The Greek Horse Racing Organization (ODIE) is putting up for an auction the one-square-kilometer plot at Markopoulo in Attica that hosts the Olympic Equestrian Center and the national racecourse at a starting price of 30.14 million euros The tender will be held online on November 6 and its proceeds will service the requirements of the state and Intralot from ODIE that is under liquidation which cumulatively reach the amount of 40 million euros The racecourse and the facilities housed in the area under auction are going under the hammer as OPAP gaming company has decided to terminate the lease agreement it had with state asset utilization fund TAIPED That has resulted in the collapse of the entire architecture of the use of the racecourse and the equestrian center with which the obligations burdened by the property were serviced and in particular the agreement based on which two-thirds of the rent was collected by Intralot due to ODIE’s debts the managers of the company “Horse Racing SA” invited the employees (they amount to 75 people together with the active riders and training riders) and announced to them the cessation of the organization and conduct of Greek horse races the company also terminated the lease contract of the Athens Racecourse in Markopoulo the property would be officially returned to its owner (ODIE) within two months In addition to the workers who suddenly found themselves out of work the owners of the horses are also in a difficult position not only those who take part in horse racing but also those who are engaged in the Olympic sport of equestrianism According to the then announcement of Horse Racing SA “Greek horse racing activity has been extremely loss-making for decades Despite the significant long-term efforts by Horse Racing SA since it took over this activity in 2016 and its continuous large investments Greek horse racing has remained loss-making and unsustainable the company’s total losses from 2016 to 2023 amount to 100.3 million euros.” the invitation for the property was posted on the auction publication website Enter your information below to receive our weekly newsletters with the latest insights opinion pieces and current events straight to your inbox Renovated homes offer owners premiums up to 25.7% in terms of sales prices and up to 15.1% in rental rates compared to those that have not been renovated the Data & Analytics Department of Resolute Cepal Greece (RCG) which shows that the greatest profits arise in areas where the percentage of renovated properties is relatively low Markopoulo stands out with premiums of 25.7% followed by Pikermi with 25% and Piraeus with 24.3% it appears the stock of renovated properties is only 11.5% and 8.5% of the total (and 26.6% in Piraeus) which shows that it is easier to distinguish renovated properties and of course to pay the corresponding surplus value The largest concentration of renovated homes for sale is in Vouliagmeni with 39.6% of the total in Filothei with 27.8% and in the center of Athens with 27.3% On Friday the platform for the improved “I Renovate – I Rent” subsidy program will be activated It aims to facilitate the renovation of closed apartments so as to rent them out and increase supply The maximum amount of the subsidy has been doubled to 8,000 euros as a subsidy of up to 60% of the work is now provided A 27-year-old man died when the car he was driving veered out of control and crashed on Porto Rafti Avenue the vehicle seems to have careened into a bus stop at high speed before slamming into a telephone and an electricity post killing the driver and injuring his passenger The 22-year-old woman in the passenger seat suffered serious injuries and was rushed to hospital by paramedics after firefighters managed to pull her out of the wreckage which took place in the area of Markopoulo The government wants to bring the coroners’ service to the digital era by thoroughly modernizing it and equipping it with the latest available tools The reform is embedded in a draft bill on domestic violence which the Ministry of Justice is preparing and which is expected to be published for public consultation by the end of the month Coroners will be provided with a “digital assistant” that will help the medical evaluation by providing probable causes of death based on the findings and a consultation with the relevant precedents and bibliography done at a speed unmatched by humans Coroners will certainly be responsible for the final report but preliminary findings can be speeded up considerably camera-assisted autopsies will be performed with a help of a program developed by the University of Piraeus 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 The first important sub-region is the plain in Mesogeia which extends south of Mount Penteli