The explosion occurred at approximately 4:00 a.m., shaking the residential area of Cholargos authorities discovered three gas canisters two of which had detonated while one remained intact The blast damaged the building’s entrance but did not result in any casualties cordoning off the area and launching an investigation The State Security Sub-Division is conducting a preliminary inquiry into the attack to identify potential suspects and motives While no group has claimed responsibility for the attack authorities are working to determine whether the police officer residing in the building was the intended target Further updates will follow as the investigation progresses Turkey (Credit: nejdetduzen/Getty Images)The language of the Pontic Greeks – ethnic Greeks who settled on the coast of the Turkish Black Sea – evolved completely differently to the language in their homeland I was making my way to Alsos Papagou park in the northern Athens suburb of Cholargos The humid air hung heavy with the scent of pine trees and families and groups of laughing teenagers were wandering across the grass or fetching coffee from the lakeside cafe Walking in front of me was a group of women in elaborately patterned floor-length skirts with gold and purple sashes around their waists On their heads sat small hats covered in gold coins I followed them into the Papagou Garden theatre a secluded amphitheatre nestled on the park’s northern edge Other women in similar outfits greeted them along with men wearing black headscarves and swords around their waists music and poetry performed by Pontic Greeks – ethnic Greeks who settled on the coast of the Turkish Black Sea • Greece's disappearing whistled language • Athens' bizarre underground phenomenon • Lesbos: a Greek island big enough for two told me she has been performing the dances since she was eight She also performs plays in the Pontics’ distinct dialect “I grew up with my grandmother in the house Sitaridi’s ancestors began leaving Greece around the 7th Century BC travelling to Turkey’s Black Sea region in search of silver and gold such as Trapezus (now Trabzon) and Smyrna (now Izmir) They were early adopters of Orthodox Christianity during the Byzantine period from 330 to 1453 and remain to this day a deeply religious community We consider ourselves descendants of the Argonauts"Over the centuries the Ancient Greek they spoke evolved completely differently to the language in their homeland  – so much so it sounds like an entirely different language which fused Ancient Greek culture with that of the indigenous communities around them The dances I was about to watch were performed on the lyra – a type of harp with its roots in Ancient Greece – and the men’s all-black outfits were adopted from the traditional dress of the Caucasus preserving the language and culture of their ancestors holds particular importance so I need to keep these traditions going to keep their memory alive,” she said Sitaridi and her fellow performers are members of the Argonauti-Komninoi Pontic Greek Association Earlier that week I visited them at their headquarters in the southern Athens suburb of Kallithea The building is distinguished by a yellow-and-black flag hanging outside which bears the symbol of the Argonaut ship and the Byzantine empire eagle “We consider ourselves descendants of the Argonauts who set sail from Greece looking for gold and silver,” said the organisation’s president some members of the group were rehearsing a play in Pontic dialect in the main hall Kastanidis explained that the syntax of Pontic is the same as Ancient Greek but many of the words are completely different It also contains sounds that do not exist in modern Greek it is very important to preserve it,” said Kastanidis who told me that 11 members of his family fled from northern Turkey Only his grandfather and great aunt survived the journey “We still feel like we are refugees in this country,” he said The cultural organisation was founded in 1930 to house and feed the thousands of Pontics seeking refuge around 500,000 Pontics live in Greece – around 5% of the total population – and there are 600 similar organisations around the country Kastanidis tells me their goal now is “to teach and to – one word – remember With a language like this, it is very important to preserve it"Pockets of Pontic Greek culture can be found all over Greece today. In the nearby Nea Smyrni neighbourhood – named after Smyrna, where many Pontic refugees arrived from – sits the Museum of Pontian Hellenism It is filled with artefacts that families managed to bring with them as they fled such as embroidered homewares and wooden musical instruments the Pontics rebuilt a copy of the Panagia Soumela Monastery in Trabzon which was founded by the community in 386AD and is dedicated to the Virgin Mary Every year on 15 August – the Virgin Mary’s day in Orthodox Christianity – Pontics from across the