ShareSaveCommentLifestyleTravelWhere To Eat, Sleep And Shop In Chic Chalkida On The Island Of EviaByRebecca Ann Hughes Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights 06:30am EDTShareSaveCommentChalkida is just an hour and a half from Athens Once a major power in Ancient Greece and the Roman Empire Evia is now a chic retreat from crowded Athens and is connected to the mainland by a bridge making it easily reachable by car in about one and a half hours Chalkida captivates visitors with its rapidly changing sea currents that have been dubbed the ‘crazy waters’ phenomenon The city is also scattered with the remains of temples and relics is a pottery and ceramics studio with a creative vision steeped in the history of Evia and Greece named for its relation to the Greek flower You can find everything from tableware to lighting fixtures and jewellery and the shop also offers ceramic lessons and workshops launched in 2023 by businesswoman Maria Kamperi There is also a small selection of home goods such as candles and incense If you are looking to plan an event whilst in Chalkida they also arrange beautiful floral table settings for weddings and private parties is a family owned store and restaurant established over 100 years ago The interior of the small shop transports you back in time and it sells traditional products of Greek producers you can try Greek dishes crammed with fresh ingredients and paired with local wines serves a fresh seafood-themed menu inspired by Greek Eat fresh seafood with a view of the sea at Raval Aesthetes will enjoy the natural colour palette This restaurant bar turns into a nightclub later on with cocktails and scenic sea views which is always pretty with crocheted umbrellas and long lines of blue-wood sun loungers play a game of beach volleyball or read a book on your sunbed serving drinks and a Mediterranean-European-Greek menu at lunch and dinner a historic landmark built in 1884 on the coast is situated on the quay on the north side of the city beach and is the perfect spot for a promenade walk and coffee break The building has been restored with an iconic facade and stunning interiors Four-star beachside resort Brown Beach Chalkida lies four kilometers from the Chalkida old bridge and Chalkida’s town centre on the coast of Agios Minas beach Four-star beachside resort Brown Beach Chalkida lies four kilometers from the Chalkida old bridge Brown Beach Chalkida is a beach-front retreat suitable for both couples and families The Blue Stories centre on-site provides guests with activities suitable for the whole family which guests can use for free for one hour per day Professor Joanita Vroom received a substantial grant from the Packard Humanities Institute (PHI) in support for her Hinterlands of Medieval Chalcis Project (HMC Project) in Greece a California-based non-profit organization is dedicated to archaeological research as well as to the preservation of film The prestigious grant of 250.000 Dollars from PHI enables Vroom and her team to continue and expand their research into the medieval archaeology and history of the region around Chalcis a multiperiod harbour city on the Greek island of Evia (Euboea) Since 2013 Leiden University researchers and students have been studying with Greek and British colleagues of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Euboea (EAE) and the Hellenic Society for Near Eastern Studies (HSNES) in the hinterland of this important settlement which in medieval times was called Negroponte by the Latin-Venetian conquerors who settled in the region Chalcis/Negroponte became a hub for inter-regional trade in the Middle Ages with its own ceramics industry exporting products throughout the Mediterranean and beyond hardly any archaeological study has been undertaken to shed light on the archaeology of the Byzantine Together with Greek/international collaborators protect and preserve the archaeological record which includes impressive remains of surviving Medieval monuments (such as fortresses Thanks to the support of the Packard Humanities Institute Vroom and her team from Leiden University can proceed with their archaeological work in the coming years which also includes public outreach events about their research (ranging from lectures to hands-on education for children) for the local community on the island Medieval Chalcis and its Euboean Hinterland Crete as melting pot: research into Late Antique Byzantine and Early Islamic material culture at Gortyn Data Atlas of Byzantine and Ottoman Material Culture Medieval and Post-Medieval Ceramics in the Eastern Mediterranean - Fact and Fiction Coin images courtesy of Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles A rare Judaean bronze coin is among many highlights of Ira & Larry Goldberg Auctioneers’ Pre-Long Beach auction June 12 and 13 bronze coin (classified as AE 25 for its composition and size in millimeters) is “one of the most important rarities in the Judaean series,” according to the auction firm.  It has an estimate of $7,500 and up.  