, the leaders in our sector- we remain true to our commitment to offer top-notch, safe holidays by setting sustainability criteria that are increasingly becoming more stringent and high-reaching; and by actively working across the spectrum of objectives of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)." 159

My role deals with the environmental initiatives and activities of the resort, as well as the organization and conducting of themed eco-excursions, which focus on visitors’ environmental knowledge and awareness. The greatest luxury which nature affords us emanates from its own simplicity. The scent of pine, the sound of birds and the view of the wetlands blend together to form an idyllic peaceful environment. My favourite excursion is the Wetlands Experience Trip during which you have the opportunity to tour all the ecosystems in the area. From sand dunes and pine forests, to wetlands and arable land, where colours change according to the season. Luscious green meadows with colourful flowers in the springtime, golden ears of cereal in the summer, and sunflowers in full bloom which transform the landscape into a Vincent Van Gogh painting. Our connection with nature is not simply a means of escape from daily routine, but is of vital importance for our mental and spiritual health. Nature has the ability to enable people to reconnect with themselves, and bring extra clarity to their thoughts and feelings. Nature at Sani acts as a wellness centre for our customers. Like a ‘spa’ for the mind! The number one ‘must do’ excursion is Birdwatching, with the opportunity to use both a telescope and binoculars to *The Sani Resort Sustainability Executive & Eco Guide is a graduate from the School of Geology at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, who

observe some of the 225 different species of birds which have been recorded in the area. Another option is Wetlands Hiking, taking you on a roughly 10 kilometre route to experience a magical Mediterranean landscape with its abundance of ecosystems and colour. Another popular choice is the hour long Forest Walk on which you can learn all about the rich fauna and flora of the area. Those who join the Olive Trip have the opportunity to acquire even more knowledge about the olive tree and its produce, as well as finding out about the significant part it plays in Greek culture and tradition. This trip culminates in the Sani olive grove, where one olive tree is planted for each participating family. Other important activities are the Beekeeping Trip, where one can learn about the bee community, its key role in the ecosystem and its produce, and the American Farm School visit, providing knowledge on crops and the primary sector of Greece, as well as the trip to the uniquely beautiful cave of Petralona. The high quality of local produce is likely to be the best advertisement for any place and may increase its visitor footfall. With this in mind, Sani has funded programmes for local farmers in collaboration with educational institutions, with the aim of improving their knowledge and thus ensuring the even higher quality of their products.

has also undertaken postgraduate studies into the ecological quality of water, at the A.U.Th. School of Biology.

GIORGOS ANDREOU*

NATURE–LISM!

words by Konstantinos Tanias

Sustainability and ecology are the ultimate ‘keys’ of contemporary and more culturally developed societies. At the Sani resort they are routinely practised and are a way of life. 160

photographer Ioanna Roufopoulou

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

161

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

162

163

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

WORK ON YOU, FOR YOU Uplift body and mind through a fun rush of adrenaline and the breath-taking beauty of nature. At Sani Resort we offer experiences that will make your summer truly unforgettable.

words by Aristotelis Spiliotopoulos

Imagine the perfect holidays. Fine sand on your feet, a souvenir from a delightful walk along the beach as the sun sets, your body still salty from a wonderful day of swimming in the deep blue sea, and your skin radiating the aroma of sun cream. Indeed... this is what Greek summer is all about! This is what everyone around the world is talking about! But what is it that makes your holidays truly unforgettable? Experiences. And when you add the unparalleled beauty of Halkidiki to the mix, these holidays will stay with you for the rest of your life. Regardless of your physical condition, age, or whatever else makes up your identity, Sani Resort promises that every time you think of your holidays here, you will instantly smile the sweetest smile.

Whether you are a thrill seeker always on the lookout for the next adventure, a fitness freak with a full workout schedule even on your holidays, or simply inspired by the beauty of nature to try something new, Sani Resort offers a wide range of activities to satisfy even the most demanding of visitors.

Game, Set, Match! Tennis fans will have a truly unique experience of a lifetime, endorsed by living legend Rafael Nadal. Whether you serve like a pro or you don’t even know how to hold a tennis racket, you will love the amazing Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre, the only one in Europe. Its experienced coaches, will especially trained in the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar in Mallorca, will use 164

I I INFO

Make your reservations for sports activities either online at www.sani-resort.com or via Guest Relations at your hotel.

165

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

all the teaching techniques and the methodology developed there. This is exactly how Nadal had secured his place among tennis legends. Combine exercise and fun for the whole family, enjoy the state of the art facilities, the clay courts and the club house and make your stay at Sani Resort truly one-of-a-kind.

Future champions Happy kids, happy parents. If your children are ardent football fans who never miss a match on TV and dream of full stadiums and scoring goal after goal, then they will love our football training program, organised in partnership with the 2017 Premier League Champions and one of the top football clubs in the world, the Chelsea Football Club Foundation. Top coaches share their expert advice with young budding footballers. The special UEFA approved pitch and the cutting-edge facilities will make your children’s experience truly memorable.

Test your limits Want to test your stamina and find out what you’ re made of? Then the Bear Grylls Survival Academy is exactly what you have been waiting for. A great experience for the whole family, guided by expert trainers who will teach you basic survival skills. How do you make your own shelter and build a fire? How do you find your way without a compass? Enjoy a night time walk through the woods, learn how to navigate using the stars, and savour a delicious fresh fish dinner around the fire. Explorers, young and old, on an incredible journey of survival and rescuing!

Gyms’ programs for a total-body workout.

Sail away The highlight of your stay at Sani Resort and a memory truly worth sharing with the most important people in your life, are the sea excursions on the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 35 luxury sail boat. You will be left with images and memories of the unfiltered beauty of the peninsula to cherish forever.

Dive in Diving fans, young and old, get ready for the excitement of scuba diving at the Sani Resort Diving Academy — PADI and Sea World Diving Centre certified. No matter how experienced you are, our certified trainers and the professional gear we provide will give you the opportunity to explore the fascinating beauty of the seabed. Try diving down to a sea wreck or night diving — the experience will most certainly reward you.

King of summer sports Water skiing surely has its rightful place among the ultimate summer sports. The speed, the incredible views, and the unique feeling of tearing through the waves on your water skis, make this activity an absolute “must” for you and your children. At the Water Ski Academy — certified by British Water Ski & Wakeboard — beginners and experienced skiers can take lessons in wakeboarding, water skiing, and kneeboarding. With your adrenaline going through the roof, you’re bound to have the

In touch with nature Our idyllic hikes overlooking the sea, while enjoying the mist of nature, are the ideal opportunity for you to get to know the flora and fauna of the region, as well as its history. Plan wonderful excursions with your kids, or, if you are more experienced, choose longer routes. Alternatively, you can start your day with a 5km jog through the enchanting pine forest and fill up your lungs with clean air, or have a look at the Sani 166

time of your life, and you’ll wish for this first-rate workout to never end.

Enjoy the ride Sani Bike Club is the dream destination for any cycling aficionado. Thanks to the KTM certified trainers, a broad range of bicycles, and the beauty of the sea and the mountain as the ideal backdrop, there is definitely a route for every bike lover’s level and mood. Family, romantic, or exciting routes, all available on our amazing bike excursions for you to experience the best summer has to offer.

Mind & body Have you tried combining physical activity with spiritual well-being? Try paddle board yoga on Ammos beach. Work your core, back, and arms, and find that elusive internal peace you’ve been looking for. As the exercises take place on a moving surface, you will be using muscles that you normally wouldn’t activate. And if it gets too warm for you, just dive into the cool crystal-clear water!

Let the adventure begin Get ready for an exciting, aerial experience that adrenaline junkies will love. At Sani Adventure Park, set against the beautiful Sani forest, daring young - over 6 years of age - and old visitors will enjoy hours of action, with breath-taking zip-lines and suspended bridges in a safe and guided environment. Choose the route that suits you best and take off!

167

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

RAFA NADAL

TENNIS must always BE FUN! With his Spanish heritage, you could call him a torero of the tennis courts. He first picked up a tennis racket as a child, and because technique is something you teach, he is passing on his knowledge and experience through the Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre at Sani Resort. Service & winning shot!

interview by Maria Zafeiratou

20 Grand Slam, 35 ATP World Tour Masters Series, 21 ATP World Tour 500, 9 ATP World Tour 250: Does a great athlete actually know how great he is while he is still on court, or does this «knowledge» come later on? Many thanks for your comments. Yes, I am aware of the level of my achievements and I have to say that I never thought I could be in this place if you’d asked me 15 years ago. The only thing I can say is that I am very grateful for all life has given me and the opportunity to do what I love and, on top of that, to be successful at it. Three years ago, you said that you did not believe you could reach Roger Federer’s Grand Slams (at that time he had 18, you had 15 and you were injured). Now, you both have 20 each and your fans think that there are a lot more you could achieve. Do you agree? Three years ago, we were going through tough times as I was suffering from injuries

–that did not allow, not only me, but also Roger, to play like our normal selves. At that point I really didn’t know what was going to happen. Thankfully I was able to play again and I managed to win some tournaments. The only thing I can say is that I am very happy to see how things are going tennis wise. Clearly our concern today is not just tennis, but public health on a global level. You have suffered from many injuries throughout your career. Was there a moment you thought of quitting tennis or that you couldn’t return as strong as you expected? Yes, I have suffered from injuries many times and in many ways. But the important thing is that I managed to fight it. There were days when I thought that it would be hard to return. But I decided to continue fighting and, as I say, I managed to come back and play at my best. 168

