Stirring the leaves of a shrub on his farm in Kyparissia Panos Adamopoulos spied the first soon-to-be-ripe mangoes — his share of a state experiment against climate change this fertile land on the shores of the Ionian Sea has been mainly known for olives even this part of Greece that sees more rain than other parts of the country is grappling with the effects of drought Greece also experienced the hottest June and July since reliable data collection began in 1960 adding that his property has not received a drop of rain since March whose trees seem to grow right into the Ionian Sea Most of Adamopoulos’ income currently comes from iceberg lettuce But with increasingly arid seasons in sight he might soon have to give up on some of his lucrative Adamopoulos is among a small number of Greek growers turning to tropical fruits — mangoes cherimoya and macadamia nuts — which he says are “more resistant” to the increasingly intense heat in the Mediterranean region he only grows a few dozen mango and avocado trees on his 80-hectare estate The exotic fruits are adapting so well to their new surroundings that Adamopoulos now plans to plant a further 300 trees He he said he had already received orders for his first harvests The initiative is part of a study by Greek state agriculture institute Demeter to determine whether tropical fruits could help address the country’s looming drought problem Study supervisor Teresa Tzatzani said the point is to “find new ways to face this climate change and this is good for these crops,” she said Although avocado already grows on the island of Crete scientists were unsure whether the tree would adapt to conditions on the Greek mainland And while mango trees need very little rainfall the last two winters have been unusually dry This type of innovation is essential to save the sector from future climate disasters head of agriculture for the local region of Triphylia tropical fruits are not a miracle solution The program currently has only a dozen farmers and about 10 hectares under cultivation While it is not intended to replace staple local products who plans to extend the experiment to other Greek regions Neighboring countries are experiencing similar problems Sicilian farmers have started producing mangoes The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimates that the Mediterranean basin would experience more frequent heat waves and droughts another Greek farmer taking part in the initiative estimated that it would take years for tropical fruit production to become profitable in Greece the 34-year-old said he cannot afford to devote all his time to it is often without water for several hours during the day due to scheduled cuts his olive yield was 60 percent below average Despite being an environmental activist during his university years Dimitrakakis acknowledges that he only recently realized that climate change would impact him so soon He now hopes to convince other local farmers some of whom prefer to think it’s just a “bad year.” Greece is well known as a popular tourist destination for its crystal blue waters, white sands, and Mediterranean cuisine. One of the most beautiful places to visit in Greece is the Gulf of Kyparissia. The gulf is on the coast of the Peloponnese Peninsula and flows into the Ionian Sea The gulf's waters are an incredible blue and full of a diversity of marine life from fish to corals and even loggerhead turtles sandy banks of the gulf are an important nesting ground for the loggerhead turtles The Gulf of Kyparissia is a natural beauty along the western coast of the Peloponnese Peninsula in Greece. It is a long curving indentation between Cape Katakolo at the north and Cap Konello at the south. It is also an inlet of the Ionian Sea, which is an elongated bay of the Mediterranean Sea The Gulf of Kyparissa is about 35 miles wide and flanks the partially enclosed coastal bay of the Alpheius The Peloponnese extends southwards 15 miles from shore and is a series of large lagoons The Nedha River divides the northern part of the gulf The river divides the bay into the nomos of the Ilía on the north part and the Messenia on the south part the town Kiparissia lies on the shore of the harbor Paralia there is a long line of beaches and mountain villages with beautiful views of the water Since the Gulf of Kyparissia flows into the Ionian Sea The Ionian Sea is an important habitat for marine biodiversity There are many different fish and mammals in the waters There are also many different types of mollusks The Gulf of Kyparissia is particularly important to the loggerhead turtle species The sandy shores are a nesting ground for the turtles The average annual temperature is 62 degrees Fahrenheit and the average annual rainfall is 36 inches The summer season in Kyparissia starts at the end of June and ends in September The temperatures in the summer are hot and reach highs of 107.6 degrees Fahrenheit with an average of 12.33 hours of sunshine The autumn season starts in late October in Kyparissia and there is usually rain during this time its temperatures in the winter do not get too cold lasting from the end of December to the beginning of March Temperatures never dip down below 41 Fahrenheit Both the Gulf and the nearby town of Kyparissia have a history dating back to the Middle Ages People inhabited the area dating back to the second millennium B.C Kyparissia and the Gulf of Kyparissia were called Arcadia Kyparissia had significance because of its location near Olympia and Pylos the Theban leader Epaminodas revived the economic importance of the gulf He used the Gulf of Kyparissia as a port for his capital Today the Gulf of Kiparissia is a popular tourist spot and agriculture dominates the town The beautiful weather in the Gulf of Kyparissia makes the a great tourist destination It also has some of the most beautiful beaches in Greece Some of the most popular beaches to visit include Ai-Lagoudis Beach and Kalo Nero Beach Ai-Lagoudis Beach has waters that are perfect for water recreation and sports such as sea-kayaking and paddle boarding Since water currents are weaker at this beach Many restaurants along the beachfront serve traditional Greek seafood Kalo Nero Beach is quieter than Ai-Lagoudis Beach The area has fewer tourists but still offers serene ocean views offering beautiful views of golden sandy beaches and crystal clear waters The Gulf of Kyparissia is also home to GVI's marine conservation base in Giannitsochori This is an important spot for the near-threatened loggerhead turtle The conservation base is a beach with shores left untouched and protected by law If you visit the Gulf of Kyparissia you might see a loggerhead turtle nesting site There are laws protecting the gulf's sandy shores to save the loggerhead turtles The turtles are near-threatened species because of danger to their habitat Pollution in the oceans and nest destruction are contributing factors to their endangerment If you