The coin was issued during the Herodian Kingdom by Herod of Chalcis 41 the Judaean King Herod Agrippa petitioned the emperor Claudius to appoint his younger brother this Herod is familiarly known as Herod of Chalcis “The fact that a Herodian was appointed king in a non-Jewish land well north of Judaea shows the depth of support that Claudius offered this family,” according to the Goldberg firm “The Herodians showed their gratitude in many ways including with coin designs intended to flatter their imperial benefactor.”  the portrait of Herod of Chalcis is accompanied by an inscription that describes him as a “friend of Claudius” or as “one with whom Claudius is friendly.” Similarly the reverse inscription “for Claudius Caesar Augustus” is dedicated to the emperor in Rome; the date at the end of the inscription The Judaean bronze coin weighs 15.72 grams and displays a dark brown patina with some greenish highlights according to the catalog description.  World Coins The celebration took place at the Parish Church of the Annunciation of the Theotokos in Kanithos and began with the long-established arrival of the holy relics of the Holy Martyrs Raphael Nicholas and Irene from Lesvos Specifically, on the afternoon of Wednesday, January 11, 2023, Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Chalkida welcomed the holy relics with the appropriate honors, and then the Archieratical Vespers was performed, officiated by Bishop Philotheos of Rogoi. You can watch the Vespers by clicking on the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7um7ByLsZqw and the Divine Liturgy were co-officiated by Bishop Philotheos of Rogoi and Bishop Philotheos of Oreoi- Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Chalkida and many Presbyters and Deacons while Metropolitan Dorotheos of Syros attended the service despite the adverse weather conditions prevailing in the seas came and honored the Metropolitan of Chalkida The holy relics of Saints Raphael Nicholas and Irene will remain in the Church until Wednesday On the occasion of the feast of the Church of Saint George the Great Martyr in Knjaževac On the eve of the conclave that will begin on Wednesday to elect a new Pope The annual graduation ceremony of the Patriarchal Toronto Orthodox Theological Academy (PTOTA) was held at the Cultural Centre of.. Archbishop Makarios of Australia will be conferred the title of Honorary Doctor by both the Department of Theology and.. The Vatican announced on Monday that all telephone communication within its territory will be suspended during the upcoming conclave.. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew delivered the keynote address at the International Scientific Conference “Restarting from Nicaea:.. (function() { window.mc4wp = window.mc4wp || { listeners: [] cb) { window.mc4wp.listeners.push( { event : evt callback: cb } ); } } }})(); © 2023 OrthodoxTimes.com - All rights reserved Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website These cookies do not store any personal information Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website A unique and first-hand experience of an amazingly diverse city The greatest charm of the second largest island of Greece may be hidden in the mere 80 kilometres that separate it from the capital Euboea is so close that we often forget that it’s still an island A huge island, indeed, with Chalkida as its capital a city with an extremely long history and many loyal admirers Conducting a quick and absolutely unsubstantiated survey among friends and acquaintances one can easily conclude that there must not be an Athenian who has not visited Chalkida at least once in their life which is why on weekends it is filled with families The truth is that the modern city of Chalkida in no way betrays its architectural past The entire city until 1885 was surrounded by walls in a medieval castle while an artificial moat made it look like a small autonomous island in the thin strip of sea that separates Euboea from Central Greece It was its strategic location that attracted the interest of the city’s first inhabitants sensing correctly that it would bring them power and wealth settled in the area as early as the Palaeolithic era The first important prehistoric settlement with elements of early urbanization (houses such as clay pipes that drained rainwater) dates back to 3000 BC and was found 5 km northwest of Chalkida The city of Chalkida seems to have taken its name from that time thanks to the specialisation of the inhabitants of Manika in metallurgy and copper trade The city of Chalkida was founded around 800 BC Many centuries and countless chapters of history later as both the city and the entire island of Euboea were of particular naval importance to the Byzantine Empire the most glorious period for Chalkida began during which the medieval castle was reconstructed and its walls were strengthened a powerful Venetian port and headquarters of the Venetian fleet Although by 1461 AD Negroponte had been significantly fortified it was unable to repel the attack of the Turks who had already begun to spread into Greece and finally in 1470 Mohammed II himself conquered Chalkis The city remained under the Turkish rule until 1833 Chalkida retained its impressive walls and its multicultural character even after its liberation But in 1885 the legendary castle was demolished by the Greeks and the building materials resulting from its demolition were used to cover the