You are a great athlete, with no doubt, which means that you are also a key influencer for tennis itself. Is there something you would like to change in professional tennis? There are always things that can be improved in life and I am sure that tennis is no exception. But I also think that we are very fortunate in tennis since we have a very good and solid tour and tournaments. Even in a very tough year like this one, we managed to participate in some important tournaments. If you could travel through time, what piece of advice would you give to young Rafa and what would you ask your future self? I think I have been very fortunate in life, always. I had a very happy childhood in Mallorca, I have a great family, friends, and I have dedicated myself to my career in tennis which I love. Not sure I could give any advice and that things could have gone

169

photo credits: Richard Mille and Renaud Corlouër

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

any better. I consider myself very lucky already and I wouldn’t change anything. If you had the chance to start your career all over again, what would you change and what would you keep? I think I have had a pretty successful career so it would be arrogant of me to say something different. Not sure I would change many things. Yes, I would have maybe done certain things differently in order to avoid injuries, but not much more. Have you ever thought of the day you will retire? I haven’t thought of it, but it will come one day… that’s life. Let’s hope I can still play for some time and have the chance to win more titles. You, Federer and Djokovic are the top three tennis players of our time and among the greatest of all time, but you are all so different. Which of Roger’s and Nole’s key strengths would you like to have yourself? This is a very hard question to answer since both players have a lot of strengths, but most of all, their overall game. Roger has that serve and certain things that he can do at certain moments that can turn a match around. Novak on the other hand can play a very complete game. It is difficult to find a weakness in his overall game. Both amazing players. People say that Stefanos Tsitsipas is the «next Roger Federer», probably because his game style is closer to that of Federer. Do you agree with this, since you have faced both players on court? I think that Stefanos is a great player and has already won some important titles in his career. I’m not sure whether he is the next Roger Federer or not, that’s hard to say. One thing is clear, he has a bright future ahead of him. Greek people have shown more interest in tennis these past few years, mostly thanks to Stefanos Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari. So, we can say that the Rafa Nadal Tennis

I am VERY GRATEFUL FOR all LIFE HAS GIVEN me AND THE opportunity TO do WHAT I LOVE

almost daily contact. Since the beginning, the idea was that the players at the Tennis Centre in Sani could be trained using the same tennis methodology that we have here at the Academy in Mallorca, and I am happy to know that we are achieving this. How did the idea for this collaboration come about? When are you visiting Sani? We came up with the idea after some conversations between people from Sani and the Academy and I am very happy that we could finally start this great collaboration. Personally, I am looking forward to visiting

View of the Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre at Sani Resort

Centre at Sani Resort came right on time! How similar to Rafa Nadal Tennis Academy in Spain is the RNTC at Sani Resort? The facilities of the Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre are great. I have not had the opportunity to visit the Sani Resort in person yet, but many coaches from the Academy in Mallorca have been there and have told me all about the resort. My uncle Toni and my cousins also spent one week there and came back delighted. I have been told that there is a great passion for tennis and sports in Greece. The relationship between the Academy and the Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre is very close, as the teams in Spain and Greece work together and there is 170

Halkidiki for the first time. As you know, my tournament schedule is complicated, but I hope I can visit the tennis center and the resort soon. I love the sea and I’ve been told that Sani is the perfect place to enjoy the beach and visit fantastic restaurants. I hope that day will come soon. What piece of advice would you give to young athletes picking up tennis? I think the most important advice for kids is to have fun, to enjoy playing tennis. Tennis must always be fun at a young age. Yes, it is important to be competitive but you have to enjoy it as well. It is also important to learn the values of sport.

171

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

Many of us have evolved in the way we communicate with our loved ones. There is a lot more “noise” in the form of television, tablets, phones and consoles which makes meaningful conversation a lot harder to achieve. Bear Grylls has designed courses to encourage teamwork, away from day-to-day distractions and the outcome is not only a memorable experience as a family, but a sense of personal achievement as well.

BEAR GRYLLS

BORN A SURVIVOR He's climbed Everest, had numerous near-death experiences and has broken a number of world records. The Bear Grylls Survival Academy has arrived in Greece in a fabulous location at Sani Resort. The Resort’s landscapes are perfect for putting aspiring adventurers through their paces while teaching them some of Bear’s favorite survival techniques. 172

Where did your passion for adventure and travel spring from? Most ly f rom my late fat her, f r iend , Commando, climber and such a huge inspiration to me before he died. He taught me to survive and climb from a very young age, and he always encouraged me to go for my dreams in life and to not be scared of failure.

During these unprecedented times do you see “survival” in life under a new perspective? What do you value in life in this new era? The COVID-19 experience has been tough for so many people. But so many positive things have come out of it too. Storms are often like that. We’ve seen communities rally round; new heroes have emerged in the form of keyworkers and medical staff and people’s natural kindness has really shone. Personally, it’s been special simply to have more time at home with the family. Normally I am away filming a lot during these months. The pandemic has reminded us all that most important things in life aren’t things but our relationships. Tell us a bit more about your collaboration with Sani Resort and the new Bear Grylls Survival Academy opening in June 2021? BGSA have designed an amazing family adventure course, as well as sessions for teenagers, all with the goal of giving guests an unforgettable, fun and challenging survival experience. The feedback we get is always so inspiring and the course reminds me that when you empower people in the outdoors it can really change the way people live and approach life.

your life if you ever find yourself stranded. That’s a good skill to come home with always! The Teenager sessions include the amazing Sani high ropes course having to overcome some epic survival challenges that are designed to build teenagers’ confidence and team building skills.

NATURE AND the outdoors ARE A universal AND DEEP-ROOTED language THAT WE CAN ALL PICK UP once WE get IMMERSED

What was your goal when creating the Bear Grylls Survival Academy and how do you see teenagers shaping their personalities through an adventurous session at the BGSA at Sani Resort? I think ultimately people want to learn stuff that can set them apart in a crisis. We’re all a little like grapes, it’s only when we’re squeezed that you see what we’re really made of. The wild is a bit like that - it has an incredible way of bringing people together and empowering us through challenge. The outdoors and these BGSA courses really help people to come alive and find a quiet confidence - as well as a pride in skills learnt. Ultimately it can also save

What makes the Bear Grylls Academy at Sani Resort special and unique in comparison to the rest of the academies around the world? What is the value for families longing for some adventure whilst on holidays? Whenever we implement a course in another country, we are always looking at how we can use the unique terrain and local culture to make the courses specific to that location. Here, we’ve designed a mini adventure experience especially for families to allow to complete it together. Survival is not just about knowledge and skills though, it’s even more about developing and building out positivity, resourcefulness, courage and determination. Our Academy essentially teaches the skills needed to survive in some of the world’s most challenging situations. People can get training in so much, from navigation, rappelling, & unarmed combat to river crossings, camp builds and fire-lighting. What does your dream family holiday look like? My perfect holiday is always to our small island hideaway in North Wales - this really is where I feel most at home. We have no mains electricity or water and run everything totally off grid, but we love it. Our three boys, Shara and I are happier there than anywhere else on earth - adventure and solitude mixed with fun and family. We can dive, paraglide, climb and swim during the day and then spend the evenings all cosy together. My happy place.

173

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

E N J OY R E S P O N S I B LY YO U R C U P O F C O F F E E ! Now that the consequences of climate change are apparent to our daily life, Nespresso commits that every cup of Nespresso coffee, both for at-home and for professional customers, will be carbon neutral by 2022. Having already attained zero carbon footprint status since 2017, this new ambition builds on more than 10 years of work during which Nespresso has reduced its carbon emissions and compensated the remainder through agroforestry. Its vision is multifaced: reducing carbon emissions, tree planning in and around coffee farms, investment in initiatives to preserve and restore forestland and the reuse-recycling of its coffee capsules. Recycled aluminum capsules get a second life after use so that the coffee’s journey does not end with the last sip but goes on forever. The next innovative step has been taking in creating capsules created form 80% recycled aluminum, such as the master origins series. The innovative “Recycle at Home” service is also operational in Greece, which offer us the opportunity to enjoy responsibly exceptional coffee and recycle home and professional capsules effortless.

174

RE-RE-RE-RE-RECYCLE.

Nespresso capsules are recyclable. All aluminium capsules collected by Nespresso are recycled.

DOING IS EVERYTHING.

175

LO VE

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

FO OD

FOOD WASTE NO MORE!