country travel to join in with festivities here The Argonauti- Komninoi Pontic Greek Association hosts lessons in Pontic dialect that are open to anyone They also teach 50 different traditional dances “Different areas of Pontus had different dances,” Kastanidis said “It was their main form of entertainment.” He added that most involve the dancers holding hands “to join our power and our strength together,” and that traditionally they would have been performed at weddings “or any day people wanted to just gather together.” I asked which dance is everyone’s favourite “You can feel the goosebumps when you perform it,” said dancer Panagiotis Kikidis The name comes from the Ancient Greek words ‘pyr’ for fire and ‘hios’ for fighting and it was traditionally performed in preparation for battles it has its roots thousands of years ago,” Kikidis said “The goddess Athena was said to have performed it.” Kikidis tells me he is Pontic from his father’s side and grew up in Athens speaking the dialect at home “Everyone should keep their roots alive – it’s in our blood,” he said He explains that his four-year-old son hasn’t learnt the dialect yet the music – he sees what I do and he even does some moves himself” Everyone should keep their roots alive – it’s in our blood"As the sun began to slip away we took our seats around the amphitheatre circle one playing the lyra and the other a large drum From one side of the stage the women entered They moved their linked arms up and down in time to the heavy beat of the drum Eventually it was time for the famous Pyrihios dance and the women moved back as the men stepped forward and the men did not smile as they performed a sequence of dramatic moves Although everyone I met was passionate about keeping Pontic customs alive they admitted that it becomes harder to pass them down the generations the longer time goes on “My children understand Pontic but they do not speak it at home,” Kastanidis said “Young people are more likely to put their time into learning English or other second languages.” And although she doesn’t have children yet she would want them to learn the language “but it won’t be the same she said that she “will try as much as I can to keep it alive.” Even though those performing may not have lived through the violence and exile their grandparents experienced it’s clear the stories of it still have a profound emotional effect Kastanidis stepped forwards to read a poem about the history of the Pontics and I noticed Sitaridi had tears streaming down her cheeks as he spoke “He was telling the story of our grandparents and how they begged to be allowed to die in their country rather than leave,” she told me afterwards “I really feel it when I hear these stories… it’s part of me.” Join more than three million BBC Travel fans by liking us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter and Instagram If you liked this story, sign up for the weekly bbc.com features newsletter called "The Essential List". A handpicked selection of stories from BBC Future, Culture, Worklife and Travel, delivered to your inbox every Friday. {"image":{"pid":""}} It’s late afternoon Sunday in Athens when a tall bearded Greek approaches me and bursts into tears We’re standing in a dim hallway on the second-floor of Primary School 2 in Glyfada a well-to-do neighborhood in southern Athens Like many Greeks participating in Sunday’s referendum Kokkinos cast his vote with little conviction worried that no matter what the country decides before rushing to wait in line at an ATM to get cash for his grandmother this sprawling city of about 4 million has been seized by a mix of fear and resignation over a referendum that could decide the country’s future in both the euro and Europe little has changed in the city in recent months the bars and restaurants are full and the streets are as a bustling as ever Yet the tone of the conversation has turned dark The optimism that pervaded the city in the wake of the January election of the leftist Syriza government has been replaced by foreboding and gallows humor “These are the Last Days of Pompeii,” has become a standard quip among affluent Athenians as they contemplate the total collapse of their economy and a future outside of the euro I’d spent hours crisscrossing the city on the back of a motorcycle speaking to Greeks from a range of backgrounds about the vote a working-class suburb about 10 kilometers away on the western outskirts Along the way we passed a sea of posters and homemade banners screaming “OXI,” No a 47-year-old who sells spare truck parts for a living adding that it wouldn’t have made any difference if he had voted Yes “The main thing we’ll establish today is that austerity has to end.” A 50-year-old orthodox priest dressed in robes and wearing a Kalimavkion emerges from a classroom where the voting booths are He’s reluctant to talk but says he voted Yes “We are part of a family in the