see a loggerhead turtle nest it's important not to disturb the nest by touching or moving the eggs The baby loggerhead turtles have to make their way to the ocean from the nest The GVI turtle conservation project in Giannitsochori monitors the turtle activity If you want to get involved in turtle conservation you can help with the organization's conservation efforts if you are taking a trip to Greece be sure to check out the Gulf of Kyparissia or check out the nearby town of Kyparissia the gulf's natural beauty won't disappoint photos and original descriptions © 2025 worldatlas.com From childhood, Panagiotis Vasilopoulos loved animals—especially horses– but he took up acting after finishing school he transferred to the Dramatic School of the Art Theater He worked in well-known television productions such as Kato Partali and Amartima Tis Mitros Mou and he also had important roles in theatre I set out to do this and made it happen,” he said “I believe that the presence of animals in our daily lives is imperative They are what bring us balance and make us see tomorrow more interesting,” the actor added he reset and started a new life in Kyparissia “Although returning to the area where I grew up was something I wanted to do, the first few months had some difficulties. I took some things for granted, which were not. But I quickly got used to it, and now life in the big city is something I can only experience as a visitor,” Panagiotis said He goes to Athens to see a match with his favourite football team or to go for a walk with his family they have two children and aim to provide them with experiences that will make them appreciate life’s truth Starting from his love for horses and after spending a lot of time with Sifi he decided to give others the opportunity to experience horses where he spends a large part of his day in an environment ideal for horses’ well-being “We deal with the horses and provide them with the ideal conditions for their daily life” he told us while preparing for a walk in the forest “Someone who primarily wants to learn about horses can come here We try to give all the information and then have a little walk in the forest safe for both the rider and the animal.” Panagiotis’s favourite horse is Julia. We leave for the forest and then to the beach. They both enjoy it. Julia wants to get to the beach, so we follow them. They get lost in the endless beach “My relationship with horses is one of truth and honesty in addition to the importance we place on the safety of the guests we closely monitor the reactions of the animals to make sure that the horse is equally happy,” he explained We leave Elea Horse Riding after coming closer to the horses and learning many things related to their daily lives Panagiotis continues his daily life in this different life he chose for himself and his wife for their family Instagram: elea.horse.riding Dimitri Stathopoulos is a columnist for Travel. Translated by Paul Antonopoulos READ MORE: Tilos: A small Dodecanese island for a perfect vacation Many believe that Western civilization began in ancient Greece It turns out that humans had a lot longer to develop in Greece than previously thought New discoveries have pushed back the dawn of the Greeks by a quarter of a million years a number of hunting tools have turned up that date to 700,000 years ago the oldest tools in Greece came from the Petralona Cave in the north of the country and were just 500,000 years old Part of an ancient deer skull found at the Kyparissia site 4 Archaeologists have known of this site in the Megalopolis Basin for many years but have only rarely excavated it the area has supplied coal to local power plants It eventually became clear that there were older remains and fossils there This triggered an attempt to better understand the sites The Hellenic Ministry of Culture & Sports and the American School of Classical Studies teamed up for a planned five-year study It contains stone hunting tools and the remains of hippos This is the one that dates back 700,000 years and is the oldest Lower Palaeolithic site in Greece “[It’s] one of the oldest sites in Europe with tools characteristic of the so-called Middle Palaeolithic tool industry,” the researchers told The Guardian It suggests that Greece may have played a significant role in stone industry developments in Europe Even though this is now the oldest hominin site in Greece Stone tools crafted by hominins from the Kyparissia 4 site Reconstructions of the basin and environment show that the area would not have been affected by the Ice Age that covered large swathes of Europe 300,000 to 500,000 years ago the basin acted as a safe haven for species and the remains of large and small animals It is not only a look into the history of human evolution but of any other species they found tools and deer bones with obvious cut marks The 400,000-year-old Tripotamos 4 site showed evidence of ever-improving stone tools And the 450,000-year-old Marathons] 1 and 2 areas had ancient human remains and elephants that had clearly been killed using the tools Rebecca McPhee is a freelance writer for ExplorersWeb Rebecca has been writing about open water sports Rebecca worked as an Editorial Assistant at Taylor and Francis Based in the UK Rebecca is a science teacher and volunteers for a number of marine charities Sign up to receive ExplorersWeb content direct to your inbox once a week Hop into your car and explore magnificent natural landscapes historical sights and much more with this guide The Peloponnese offers a journey through lush landscapes Beloved by Greeks and increasingly popular among international tourists the region’s diversity promises quick escapes you’ll be able to delight in the deep and rich colors of nature at their best – the warm reds or a mountain village perched over 1,000 meters high which makes these trips especially ideal for you if you are based in Athens Below are some expertly mapped routes worth exploring whether as a primary destination or a mini-excursion This route bursts with a cornucopia of Greek nature and tradition and end up enjoying a coffee or meal with views of the Myrtoan Sea you’ll ascend the slopes of Mt Parnon navigating through dense forests and winding roads that reveal spectacular views of ravines and hillsides a verdant mountain often overlooked by tourists offers tranquil spots like the village of Kosmas you’ll enjoy panoramic views stretching to Hydra and Spetses on clear days A short 15-kilometer detour will take you to the Elona Monastery dramatically set against the mountain’s dramatic cliffs a coastal town known for its imposing Red Rock and its rich architectural heritage Vytina and Kalavryta are two of the most popular destinations in the colder seasons Whether you’re staying in Arcadia or Achaia you’ll gradually leave the slopes of Mount Mainalo reaching the village of Kleitoria at the base of Mount Helmos the village of Lykouria and the Ladonas