Throwing away 1/3 of the food we produce around the world, when 1 out of 9 people on the planet go to bed hungry every night is truly unacceptable. We have to become aware of this problem and change our behavior, putting our imagination to work. 176

Jiang Hongyan/Shutterstock.com

words by Dimitrios Antonopoulos*

One of the most delicious food experiences I've ever had, was trying the so-called “beetfurter”, a sausage made from beetroot pulp, which you would dispose of after having kept its juice, almost every time. This took place at the Michelin awarded restaurant Blue Hill at Stone Barns at the old Rockefeller Estate, which has ranked No. 12 on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list. I can therefore relate to the astounded and indulgent look on the faces of the 30 world leaders who participated in the UN World Conference on Climate Change in 2015 in Manhattan while gathering around the same “table” for their high-level working lunch. The brilliant chef behind this meal was advocate of sustainable fine-dining Dan Barber, coowner of the renowned Blue Hill restaurant, having joined forces with Sam Kass, former chef at the White House during Barack Obama’s presidency. Together, they had this idea to craft a meal made entirely from “scrap” ingredients that would normally go to waste, in order to raise awareness and speak to the hearts of people about imprudent food waste and the huge problem it represents in the world nowadays. What did they cook? As a starter, they decided to create a “landfill salad” made from vegetable scraps and “rejected” pears and apples that would have otherwise been thrown away. For the main course, they prepared a beet burger made from beetroot pulp, with a side of “cow corn” fries made from the kind of corn that is typically used by cattle feed production units and ends up in cattle troughs, accounting for 99% of corn grown in the United States. “It’s the prototypical American meal but turned on its head; instead of the beef, we’re going to eat the corn that feeds the beef,“ said Barber. The vast majority of the world’s population ignores the fact that approximately between 33% and 50% of the food we grow and produce, goes into the trash. This is both true and inexcusable, when, at the same time, 1 out of 9 people in the world (approximately 800 million people) has to go to bed hungry every night. A fourth of the food we waste in the western world would suffice to feed them adequately and even leave some to spare. In the United States alone, the food thrown away is estimated to cost 162 billion dollars on an annual basis, i.e., approximately 1500 dollars per household. A significant amount of the discarded food is fruit and vegetables that do not meet the aesthetic (!) standards set by supermarkets, and, as they never even make it to the shelves having failed to pass the rigid requirements for what is fit to be sold in supermarkets, they end up rotting in garbage dumps, producing methane that leads to an increase in greenhouse effect emissions. Think about this: until 2009, the European Union had a Regulation in place which laid down strict marketing standards for the selling of curved cucumbers in supermarkets. If tomatoes are not perfectly formed, that is, round and without a single blemish, they cannot possibly hope to make it to the shelves and be consumed. Only the ones that look almost unnaturally perfect, which of course usually have no flavor at all, are considered marketable, even though the ones with the blemishes are usually the tastiest. They are made tasty, rare and desirable by their imperfections, which is usually a sign

of mild farming. There is of course still hope for a change, if you think back to what happened in Great Britain, where Morrisons supermarket chain was voted as the fastest growing chain in the country, because of their policy to sell the misshapen or “wonky” pieces of fruit and vegetables at a lower price. Large quantities of food are also thrown away as many people take expiration dates too seriously, thinking that as soon as the indicated date passes, food somehow becomes dangerous. Food waste burdens the atmosphere by another 8% with greenhouse gas emissions, it leads to heavy usage of water and depletion of water resources, it has a big financial cost, and it is inexcusable when so many people around the world are facing food insecurity. That is why chef Massimo Bottura’s project “Refettorio” is so hopeful; he is fighting the good fight against food waste by using food scraps in soup kitchens for the underprivileged. The founder of the Slow Food Movement, Carlo Petrini put it quite aptly: “We normally use refrigerators to keep our food fresh. Instead, they have turned into places where food goes to die. And when it dies it goes straight into the bin.” Lately, however, global awareness on the reduction of food waste has become an international movement. A growing number of chefs and restaurants are making an effort to reduce the quantities of waste they dispose of, using food scraps in every imaginative way possible. Internationally acclaimed chef Nobu created a marinade using vegetable scraps that would have otherwise been disposed of, combining them with seaweed and lending an incredible depth of umami flavor to any fish or meat dish. “Governments have to introduce mechanisms and offer positive solutions to the fight against food waste and food inequality. To make a big change, we need to start by reducing food waste at home”, Obama rightly pointed out. Before the UN Climate Change Conference held in Paris, Obama had set a goal to reduce food waste in the USA by 50%. It is of crucial importance for everyone to adopt the “Love food, hate waste” mindset and start using food scraps in a sensible and creative way.

NO FOOD WASTE @ SANI RESORT Food waste reduction is an important priority of our sustainability plan, as well as of the overall operation of all Sani Resort hotels. Perfectly organized purchasing processes for food supplies and carefully designed dishes, both in terms of flavor and quantity, aim to minimize or even eradicate food waste. At the same time, buying locally supports the local community and accounts for less CO2 emissions, while the vegan options on the restaurants’ menus form the main pillars of a sustainable gastronomic experience offered to the customers and visitors of the hotels. Sani Resort is also planning to invest in technologies monitoring food waste, which, combined with the training of our staff, will support our zero waste programs further. *Food and Restaurant Critic for “Athinorama” magazine, Ex-Academy Chair for the World's 50 Best Restaurants. 177

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

A Cultural

178

Gourmet Heritage Gastronomy constitutes a self-contained, self-sufficient, and introspective realm. Be that as it may, it is not at all a confining world since flavors not shared are flavors not showcased. In a gourmet play between culinary creations and cultural exchanges, Sani Resort has already created its own radiant universe. words by Antigone Tsangopoulou

photography Studiovd

Gastronomy is an integral and deeply expressive part of culture. It defines societies and our experiences within them, a result of the interaction between humans and their land. It is a world that heightens the senses; a form of expression that pays tribute to cultural exchanges and to our origins, softening the edges to open a culinary dialogue around the table, one exclusively focused on flavors. It is precisely this field of quest and inspiration that the people behind Sani Resort inaugurated, and in essence let take its course, embracing gastronomy on a unique scale; a journey of openness, a driving force that resulted in the revelation of a gastro-scene without boundaries in early 2003. This turning point came at a 179

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

time when the Halkidiki peninsula had not yet made its mark on the country’s culinary map, and when the Greek hospitality industry was still trying to secure its footing in the gastronomic scene. The path that was created is perhaps one of Sani Resort’s most important legacies, establishing Greece’s gastronomic status.

Vision for the Future During the course of Sani Resort’s 20 years of operation, a vast parade of dishes ensued from the osmosis created by the inspired culinary figures from Greece and the world over who found fertile ground on the stage of Sani Resort. Free of guilt and fully aware, the chefs involved, unfurled their culinary talents only to build up the hotel complex’s gastronomic culture. Those collaborations bloomed through vision and essence. They became inextricably associated with the subtler folds of gastronomy and cultivated the public’s love for excellent food. They wedded the culinary cultures of East and West with Greece’s traditional cuisine, all the while seeking the sophisticated pleasure, flawless optics, and essence of flavors. They honored Greececentered fusion and Greece’s nouvelle cuisine through the contribution of the Greek chefs who re-invented it. We were introduced to chefs such as Yannis Afthoniatis who, in the early 2000’s, ushered “Byblos” by his seal of approval to the podium of the Greek gourmet gastro stage; inventive Chrysanthos Karamolegos who, in 2003, moved the “Tomata” Restaurant from Santorini to an unpretentious summertime tableau whose backdrop was the Sani Resort’s marina, astutely gauging that his

Fine dining…

Katsu Hanamure

photographer Matteo Carassale

photographer Lopez De Zubiria

Mauro Colagreco

180

modern, distinctive Greek cuisine would attract many a discerning palate; Gogo Nikolopoulou who left her own imprint on “Water” Restaurant’s haute cuisine; and resourceful Kostas Baxevanis who, already honored for his contribution to showcasing Greek cuisine, landed at Sani Resort’s “Sea You Up” in 2005. At the given period in time, chefs such as those cited above showed visitors to Sani Resort that Greek food can be interesting, innovative, and exercise impressive outreach without losing any of its depth and identity; that culinary offers by hotels have taken the art a step forward; and that haute cuisine can and will blossom methodically and with conscious effort. Ettore Botrini

Local Products Come First Moving beyond the freedom of expression they were given, the former and current chefs of the Sani Resort culinary universe are blessed with using natural ingredients of exceptional quality. This is because the heart of its culinary philosophy is based on the “100-Mile Diet” approach, which requires the use of raw ingredients and products sourced within a maximum radius of 100 miles from where they are prepared and served. The showcasing of local products on the resort’s menu –to a degree that today touches on 60%- gives visitors the opportunity to acquire a genuine feel of the land and the flavors it yields. It is a philosophy which is aptly condensed in the words of Argentinian chef Mauro Colagreco, within the framework of his speech at last year’s Toques d’Or Awards: “Perhaps, the time has come for us to look beyond ethnic backgrounds and focus on our common roots with Mother Earth instead of barricading ourselves behind closed borders.” Colagreco, the one signing the menu at Sani Asterias’ “Water” Restaurant since 2019, belongs to the outstanding group of restless chefs who, in homage of the wealth a local cuisine presents them with, translate that cuisine’s potential into an enormously creative license. They create dishes inspired by the locality’s culture and convey their art through distinctive combinations of ingredients, something that is an inextricable part of the life visitors experience here at Sani Resort.

A Diverse Culinary Scene The culture of food localism and purity of flavors remains the focus and continues to evolve ambitiously. Equally interesting is the fact that, alongside the evolution of food localism, a crosscultural gastronomic fusion has been cultivated. A veritable fan of restaurants has been orchestrated, restaurants whose optics and personality are flawless, restaurants which do not merely serve excellent food, but have also succeeded in becoming outwardoriented. In a gastronomic dialogue whose common denominator are the tastes and flavors which began to unfold in the early 2000’s through the contribution of such exalted chefs as Alain Parodi, Jacques Chibois, and Eric Frechon, all of whom left their 181

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

own stamp on the resort’s gourmet map. It is that particular outward orientation that we continue to sample today through the sophisticated menu signed by three-Michelin-star chef Mauro Colagreco at Sani Asterias’ “Water” Restaurant. It is there that Colagreco weds France and the Mediterranean in a novel tableau of dishes which redefine composition, raw ingredients, and contrasts. Steering towards a different culinary orientation, one-Michelinstar winner Ettore Bottrini expands the gamut of his Italian cuisine’s fine dining experiences in the kitchen he has set up at Sani Dunes’ “Fresco” Restaurant. The gourmet dialogue continues with the hefty “dose” of Spain in the lingering aftertaste of David Ibarboure’s tapas at “El Puerto” -2020 to present; with the intriguing sushi and Japanese fusion creations that dazzlingly brim out of the menu of “Katsu” Restaurant; or with the signature dim sum that Thirakomen Apiradee serves with her unique flair as part of her Taiwanese fusion at Sani Marina’s “Asian” Restaurant.