moat This is how Chalkida reached its architectural present day but which itself still holds countless hidden secrets The following stops in the modern city unfold another map of Chalkida and reveal the other face of this ancient city so that we can finally view Chalkida in a different light It is located near the port of Chalkida during the classical and Roman times where the springs of the mythical Arethoussa gush gurgling waters to this day It is housed in a 20th century industrial building the old distillery “Arethoussa SA” which is an exhibit in its own right and has been declared a World Heritage Site opened its doors to the public at the beginning of 2021 and constitutes a valuable orientation medium for visitors to both Chalkida and the whole of Euboea The museum is thematic and presents four main aspects of Chalkida’s history – urban organization economy and cultural identities and it also includes sub-theme sections such as the history of the building that houses it Short videos and multimedia applications accompany the sections of the museum interactive museum experience for visitors The museum is also accessible to people with disabilities Opening hours : Monday – Sunday 08.30 to 15.30 The impenetrable castle of Karababa stands proudly on the site of the ancient city of Kanithos on the mainland coast of Chalkida The fortress was built in 1684 by the Ottomans 14 on the roof and another 20 on the ramparts The two that remain in the fort today came from a Russian ship and were placed there by the Germans at a later date inside the western rampart there is an exhibition area that houses many artefacts from the early Christian the castle also offers stunning panoramic views admire the view of the city and try to imagine what it might have looked like before the fall of the medieval walls The best way to get up to the fort is to follow the path around the fort It’s a beautiful walk of 600 metres in total quite passable and with breathtaking views The fortress can be visited daily from 08.00 a.m The heart of the old city still beats behind the Athanaton square It is a small district that used to be within the walls managed to escape the modernization of the city today it still exudes something of Chalkida’s old charm and long history admire the traditional two-storey houses with their cornices and iron balconies many of which are unfortunately in decay today The remarkable thing is that in this tiny neighbourhood the places of worship of three different religions managed to coexist peacefully during the Ottoman period the Jewish synagogue and the Emir Zade Mosque still stand just a block from each other to this day dates back to the 5th century AD and was traditionally founded on the ruins of an ancient Greek temple as evidenced by the columns and pillars of the church which bear Ionic and Corinthian capitals Directly opposite the church of Agia Paraskevi is the house of Vailos who was gruesomely sawed to death by the Ottomans when they occupied the city It is a rare architectural example that combines Venetian and Ottoman architecture and is well worth a visit The synagogue of Chalkida is one of the oldest in Greece while its Jewish community is the only one in Europe that has lived continuously for 2,500 years in the same city The synagogue has been destroyed six times over the years but each time it was rebuilt in the exact same spot That is why the exact date of the first one’s construction remains unknown Agia Paraskevi is a parish church and is operating normally The house of Vailos is open every Thursday Saturday and Sunday from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm and admission is free The Emir Zade mosque hosts the amazing collection of engravings by Ioannis Karakostas and is open every Thursday For ouzo and fresh fish in Nea Lampsakos, a beautiful small town 80 km outside Athens A long spring weekend in Aegina -7 unique experiences Agistri: The lush little island of the Argosaronic Gulf This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Images courtesy of Classical Numismatic Group Classical Numismatic Group offered in its May auction a bronze Roman Provincial coin struck in Caesarea Maritima The coin features a complex pictorial narrative The reverse displays text referring to a vow and treaty of friendship and alliance between the Great King Agrippa and Augustus Caesar the Senate and the People of Rome with clasped right hands in the center Graded Very Fine with some minor roughness and a scratch on the reverse the legends — while incomplete — are more visible than usual “This remarkable and rare issue not only explicitly refers to the alliance on the reverse even using Agrippa’s new title “Great King,” but depicts the oath taking ceremony that occurred in the Roman Forum and is discussed in historical sources.” The Metropolitans Chrysostomos of Chalkida Chariton of Elassona and Nikiforos of Gortyn and Megalopolis as well as the Bishops Nikiforos of Skopelos and Christoforos of Amphipolis accompanied by the members of the Holy Synod as part of its regular work for the month of November received with cordiality the Hierarchs from Greece The new Shepherds of the three historic Metropolises from the ecclesiastical Eparchies of the