River springs are well worth visiting but the true marvel lies in Planitero’s Plaintree forest It’s a captivating spot for photography and relaxation with tavernas specializing in dishes celebrating the local river fish Enter via an artificial tunnel that leads to the cave’s second level but walking over them is a special experience especially in winter or spring when the water levels rise the village of Kato Lousoi is home to one of the Peloponnese’s most well-preserved tower houses—the Tower of the Petmezai family known for their contribution to the Greek Revolution of 1821 This route isn’t the quickest way to reach Ancient Olympia from Tripoli but it’s undoubtedly the most picturesque Passing through charming villages like Vytina and making small detours to explore mountain towns like Dimitsana you’ll experience the beauty of Arcadia offering a smooth drive as long as weather conditions permit After visiting the Ancient Olympia archaeological site drive another 20 kilometers to the Foloi Forest Greece’s only oak forest and one of the largest in Europe Remarkably untouched by the fires that have affected the Peloponnese its golden-red carpets of fallen leaves create stunning scenery The forest is also well-suited for leisurely walks or drives well-maintained network of forest roads and trails This route is best enjoyed during the summer months as it runs almost exclusively along the coast passing some of Greece’s most stunning beaches including Finikounda and the famous Voidokilia Beach Though not particularly known for its scenic drive built amphitheatrically on a small peninsula in the southwestern Peloponnese boasts one of the best-preserved medieval castles in Greece alongside a cozy harbor beach perfect for families The town’s summer rhythm revolves around beach activities while charming squares like Andrea Syngrou with its century-old plane trees and neoclassical school building (built in 1901 thanks to a benefactor’s donation) which have gained international recognition thanks to investments like Costa Navarino More about this legendary corner of the southern Peloponnese can be found here a must-visit destination if you haven’t been Its Upper Town is among Greece’s most romantic spots Discover more about this charming area here explore its famous archaeological site and savor the region’s celebrated wines venture into the lesser known but stunning villages around the Ladonas River excluding countless stops you can make along the way Essential stops include the shores of Lake Doxa and Goura before reaching Lake Ladonas and its surrounding hamlets is an ecological haven ideal for birdwatching and nature walks The route to this area features impressive vegetation diversity named after its once-abundant chestnut forest offers stone houses and pristine air—perfect for a coffee or meal stop The final stops highlight the Ladonas River an underrated but scenic waterway forming small beaches along its banks before leading to a lake the route from Kontovazaina to the Kyra’s Bridge offers gentle curves and lovely lake views which may not be visible year-round due to seasonal changes in the artificial lake’s size A surface survey showing the artificial levels of the Megalopolis lignite mine in Greece The sites Kyparissia 3 and 4 in the stratigraphic sequence of the lignites A prehistoric site in Greece pushes back the earliest known hominin presence in the region by up to 250,000 years Several prehistoric sites in Greece reveal that our human ancestors hunted hippos and elephants between 280,000 and 700,000 years ago The oldest site pushes back the earliest known hominin presence in the region by up to 250,000 years Sitting about 124 miles (200 kilometers) southwest of Athens the Megalopolis Basin in Arcadia hosts one of the largest lignite mines in Greece Although archaeologists have known for decades that the site harbored ancient fossils little targeted excavation had been carried out the Hellenic Ministry of Culture & Sports and the American School of Classical Studies at Athens launched a five-year excavation to better understand the context of the Megalopolis sites. a paleoanthropologist at the University of Tübingen in Germany and co-project lead Related: Back to the Stone Age: 17 key milestones in Paleolithic life At a site called Marathousa 2 dating to 450,000 years ago the researchers discovered evidence that ancient human relatives were killing and presumably eating hippopotamuses as part of a hippo skeleton had stone tool cut marks on it shows evidence of elephant butchering. Get the world’s most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox "The cut marked hippopotamus bones from Marathousa 2 which were also found together with a lithic artifact are the only such findings from the Middle Pleistocene of southeast Europe," Harvati said The team found that megafaunal exploitation was likely common during this time period About 230 feet (70 meters) below the surface the team discovered the site of Kyparissia 4 it is the oldest archaeological site from the Lower Palaeolithic era in Greece The researchers found numerous stone tools as well as remains of extinct species of giant deer When glaciers covered much of Europe during a major ice age between 500,000 and 300,000 years ago "Our research reconstructing the paleoenvironment of the basin has indicated that it would have functioned as a refugium during Ice Age conditions," Harvati said "allowing animal and plant populations — but also hominin groups — to survive during harsh glacial times when they would have disappeared from more northern parts of the European continent." —150-year-old mystery of strange half-circles from Paleolithic site in France finally solved —See the striking facial reconstruction of a Paleolithic woman who lived 31,000 years ago —25,000-year-old human DNA discovered on Paleolithic pendant from Siberian cave The "outstanding and highly unusual preservation conditions" in the Megalopolis basin mean that the team is recovering not only stone tools and fossils but also remains of small animals The basin has provided evidence that spans almost the entire middle Pleistocene an important discovery considering southeastern Europe is relatively unexplored for this time period "The Megalopolis basin therefore provides a crucial piece of the puzzle of human evolution in Europe," Harvati said Kristina KillgroveStaff writerKristina Killgrove is a staff writer at Live Science with a focus on archaeology and paleoanthropology news Her articles have also appeared in venues such as Forbes, Smithsonian Killgrove holds postgraduate degrees in anthropology and classical archaeology and was formerly a university professor and researcher She has received awards from the Society for American Archaeology and the American Anthropological Association for her science writing Archaeologists discover hundreds of metal objects up to 3,400 years old on mysterious volcanic hilltop in Hungary