Gourmet that Tamara Tekuna Gachechiladze gave it her all. The brilliant chef, known as the “queen of Georgian fusion cuisine”, is also the creator of the Supra Nova concept that addresses Georgian Nouvelle Cuisine. Sani Gourmet has always honored the eminent personalities of the international haute gastronomy. However, it has also yielded the floor to the daring “Rising Stars” of the European and international culinary scene, promising chefs who are already counting their very first stars such as self-taught Lebanese chef Alan Geaam; Austrian Klemens Schraml who introduced us to Alpine cuisine at the 2016 Sani Gourmet; German Jan Hoffman, and our very own Greek chefs Alexandros Tsiotinis and Sotiris Kondizas who also held sway at Sani Gourmet. It was pretty much in that way that this living organism matured and left its stamp on Sani Resort’s gastronomic scene. In essence, the resort’s gastronomic culture and the Sani Gourmet institution born out of it resemble entities that move on parallel courses. In fact, the legacy that has been created in the gourmet and hospitality scene of Greece seems to be having an increasing impact: what Sani Resort has succeeded in doing was to convince many of those involved in the scene to upgrade the gastronomic services they provide and visibly elevate a field that until recently appeared non-existent. In other words, we have won the right to a gastronomic diversity whose borders are wide open and, naturally, are guided by strict criteria for sophisticated aesthetics. We can’t wait to see what’s next!

Sani Gourmet: a gastronomic celebration

photography Studiovd

Eager to reach out widely, the gastronomic fête Sani Gourmet was launched in 2006 to write its own chapter signed by a star-studded cast: what the Sani Resort team envisioned was an institution which, through its themed events, would shed light on Greek tradition as much as it would on the culinary peculiarities of East and West alike. The festival’s all-important success is that it promotes dialogue and the exchange of views on the culture of gastronomy. Sani Gourmet was embraced because it beckoned us to interact with first-ever flavors that scale the concept that wants post-modernism never to reach out to cooking the way it did to the rest of the arts. It has invited us to review our stance on culinary traditions perhaps unexplored so far by the western world and, possibly, unfairly seen as “insignificant” or “humdrum”. It has drawn us forth to enjoy the rebirth of the Greek nouvelle cuisine something that was repeated from 2011 to 2013, introducing to a worldwide public all that is novel in Greece’s new gastro scene. In a way, we left behind the classic, repetitive traditional recipes by giving them a twist that was more than that: it was a twist with a soul. That is how, during the 15-year journey of the Sani Gourmet institution, we had the great pleasure of meeting eminent chefs such as German Thomas Bühner (3 Michelin stars,) whose passage through the Sani Gourmet stage initiated us to his gourmet, 3-D, haute cuisine; nature lover Takagi Kazuo, master chef at Kyo-ryori, who, in 2019, served at Sani Resort’s “Katsu” Restaurant a seamlessly executed recipe of Waggu beef, marinated in sweet soy sauce; or Stephanie Le Quellec, the French, dynamic and unpretentious, star-studded chef, who fully embodies French gastronomy’s current spirit and who, during her passage from Sani Gourmet, set up supreme dishes such as a lightly grilled crawfish scented with vanilla, sarasin oil, and blanc-manger. It is at Sani

Chrysanthos Karamolegos 182

Stephanie Le Quellec

David Ibarboure

CUISINE’S Fredrik Berselius 183

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

At Greece’s premier gourmet resort, flavors flutter from Greece to Japan, and sweep through the Basque Country to hover over the shores of the Mediterranean. The undersigned proffers his own Top-10 list, selecting those taste experiences of his that have been the most intense.

UnforgotTEN Delights

A Tomata B Cabana C Pines

1 Flavor Expressionism at “Tomata” Chrysanthos Karamolegos’ prolific, charismatic, and diverse profile holds sway among Greek chefs, whose signature cuisine takes but one bite before you recognize the creator. Chef Karamolegos’ creations have a profoundly Greek soul and swirl to a wholly successful, expressionistic fusion of ingredients from all over the Mediterranean, while his pastries, well, his pastries are simply unputdownable. All you need is to try, just once, his lettuce seafood wraps stuffed with shrimp and prawns in a sauce teased with saffron, estragon, and dry Martini; or his lime tart with turmeric ice cream and…you’re hooked!

184

words by Dimitrios Antonopoulos

three

4 Romanticism: signed by Mauro Colagreco

Mediterranean Fine Dining at “Cabana” One of the most enchanting moments you’ll spend at Sani Resort will be when you take in the unrivalled view at sunset of the Byzantine fort on the hill. It is one of the unforgettable moments that make this elegant dining venue of the “Beach Club” a point of reference when it comes to summer quality living. The restaurant’s refined culinary creations, inspired by the renowned “La Petite Maison” in Nice, on the French Riviera, invoke a Mediterranean gastronomy with a soupçon of Provençal and Italian nuances: freshly-made tagliolini pasta scented with aromatic summer truffle; lamb slowly cooked in its Moroccan harissa fiery paste and served with quinoa jolted with feta and mint; octopus carpaccio served with green romesco sauce, almonds, and zucchini, all map out the summer’s “delectable” landscapes.

Farm to Table at the Atmospheric “Pines” The relaxing beauty of the pine tree, Greece’s and the Mediterranean’s trademark, defines the terrain in front of the restaurant which gives the coordinates of its gastronomic proposal as those of the “Farm to Table” trend so popular worldwide. Fresh, organic vegetables from the hotel’s vegetable garden, and top-notch raw ingredients coming from farms no farther than a 100-km radius from the restaurant, stimulate the menu to no end. Impressions are exceptionally favorable and come not only from multi-layered vegan textures of celery with black garlic purée, summer truffle, onion skin ash, and vegetable broth, but also from homemade, MiddleEastern manti dumplings stuffed with PDO Anevató cheese, caramelized onions, and pickled sour cherries.

185

Sani Resort’s pride and joy is the “Water Restaurant,” whose fine dining experience is most romantic since the restaurant overlooks the boats gently swaying under the evocative lights of the marina. Its menu is curated by no less a personality than Chef Mauro Colagreco, the three-star chef of “Mirazur”, the world’s emblematic restaurant on the French Riviera. A chef with the gift of a rare artistic flair who imbues modern French cuisine with culinary feeling, Mauro Colagreco crafts landscapes of flavors which traverse those of Mediterranean countries only to travel beyond any and all borders. Indelibly etched on my mind are Colagreco’s unsurpassed specialties: fillet de veau with artichokes; porcini mushrooms laced with butter sauce and highlighted by coveted Ossetra caviar; foie gras served warm with vanilla and roasted mango; and velvety white chocolate mousse paired with passion fruit sorbet.

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

photographer Marina Vernicos

seven

A “Naval” Seafood War

The Exotic ‘High’ at “Katsu” and “’Sea You” At the spot that has turned into Halkidiki’s favorite cosmopolitan meeting place due to its incredible energy, action begins with aperitif cocktails at the “Sea You” Bar and goes on through the powerful, staccato, purity of the flavors at “Katsu”, the Japanese restaurant upstairs. Seated in the sprawling dining veranda of “Katsu”, you get the feeling you’re on a cruise boat and are sailing past the tower atop Sani’s hill. Definitely go for a hefty selection of the fantastic sushi choices “Katsu” gives you, definitely go for its feathery rock shrimp tempura. If you’re leaning towards meat, ordering a hard-to-find premium Wagyu A5 cut from Kobe or Kagoshima beef is a must. At the end of our dining experience, we all gather downstairs for a refreshing Negroni cocktail.

It goes without saying that Sani Resort’s seafood gastronomy scene will hold a special place in your heart. There’s no way I would go to “Alexis” without tasting its robustly juicy, steamed mussels; quickly seared, charcoal-grilled octopus; ethereally fried squid; and, if available, the fish roe. And how about that grilled turbot whose juiciness is impeccably wedded to butter, thyme, and lemon at “Psarogiannos”? Another unparalleled seafood experience also awaits you at “Ouzerie”: seated at its awesome observatory of a location, gazing out at the wide blue yonder while sipping your anise-flavored distillate, the endless range of the venue’s mezé choices exhilarates you as much as the seafood platter or the fritto misto on offer.