and east of Athens Mesogeia is the warmest of the three sub- regions with the coastal vineyards cooled by the sea breeze Almost half of the region’s vineyards are arid resulting in vines being at risk from prolonged drought Mesogeia is considered the most important and historic vineyard of Attica with several old ‘cup-shaped’ trained vineyards The transfer of the Athens International Airport to Spata and the creation of the Attica highway made access much faster and easier on the one hand but on the other hand led to infrastructural changes in the area which resulted in many historic vineyards either being lost or swallowed up by a new suburban landscape Spata and Anavissos referring exclusively to firm white wines In Mesogeia there are also several PGIs dedicated exclusively to Retsina The winery was created in 1985 by Konstantinos Fragos and in 1999 his daughter Anastasia and her husband Dionisis took the reins constructed cellars to store the barrels in and restructured the vineyards The first bottling took place in 2002 with white Savatiano and red Agiorgitiko 14 hectares of privately owned vineyards are cultivated and there are also partnerships with local vine growers The 8 hectares planted with Savatiano were planted at the end of the 1950s and are spread throughout Spata In a single vineyard in the area of Pikermi After the devastating forest fire in Mati in 2018 The area is being restored and works on the site will be completed by the summer of 2023 The winery produces single varietal labels of Savatiano as well as “Heart” which is a blend of Savatiano and Malagouzia and the aromatic Retsina made from 100% Savatiano Address: Marathon Avenue and Makedonomachon Tel: +30 22940 32508 www.fragouwines.gr Email: info@fragouwines.gr Papagiannakos Estate/Photo: Perikles Merakos The winemaking history of the Papagiannakos family roots back to the beginning of the 20th century Vassilis Papagiannakos was one of the first Greek winemakers who believed in and developed the potential and qualities of the Savatiano grape The bioclimatic winery is open to visitors and is located near the “Eleftherios Venizelos” International Airport The winery produces a range of Savatiano wines such as the “old vineyard” label which comes from vines that are over 50 years old a Savatiano fermented with indigenous yeasts and one that is fermented and matured in oak barrels The estate’s retsina exudes freshness and finesse while the whites from Malagouzia and Assyrtiko have the purity of crisp fruit and a slight saltiness due to the proximity to the sea The red wines from Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon are soft and fruity ‘Melias’ is produced from the Malagouzia variety whose must 40% of which is concentrated by fermentation to produce a sweet wine that is a traditional speciality of the region Attica Tel: +30 22990 25206 www.papagiannakos.gr Email: info@papagiannakos.gr The family’s involvement with the winery began in 1875 when the Gikas family members worked as foremen in the vineyards of the Skouze and Kambas families the Gikas family invested in the vineyards they had come to love and care for and the family’s tradition of viticulture continued throughout the 20th century as they passed on their secrets from generation to generation the family moved its vineyards from the plain of Spata to the fertile areas of Boeotia the family’s award-winning vineyards are located at the foot of Mt Kitheron – a place of ancient worship of Dionysus The total area of the vineyard reaches 15 hectares and the varieties grown there are Assyrtiko a dry white wine from Assyrtiko with added resin a white natural sweet wine and the “Maistros” range a white from Malagouzia and a red from Merlot The winery can be visited weekdays 10:00-17:00 and weekends by appointment The winery has a special area for tastings Attica Tel.: +30 210 6634595 www.gikaswinery.gr Email: contact@gikaswinery.gr Mylonas Micro-winery/Photo: Perikles Merakos The history of the Mylonas winery began in 1917 with the cultivation of Attikis Gis and vinification using clay amphorae the third generation of the family took over to continue its fruitful history The purpose of the Mylonas micro-winery is to validate the Attica vineyard and especially the unique variety of Savatiano The vineyards amount to 17 hectares and are spread throughout Lavreotiki the rows of vines are shaped in ‘cup’ form and have an average age of 55 years and a yield of 400kg/1000m2 The winery produces an interesting range of Savatiano labels the Retsina (Designation by Tradition) and a sparkling “Pet-Nat” type The range of wines is completed by the white Assyrtiko and Malagouzia The winery can be visited by appointment and tastings are available for small groups of up to 8 people Attica Tel.: +30 22990 68156 www.mylonas-wines.gr Email: info@mylonas-wines.gr The Liepouris Winery is a family business in its third generation It was founded in 1935 by grandfather Dimitrios Liepouris who delivered grape must to old Athenian taverns on a horse cart worked with love and passion and years later passed on his knowledge to his eldest son Dimitrios who has taken over and runs the business today as in 1941 it was occupied by the Italians and used as a kitchen For many years it remained a traditional winery but in 2014 the space was completely renovated The vineyards are mainly located in the Keratea area A total of 25 hectares (15 privately owned) are cultivated with the Savatiano The winery produces the PGI Attica Savatiano the Retsina (Traditional Appellation) and the varietal wine Savatiano-Malagouzia The winery has a tasting room in a beautiful stone building capped with a wooden roof Tel: +30 694 4988089 www.liepouriswines.gr Email: info@liepouriswines.gr Winery “To Patitiri”/Photo: Perikles Merakos Malagouzia and Merlot varieties on the plains of Mesogeia and the winemaking takes place at privately owned facilities and in the 1990s was moved to the current facilities in Pallini and renamed “To Patitiri” (the wine press) The 90s were a milestone period for the company as the family upgraded the business with modern machinery and specialised staff Vassilis Papagiannis and his daughter Marilena honour respecting the winemaking tradition of the land by producing wines that clearly express the varieties and vineyards of Attica The area of their vineyard spreads across 126 acres and consists of the varieties Savatiano (10 hectares) Malagouzia (1.4 hectares) and Merlot (1.2 hectares) The winery produces the PGI Attica labels for Savatiano a rosé of Malagouzia and Merlot and a red of Agiorgitiko are produced without a PGI label The winery has a visitation area that includes facilities for the disabled Tastings and retail sale of wines take place here Tel: +30 210 6031020 www.topatitiri.gr Email: info@topatitiri.gr The word “Aoton” in ancient Greek means “the finest example of a species” The winery makes wines representative of the Mesogeion region winemaking took place in the family wine press where wines were produced using the traditional method oenologist Sotiris Ginis continues his family tradition in viticulture and wine production with the aim of preserving and spreading his cultural heritage Roditis and Mandilaria are cultivated in Mesogeia in an area of 6 hectares with organic certification (BIO Hellas) The winemaking is carried out with respect to the typicality of the varieties and the region adopting the practice of minimal intervention wines of protected geographical indication (PGI) Savatiano Mandilaria and Retsina Designation by Tradition are produced +30 694 4591258 www.aoton.gr Email: info@aoton.gr Winery ‘Markos Vineyards’/Photo: Perikles Merakos “Markos Vineyards” has been in continuous operation since 1908 the business has been taken over by the 3rd and 4th generation of winemakers and is run exclusively by seven family members who cover a whole range of activities: viticulture The privately owned vineyard stretches through 20 hectares the soil is arid and consists of old vines The annual bottle production does not exceed 130,000 and 12 different labels are produced “Kleftes-PGI Attica” and “Schinozhiko” are Savatiano the second is fermented and matured in oak barrels the third has no added sulphites and the fourth is a Retsina There are also “Theros-Amphora-PGI Attica” from Assyrtiko that has been 30% fermented in amphorae the reds “Echoes-PGI Attica” from Agiorgitiko and “Paleo-PGI Attica” from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and the rosés “Euphoria” from Agiorgitiko and Assyrtiko and “Pixie” from Agiorgitiko and Muscat the “Emeis” label comes in white from Assyrtiko Muscat and Roditis and in red from Mandelaria with Agiorgitiko there is a special area for visitors where presentations and wine tastings are held There is also a museum area where the old vineyard machinery and winemaking equipment are on display Attica Tel.: +30 210 6644711 www.markouwines.gr Email: info@markouwines.gr Winery “Evinos Estate”/Photo: Perikles Merakos the family of owners continues the wine-making tradition of Stavros Koulocheris who since 1888 was selling wine in the markets of Athens and Thessaloniki It is a small wine making unit with modern equipment The 7.8 hectares of privately owned vineyards are divided into two sections the goblet-trained vines of Savatiano have been cultivated with care for at least 50 years The second part of a single 25-acre area is located at Ampelochori in Boeotia Cabernet Franc and Grenache are also cultivated there Most of the work on the estates is done manually