AI is just as overconfident and biased as humans can be By Tom Joyce2024-08-12T15:52:00+01:00 Climate change is set to fuel more frequent heat waves and droughts in the Mediterranean basin according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change dry winters and record summer temperatures are posing an imminent threat to the livelihoods of growers across the country Current wildfires on the outskirts of Athens may not directly affect fruit and vegetable crops but rising temperatures are undoubtedly having an impact on the country’s producers The last two dry winters have put traditional Greek crops to the test encouraging many growers to switch to exotic fruits more commonly produced in the tropics an experimental initiative began in 2022 dedicated to the production of subtropical crops which are grown on an area of 2.5ha in the areas of Lakonia and Messinia who grows mangoes and avocados on 80ha in Kyparissia told Forbes that such crops were more resistant to the intense heat Since the fruits were adapting well to their new surroundings Adamopoulos said he planned to plant a further 300 trees. The programme is set to last for five years under the supervision of the Hellenic Agricultural Organisation at the Ministry of Agricultural Development financed by the Regional Authority of the Peloponnese Site powered by Webvision Cloud Foreign nationals were spotted by a ship in the sea area 76 nautical miles southwest of Katakolo A rescue operation for 97 migrants aboard a vessel was conducted under the coordination of the Joint Search and Rescue Coordination Center The illegal immigrants were detected by a ship in a sea area 76 nautical miles southwest of Katakolo The illegal immigrants have been rescued and are being transported to the port of Katakolo with northeasterly winds at three Beaufort The discovery of a Caretta caretta nest on May 10 in Lagana Bay has confirmed predictions that climate change has brought the turtles’ nesting season forward the sea turtle protection society Archelon has said this is the first time in 40 years of monitoring the turtles on Zakynthos that a nest has been found so early in the season Archelon volunteers and researchers monitor the breeding activities of the Caretta caretta turtles from May until October every year beginning with preparations at their facilities and the training of the new volunteers they met with a surprise on their first visit to the beach on May 11 as the first nest of the season had already been made the previous night at Sekania records confirmed that this was the first time a nest had been found in Lagana so early in the year while the first nests in the Bay of Kyparissia and in Rethymno quickly followed scientists have been predicting that the egg-laying season will be brought forward due to climate change since 2016 as turtles are sensitive to the repercussions of higher global temperatures “Even if shifting egg laying to cooler days may offer some relief to the turtles climate change can have a negative impact on them in other ways an increase in temperatures within nests during hatching can affect the sex of the hatched turtles High temperatures lead to the birth of more female than male turtles which can affect populations and their survival,” Panagopoulou said A recent report on the State of the Climate in Europe in 2023 published by the European Commission found that the average temperature at the surface of the sea in all European seas in 2023 was the warmest ever recorded In the Mediterranean in July and August that year marine heatwaves where the surface temperature was 5.5°C higher than average were recorded in some areas As the oceans have absorbed 90% of the additional heat generated by man-made greenhouse gas emissions changes in ocean temperature could have devastating effects on marine ecosystems and wildlife Enter your information below to receive our weekly newsletters with the latest insights opinion pieces and current events straight to your inbox the farm manager of Pedruxella Gran in Mallorca enlists the help of volunteers throughout the year Three months of laboring on family olive farms reveals why extra virgin oils deserve the same consideration—and pricing—as wine We're sitting at a long dining room table pouring glasses of water and wine when Ricardo walks in and asks if someone has moved one of the 50-liter canisters of freshly pressed olive oil where I'm volunteering on a small farm outside of Lecce that's owned by a man named Giuseppe We follow Ricardo outside to look for the missing oil illuminated by a pool of warm light spilling out from the porch—but the third is missing We spend a few minutes searching the shadows and dark corners around the house before retreating Olives sit waiting to be brought to the press in Kyparissia Ideally olives are pressed the same day they're picked to ensure the best quality oil On a small farm it’s not always possible to pick enough olives in one day so farmers will press their olives every two or three days processing not only the economic loss—the oil was worth about 500 euros—but also the hours of manual labor that we would never get back The oil in a single canister represents more than 1,100 pounds of olives and two or three hours of work by a team of eight people but Giuseppe's profit margins are low when the olives are already riper than they should be with some being accused of selling inferior oil under the extra virgin label or adulterating their products with cheaper hazelnut or soybean oils But the majority of olive farms in Europe are small—around 54 percent measure just 12 acres in size And it's becoming increasingly difficult for small producers to compete in a market where consumers don't understand that olive oil is fundamentally costly to produce Olive oil and wine have been produced in the same regions for centuries and the sensory qualities of both are heavily influenced by production method there are hundreds of different olive cultivars and olive trees are grown in different regions and climates around the world Olives are cleaned at the local press in Mallorca The pressing process is the most technologically advanced part of oil production But, says Pedruxella Gran owner Liz Barratt-Brown wine consumers "understand there’s really cheap wine and there’s really expensive wine because there’s so much difference in how it’s produced." Olive oil customers generally don’t a sprawling 13th-century olive estate on the island of Mallorca just before the start of the October harvest It's my first stop on a three-month journey through Spain and Italy in search of stories from small farmers who are still making real Barratt-Brown and her husband are Americans who live with their two children in Washington They inherited the estate from Barratt-Brown's father in 1997 and hired a Mallorcan farmer Older olive trees like this one in Mallorca must be hand-picked which is much more labor intensive than mechanical