D El Puerto E Katsu

F Fresco G Bousoulas

186

The Incomparable Spanish and Basque Comfort at “El Puerto” Finally! Modern Spanish cuisine has made a comeback in Greece, curated by Michelin one-star winner David Ibarboure, the French-Basque wizard of gastronomy. You can’t imagine the pure pleasure of sampling in a relaxed ambience finger food in the form of tapas and pintxos; classic dishes such as Spanish bacalao in pil-pil sauce, superb Jamon Cinco Jotas aged for 48 months; or inspired creations such as the roasted foie gras with popcorn, corn cream, and white chocolate while you sip sparkling wine & sherry cocktails. And what comes next? What else? A flawlessly caramelized paella with carabineros deepsea prawns whose striking looks can be rivaled only by their juiciness.

nine

Instagram Finesse at “Patisserie” As you’re doing the rounds of the marina, you halt your stroll to succumb all too willingly to pastries which are so heavenly that they could become, hands down, the envy of many a gourmet restaurant in Greece. Award-winning pâtissier Giorgos Avgeros surprises with a well-staged patisserie boutique whose inspired pastries tempt you almost sensually: ethereal lemon pies whose pastry base crumbles to perfection; the sandalwood caramel cheesecake with its crispy rice cereal base; bonbons with a luscious filling of either Dolce & Gabbana almond praline or vanilla cream paired with citrusy yuzu; or chocolate eggs where wasabi lurks craftily. No matter what choice you make, sweetness at the “Patisserie” is elevated to the loft y dimension of finesse and novelty.

Picnicking by the waves of the beach

The Sparkly Life at “Fresco” This year, Ettore Botrini is inspired by the sparkling classical spirit of world-renowned Cipriani, i.e., “Simply Italian” tradition at its finest thanks to the quality ingredients used. Needless to say, the carpaccio as conceived by Cipriani first will be there, as will the papardelle with duck ragout and fresh truffle, along with Benedetto Cavalierisigned spaghetti with cherry tomatoes and basil, and Chilean sea bass cooked “alla Carlina” with tomatoes, lemon, capers, and a touch of Worcestershire sauce. Needless to say, the white peach & Prosecco Bellinis at “Harry’s Bar” are a must.

187

The white sands of the endless “Bousoulas Beach Bar” next to crystal-clear blue seawaters with a free-growing pine tree cluster as the backdrop are pure magic. If you’re inspired by the stylish picnic Grace Kelly and Cary Grant had at Corniche, bet ween Nice and Monte Carlo, in Hitchcock’s “To Catch a Thief”, order a picnic basket filled with special goodies and set up at a nice nook of the beach. Fill that basket with shellfish, tapas, jamon, sparkling wines, and whatever takes your fancy from the wide selection offered by the resort’s restaurants. Even better, go on a boat ride in a dashing Riva motorboat, and find your own bit of paradise in a wellhidden cove where you’ll swim and picnic in blissful privacy.

THE finest FLAVORS!

The five executive chefs and two pastry chefs of Sani Resort Hotels deliver exclusive cooking and pastry lessons to Sani Magazine readers. Follow their instructions step by step and impress your guests! edited by Dimitris Koparanis

photographs by Ioanna Roufopoulou

INGREDIENTS for 4 persons 4 pieces foie gras (approx. 90 gr. / piece) Some butter Croissant tart 10 baked, medium size croissants (80 gr. each) 500 gr. fresh cream (20% fat) 4 eggs 150 gr. truffle paste Salt Pistachios 100 gr. roasted pistachio nuts, salted 1 lime, zest

To serve 4 brown agaricus mushrooms, grated A little mustard

PREPARATION Croissant tart. Slice the croissants in half and roll lightly with a rolling pin (or using your hands). Preheat oven at 150° C. Place the cream, eggs, truffle paste and salt in a bowl, and stir well. We will use a small, but relatively deep baking pan for the tart. Line pan with parchment paper, place a layer of croissants and brush with some of the cream and egg mixture (see above).

Pistachios. Blend in a food processor until powder-like. Fig puree. We will cook all the ingredients together, using the liquid for the sauce and the rest for the puree. Put all the ingredients in a pot, except the butter. Bring to a boil and lower to a medium heat until the mixture reduces to 1/3 of the original. Strain and reserve liquids. Add half of the butter to the liquid and cook over a medium heat until the sauce thickens. Blend the remaining mixture in a food processor to make the puree, and add the remaining butter.

Foie Gras with Pistachio, Truffle Croissant Tart, Fig Puree and Sauce

Fig puree and sauce 250 gr. sweet white Moscato wine 90 gr. white balsamic vinegar 120 gr. raspberries 250 gr. dried figs 750 gr. chicken stock 10 gr. apple vinegar Salt 60 gr. butter

Continue making layers until you have used all the croissants. We should have at least five layers. Cover with another sheet of parchment paper, press down using a heavy oven-proof dish and bake for approximately 40 minutes. At this point, increase oven temperature to 160° C. and remove the dish and parchment paper. Bake for another 20 minutes. Let the tart cool and slice into 2x2 cm cubes.

Sokratis Livadas

Executive Chef Sani Club

Foie gras. Sear the foie gras in a little butter on a hot skillet until well-browned and golden. Dust with the pistachio nut powder. In the same skillet brown the croissant tart cubes (two cubes per serving). Top with the mustard and grated mushrooms. Once we have prepared everything, we can serve. Put some fig sauce on the plate. Top with the foie gras and then the croissant tarts. 189

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

Chicken with vegetables and mustard sauce

INGREDIENTS for 4 persons 1 chicken Salt and pepper 4 tbsp. olive oil 2 tbsp. butter 1 liter chicken stock 300 gr. baby potatoes, washed 300 gr. pearl onions, peeled 300 gr. baby carrots, peeled 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped 300 gr. white mushrooms, in large pieces 4 leeks, only the green part, finely chopped 3 sprigs of thyme 3-4 sage leaves 500 gr. chicken stock, warm

Dimitris Fatisis

Executive Chef “Ammos Restaurant” Sani Beach Hotel

Sauce 2 tbsp. Dijon mustard 200 gr. butter

photography by Sophia Georgakis

PREPARATION We will need a large ovenproof pot with a lid, or a cast iron dutch oven to prepare the chicken. Season the chicken with salt and pepper (inside and out) and bring to room temperature. Pat dry with kitchen paper to remove excess salt and pepper. In the pan add the butter, olive oil, vegetables, herbs, season with salt and pepper, cover and cook over a medium heat for approximately 20 minutes, until the vegetables are tender. We should not add any other liquids at this point, as long as we keep the pot covered. The steam will cook our vegetables. In the meantime, preheat oven to 200°C.

190

When it is time, uncover the pot and put the chicken on the vegetables. Add the warm chicken stock, cover pot and transfer to the oven. Cook for 45 minutes with the lid on, or until vegetables are soft and cooked through. In the meantime, melt the butter in a small pot, add the mustard and stir. This mixture will be used to cook the chicken but also prepare a sauce with the vegetable liquids. After 45 minutes take pot out of the oven, uncover (beware of the steam!) and brush chicken with some of the butter mixture. Return to the oven and cook for a further 15 minutes, or until golden (if using a meat thermometer, core temperature should be at least 82°C). When the chicken is ready we can serve. Transfer the vegetables and the chicken to a platter. Reserve cooking liquids in the pot and return to a medium heat. Add the remaining butter and mustard mixture and bring to a boil, stirring constantly until the sauce thickens.

Mash 500 gr. potatoes 80 gr. full fat milk, warm 100 gr. butter Salt and pepper Sea bass 2 sea bass fillets (deboned) 1 sprig fresh thyme 2 tsp. olive oil Salt and pepper To serve 15 gr. chorizo in slices 5 gr. garlic, finely chopped Some smoked paprika 1 tsp. red wine vinegar 1 tbsp. olive oil

PREPARATION Mash. Preheat oven to 190°C. Place potatoes in a baking tray, cover in foil and bake

Sea bass fillet al Española

INGREDIENTS for 2 persons

for 90 minutes, or until potatoes are cooked through. Peel when ready, and mash. Add warm milk, butter, salt and pepper.

Giorgos Vagionas

Executive Chef Porto Sani Resort

Sea bass. Score the fillets. Season with salt and pepper. Add oil to a pan and heat well. Place fillets in the pan, skin-side down. Pan-fry for 4 minutes over a medium heat, until well cooked. Turn fillets over and pan-fry for an additional 2-3 minutes. In the meantime, put the chorizo and olive oil in another pan and cook over a medium heat for a few minutes. Add the vinegar and the paprika, and stir. When the sea bass is ready, we can serve. Put fillet on plate. Serve with puree and accompaniments on the side.

191

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

INGREDIENTS for 2 persons

Cherry tomatoes 8 red cherry tomatoes 8 yellow cherry tomatoes 8 green cherry tomatoes 1 garlic clove 1 tbsp. olive oil 3 basil leaves Salt and pepper Carob crumble 80 gr. Carob 1 tbsp. olive oil 10 gr. sesame seeds Basil oil 60 gr. sunflower oil 20 gr. basil leaves Langoustine 4 large langoustine, shelled, with head and tail 20 gr. butter Half lemon, juiced

PREPARATION Strawberry gazpacho. Put all the ingredients in a bowl and marinade for 12 hours in the fridge. Blend in food processor the next day, until it reaches a nice soup-like consistency. If needed, add some water. Tomatoes. Pan fry all the ingredients in a hot skillet, with no oil, until the tomato skins are seared.

Langoustine with cherry tomatoes, strawberry gazpacho, chorizo and carob

Carob crumble. Blend the carob with the olive oil in a food processor. Add the sesame seeds.