the Retsina “ANODOS” and two single varietal wines “Ktima EVOINOS” one from Savatiano and the other from Assyrtiko the “Ktima EVOINOS red” is a blend of Merlot Organised visits and guided tours with tastings of all of the estate’s wines are arranged at the winery +30 697 4306200 www.evinoswines.gr Email: info@evinoswines.gr Koropi Wine Cooperative/Photo: Perikles Merakos The history of the cooperative began in 1934 and took its present form in 1986 Today it is the only cooperative in Koropi and produces about 900 tons of wine annually Other varieties grown are the white Malagouzia and Sauvignon Blanc and the red varieties Agiorgitiko The winery produces three labels based exclusively on Savatiano: “Mikro Metochi” “Roze Vinum” and a second one from Muscat of Hamburg The “Lamptrevs” and “Alikos” labels are reds the former from Merlot and Agiorgitiko and the latter from Agiorgitiko “Mxm=m2” is a sweet wine made from a mix of aromatic varieties The winery’s facilities are located within a privately owned plot of land and include a product shop and the Cultural Museum in the old bottling house with a photo exhibition An ancient wine cellar dating back to 350 BC is on display in the courtyard The winery can be visited by appointment and there is a special tasting room Organised groups of visitors can also take a guided tour of the surrounding vineyards where the stumps are predominantly goblet-trained and over 50 years old Attica Tel.: +30 210 6623006 www.hellenicwinery.gr Email: aoskoropiou@yahoo.gr Winery “Matsa Estate”/Photo: Perikles Merakos The Matsa estate is a historic 12.2 hectare vineyard that’s been cultivated since the end of the 19th century With the collaboration of the Boutari Winery the continuation of this tradition has been undertaken by Roxanne Matsa Wine Personality of the Greek Wine Journalists Association for 2001 and recipient of the “Exemplary Award” in April 2010 by the WSPC Today the estate consists of an exceptional winery with a unique house that has recently become the home of Roxanne Matsa Living within the estate gives Roxanne the opportunity of daily care of the vineyard and the wines and active participation in the entire production and winemaking process The estate is cultivated according to the principles of organic farming The vineyard was originally planted with Savatiano Malagouzia dominated as it gave excellent results and was supplemented with Syrah the labels “Malagouzia Matsa – Organic Cultivation” PGI Pallini “Syrah Naturally” PGI Attica and “Roditis Naturally” PGI Pallini are produced The Estate of Roxanne Matsa is open to visitors by appointment Attica Tel.: +30 694 7007021 www.roxanematsaestate.com Email: info@roxanematsaestate.com Winery Vasilis Markou/Photo: Perikles Merakos The “Vasilis Markou” family winery began producing wine in 1983 and is located in the heart of Messogeia The baton was passed from the founder Vasilis Markou to the next generations who continue to produce wines with passion the winery has been modernised and its production exceeds 1,000 tons per year The company maintains long-term partnerships with winegrowers in the region of Mesogeia In the privately owned vineyards located in Spata Cabernet Sauvignon and the white varieties Savvatiano and Roditis are cultivated The winery produces wines from the varieties Savatiano Tel.: +30 210 6634102 www.markouvasilis.gr Email: info@markouvasilis.gr “MARKO” is a historic agricultural cooperative founded by the residents of Markopoulo and has existed since 1831 the MARKO cooperative has operated the community winery managing the grape production of Markopoulo the vineyard covers an area of 400 hectares and there are about one hundred (100) cooperating winemakers the cooperative members are in the process of creating a visitor area for the future The winery produces two labels: the white “Savatiano MARKO” with a PGI Markopoulo indication and the dry varietal red wine “MERLOT MARKO.” Attica Phone: +30 22990 22261 Email: asmarko001@gmail.com Web design by Watergate The snakes of the Virgin Mary have this year appeared in the village of Markopoulo on the island of Kefalonia, days before the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos, on August 15th, greekcitytimes.com notes in a recent article the first snake of the Virgin Mary appeared on Monday night at The Church of Panagia Lagouvarda in Markopoulo The small snakes which are friendly to people have a characteristic soft skin and the shape of a cross on their backs Thousands of faithful pilgrims flock to the villages every year to observe the "miracle" snakes of Panagia that seem to appear from out of nowhere and disappear again following the feast of the Dormition The snakes crawl throughout the churches and even around the icons of Our Most Holy Lady