picking Bennassar Ros uses a stick to shake remaining olives loose after pruning the tallest branches but it's easy for aspiring farmhands to romanticize the harvest and it took an hour to finish the first tree my arms and legs were covered in scrapes and deep purple bruises But when I finally tasted Pedruxella's oil it was unlike anything I had tried before—bold I wanted to drink it straight from the bottle The taste alone made all of the hard work worth it Extra virgin olive oil comes out of the press in Spain Pedruxella only produces 800 to 1,200 liters of olive oil in a good year plus Bennassar's time and the cost of housing and feeding volunteers "It's frustrating," Barratt-Brown says explaining that most producers on Mallorca aren’t using traditional mountain groves anymore So this mountain oil that’s been produced on Mallorca for centuries could disappear.” Meanwhile, the high demand for inexpensive Italian olive oil means varying degrees of fraud have become common So how do you know if you're buying the real thing The main classifications of olive oil, as set out by the International Olive Council, are extra virgin, virgin, and lampante. To be classified as extra virgin, the highest grade, the oil must have a free acidity level of less than 0.8 percent and zero taste flaws. Professional olive oil sommeliers, trained to detect these flaws, work off an established list that includes terms like musty, fusty, and rancid, pointing to errors in harvest, production, or storage. whose company's premiere oil sells for $260 a liter shows me the tasting technique used by sommeliers tasters put the oil in dark blue glasses to prevent being influenced by color since this is determined by cultivar and has nothing to do with quality The rest of the process is strikingly similar to wine tasting—it involves a lot of swirling whose family owns an olive farm in Kyparissia and Budapest under the name Honest Toil Olive Oil The main difference between olive oil and wine is that olive oil doesn't improve with age Many of its celebrated health benefits can be credited to high levels of polyphenols and antioxidants compounds that protect the oil from oxidation but naturally break down over time A typical extra virgin oil won't remain extra virgin grade for longer than a year after it's pressed A knowledgeable cook will buy new oil each year during the harvest months and relegate their old oil for frying Polyphenols are also responsible for flavor imparting oil with bitterness and pungency which is why a fresh-pressed oil tastes much stronger than an older one is now on the border between extra virgin and virgin grade A mule grinds olives in Pedruxella Gran's tafona but once a year the farm runs the press for tourists to celebrate the harvest it's wrapped in brown paper and hasn't even been labeled yet “Never buy an oil that doesn’t make you cough.” Many of the olive oil producers I speak to refer to the wine industry with longing in their voices wishing that olive oil could be viewed in the same way "People are willing to pay thousands of dollars for a bottle of wine," says Andres Martos, who with his business partner, Blas Melgarejo, runs Melgarejo Olive Oil in the dry mountains of Andalusia When Blas took over the company from his parents 15 years ago he knew they would have to make some changes in order to survive They overhauled all of their practices and began making single-varietal "If we don't produce high-quality oils in these places they are going to disappear," Martos says The office shelves at Melgarejo are lined with medals and awards The company has steadily been making a name for itself in the industry by increasing the quality of its oil and using savvy marketing to inform people about it The strategy has allowed them to survive while using older trees and traditionally planted groves tends to a fire at the end of a harvest day when excess branches are burned or chopped up for firewood I encounter many producers following the same strategy embracing an artisanal approach that emphasizes quality over quantity and finding a way to communicate the intricacies of olive oil to consumers It's an encouraging trend After three months of travel, I end my trip in Puglia, the olive growing capital of Italy. I pay a visit to the De Carlo mill just outside of Bari. The De Carlo family has been making olive oil since 1598 and I tour the mill and groves with Marina De Carlo then visit her office and dip bread in some of their oil De Carlo speaks about the challenges of selling oil when consumers only want to pay five dollars for a bottle I ask how she thinks we can educate people and she gives the same answer I've been hearing for months After you taste oil you never go back." De Carlo introduces me to her mother and explains that I've been working on olive farms for the past few months The older woman looks at me and smiles approvingly "That is a very good project," she says with a nod to understand the cost of making olive oil." Eva Rendle is a journalist, photographer, and National Geographic young explorer based in Seattle, Washington. See more of her work here or follow her on Instagram. The Megalopolis Basin in the Peloponnese was among the southernmost ecological refuges in Europe during the glacial periods of the Middle Pleistocene according to the results of a five-year program of surface and geoarchaeological research recently completed by the Culture Ministry and the American School of Classical Studies in Athens (ASCSA) has been designated as the oldest dated archaeological site in Greece All in all five new sites in the area place Greece on the map of human evolution “With this discovery we put Greece in the game of human evolution and the colonization of Europe by hominids something Greece was not associated with until recently,” said Panagiotis Karkanas geoarchaeologist at the ASCSA who co-directed the project together with Eleni Panagopoulou of the ministry’s Paleoanthropology-Speleology Department and Katerina Harvati of the University of Tubingen The results also strongly suggest that the Aegean Sea served as a bridge for the passage of people to the European continent Explore the rich history and stunning scenery of Ano Taxiarches a charming settlement perfect for wandering and discovery As we travel along the main road connecting Kyparissia to Pyrgos Ilia the distinctive brown sign from the Ministry of Culture directs us towards the traditional settlement of Ano Taxiarches The gradually encroaching plants on the sides of the road signal a lack of traffic We leave the car at the entrance and start walking These are two-story structures with tiled roofs while others have been carefully renovated the road is carpeted with the purple flowers of the Judas tree Although we haven’t seen any people yet and it is located at an altitude of 510 meters The history of Taxiarches dates back to ancient times with ruins of Roman and Byzantine settlements