Strawberry gazpacho 100 gr. ripe strawberries, cubed 25 gr. baby cucumber, deseeded, finely chopped 15gr. celery, finely chopped 10 gr. red pepper, finely chopped 5 gr. green pepper, finely chopped 5 gr. spring onion, greens, finely chopped 5 gr. onion, finely chopped 10 gr. white bread, crumb, cubed 100 gr. olive oil 10 gr. red wine vinegar 2 gr Sriracha 5 gr. ketchup 1 garlic clove, finely chopped ¼ tsp. salt Some cumin 50 gr. strawberries

To serve Basil leaves 8 caper leaves in brine 1 tbsp. olive oil 8 slices chorizo 1 avocado, sliced 2 anchovies

Basil oil. Heat oil to 140°C. Add basil leaves, remove from heat and blend well in a food processor. Strain using a paper or cheesecloth filter and store in the fridge. Langoustine. Pan-fry langoustine with the oil and butter for a minute. Top with lemon juice. When everything is ready, we can serve. Put the baked cherry tomatoes, basil leaves, caper leaves, olive oil, chorizo, avocado and anchovies in a bowl, and mix well. Place the carob crumble on the dishes, followed by two langoustines and the roasted cherry tomato mixture. Sprinkle with basil oil. Serve with strawberry gazpacho on the side. 192

Demis Kokkinidis

Executive Chef “Water Restaurant” Asterias

Sea bass sashimi with pea puree, spearmint and botargo

II Nikolaos Papastergiou

INGREDIENTS for 2 persons 2 sea bass fillets, deboned 2 chili peppers 4 spearmint leaves 2 tbsp. olive oil 2 tbsp. lime juice Salt and pepper To serve Some fried quinoa Pea puree 150 gr. peas 1 lemongrass, finely chopped 1 tsp. fresh ginger, grated 1 small white onion, finely chopped 2 tbsp. olive oil 350 gr. coconut cream 2 tsp. lime juice ½ tsp. wasabi 80 gr. vegetable stock Rice crackers 200 gr. basmati rice 1 liter chicken stock 1 tbsp. cuttlefish ink 500 gr. sunflower oil Herb oil 30 gr. coriander 30 gr. parsley 30 gr. dill 300 gr. sunflower oil

Quinoa 100 gr. cooked quinoa 500 gr. sunflower oil Salt

paper, spread out the rice and leave for 24 hours in a dry, protected space until dry. Break into pieces when ready. Heat the sunflower oil in a small pot and fry the rice crackers at 170 C°. Store in airtight container.

To serve 1 tbsp. grated botargo Lime zest Pea shoots

Herb oil. Heat oil to 140°C. Add the herbs, remove from heat and blend well in a food processor. Strain using a paper or cheesecloth filter and store in the fridge.

Pea puree. Put the peas, lemongrass, ginger, onion, salt and pepper in a small pot and cook over a medium heat, until the onion softens. Add the coconut cream, cover and cook for approximately 10 minutes. Add the lime juice, wasabi, and chicken stock and blend in a food processor, until nice and smooth.

Quinoa. Heat oil to 160°C, spoon in cooked quinoa and cook until golden. Drain on paper until use. Sea bass. Slice the sea bass into large thin slices using a sharp knife. Put the fish, chili peppers, spearmint, olive oil, lime juice, fried quinoa, salt and pepper in a bowl and mix well. Taste for seasoning and acidity. Set aside. When everything is ready, we can serve. Spread the pea puree on the plate, place the marinated sea bass and serve with botargo, lime zest, rice crackers, some friend quinoa and pea shoots.

PREPARATION Rice crackers. Put the chicken stock and ink in a pot, bring to a boil, add the rice and cover, cooking over a medium heat for about 12 minutes, until the rice is cooked through. Cover with a towel after 12 minutes and set aside for 15 more minutes. Blend rice in food processor until smooth. Line a baking tray with parchment 193

Executive Chef Sani Dunes

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

Chocolate namelaka pebbles, almond crumble and peach sorbet

INGREDIENTS for 4 persons Meringue biscuit with bitter almond 150 gr. egg whites 300 gr. granulated sugar 300 gr. almond powder 4 drops bitter almond essence 1 pinch salt Chocolate namelaka 205 gr. full fat milk 10 gr. glucose 10 gr. gelatin powder 400 gr. milk chocolate, finely chopped 410 gr. fresh cream (35% fat) 2 drop vanilla essence or some natural vanilla

Giorgos Avgeros

Complex Pastry Chef Sani Club & Sani Marina Patisserie

PREPARATION Almond biscuit. Beat the egg whites, gradually adding the sugar, to make a stiff meringue. Add the almond powder, bitter almond essence and salt. Line baking tray with parchment paper to bake the biscuit. No specific shape is needed as it will be crumbled to serve, but it needs to be spread evenly. Preheat oven to 100°C and bake for 2 hours, or until cooked. Set aside to cool to room temperature, and crumble.

Apricot jam 500 gr. ripe apricots 100 gr. sugar

Chocolate pebbles. We will need four pebble-shaped molds – or any other shaped mold of our choice – to prepare the namelaka. In a small pot bring the milk to a boil. Remove from heat, add glucose and gelatin, and mix. Add the warm mixture to the milk chocolate and put aside for one minute. Stir well using a maryse or a hand mixer. Add the cream and vanilla while stirring and chill in the freezer.

To serve 400 gr. peach sorbet

Chocolate pebble coating. Melt the white chocolate,

White color 500 gr. white chocolate 5 gr. white food coloring Black color 500 gr. cocoa butter 5 gr. black food coloring

add the food coloring and beat using a hand mixer until combined. Melt the cocoa butter, add the black food coloring and beat using hand mixer until combined. Once the pebbles have chilled, coat with the white and black chocolate mixture and store in fridge until ready to serve. Jam. Puree the apricots with the sugar in a food processor. Bring to a boil for 5 minutes over a medium heat until the jam sets. Store in the fridge. Place four plates in a line. Share the almond biscuit evenly between them and put the chocolate pebbles on top. Add some apricot jam and a scoop of peach sorbet. 194

AWARD WINNING seafood gastronomy

AWARDS Top Notch Toques d’Or Special Distinction 13 Toques d’Or Greek Cuisine Awards 3 Gourmet Distinctions 4 FNL Best Restaurant Award 1 IFWTWA Certiﬁcate of Appreciation 3 Estiatoria.gr Premium Award

Just 8klm / 7min away from Sani Resort

195

T: +30 2373041570, +30 2373041825 Book your table: marina-fish.gr

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

INGREDIENTS for 10 pieces

Milk chocolate and mango jelly tart

Giannis Giahos

Tart crust 150 gr. cold butter 100 gr. granulated sugar 60 gr. egg yolk 70 gr. almond powder 200 gr. all-purpose flour Some salt

Pastry Chef Sani Beach Hotel

Mango filling 5 gr. gelatin sheets 125 gr. mango puree 175 gr. white chocolate couverture, grated

Chocolate mousse. Place gelatin sheets in cold water to soften. Squeeze dry. Bring the milk and fresh cream to a boil in a small pot. Add the chocolate and mix with a hand mixer until texture is creamy and smooth. Transfer to piping bags and chill in fridge until set.

Chocolate mousse 15 gr. gelatin sheets 250 gr. full fat milk 350 gr. fresh cream (35% fat) 380 gr. milk chocolate, grated

Glaze. Put cream in a small pot over medium heat. Remove from heat, add glucose and chocolate and combine using a hand mixer.

Glaze 150 gr. fresh cream (35% fat) 225 gr. milk chocolate, grated 15 gr. glucose

When everything is ready, we can prepare our desserts using 10 8x1 silicone molds. Fill each mold to the middle with chocolate mousse. Next layer with mango mousse and top with another layer of chocolate mousse. Transfer to freezer and chill. Remove from molds and place on tart crust. Dip in the glaze. Serve with edible silver leaf.

To serve Edible silver leaf

PREPARATION Tart Crust. Beat the butter and sugar in a mixer using the flat beater attachment until smooth and creamy. Mix the egg yolks in a bowl and gradually add to the mixture. Add the almond power, flour and salt, and set mixer on medium speed until dough is fluffy. Wrap in cellophane and chill in fridge for 2-3 hours. Roll out dough to a thickness of 1cm, cut into 10x1 pieces and bake in preheated oven for about 12 minutes or until golden. Mango filling. Place gelatin sheets in cold water to soften. 196

Squeeze dry. Bring the mango puree to a boil, add the gelatin, chocolate and stir until combined. Cool and store in piping bags in the fridge.

PINKDOT.GR 197

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

198

Courtesy Halkidiki Tourism Organization

HALKIDIKI

MAKE THE MOST OF IT!

words by Kallirroi Simitzidou

Halkidiki is a land where Nature’s bounty manifests itself in an ideal melange of endless blue and profuse green. A vast horizon; an infinite variety of seascapes; a forested expanse that is the area’s green lung; a spiritual refuge: we are embarking on a quest whose aim is to explore this destination. It may take us just five days, but the memories will be indelible.