The Church of Panagia Lagouvarda or Panagia Fidousa is the most well-known church of Kefalonia island the snakes of the Virgin Mary have failed to appear twice rightly before the outbreak of World War II and the second time in August 1953 when Kefalonia suffered a tremendously destructive earthquake it is believed to be ominous if the snakes do not appear Source credit: Orthochristian and John Sanidopoulos Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons License: CC-BY-SA Copyright: Spiros Rokkos 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 Tourism | Promoting Crete in the Arabian Gulf Top distinctions for Greece and Santorini at the American Leisure Lifestyle Awards 2025 Nafplio at the epicenter of world yachting with the 10th Mediterranean Yacht Show Aegean and Emirates expand their partnership HOTREC | Supporting SMEs in European Hospitality Samaria Gorge “War Zone” – “Others Decide, We Pay the Price” Delta | Athens is in 5th place in American searches for 2025 Argosaronic Islands: Need for a long-term strategy and modern infrastructure TripAdvisor Awards 2025 | Elafonisi Beach World's Best Beach - 9th in Crete, Sani Beach Award ATM'25 - Tourism | The fight against food waste at the forefront of sustainable development Promotion of Preveza on the metro and tram in Athens Crete also invests in cycling tourism - 13th Pediadas Tour Competitions with a summer and autumn backdrop: Attica runs at the pace of sports 12th BAJAGREECE: Motorsports Competition in Western Macedonia Cruise Takeoff in Chania – Record Arrivals in the First Quarter of 2025 The 20 "loudest" luxury hotel arrivals in Greece in 2025 Athens Municipality Festival 2025 | The city's biggest celebration, with more than 200 events New flights to Greece in 2025 from 4 airlines What to expect at this year’s ITB Berlin Exhibition from March 4-6 easyJet holidays | Fam trips to Santorini, Skiathos and Rhodes PM at 1st Greece-Saudi Arabia High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council on Monday Greece's Permanent Delegation to UNESCO organizing concert on January 16 North Macedonia: Increase in foreign tourists in 2024 Athens to host the European Film Awards in 2027 Foreign News ReporterPublished: Invalid Date AN ISLAND in Greece is getting ready to welcome some slippery guests in a mysterious phenomenon that happens once a year The serpents mark the start of a religious festival in Kefalonia Greece where snakes adorning the Virgin Mary is viewed as a good sign thousands of people gather in the tiny village of Markopoulo on August 14 and 15 to see if the snakes will make an appearance at the Church of Panagia Lagouvarda also known as Panagia Fidousa - the Virgin Mary of Snakes with black crosses on their heads and tongues enter the church in swarms to seek shelter before disappearing for another year Their swarming of snakes is a complete mystery with some claiming the location of the church is merely a migratory route while locals believe the serpents originated from a divine miracle But many believe the beasts failing to appear is a chilling omen and could mean bad luck for the year ahead The Sun spoke with Olivia from Olympic Transfer Kefalonian Tours to understand the legend behind the snakes. Olivia said: “The legend of Panagia Fidoussa says everything started from a bush that some people saw burning on the floor.  “Approaching to put out the fire, they saw that it had a single tree and that at its root was the image of the Virgin Mary.  and after this happened several more times "The villages understood it was a divine sign and decided to build a church dedicated to the Virgin Mary a women's monastery dedicated to the Virgin Mary was built there pirates once threatened the monastery in 1705 and snakes are said to have surrounded the church as protection Olivia explained: “After the nun’s prayers “This was the beginning of the miracles of Panagia Fidousa “The miracle has been repeated every year since then and is the explanation given by folk tradition for the appearance of snakes “The folk music tradition of Kefalonia even has a well-known couplet about Panagia Fidoussa:  The snakes from Markopoulos want to eat me But that one belongs to Panagia and they caress me!" Another more likely origin of the snakes is that the church is along the snake's migratory route while others suggest that villagers would pick up the snakes and place them in the church it’s considered a bad sign if the snakes do not appear the snakes did not appear in 1940 during World War II and 1953 the year Kefalonia suffered from devastating earthquakes.” Nowadays the legend of the snakes has become a huge festival amongst the faithful and the curious it remains to be seen if the snakes will appear in the church in 2024 Snakes were seen as a powerful