discovered in the area with residents subjected to heavy taxation and oppression the inhabitants managed to preserve their faith and traditions visitors can admire the traditional stone houses of the village which have largely retained their original form The houses are either two-story or single-story with spacious courtyards and covered balconies Particularly interesting is the Church of the Archangels dating from the late 13th to early 14th century Taxiarches has been designated as a traditional settlement by the Ministry of the Interior making it the only settlement in Ilia with a Level 2 Protection status The few residents of the village are mainly engaged in agriculture and livestock farming taking advantage of the area’s fertile soil A stroll through the quaint cobblestone streets of the village and a visit to the stone fountain and the Church of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary transports visitors to another era Ano Taxiarches is a destination that combines the beauty of nature with rich history and traditions offering a unique experience to those who choose to visit provide moments of refreshment and relaxation for visitors The historical journey of the settlement is closely tied to the adventures of the broader region From pirate raids and the trials of the Turkish occupation to the Greek War of Independence in 1821 and World War II the inhabitants of Taxiarches have shown a spirit of resistance and solidarity The Church of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel stands on a hill above the settlement It belongs to the architectural type of a single-aisled Despite the wear and tear over the centuries the sound vessel openings at the base of the dome and the distinctive floor with black and white tiles and colorful floral motifs The restoration work completed in 2019 included Thanks to the meticulous work of archaeologists and conservators the Church of the Archangels can now welcome visitors again and testify to the significant Byzantine architectural heritage of the area despite the gradual decrease in population due to urbanization the village remains lively thanks to the residents’ dedication to the traditions and history of their homeland Taxiarches is an ideal destination for those who wish to experience the genuine beauty of the Greek countryside and enjoy the tranquility of nature Ilia: A Tranquil Fishing Village in Northern Evia Voidokilia: Messinian region’s iconic beach making global impact Top 5 Historic Hotels in the Peloponnese faithful of the Greek Orthodox church in Greece and across the diaspora celebrated Epiphany Day Blessing of the Water ceremonies took place with the throwing of the cross tradition being observed at beaches and pools – but one priest in Messinia Greece has stood out from the crowd with his creative approach The Greek Orthodox priest from the municipality of Trifylia was captured on video using a fishing rod to fling the cross into the Gulf of Kyparissia from the sand READ: Crowds gather to celebrate Epiphany Day at Rosebud the video then shows a pious man who braves the cold waters to dive in and find the cross with some finding it hilarious and others just shaking their head at the sight it does appear to be for practical reasons it may have been difficult to throw the cross into the deep waters by hand READ: Divers brave unusual weather conditions for Melbourne at Frankston Epiphany Day celebrations including some who are no longer with us.Get the latest with our exclusive in-language podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.SBSGreek News and popular spots that make Greece a continuing lure with its allure volunteers are monitoring the beaches of Kyparissia Bay on the western Peloponnese The bay is the Mediterranean’s largest nesting ground for the turtle a population identified by the International Union for Conservation of nature as a vulnerable creature now under threat from a number of detriments including sun loungers on the beach who snag them Agence France-Presse reported on the work to make sure the turtles survive with hatchlings on the beach and bay struggling to get to the sea a small journey so perilous to them that only one in 1,000 will make it donning black gloves to gently ease the newborn loggerhead turtle on its way grins at suggestions that she’s a kind of ‘midwife’ the German social sciences student telling AFP that “Yes Their overall numbers are unknown but some Pacific and Indian Ocean populations are critically low while conservation measures have bolstered their presence in the Mediterranean With around 44 kilometers (27 miles) of coastline said the Athens-based Archelon turtle protection organization “It seems (more of) our female turtles survive and come back to nest,” oceanographer Dimitris Fytilis head of the organization’s rescue center for injured turtles in the coastal Athens suburb Each nest contains up to 120 eggs but up to a fifth may fail to hatch at all grow to more than half a meter (20 inches) and weigh up to 80 kilos (175 pounds) but face mortal danger from birth and that’s just to make it to the sea where it’s another struggle to live as once there the five-centimeter (2-inch) turtle will swim non-stop for at least 24 hours to work its lungs and find food but many are devoured by crabs More than 600 turtles turn up dead in Greece every year which has treated more than 1,100 injured turtles since it began in 1994 and receives some 70 new cases every year The turtles ingest fishhooks and plastic debris but more than half of their injuries are caused by humans usually by blows to the head with oars and axes and fishermen are often blamed as repairing fishing nets damaged by turtles can be costly Climate change has also created the potential to shift the turtle gender balance as males cannot incubate at a nest temperature above 29.3 degrees C (84.7 F.) with Greece frequently having temperatures above that benchmark “There is already an effect in some countries…in Australia for example more females are born now because of global warming,” Fytilis said in Zakynthos on the Ionian island of Zante attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists annually many of them drunken hooligans who have given it a reputation for trouble and even violence environmental groups have for decades tussled with hotels and restaurants that chafe against protection efforts “we don’t really get support from the locals,” said Schirrmacher But one hotelier in the resort suggests the area should develop its turtle tourism “There should be a glass-bottomed boat for turtle watching but the authorities here can’t even build a proper road to the beach,” he said WWF and Greenpeace last month warned that a planned lease of a 50,000-square kilometer (20,000 square miles) of sea for oil exploration would endanger “emblematic tourism destinations…that contribute billions of euros and hundreds of thousands of jobs to the national economy.” Archelon