Ecumenical Throne in Greece Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Chalkida presented to the Ecumenical Patriarch the newly elected assistant of Bishop Nikodimos of Skopelos and Metropolitan Pavlos of Kozani the newly elected assistant of Bishop Christoforos of Amphipolis The Ecumenical Patriarch congratulated them on their deserved election on the eve of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary (August 14 he will officiate at the Vespers of the Feast at the Church of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary in Kontodespoti who attended a special honorary event organised by the Evripeios Choir of Chalkida at the Amphitheatre of Chalkida City spoke of the memories he recalled thanks to the organisers of the event He spoke of his special bond with Chalkida city and said people get older and return to the places where they were born and raised I recall places that were a starting point for me Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Chalkida and Bishop Filotheos of Oreoi who is Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece Wan Yong to the City of Chalkida within the framework of the twinning program between the two Cities Yong was accompanied by a numerous delegation During the welcome ceremony which took place at the Chalkida’s City Hall a twinning agreement between Chalkis and Wuhan was signed thus proving the substantial progress that has been made in the level of cooperation between the two Cities during the last year and a half Yong praised Chalkida for its rich history and its potential and accented the existing positive prospects of cooperation between Chalkida and Wuhan in the areas of commerce “It is the third time that a Wuhan delegation visits Chalkida since the twinning program begun in 2015 and today’s signing of the twinning agreement is a tangible output of the excellent relations that have been developed between the two Cities and emphasizes the significant prospects for further development for the common good of the people” Mr Yong stated The Director of the Wuhan Bureau of Commerce Chen Ping made a presentation on the logistics and trade center which is planned to begin soon operation in Wuhan and will facilitate the import and distribution of agri-food products from the wider area of ​​the City of Chalkida significantly benefiting local Greek businesses by granting them access to the vast Chinese market She also announced the plan on behalf of the Chinese City to establish a direct flight from Wuhan to Athens in order to create a tourist flow from Wuhan to Chalkida Christos Pagonis referred to the significant opportunity for economic and cultural development that is created through the cooperation of Chalkida and Wuhan He underlined that Chalkida’s extrovert policy serves the City’s strategic goal for economic growth and noted that the presence of Mayor Yong in Chalkida is the best proof of the very constructive relations the two Cities now share “The operation of the trade center in Wuhan City is the best gateway to the Chinese market for our high quality local products In this unprecedented crisis that our country is experiencing the City of Chalkida demonstrates through this cooperation the impact that local authorities can have in stimulating the local economy” the Mayor of Chalkida concluded In his welcome speech the Vice Governor of Evia Mr Fanis Spanos stressed the importance of the initiative the City of Chalkida took to develop this twinning relationship and its positive outcome both for the City of Chalkida and for the region of Evia as a whole stating that the Regional Government of Central Greece would offer its amply support Following the closing ceremony at Chalkida’s City Hall an impressive acrobatics show with Wuhan’s world class team took place at Kanithos “Tasos Kampouris” Sports Hall The Wuhan Acrobatic Troupe has received more than 80 international awards and distinctions in international competitions There was also a performance of traditional dances by the Lyceum Club of Greek Women of Chalkida The City of Wuhan has a population of 10 million and is among the 5 most rapidly growing Chinese cities with a nominal GDP similar to that of Greece A ceremony in commemoration of the Great Hungarian Count István Széchenyi took place on Friday July 13 at the fortress of Karababa in Chalkida The Count is considered as one of the most prominent figures in the more recent part of the Hungarian history The ceremony was organized by the City of Chalkida and the […] The successful mission of the delegation of the Municipality of Chalkida to the City of Wuhan was sealed in the Chinese city with the signing of an agreement in tourism and trade cooperation Chalkida was the honorary city at the International Conference of Twinning Cities Investment and Trade which took place in Wuhan Promoting the European Cities & Regions Alliance for Roma Inclusion through strengthening Roma networks at local and regional level was the subject of the conference held in Athens on April 12 by the European Cities & Regions Alliance and the Central Union of Municipalities aiming at the effective integration of the Roma at local The ceremony was organized by the City of Chalkida and the Hungarian Embassy in Greece with