symbol of regeneration and healing in ancient Greece where harmless snakes were placed in rooms of the sick and injured Snakes can also be seen on the rod of Asclepius a single snake wrapped around a staff and is now associated as a medical symbol Snakes aren't the only attraction on Kefalonia which is the largest Greek island in the Ionian sea The island boasts several crystal clear beaches breathtaking mountain views and the underground Melissani Cave you might even be able to spot the endangered loggerhead sea turtles in the bay of Argostoli or even the endangered Mediterranean Monk Seal at the famed breeding ground Foki Beach on the northeast coast of the island The island's picturesque beauty was even used as the backdrop for the 2001 film Captain Corelli's Mandolin which starred Nicolas Cage and Penelope Cruz Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/ Posted by | Mar 16, 2017 | , | The parent company of Spanish luxury fragrance firm Puig Exea has acquired a majority stake in Greek natural cosmetics company Apivita for an undisclosed sum The Catalan company will take a controlling interest with current Founder and CEO Nikos Koutsianas appointed Chairman and the Koutsianas family retaining a 33.3 percent stake Apivita boasts annual sales of €40 million and sells its products via drugstores department stores and branded outlets across Europe Apivita will retain its Greek base and production line including its state-of-the-art research facilities in Markopoulo Contact UsSubscribePrivacy PolicyCookie PolicyTerms & Conditions Copyright © 2025 Global Cosmetics Media Limited Athina Onassis, the only surviving descendant of Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis, is said to be planning to visit Greece for the first time in twelve years, according to greekreporter.com is expected to take part in an international event scheduled to take place in Markopoulo The last time she visited Greece was in 2007 when she traveled to watch her former husband Álvaro de Miranda Neto at the Athina Onassis Horse Show Onassis is based in France and has in the past refrained from visiting Greece Insiders say that she was disappointed at the way her grandfather’s estate was distributed after his death Athina Onassis is the single heiress of Christina Onassis who inherited 55% of her father Aristotle Onassis’s fortune minus the $26 million settled upon his widow Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis The charitable fund was founded in memory of Alexander Onassis Athina’s late uncle and Aristotle’s beloved only son Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons License: CC-BY-SA Copyright: Clément Bucco-Lechat FORMER Petron import Stephanie Niemer scored 17 service aces to lead Olympiacos past Markopoulo in the Greek Women’s National League on Monday Niemer had a total of 26 points in a lopsided match, 25-10, 25-4, 25-11, according to the http://www.cev.lu/CEV-Area/cev.aspx website The prolific American spiker was on the service line 15 times in a row starting from the time when the score was 6-3 does not want to gauge her performance by the statistics “I do not believe the match against Markopoulo was my best match but more by the feeling on the court with my teammates,” she said “There is always room for improvement in each skill of my game but it happened to be a good day for serving,” she added Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph Spin.ph has been granted the NPC Seal of Registration in recognition of the successful registration of its DPO and DPS We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on Spin.ph. By continued use, you agree to our privacy policy and accept our use of such cookies. Find out more here Remember a Godolphin half-brother to the 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense called Mesmerism he ran three undistinguished races for Jim Bolger before being sold for 6,000gns He too probably slipped under the radar in five races for Luca Cumani before changing hands for 4,000gns But Greek racing fans know all about the pair who have proved their worth in Athens to the extent that they were put forward to race at this year's Dubai Carnival and Qatar Festival Mesmerism and Royal Mahogany were bought at Tattersalls in Newmarket in October 2015 and July last year respectively and are among an influx of more than 200 imports from Britain and Ireland the latest of whom include January winners Elementary Read award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing Already a subscriber?Log in Published on 25 February 2017inFeatures Copyright © 2025 Spotlight Sports Group Limited or its licensors Traffic restrictions will take place on Attiki Odos from 22:00 tonight The entrance of Attiki Odos from Lamia and from Piraeus to Airport / Markopoulo at Junction 8 (Metamorphosis) will remain closed from 22:00 at night on Monday 05/08/2024 until 06:00 in the morning of Tuesday 06/08/2024 drivers can move towards Elefsina through the Metamorfosi Junction and turn around (without paying tolls again) at the next Junction in order to head towards Airport / Markopoulo From 22:00 in the evening of Monday 05/08/2024 until 06:00 in the morning of Tuesday 06/08/2024 the exit of Attiki Odos to Mandra (Junction 1) in the direction of Elefsina will remain closed drivers can either exit from the junction of Magoula / Thriasio Field (junction 2) or continue their route towards Corinth and before the toll of Elefsina move towards “Nea Peramos without toll” where turn around and move towards Athens until the next junction (Thebes junction) through which they will be able to proceed towards Thebes / Elefsina or continue towards Athens / Piraeus The entrance of Attiki Odos from Markopoulo (Junction 20) to Aerodrome and Elefsina as well as the connecting branch from Koropi to Elefsina will remain closed from 22:00 in the evening of Monday 05/08/2024 until 06:00 in the morning of Tuesday 06/08/2024 – Those passing from Markopoulo to Elefsina can move towards “Athens without toll” via Markopoulo L exit at the K1 junction following the sign “Local Roads” and then turn around “towards Athens” and enter Attiki Odos towards Elefsina – Those passing from Koropi to Elefsina where they will then make a U-turn “towards Athens” and enter Attiki Odos towards Elefsina 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 first three episodes of House of David Season 3 are streaming on Amazon Prime Video showcasing the breathtaking natural filming locations in Greece and Canada House of David brings its ancient setting to life with sweeping on-location shoots in the Mediterranean The production utilizes grand landscapes and a large cast of extras to enhance the epic scale of David's (played by newcomer Michael Iskander) journey While the series remains rooted in historical and religious themes its visual backdrop is one of its most striking elements was a stunning backdrop for House of David Its rugged coastline and deep blue waters add to the show's grand while its rocky cliffs and open horizons enhance moments of reflection and intense confrontations Markopoulo Mesogaias played a key role in the production of House of David as the home of Kapa Studios Its rolling countryside and quiet roads helped recreate David's early years as a shepherd providing a mix of controlled environments and natural landscapes The town's proximity to Athens also likely made it a practical hub for the production crew and cast members Known for its ancient silver mines and rugged terrain Lavreotiki added an authentic historical energy to House of David lending credibility to its depiction of a world shaped by conflict and survival Tucked into the foothills of Mount Parnitha Fyli likely provided lush forests and cliffs ideal for dramatic storytelling fortress-like setting made it a natural choice for scenes of exile featured in the new series The seaside town of Xylokastro offered the House of David crew a striking contrast between land and sea making it a visually dynamic location for the series Its serene beaches and pine forests created a peaceful setting Zagori's dramatic cliffs and narrow pathways served well in the series for capturing shots from high above looking out on the battlefield its medieval-like villages enhanced House of David's sense of historical realism Konitsa likely contributed to House of David's grand visual scale Its proximity to the Aoos Gorge and the Pindus mountain range allowed for breathtaking aerial shots and dynamic action sequences The town's blend of natural beauty and historic architecture made it a perfect setting for capturing both the grandeur and struggle of House of David While Greece provided the ancient atmosphere Alberta offered additional landscapes that blended seamlessly with Mediterranean scenery House of David Episodes 1-3 are streaming on Amazon Prime Video For more on the latest biblical tale, take a deep dive into the entire cast of House of David Copyright © 2025 The Direct Media Group LLC Attention is focused on Grevena today regarding electronic auctions as it is the “day of Alfa Wood Pindos,” one of the largest timber industrial units It is also the second most “expensive” auction – at least for this period – after the Hippodrome in Markopoulo with the starting bid price increased to €23.86 million is whether this time an investor will be found willing to give a “lifeline” to a unit almost ready to operate This seems unlikely given that there was no interest in previous auctions when the price was significantly lower It should be noted that Alfa Wood