said that the turtles’ presence is a key indicator of seawater quality Read more at thenationalherald.com Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons License: CC-BY-SA Copyright: Strobilomyces Nafplio at the epicenter of world yachting with the 10th Mediterranean Yacht Show Samaria Gorge “War Zone” – “Others Decide, We Pay the Price” Argosaronic Islands: Need for a long-term strategy and modern infrastructure FedHATTA | Tourism Bridges between Greece and the Chinese province of Guizhou Top distinctions for Greece and Santorini at the American Leisure Lifestyle Awards 2025 HOTREC | Supporting SMEs in European Hospitality Tourism | Promoting Crete in the Arabian Gulf Aegean and Emirates expand their partnership Delta | Athens is in 5th place in American searches for 2025 Promotion of Preveza on the metro and tram in Athens TripAdvisor Awards 2025 | Elafonisi Beach World's Best Beach - 9th in Crete, Sani Beach Award 12th BAJAGREECE: Motorsports Competition in Western Macedonia Crete also invests in cycling tourism - 13th Pediadas Tour Competitions with a summer and autumn backdrop: Attica runs at the pace of sports ATM'25 - Tourism | The fight against food waste at the forefront of sustainable development easyJet holidays | Fam trips to Santorini, Skiathos and Rhodes Chania: The next actions of the “Tourism Partnership” Navarino Challenge returns on May 9-11, 2025 Cruise Takeoff in Chania – Record Arrivals in the First Quarter of 2025 Three Greek beaches among the world’s 50 best – Triumph for the Ionian The “Typhoon” that saves the Greek coasts from garbage EOT at the “Arabian Travel Market” | Interest from Gulf countries, India, and Australia CERT to manage Vasilitsa Ski Resort – Investment of over 20 million euros Is American tourism in Europe “slowing down”? What do professionals see for 2025 and 2026 This is Athens & Partners | The 7 partners renew their collaboration - the joint actions FedHATTA: Dynamic presence of Greek travel agencies at the international Dubai exhibition ATM 2025 Ryanair announces new offer for Prime members on June flights Thomas Ellerbeck | “Rhodes can become a model of sustainable tourism internationally” The Times | The perfect time to experience the authentic side of Santorini Chania: The Alternative Tourism Festival returns to the Venetian Port Angela Gerekou: "Tourism is a force for good and Greece can play a leading role" New flights to Greece in 2025 from 4 airlines Crete welcomes Reveil 12 – Festival of Sounds and Ecology Greek tourism - 3rd quarter | 97% of arrivals in Athens and Thessaloniki Modernization aid for the marinas of Symi and Messolonghi HOTREC Assembly: Focus on challenges and reforms in European tourism AEGEAN 2025: Passenger growth and fleet expansion with an eye on the international market FedHATTA Cooperation with Shaanxi Province, China Greek academic in finalists of European Sustainable Energy Awards 2025 Thessaloniki museums join forces to promote the city GNTO introduces “Sustainable Greece” to British Agents Strategic meeting for cruises in Santorini A message of friendship and cooperation at the friendly Greek-Turkish football match in Chios Municipality of Xiromero | Diving tourism: Request for sinking of a decommissioned warship The first La Quinta by Wyndham in Batumi, Georgia Double racing event in Megalopolis on May 11: Festival Enduro and Theater Run 2025 Explora Journeys: Start of the summer season with the luxurious EXPLORA I from Piraeus Strong start in 2025 for Aegean and SKY Express Xanthi Tastes: A Gastronomy Festival with a Cultural Flavor Rhodes: These are the five-star hotels with the highest revenue – Which ones “fill up” first Greek Tourism/Webhotelier: The Winners and Losers in Online Bookings for 2025 GNTO | Promotion of Santorini in target markets Unprecedented blackout in Spain, Portugal, France Greece can play a leading role in the global sports tourism scene Rhodes | Event for the protection of biodiversity Attica, the …Caribbean of the Germans Agios Nikolaos | Cruise season kicks off with arrival of luxury Silver Spirit Operational Plan: “Cretan Food Culture 2026-2030” Destination Management and Promotion Organization in Thessaloniki Kefalonia: The authentic character of the island through the “Travel Reimagined” project Hoteliers vs. Booking.com: The European uprising has begun Tourism | Greece 4th choice for Europeans' holidays in 2025 - what the ETC survey shows New high-standard heated swimming pool in Chania, aimed at sports tourism Greeks Traveled (A Lot!) in 2024 – Where They Went, How Much They Spent Greek-American Dean Spanos brings the NFL to Greece – Opportunities for promotion in the USA Lesvos: The season begins with birdwatching tourists MSC Cruises: Strengthens its presence in Greece with 6 cruise ships New Luxury Arrival in Crete | JW Marriott Crete Resort & Spa Opens on June 2 "Peloponnese Trails" inaugurated today: New network of trails for sustainable tourism Knossos: 125 years since the excavations of Arthur Evans The Spanish TV show “Viajeros Cuatro” in Corfu Wyndham - Soliteight | 40 Super 8 hotels in Spain and Portugal Airbnb: Final price now displayed in accommodation searches Investments in the beaches of the Attica Riviera The Municipality of Chania at the “From Crete to Side” Festival in Turkey Region of Central Macedonia: Tourism Promotion Activities in Poland and the Middle East Region of Crete | Connecting Minoan Palatial Centers with Archaeological Sites Biodiversity protection plan is in full swing in Elafonisi Record participation in the ATHENA International Olive Oil Competition | Chania 8 - 10 May Communities at the heart of tourism development Booking.com | No to limiting tourists, yes to infrastructure investments Thessaloniki’s dynamic presence at the World Tourism Summit in Hong Kong easyJet | Summer 2026 sales open Cruise | Turkey doubles its share, new opportunities for Greek ports Aid for the upgrade of the tourist shelter of Astakos and the Marina of Alimos Preparing the settlement of Kionia for the tourist season: An example to follow The action of the region of Crete "Let's go for... Greens" concludes this weekend “Art is our Language”: Campaign for the 70th Anniversary of the Athens Epidaurus Festival Tourism | Nostalgia drives Brits’ travel choices ΕΟΤ China | B2B meetings with Chengdu's t.os - Flights to Athens in June State-of-the-art conference center at Theartemis Palace Hotel in Rethymno Zagori: Collaboration with Impact Hub Athens for sustainable tourism and innovation Cooperation Memorandum between Development Athens and Piraeus University on Tourism Kos: New advertising campaigns with Jet2 and National Geographic Traveller UK Five cruise ships in Souda by Saturday Imbros Trail Run & Hike 2025: A sporting tribute to the History of Sfakia Cultural Days and Sea Routes in Piraeus Religious Tourism | The University of Palermo comes to Panagia Nafpaktiotissa Audio Walk in the Sitia Geopark: A Different