European Union a nearby municipality that is home to Greece’s main prison The polling station is a school directly across from the prison but it’s hard to tell the two apart an 18-year-old with a wispy beard who just voted for the first time before blaming the euro and saying that his No-vote won’t matter in the end anyway a tony beachside town that looks like southern California Porsches and Audis cruise along a coastal thoroughfare selling English home-wares and Italian fashions A seafood restaurant overlooking a marina crowded with yachts is full with the Sunday lunch crowd The adjacent beach is dotted with umbrellas locals in Ralph Lauren shirts and kakhi pants wait to vote the father who broke into tears after voting We race down the highway at over 130 km per hour heading towards his neighborhood so he can cast his vote before polls close a leafy neighborhood in one of Athens’ better areas He says he wants to remain in Europe but votes No saying that it’s time for Greece to vote “with the heart and not the mind.” Still he has few illusions about what comes next Also On POLITICO Greece rebukes Europe By Helen Popper Stagnation, flagging competitiveness, Donald Trump — the continent is facing “an existential challenge.” The U.S. and German leaders leave behind a frozen conflict in Ukraine as the prospect of a Trump victory weighs on Europe. The Serbian leader has proved adept at balancing the West versus China and Russia. Euroskeptic Freedom Party promises to erect “Fortress Austria” and claims the election result entitles it to lead the country’s next government. See & Do Lesser-Known Summer Destinations to Visit in Europe See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Summer From hiking through forests opening up to whitewashed views to taking a selfie atop the Acropolis or tucking into some hearty souvlaki, Athens has plenty to offer the discerning solo traveller There’s really nothing you can’t do alone here – and if company is what you’re after If you look beyond the mundane concrete and the – at times irritating – unruliness of Athens you’ll find the Greek capital brims with beautiful corners and a very lively art scene – all of which go hand in hand with its gregarious people follow the glow of the Parthenon on the hilltop Panoramic view of Athens with Acropolis hill on a hot summer day in Greece An Athens solo trip overview To cover the basics and get a deeper sense of the city Climbing the Acropolis hill is obviously a must but there are also many other archaeological sites to explore If millennia-old treasures are what you’re after stroll around the Monastiraki and Acropolis areas to spot some of the most notable examples The Gate of Athena Archegetis is part of the Roman Agora | | © George Pachantouris / Getty Images hike through the lush Ymittos mountain range and watch the city from up high And for a full taste of the Athens food-and-drink scene jump on a food tour of the centre before hitting the hip bars and tavernas in the Pagrati area Explore the Aesthetic Forest of Kesariani in the Ymittos mountain range and discover this Byzantine monastery | | © CoinUp / Getty Images Where to stay in Athens The peculiar – to some unattractive – thing about Athens is that it has no defined character Yet that’s what makes the city so diverse and easy to fit all travellers’ tastes you’ll be marvelling at splendid neoclassical mansions that casually stand next to precious archaeological finds and semi-derelict blocks from the ’80s that look like they really don’t belong verdant neighbourhoods dotted with plush hotels and houses sleek apartments and holiday rentals await you Sign up to our newsletter to save up to $800 on our unique trips See privacy policy National and Kapodistrian University of Athens NKUA To delve deeper into the historical centre of Athens, stay in one of the charming hotels in Plaka The oldest area in the city is known for having cute cafes bougainvillaea-dotted alleys and Cycladic-style houses in Anafiotika – this lovely quarter within Plaka was created by settlers who came from the island of Anafi in the late 19th century Beautiful Hadrian’s Library in Monastiraki square For those seeking fun places to eat, drink and socialise, staying in Pagrati will do the trick. Think hipster cafes with delicious brunch offerings, little mezedopolia – spots serving drinks and local nibbles – and fashionable lofts you can call home for the holidays. Art enthusiasts will also love the Basil and Elise Goulandris Foundation and the National Gallery Alexandros Soutsos Museum which reopened in 2021 after an eight-year renovation Panathenaic stadium or kallimarmaro in Athens | Anastasios71 / Shutterstock What to do in Athens Discovering the best things to do in Athens is no easy feat, given each neighbourhood has its secrets and very own archaeological treasures. Check out our picks for some of the highlights, many of which you can also try