199

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

You are already in one of the most beautiful places of Halkidiki, at Sani Resort. And while you are enjoying the absolutely relaxing atmosphere of its one-of-a-kind hospitality in one of its hotels, we will help you discover everything in this earthly paradise around you. This is where the stately pine trees literally reach the water’s edge as if eager to drink out of the blue, crystal-clear seawaters. Next to pines, the pistacia -a type of evergreen shrub spread throughout the Mediterranean- which experts assure us won’t grow by the sea. And yet, in Halkidiki, as though nature has worked some miracle, the pistacia shrubs do grow by the sea. The area’s coastline runs for 550 km and splits into three geographic “legs”: Kassandra, the queen of the cosmopolitan lifestyle for years on end, is where carefree living meets fun and entertainment; Sithonia, the quiet power, a slice of heaven on earth, whose beaches and landscapes are usually found in more exotic parts of the world; and last, but not least, Athos, the peninsula where the human soul meets with God to find fulfillment. All of that beauty lies under the watchful eye of Cholomon, the mountain of Halkidiki, which reaches an altitude of 1,165 meters. As Cholomon is covered with dense vegetation consisting mainly of deciduous trees, a large part of it belongs to the Natura 2000 Network. It is ideal for nature lovers, since the mountain’s rich flora and unsurpassed breathtaking view of the area make it the perfect setting for unforgettable hikes right where the “heart” of nature beats. Halkidiki has the astonishing ability to please everyone: romantic, seductive, sensual, and adventurous, it hides within it rare beauty and amazing diversity, comprising a unique combination of nature, tradition, history, entertainment, and gastronomy. It is the dream-come-true holiday destination not only for groups and families, but also for couples, and visitors seeking solitude. It has its own inimitable way of forging such memories in your mind to lure you back again and again and again.

DAY 1

Previous pages Ammouliani & Drenia Islands This page 1. The Russian St. Pantaleon Orthodox monastery at Mount Athos 2. Kavourotrypes beach, Sithonia

As of the very first moment, we could tell that our adventure through Halkidiki’s unrivalled attractions was going to be a fascinating one. Ranking high on the list of such attractions is Nea Propontida aka “the West Coast”, which is quite close to Thessaloniki. It is there that you can visit Nea Gonia, a small village at an altitude of 150 meters above sea level. Since Nea Gonia is a gastronomic and field trip destination all year round, get ready to sample ‘Marianna’s Dolmadakia,” stuffed grape leaves that are out of this world and made fresh every day at the facilities of the Kazakis House of Viticulture whose vineyard produces everything but wine. You can tour the facilities and participate in various activities, watch how ‘Marianna’s Grape Leaves’ and dolmadakia are prepared. Another interesting option is the Cave of Petralona, which is literally studded with stalactites and stalagmites. Once you resume your tour, a stop at Olynthos, a village near ancient Olynthos, is a must. Rich in history, comprises no more than ten houses which, however, feature the most stunning floors you have ever laid eyes on. Many are the reasons why you should visit the village but the exceptionally hospitable residents, choice local products, and historical past of the region, should be among the most important ones. 200

Courtesy Halkidiki Tourism Organization

3. View of the Island of Chelona or Kelyfos from the village Parthenonas 4. Tigania beach, Sithonia 5. Ouranoupolis

Midday! It’s definitely time for a dip in Halkidiki’s crystal-clear waters. Then, let the verdant terrain carry you away and explore that side of Kassandra where Sani Resort is located at. Drive to Mola Kaliva, a quiet beach near Nea Skioni, and enjoy a refreshing swim or one of the water sports available. Continue towards Agia Paraskevi where its thermal spa center will prove an interesting and relaxing experience. Do make a stop at ‘Villa Stasa’, a seafood taverna whose magnificent view of the sea and irresistible Mediterranean flavors will amply reward you. As the sun sets, move to Possidi, the tip of the area’s southernmost part. Sipping on an aperitif, take in the majestic sunset, and make a wish for that magical moment to last forever.

After a sustaining breakfast, begin your trip’s longest route. You are bound to find it positively rewarding. Arm yourselves with energy and visit Halkidiki’s third “leg”, the Athos peninsula. Although most people recognize the name because of the monastic communities on Mount Athos (Holy Mountain), you will still be impressed with everything that you’ll experience there. The peninsula’s best known village is Ouranoupoli which is surrounded by a magnificent forest where opportunities for hiking and exploring abound. It is the last stop for those who want to visit ‘The Orchard of the Virgin Mary’, since the ferry for Mount Athos leaves from Ouranoupoli’s harbor. Visitors not allowed to visit Mount Athos, may wish to visit Zigou Monastery, a mere 2 km away from Ouranopouli and the natural border between the village and Mount Athos. Enjoy the sea waters and pristine beaches in the area; or on Ammouliani, Halkidiki’s island. You can get there either on your own craft or by taking the ferry or a water taxi at the port of Trypiti, near Ouranoupoli. Within a few minutes you will have reached your destination. The Drenia islands (aka Gaidouronisi), are the hidden gems opposite Ammouliani. Once there, you are ensured of utterly relaxing moments. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to eat at one of the fish tavernas, at Chora, the island’s hub, or try your hand at scuba diving. 201

DAY 2

DAY 3 6

DAY 4

Today is the day that you will reward yourself with a gift that’ll stay etched on your mind forever. Put some comfy clothes on, take along your swimsuit and your best mood, and start off on a road trip through Sithonia, Halkidiki’s second “leg”. Upon reaching Neos Marmaras, you will get the feeling that you are on an island: the spectacular view, the beauty of the natural terrain, and the sight of the island of Chelona (aka Kelyfos), will all intensify that feeling. Another indispensable stop is at Parthenonas, a historical village with traditional houses above Neos Marmaras. While there, you will enjoy the captivating view, the strolls in the village’s alleyways, and the village’s mouthwatering grilled meats at a taverna overlooking the Aegean Sea. If you are more of a seafood lover, head to the small harbors of Neos Marmaras or to ‘Haris’ taverna, where you won’t be able to resist the twait shad fish, vine-ripe, garden tomatoes always served warm, and the goat cheese made by the monks of Mount Athos. Needless to say, any fish that you order will be freshly caught. Pressing on, you will get to Tristinika, one of Halkidiki’s most gorgeous beaches. If you time your arrival right, you’ll be able to watch the sunset while enjoying a cocktail at the ‘Ethnic Beach Bar’. A few kilometers down the road you’ll reach Porto Koufo, Greece’s deepest natural harbor. While there, make sure you try Tony’s famous shrimp pasta. Continuing with your road trip, you’ll find more beaches worth visiting, such as Toroni, Kriaritsi, Kavourotrypes and, definitely, Tigania where the landscape is almost otherworldly. Also vying for your attention is Armenistis, a beach popular for its turquoise waters and excellent camping facilities; and Karydi, a beach at Vourvourou. From Vourvourou, you can rent a small craft and hop on to Diaporos, an uninhabited isle whose charms will make you feel that you never want to leave. If you’re fans of adventure, that very same run to Diaporos can be done by canoe during a day trip that includes a sunset tour, yoga kayaking, fishing, and wine tasting.

Spend Day 4, exploring mountainous Halkidiki surrounded by terrain whose beauty is certain to stun you. However, before you do so, complete your exploration of Sithonia by visiting Nikiti and, more specifically, Palios Nikitas where you will have the opportunity to visit the building of the primary school that has been turned into a History and Folklore Museum. At Akti Elias, in Nikiti, make sure you visit “Boukadoura”, a wonderful tavern, on the edge of the sea, on a beautiful rocky shore, with Greek cuisine. Its veal with zucchini goat spaghetti and ravani are must try dishes. Climb up the mountain to the small church of Profitis Ilias and let your gaze travel over the sea expanse. As you continue your route, don’t forget to stop at the fantastic beach of Agios Ioannis. It may have no amenities for its visitors but its pristine natural beauty with make up for that lack. Having experienced a small taste of the sea, it is time you headed up the mountain. The village of Taxiarchis is at the heart of Cholomon Mountain. It is there that you can visit the facilities of the area’s renowned beekeepers to taste their heavenly honey, an experience your children will absolutely love. Taxiarchis is also known for its tasty mushrooms and the Mushroom Festival held there every September. A little farther down, at the foot of the 202

7. Courtesy Halkidiki Tourism Organization

6. Architecture in the old Nikiti village at Sithonia 7. East Coast Aristotle park

1.Ververidis Vasilis/3.Nikola Spasic Photography/4.Creative Family/5.Jan Wehnert/6.kokixx/8-9. FrimuFilms/Shutterstock.com

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

mountain, is Agios Prodromos, where the word ‘souvlaki’, closely linked to the location’s history, acquires a mouthwatering dimension out of this world. Alternatively, you can visit one of Agios Prodromos’ numerous traditional tavernas, with ‘Miltos’ being the most popular one. On your drive uphill, you come to Arnaia. It is another traditional village that whets the interest of visitors with its Weaving Museum and church of Agios Stefanos. Set your bicycles up and take a tour in the environs to enjoy the area’s natural beauty. Next, you’re ready to continue your road trip to Ancient Stagira, Aristotle’s birthplace. But, before you get there, make sure to stop at Varvara to marvel at its waterfalls. If you’re lucky enough to be there in August, don’t miss out on the festival held there.