the aim to bring to light a historic event unknown to many during his visit to Chalkida in the winter of 1818-19 Count Széchenyi acted decisively towards the release of three Greek captives by paying ransom for them In commemoration of the Hungarian Count the Mayor of Chalkida Mr Christos Pagonis and the Hungarian Ambassador to Greece Mr Eric Haupt planted a linden tree and unveiled a placque placed at the front yard of the Karababa’s fortress Ambassador Haupt referred to the significant contribution of Count Széchenyi to the creation of the modern Hungarian state and to the strong bonds of friendship between the Greek and Hungarian people He stressed his great admiration for the rich history of Chalkida and expressed his conviction that the highlight of this historic event could attract Hungarian visitors to Chalkida The Ambassador also mentioned the initiatives that have already been taken for the closer cooperation between the Municipality of Chalkida and the Hungarian Embassy in Greece greeted the Hungarian community of Chalkida the philhellene Ambassador and his colleagues and emphasized the importance of this historic event expressing his firm belief that it can trigger a closer cooperation between the City of Chalkida and other Hungarian Cities he described the actions carried out by the City of Chalkida to be widely acknowledged as a tourist destination in the context of an outward-looking strategic planning Present in the ceremony was the head of the Evian Ephorate of Antiquities who in her speech offered a brief review of the history of the Karababa’s fortress and its long-standing presence in the City of Chalkida As part of the event Hungarian and Greek dance groups gave spectacular performances followed by a tour on the fortress’s western bastion A meeting was held on Thursday April 12th between the Mayor of Chalkida Mr Dimitris Avramopoulos and the Minister of Immigration Policy Mr Vitsas visited the Ritsona Refugee Hosting Facility The qualifying match for Eurobasket Women 2017 between the Greek and the Bulgarian National Team will be held at Kanithos Sports Hall  “T.Kampouris” at Chalkida on Saturday November 19th at 5 p.m The draw for the Qualifiers for the EuroBasket Women 2017 Championship took place in Munich Greece was drawn in VI Group and was placed along Russia The City of Chalkida hosts a scientific seminar on: ARISTOTLE – Leading teacher and philosopher from 09: 30- until 15: 30 and from 17:00 until 21:00 The signing of a tourism co-operation agreement between the City of Chalkida and the City of Wuhan concluded a four-day working visit by the delegation from Chalkida headed by Mayor Mr Investment and Trade which took place in the Chinese city of 11 million inhabitants The Conference was attended and inaugurated by former Canada Prime Minister Mr At his conference speech the Mayor of Chalkida Christos Pagonis presented the comparative advantages of Chalkida as a tourist destination and as a place which is home to many quality agri-food products He went on to propose three axes upon which a further development of the existing network of twinned cities could occur with the emphasis given on tourism Pagonis’ addressed to an international audience which was comprised of missions from 60 cities from all around the globe international companies and various media reporters China’s great interest in Chalkida has been confirmed by the attention of the local media for the Chalkidian delegation During its 4-day visit the Mayor of Chalkida was interviewed for three television networks and various newspapers Business meetings were held with the Mayor of Wuhan Mr the Director and staff of the Tourism Organization as well as the Director and officials of the Wuhan City Trade Office the Municipality of Chalkida participated in the International Trade Fair of Cities where local products from Chalkida were introduced to the chinese consumers promotional material regarding Chalkida as a tourist destination was destributed to the public meetings with tour operators and large Chinese importing companies took place Christos Pagonis expressed his absolute satisfaction and enthusiasm for the highly successful pariticpation of the Municipality of Chalkida in the Conference while he also stressed the great prospects that this partnership opens up for Chalkida and the Chinese twinned city of Wuhan “We have been working consistently for the last two years to get to the point where Chalkida will finally become a destination for Chinese tourists In the coming years we expect to see some regional products be placed on the shelves of Wuhan super markets The development strategy of our Municipality will continue and will be further strengthened The twinning program between the two Cities During this time delegations from the Municipality of Wuhan have visited Chalkida four times Another tragedy struck the roads of Euboea on Friday afternoon when a car crash resulted in the deaths of two young people The accident happened shortly after the traffic lights in Lampsakou while another person was seriously injured and was transported by ambulance to Chalkida Hospital Follow en.protothema.gr on Google News and be the first to know all the news See all the latest News from Greece and the