Pindos has been in the midst of auctions since late 2019 it went up for auction with a starting price of €27,018,765 Another auction was scheduled for January 24 with the starting price further reduced to €13,279,066 This was avoided as the debtor company filed an appeal requesting that the foreclosure report be corrected regarding the valuation and starting bid price The Single-Member Court of First Instance of Grevena setting the price at €10,253,522 for the property with the buildings and €13,611,000 for the machinery with the new total starting price at €23,864,522 The auction includes a plot of land located in the estate area of the Municipal District of Mavranaioi at “Magoula” with a total area of 107,646 square meters on which the company’s industrial facilities are located These consist of 34 buildings with a total area of 27,764.98 square meters constructed at various times from 1987 to 2010 It should be noted that according to the appraisal report there are also several unauthorized buildings covering approximately 23,500 square meters The rest of the plot is simply leveled with natural soil Along with the plot and the industrial buildings the auction includes a multitude of machinery and tools According to the May 2023 appraisal report the value of industrial properties in the broader area shows an upward trend and sales transactions are continuously taking place while the supply of similar properties for sale is less than the demand resulting in upward pressure on their market values The main activities of Alfa Wood Pindos are the production and trade of primary and secondary timber products mainly the production and trade of fiberboard and use of electricity from RES or Combined Heat and Power (CHP) systems It also engages in the wholesale trade of central heating items and other general and specialized machines it is involved in the retail trade of boilers for central heating according to the latest financial statement for the fiscal year 2022 the company’s turnover was only €7,866 compared to €530,224 in 2021 accumulated losses amounted to €38,258,333 Alfa Wood Pindos belongs to Alfa Wood Group the largest group in the domestic wood industry market today A financially healthy company with strong performance Alfa Wood’s journey began in 1981 when Antonis Adamopoulos and Christos Agorastos founded Alpha Wood S.A. with significant investments and successive acquisitions in 2004 they acquired the Grevena-based timber company “Pindos,” aiming to produce laminate floors which were experiencing significant growth at that time The main target was the major market player while the country was entering an economic crisis Alfa Wood acquired 73% of Shelman for €11 million making the Thessalian wood industry leader in the Greek wood and timber products market and one of the largest manufacturing units in the Balkans had sales of €47.4 million and pre-tax profits of €3.63 million acquiring the parent company with factories in Chalkida (where it also had a private port) and Komotini as well as subsidiaries like the glue industry Chatziloukas S.A a parquet production and installation company also active in Romania through Sofrom Exim S.A. it also “inherited” the enormous liabilities and the overstaffed workforce Alfa Wood Group reacquired the wood production factory of Shelman in Komotini at auction through its subsidiary Hellenic Panel S.A The group then announced that this investment was made to develop its commercial activities aiming to maintain the largest wood production factory in Europe under Greek ownership The first holy snake of Virgin Mary appeared last night at the Church of Theotokos (Virgin Mary) at the village Arginia on Kefalonia The phenomenon of the Holy Snakes of Virgin Mary has been occurring for centuries between August 5 and August 15 during the festivities for Virgin Mary on the island of Kefalonia and especially at villages Markopoulo and Arginia the monastery at Markopoulo was attacked by pirates in 1705 The nuns prayed to Virgin Mary for protection and were transformed into snakes to avoid being taken as prisoners Another version of this myth is that Virgin Mary sent snakes to kill the invaders The snakes have a small cross on their head and their tongues are also in the shape of a cross They are harmless and as soon as the Liturgy concludes on the 15th of August they disappear and cannot be found until the following year the snakes of Virgin Mary did not appear on August 5 as they usually do when a strong earthquake had destroyed most part of the island and in 1987 and 2005 without any natural disaster having occured It should be noted that at the beginning of this year a big earthquake occurred on Kefalonia but as it seems this earthquake did not prevent the snakes from appearing again