The other side of Kassandra, the first “leg”, is especially beautiful and has lots of interesting locations for you to visit. One of the most picturesque traditional villages of Halkidiki is Athytos (aka Afytos). Built on a steep cliff, it will afford you some of the most bewitching panoramic views. The village's architecture harmoniously combines nature and tradition, making use of the area’s local stone which consists of sand and seashells. As you keep exploring, you will come upon some of the area’s most cosmopolitan parts. Kallithea will take your breath away with its lovely sandy beach and buzzing nightlife. The locations of Chanioti and Pefkochori both boast highly popular beaches and the kind of entertainment that puts the ‘f’ in ‘fun’. Farther down, almost at the tip of Kassandra, is Paliouri. Kanistro, its sandy beach, is literally a small paradise on earth. Dive into the seawaters and let your soul bask in the tranquility and peace of the location. Look up and set free the emotions that overwhelm your senses when the blue of the sea weds the green of nature. Follow the same route to go back and stop by the Potidaia Canal. It is there that you will be able to enjoy the spectacular sight of the waters of the Thermaikos and Toroneos Gulfs coming together. Don’t leave until you enjoy a meal at ‘Marina’, one of the area’s top restaurants. With numerous awards and distinctions, ‘Marina’ Restaurant is your ultimate gastronomic paradise for fish and seafood. Do not leave Halkidiki without getting hold of some of its famous local products, already established in the international market, such as green olives and pure virgin olive oil, honey - Halkidiki is considered the “Mother of Beekeeping” - and pine honey, herbs, traditional goat cheese but also wine from local winemakers, as the best grape varieties in Greece thrive here. 203

8. Aerial view of sea and rocks in Olympiada 9. Ancient Stageira city

DAY 5

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

Thessaloniki

WHERE HISTORY 1

A tour around a 2,500-year-old city that has everything a cool destination needs: a friendly environment, a charming ambience, and a cosmopolitan mentality. words by Niki Pilidou 204

MEETS ART 2

205

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

Since 365 BCE, when it was founded by Cassander, and to date, Thessaloniki’s monuments, buildings, and squares tell the stories of the peoples who called it home over the centuries. Greeks, Romans, Sephardic Jews, and Middle Eastern peoples turned the second largest city of Greece into a timeless crossroads of cultures. To experience the city’s unique atmosphere right at the outset, there is no better place to start at than the Rotonda, the monument that represents Thessaloniki’s cross-cultural character. Of similar importance to the Pantheon in Rome, this is the city’s most ancient monument, and it has been open to the public for the past six years, following many years of restoration. On entering the 14th–century, domed, circular building with its evocative light 206

Previous pages 1. The White Tower: part of ottoman fortress and museum (history of the city) on the waterfront of Thessaloniki 2. The Ubrellas: artwork by George Zongolopoulos artist on the waterfront This page 3. The Crypt underneath the byzantine Church of St Demetrios: main sanctuary dedicated to Saint Demetrius, the patron saint of Thessaloniki 4. The Moon: sculpture by Pavlos Vasiliadis artist, at the seafront of Thessaloniki 5. Museum of Byzantine Culture in the center of the city

and majestic mosaics, you immediately realise the space’s timeless history (galeriuspalace.culture.gr) since, in its 1,700 years of existence, it crossed from the ancient world over to the Christian world and, then, to the Muslim world. As you exit, leaving behind this mystical atmosphere, the lively student hangouts draw you back to the present. Walking downhill, you pass by or under the triumphal Arch erected by Galerius in the 4th century, to celebrate in the monument’s reliefs his victory against the Persians. After taking the usual postcard photo at “Kamara”, the sobriquet given to it by the locals who use it as a meeting spot, you can look for the Roman Market on the upper side of Egnatia Street. Built on an area of 20,000 square metres, in the late 2nd-early 3rd centuries, it comprised buildings and arcades for public use. The finds brought to light by archaeological excavations occupy an enchanting open-air location in sharp contrast to the up-and-coming urban neighbourhood burgeoning around it. In a city where 12 of its Byzantine churches are under the protection of UNESCO, visiting at least one is a must, and the five-aisled basilica of Agios Dimitrios is a mere three-minute walk from the Roman Market. It will be worth your while to climb down to the basilica’s imposing subterranean Crypt to take a look at the sculptures and vessels. In ancient times, it was the location of public baths and it is also where St. Dimitrios, the city’s patron saint had been imprisoned (agdimitriosthes.gr). Your next stop is the picturesque Ano Poli (the old Upper Town) and the Byzantine Kastra (the city fortifications). You can get there on foot or get on the hop-on hop-off bus (thessaloniki-sightseeing.com). As you start walking uphill, the cityscape around you changes completely. Time turns back as you cross alleys and walk past low picturesque houses whose architectural style is at times based on Macedonian folk tradition and, at others, on the Ottoman era. Once you have reached the hilltop, you are rewarded with a panoramic view over the Byzantine Walls —part of the city’s defensive fortifications— and the 207

emblematic Tower of Trigonio, which dates back to the 15th century. If you have the time, cross the threshold of the Monastery of Vlatades, the only monastery still in use since Byzantine times. The peacocks on its grounds, the monastery’s symbol since its establishment in the 14th century, will definitely delight you.

The Triangle (or Square) of Museums Visitors to Thessaloniki are pleasantly surprised when they discover that the city’s three iconic museums are close to one another, creating an imaginary triangle in the area of the International Fair site. First and foremost, there is the Archaeological Museum (amth.gr), one of the largest in Greece. Its modern building houses countless artefacts that will bring you into contact with the world of ancient Macedonia, its culture, and its people. Across from it, there is the awardwinning Museum of Byzantine Culture (mbp.gr), built in the minimalist architectural style, which recounts stories from the 2nd to the 20th centuries, exhibiting 3,190 archaeological artefacts, relics, and works of art out of the 46,000 the museum maintains in its collections. The triangle is completed with MOMus – the Museum of Contemporary Art, on the grounds of the International Fair (momus.gr). It is a member of the Metropolitan Organisation of Museums of Visual Arts of Thessaloniki, which curates works from contemporary art movements, through exhibitions and 2,000 works by Greek and international artists on display in its permanent collection. Last but not least, and built outside the triangle, is the Jewish Museum (jmth.gr) which, in an old commercial arcade, exhibits evidence and artefacts of the Jewish presence in Thessaloniki, covering 21 centuries of history!

Do as the locals do While there, you won’t regret copying the Thessaloniki locals’ favourite habit: a stroll along the Paralia Waterfront. The Old Seafront starts at the Port, follows the coastline all the way to the New Seafront, and ends at the Concert Hall. On

this five-kilometre pedestrian route you will see locals arriving solo or in groups from all over the city, to bike or jog, play music, enjoy the spectacular sunset, or just promenade. It is no coincidence that former Thessaloniki mayor Yiannis Boutaris once stated that the waterfront is a “refuge for people”. On foot or by riding your bike (thessbike.gr) you can start at the Port’s warehouses —popular with the younger crowd— where three very interesting museums are housed: the Thessaloniki Cinema Museum, MOMus Photography, and MOMus Experimental Center for the Arts (momus.gr). Just a stone’s throw away

Rotunda of Galerius: the oldest religious site of Thessaloniki 208

from that industrial landscape, lies the popular destination of Aristotelous Square, the city’s most frequented location, with its cafés, bars, and restaurants. Distinctly European in character, it was designed by Ernest Hébrard as part of what he “saw” Thessaloniki becoming, following the Great Fire of 1917. This is where Thessaloniki’s residents start their promenade to walk along the Thermaic Gulf until they reach their first stop at the White Tower, the 15th-century monument (lpth.gr), housing a permanent exhibition on the city’s history. Next to it, an unexpected sight steals the show: a statue of Alexander the Great on horseback, a work of art by Evangelos Moustakas, is an established hangout for the skateboarding crowd, where skaters practice their skills in the shadow of the King of the Macedonians. Farther along are the “Umbrellas”, the impressive sculpture by Zongolopoulos, made famous by the social media: one and all take photos of the “Umbrellas” or have their photo taken under them. At that spot, if you stand at the water’s edge, you will see the ‘Moon on the Shore’ rising out of the Thermaic Gulf. A spectacular sculpture by Pavlos Vasiliadis, ‘Moon on the Shore’ dresses the view with a cinematic dimension. Before you reach the end of your waterfront route at the Concert Hall, you can take a break or take in some cultural event in one of the ten theme parks created after the redevelopment of the waterfront by awardwinning architects Prodromos Nikiforidis and Bernard Cuomo. Of course, a city, and especially one with a history dating back to centuries, cannot be seen just by touring its sites and monuments. One can experience Thessaloniki even through the culture of everyday life. Through its flavors, as it is famous for its culinary heritage, through the smells in its open markets that have the scent of the East, through its open-hearted inhabitants, with their inherent traits of hospitality and acceptance. Immerse yourself in the city’s rhythms, become one with the sweet aura of its blue horizon and discover the unique character of the Nymph of the North.

1.Ipek Morel/2.Netfalls Remy Musser/3.Georgios Tsichlis/4.Chiociolla/5.saiko3p/vlas2000/Shutterstock.com

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

209

SANI MAGA ZINE 2021

NOT to be MISSED

An exclusive Borsalino Pop-up Store at the Sani Marina, from 1st July to August 20th, will bring you in touch with the pioneer of these Made in Italy luxury hats, known worldwide for their extraordinary quality, unmistakable style and timeless elegance.

On April 4th 1857, in Alessandria, Giuseppe Borsalino, a visionary and explorer, started an artisan workshop for the production of felt hats: its success was immediate and destined to go beyond national borders. In Paris World Fair of 1900, Borsalino received the Grand Prix, a prestigious certificate of quality, yet it was cinema that would make the legend of artisanal luxury eternal. For the summer season of 2021, Borsalino continues its sophisticated, stylistic research, mixing notes from the past greatly inspired by the Arts and Crafts movements of the late 19th century with a modern-day dialogue of contemporary times. Beauty, Joie de Vivre and Diversity represent Borsalino’s new style philosophy. www.borsalino.com 210

Shot in the manifacture

BORSALINO POP UP STORE

S A N I R E S O R T M A R I N A AT T H E P I A G G I O A P E

BORSALINO BOUTIQUE

MYKONOS NAMMOS VILLAGE PSAROY BEACH

211