on this small-group organised trip by Culture Trip The best way to really get a taste of Athens is to take a walking food tour around the city centre There are many organised tours that will lead you to the best places in town From eating loukoumades (Greek doughnuts) on Aiolou Street to sipping some Lebanese soup near Psyrri Athens will not disappoint when it comes to street-food delicacies Climb the Acropolis hill and soak up the sun from the Parthenon but you can’t visit Athens and not see the Parthenon The ancient temple was built on the Acropolis hill (acropolis meaning “edge of the city”) in the fifth century BCE Walk amid its striking marble columns before exploring neighbouring jewels such as the Erechtheion temple or the newer Herodeion a stone Roman theatre that now holds live concerts The Porch of the Maidens on the Erechtheion temple is supported by sculpted female figures | | © Diego Mariottini / EyeEm / Getty Images Athens has become quite the art hub thanks to its thriving street-art scene Walk around the Keramikos and Psyrri areas for large-scale murals or the anarchist area of Exarcheia for a more political Apart from the Goulandris museum and the National Gallery the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center hosts cultural events and exhibitions – and sits in a magnificent park We’ve already said so much about the food but it’s never enough when Athens is involved The city is so full of cafes and eateries that there’s hardly any space left for anything else mainly in the centre but also in more residential northern areas Expect to find a good souvlaki place practically everywhere, along with tavernas serving traditional meals – anything from Greek salads and fine cheeses to juicy meatballs or a full-blown moussaka (the Greek eggplant-and-meat-based dish). The burger scene is also booming, with places such as Juicy Grill leading the way and there’s a variety of good international food such as moussaka | | © MarioGuti / Getty Images stay happy Athens is a fairly safe city but it helps to be extra careful at night – as you would in any capital always keep your handbag or backpack close when walking along busy streets Most distances are relatively short in Athens so you won’t have to spend a lot on transport The centre is walkable no matter where you choose to stay but if you want to head to more out-of-town suburbs It’s also worth downloading the Beat app – the Uber equivalent for Athens The metro system in Athens is easy to navigate but doesn’t go to all areas | | © MarioGuti / Getty Images The metro system is easy to navigate but doesn’t reach all areas so using it depends on where you want to go Buses should be your last resort as they are not that frequent and usually very crowded nito / shutterstock View Tour Discover the rich history and vibrant culture of Athens on a half-day sightseeing tour that includes tickets to the Acropolis Start your journey by exploring the city’s most iconic landmarks and the Parliament building with its ceremonial guards As you travel through the historic streets learn about the city’s ancient and modern heritage from your expert guide The highlight of the tour is a visit to the Acropolis where your included tickets grant you easy access to this world-famous site and enjoy panoramic views of Athens from the hilltop This half-day tour offers a perfect introduction to the city’s timeless beauty and historical significance despinagalani / Unsplash View Tour Explore Athens and the stunning Beach Riviera at your own pace with the City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours This flexible tour allows you to discover the best of Athens and its surroundings with ease Hop on and off at any of the conveniently located stops visiting iconic landmarks like the Acropolis Take a stroll through the bustling streets of Piraeus where you can relax on sandy shores or enjoy a refreshing swim in the crystal-clear waters With informative audio commentary available in multiple languages this tour offers a comprehensive and convenient way to see the sights of Athens Saga Photo and Video / Shutterstock View Tour Uncover the beauty of Athens by joining a free walking tour that starts at the Athens Metropolitan Cathedral and ends around Athens’s flea market The three-hour tour is ideal for getting the lay of the land seeing some of Athens’s most popular tourist attractions while giving you the opportunity to interact with the locals ushashots / Shutterstock View Tour If you’re looking to indulge in authentic Greek cuisine This gourmet food tour introduces you to all the mouth-watering delights that Athens has to offer The four-hour tour starts with a traditional Greek breakfast in a 100-year-old café but be sure to leave plenty of room to sample loukoumades (Greek donuts) and custard-filled filo squares hole-in-the-wall restaurants serving local favourites Robert Bye / Unsplash View Tour Seeing