World, the moment they happen, at en.protothema.gr The quake had a very shallow depth of 10.8 km (7 mi) and was too small to be felt by people Chalkida has had 7 quakes of magnitude 2.0 or above There were also 22 quakes below magnitude 2.0 which people don't normally feel The strongest earthquake in Chalkida in the past 24 hours had a magnitude of 2.4 and occurred 4 hours ago: Mag. 2.4 earthquake Aegean Sea - Attica, Greece - writeAge(1746529646)A light magnitude 2.4 earthquake occurred in the Aegean Sea near Aegina island The depth of the quake is unknown.The quake was not felt (or at least not reported so) Police in Chalkida Gather Evidence in Evia Murder-Suicide Over Auctioned Home Officers from the Chalkida Security Department are collecting evidence to determine exactly what happened in the area of Mytikas where a 75-year-old man killed a 50-year-old who had purchased his home at auction A new piece of information has emerged in the ongoing investigation by the Hellenic Police the auction of the property was triggered by actions taken by the perpetrator’s sister due to financial disputes prompting her to initiate foreclosure proceedings Sources say the property went up for auction five times After four failed attempts with a starting price of €273,000 the house was finally sold to the 50-year-old victim for just €15,000 There are also unconfirmed reports suggesting that the perpetrator’s sister may have collaborated or coordinated with the 50-year-old buyer in the acquisition of the property who took his own life after committing the murder he reportedly wrote that he would not allow anyone to live in the house that had once been his family home The same sources say the notes described his financial struggles and included references to the justice system Authorities are now examining the contents of the notes suggesting the perpetrator intended for them to be found Investigators are also looking into whether the man had been contemplating suicide in recent weeks Sources indicate that the two men did not know each other prior to the auction According to a close friend of the victim speaking to protothema.gr the 75-year-old and the buyer had signed a private agreement allowing the former to remain in the home until May Euboea remains shocked by the tragedy that occurred in the area of Mytikas, in the municipality of Chalkideon, when a 75-year-old man shot and killed a 50-year-old man who had taken his house after an auction and then ended his life. According to information from protothema.gr the 75-year-old perpetrator and suicide had planned the murder of the 50-year-old while in the notes found by police officers he wrote that he would not let anyone stay in the house the 75-year-old described the financial difficulties he was facing and made a reference to the justice system Authorities are now mapping the notes that were found in plain view believing the suicide was intended to be traced They are also looking into whether the 75-year-old had been thinking about making the intended move lately According to a close friend of the victim who spoke to protothema.gr the 50-year-old and the perpetrator had signed a private agreement for the 75-year-old to stay in his house until May and then leave the victim went to the house to meet the elderly man and get the keys to the house Officers believe the 75-year-old was carrying the revolver when he spoke to the 50-year-old When the new owner went to get the garage controls One of the bullets struck the man in the head while the remaining two struck him in the back The 75-year-old then turned the gun on himself and ended his life the revolver was illegally possessed by the 75-year-old while it is still unclear how it came into his possession Inside the house was the elderly man’s sister who heard the shouting and then witnessed the gruesome sight As the victim’s brother told Eviaonline today the 75-year-old called him to give him the keys the perpetrator appeared and shot him in the back with a pistol three times in the back and once in the head my brother had never spoken to the shooter before; it was the first time they had met.” The famous Greek painter Dimitris Mitaras died on Thursday aged 83 after years of struggling with serious health problems that finally claimed his eyesight He was a teacher in the Athens School of Fine Arts from 1969 and Dean of the school from 1982 to 1985 He also founded at his birthplace Chalkida management is extremely active in the cultural life of the wider area Dimitris Mitaras was born in Chalkida in 1934 and studied painting in the Athens School of Fine Arts (1953-1957) with the teachers Giannis Moralis and Spiros Papaloukas before going to Paris with scholarship (1961-1964) at the École Nationale des Arts Decoratifs and the École des Arts et Métiers for studies in scenography and interior design His first personal exhibition was in Athens in 1961 His work was also presented in the Paris Biennale (1960) He also taught interior design in the Athens Technical Institute (1964-1972) He also worked in the theater in scenography and wall painting in various buildings (banks He wrote books and studies on art and articles on various subjects In 2008 he was elected a member of the Academy of Athens