Exploration Experience in Crete AEGEAN “takes off” Larnaca with a new direct flight to Rome FedHATTA | Tourism Bridges between Greece and the Chinese province of Guizhou Nafplio at the epicenter of world yachting with the 10th Mediterranean Yacht Show Tourism | Promoting Crete in the Arabian Gulf Top distinctions for Greece and Santorini at the American Leisure Lifestyle Awards 2025 HOTREC | Supporting SMEs in European Hospitality Aegean and Emirates expand their partnership Samaria Gorge “War Zone” – “Others Decide, We Pay the Price” Argosaronic Islands: Need for a long-term strategy and modern infrastructure Delta | Athens is in 5th place in American searches for 2025 TripAdvisor Awards 2025 | Elafonisi Beach World's Best Beach - 9th in Crete, Sani Beach Award Crete also invests in cycling tourism - 13th Pediadas Tour Competitions with a summer and autumn backdrop: Attica runs at the pace of sports Promotion of Preveza on the metro and tram in Athens 12th BAJAGREECE: Motorsports Competition in Western Macedonia ATM'25 - Tourism | The fight against food waste at the forefront of sustainable development What the Israeli Ambassador discussed at the Chania Chamber PM at 1st Greece-Saudi Arabia High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council on Monday What to expect at this year’s ITB Berlin Exhibition from March 4-6 North Macedonia: Increase in foreign tourists in 2024 Greece's Permanent Delegation to UNESCO organizing concert on January 16 Athens to host the European Film Awards in 2027 Cruise Takeoff in Chania – Record Arrivals in the First Quarter of 2025 Athens Municipality Festival 2025 | The city's biggest celebration, with more than 200 events Alonissos tops the list of Greek destinations without mass tourism German tourism: Advance bookings are the new "last-minute" Amaka Anagor-Ewuzie Amaka Anagor-Ewuzie Captain Marvin Omovbude; Commercial Manager of WACT Noah Sheriff and the Traffic Manager of Onne Port Prince Zhattau at a reception for KYPARISSIA the first ship deployed by Maersk directly to Onne Port $(document).ready(function(){(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({})}); Unspoken tragedy occurred earlier at noon on Friday on the Pyrgos-Kyparissia highway when the shocking traffic accident caused by a truck cut the thread of life to four people including a 12-month-old infant and a 13-year-old girl The accident occurred when the 39-year-old driver of the lorry crossed into the oncoming traffic and collided with three passing vehicles the heavy vehicle literally crushed two of the cars involved in the accident with the images being shocking and requiring the intervention of the fire brigade with 12 firefighters with 6 vehicles to extricate the victims the first car that collided with the truck was occupied by a family living abroad who had traveled to Nafplio to see their relatives and spend holidays in the Peloponnese The 38-year-old father and his just 12-month-old daughter were recovered from the vehicle were injured and taken to the Karamandaneio Hospital in Patras a 13-year-old girl and a 60-year-old woman who was seriously injured were recovered from the second car which had “folded” onto the roadway Also injured are a 25-year-old man who is being treated as an intubated patient in Kalamata the 39-year-old driver of the truck and a 61-year-old man both of whom are being treated at the Kyparissia hospital The National Road Pyrgos – Kyparissia has been closed and traffic is on a bypass road via Elaia The traffic accident occurred in the well-known in the region “turn of Elaia” where in the past there have been many similar incidents 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 who tragically passed away yesterday afternoon caused a fatal accident on the National Road Pyrgos-Methoni Authorities have taken the professional driver into custody pending toxicology tests to determine if he was driving under the influence of alcohol Reports suggest that he was previously involved in a fatal car crash in 2022 but was not held responsible for the accident at that time officers from the Traffic Department of Kalamata in collaboration with the Police Department of Trifylia are conducting a preliminary investigation to ascertain the exact circumstances surrounding the fatal accident that occurred at noon on Friday The sequence of events unfolded shortly after 12:30 when the truck traveling on the National Road Pyrgos-Methoni towards Kyparissia veered off course at the Elaia bend and collided with three vehicles traveling in the opposite direction collided head-on with the truck and subsequently hit the crash barriers became trapped under the truck’s bodywork while the third vehicle collided with the cars ahead A 38-year-old man and his 1-year-old daughter and a 44-year-old man and his 13-year-old daughter who were in the car that followed and was swallowed up by the truck the 12 Firefighters with 6 vehicles operating at the scene extricated a total of 4 injured people They even had to cut the roofs of the vehicles in order to get the victims of the accident out of them They were the 6-year-old son of the 38-year-old man who was taken to the Karamandaneio Hospital of Patras the 19-year-old son of the 44-year-old man who is in serious condition at the Panarcadian Hospital of Tripoli who were taken to the Hospital of Kyparissia with minor injuries along with his wife and their two minor children to Nafplio to see their relatives and were on holiday in the Peloponnese A family tragedy was also written in the wreckage of the second car the driver was a 44-year-old military man serving in Rhodes who had come to Amaliada for the swearing-in of his 19-year-old son who is a soldier in Kalamata The 19-year-old is fighting to stay alive at the Panarcadian Hospital in Tripoli but his 13-year-old sister was pulled out of the amorphous mass of iron dead The tragic moments that unfolded at noon on Friday on the National Road Pyrgos-Methoni after the deadly car crash were described to protothema.gr by one of the survivors of the accident who was riding with his son in the third IX car that collided with the truck at the Elaia bend the heavy vehicle derailed and rolled on the roadway It then crashed with momentum into the two cars ahead causing the first to crash into the guardrails after the collision and the second to get wedged under the body “The truck was coming from Pyrgos to Kyparissia and suddenly the steering wheel on the right came off He started to bring rides on the road and crashed into the two vehicles before us He must not have been going too fast but his right wheel fell outwards he went to pick it up and found himself in oncoming traffic The first guy tried to avoid him and ran into the guardrails I didn’t understand what had happened It took me two hours to realize there was a car underneath It was wedged underneath,” explains the third involved vehicle passenger who refers to a spot with dangerous turns