the sights of Athens may be too much to handle by foot making this morning bike tour the perfect way to explore the city’s most popular attractions including the Panathenaic Stadium the National Gardens and the picturesque streets of Plaka at the foot of the Acropolis The three-and-a-half-hour bike tour starts at 9.30am meaning you can avoid the midday heat and busier city crowds while still having time to grab breakfast beforehand No more than 12 people are allowed on each tour leaving plenty of opportunities to ask your guide for insider tips Sven Hansche / Shutterstock View Tour You don’t necessarily need to stay in Athens in order to enjoy the sights of the city snorkelling and sunbathing with views over the stunning Athens coastline the five-hour morning cruise will sail towards Vouliagmeni Bay past the Athenian Riviera and out off the coast where you’re free to swim or simply snack on authentic Greek tapas and have a cheeky glass of Greek wine marco_pregnolato / Unsplash View Tour Athens is a city that sits on the coast meaning that stunning blue oceans are a stone’s throw away from the city centre Take advantage of the breathtaking views and add some sea breeze and ocean views to your trip with this coastal bike tour this four-and-a-half-hour morning bike ride takes you along the length of the Athens Riviera giving you plenty of time to admire the deep blue water of the Saronic Gulf Just remember to keep your eyes on the road Stops along the tour include the SNFCC New Opera House National Library of Athens and the luxurious Flisvos Marina shootervision / Unsplash View Tour The ancient Greek gods were known to drink wine when celebrating this one-and-a-half-hour tour offers an introduction to Greek wines paired with tales of Dionysus – the Greek god of wine As you sample five local wines while overlooking the legendary Acropolis you’ll learn how to be the perfect sommelier birminghammuseumstrust / Unsplash View Tour You can’t visit Athens and not learn about the ancient Greek gods Not only will you hear the tales of mythical gods but you’ll also see the sights and structures that inspired them from spectacular views of the Acropolis to discovering lesser-known spots like the Varvakios Market This private tour starts at the Trilogy of Athens a complex of three elegant buildings representing the 12 Olympian gods nicknight / Unsplash View Tour Athens may not be a city that you associate with street art but don’t let the ancient architecture overshadow the more modern works of art that are on display See the city like never before by joining the street art tour led by a real street artist who will take you around three of the city’s most vibrant neighbourhoods See & Do Lesser-Known Summer Destinations to Visit in Europe See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Summer See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in October Guides & Tips Beat the Crowds with these Alternative Summer Destinations See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in September See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Autumn Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in December Guides & Tips The Best Places to Travel in August See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in July Guides & Tips This Is Europe's Ultimate Road Trip See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Spring Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in November US: +1 (678) 967 4965 | UK: +44 (0)1630 35000 tripssupport@theculturetrip.com © Copyright 2025 The Culture Trip Ltd Professor Stephen Smith was a keynote speaker at the ATHENS 2012 International Conference on Sustainable Solid Waste Management he used his experimental and commercial experience in developing a novel rotary biodrying technology to illustrate the barriers that often prevent the transfer of novel technologies into the waste management sector and how these might be overcome Article text (excluding photos or graphics) available under an Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike Creative Commons license. Photos and graphics subject to third party copyright used with permission or © Imperial College London Greek Deputy Minister of National Defence Ioannis Kefalogiannis on Friday attended the ceremonial laying of a wreath at the Memorial for the Fallen Greeks in the Korean War by visiting Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea Duck-soo Han The memorial is located at Agios Georgios Sq and the event was attended by Papagos-Cholargos Mayor Ilias Apostolopoulos Korean War veterans and members of their families Kefalogiannis noted that “73 years ago our country – responding to the call by the United Nations – raised its flag among the 22 allies who sent military personnel “Cooperation between the two countries – having the same concerns and sensitivities on a broad range of political issues – is of the utmost importance and can serve as a force multiplier to promote peace security and economic development,” he underlined Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou met with visiting Republic of Korea Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on Friday and referred to the historic ties between Greece and Korea as well as the opportunities to expand bilateral relations The historical ties between the two countries were forged during their joint struggles for liberty starting with the Greek Army forces that took part in the Korean War relations between Greece and Korea since then have been developing steadily in all sectors of joint interest Han noted that bilateral relations between Greece and Korea are developing in several sectors he noted that the first Greek ships in Korea’s shipyards were built in 1972 marking the start of a mutually beneficial collaboration He also said that Greece and Korea are always fighting for the values of liberty READ MORE: Azerbaijan “flirts” with the recognition of occupied Cyprus: “Turkish state must act together.” Gerasimos Papadopoulos posted a response addressing those who confidently claim that the fault causing earthquakes in Cholargos scientists have no knowledge of the size of the fault and that caution is necessary “given that we are dealing with a densely populated area.” He detailed the following in his post:“The sequence began on 12/11/2024 with a magnitude of 2.8 and has continued with smaller magnitudes We are currently learning by observing these small earthquakes The correct scientific phrasing is: ‘We know nothing about the fault; the epicenters of these small earthquakes are not spread across a large area so far no significant section of the fault has been activated.’ who remembers the small earthquakes in the western section of the Fylis fault in November 1997 that preceded the devastating Parnitha (Fylis) earthquake on 9/7/1999 given that we are referring to a densely populated area.” 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 Two shallow-focus seismic tremors were recorded within approximately 1.5 hours at a relatively close distance in the northern suburbs of Attica with a magnitude of 2.6 on the Richter scale occurred in the area of Chalandri shortly before 3:30 AM and was felt in several parts of Attica (reports from Agia Paraskevi According to the revised solution from the Geodynamic Institute the epicenter was two kilometers southwest of Chalandri an area known for frequent tremors in recent times another much weaker tremor of magnitude 0.8 on the Richter scale was recorded near the same location The Euro-Mediterranean Institute reported the tremor at a magnitude of 3 and a focal depth of 6 kilometers with a magnitude of 1.9 on the Richter scale had its epicenter three kilometers south-southwest of Chalandri with the focal depth measured at 7.9 kilometers The Euro-Mediterranean Institute reported this tremor at a magnitude of 2.2 on the Richter scale A drug-fueled party catering to all tastes was set up in a luxurious villa in Kalyvia by a DJ and her group, who today fell into the net of Greek FBI agents an impressive blonde from the United Kingdom with Azerbaijani roots she was found in possession of a variety of drugs is also a cousin of the President of Azerbaijan she and her husband came under the scrutiny of UK authorities—specifically the National Crime Agency (NCA)—following information that they had received £13.9 million (approximately $19.6 million) from questionable sources the couple agreed to pay more than £4 million in exchange for the NCA not seizing any other assets According to the website transparency.org.uk court documents revealed that the couple admitted that the funds had entered the UK through the “Azerbaijan Laundromat,” a money-laundering operation used by the political elite of Azerbaijan investigators also accepted the couple’s explanation that they were unaware that the funds had passed through bank accounts linked to the laundering scheme which had funneled a total of £2.2 billion out of the country between 2012 and 2014 Michaela’s “partners in crime” in the drug distribution were nine other individuals who were “hired” to provide security for the event among those arrested was the individual who provided the venue for the party The countdown to Michaela’s arrest and that of her accomplices began a few days ago when information reached the offices of the Hellenic Police that the DJ had arrived in Greece and was organizing a drug-fueled party in a luxurious villa in Kalyvia Even though invitations for the party were sent online police officers managed to locate the event’s venue and conducted a raid Among the substances discovered were cocaine and colored powders of unknown chemical composition It is worth noting that many of those arrested had previously been involved with the authorities for a variety of offenses a 32-year-old detainee had been charged with: