International Gold Distinction for Alonissos and Samothraki Beaches

A Gold Medal was awarded to Alonissos and Samothrace islands by the Quality Coast association. This year's ceremony took place in Torres Vedras, Portugal. It was held under the auspices and the financial contribution of the European Union beaches and coastal areas (EUCC) on May 18. The EUCC awarded Europe's Top 100 beaches, under the environmental, natural, cultural and economical criteria. Azores beach in Portugal ranked 1st on the list, followed by the Cretan beach of Ierapetra and the Gozo & Comino beach in Malta.

The Top 10 of Europe's most beautiful, clean and pleasant beaches included Samothraki (in 7th place) and Alonissos (in 17th place). Another key-criteria for the juries' decision was the preservation of the surrounding natural area of the beaches.

Read more at: http://www.truegreece.org/

Passengers vote Aegean Airlines as the Best Regional Airline in Europe

Aegean Airlines achieved a remarkable success at the 2012 World Airline Awards, with air travellers again voting Aegean Airlines as Best Regional Airline in Europe. The Survey, conducted by global aviation research organization SKYTRAX, polled over 18 million business and leisure air travellers from 100 countries, with the winners of these passenger's choice awards announced at the Farnborough Airshow, UK on 12th July 2012. "For the third time in four years, Aegean Airlines customers have ensured that the airline achieves its deserved recognition by winning the award for the Best Regional Airline in Europe. This repeat result is an excellent achievement and Aegean Airlines should be proud of this customer recognition of quality consistency. Aegean Airlines continues to be a favourite amongst passengers and it is very noteworthy that it has also maintained its place in the top-25 global airlines," said Edward Plaisted, CEO of SKYTRAX.

Read more at:http://en.aegeanair.com

Sifnos @ Top10

The serene island of Sifnos found its way to National Geographic's Top Ten Islands. In its luxury edition Journeys of a lifetime-500 of the World's Greatest Trips, the leading nature and travel magazine, gives Sifnos the 9th spot in the Islands Under the Sun category, with the note "if you find yourselves there, you'll know there's no other place of equal beauty in the whole world." With dazzling beaches, exemplary Cycladic architecture and low-impact tourism, Sifnos is the archetypically idyllic island and a true hidden treasure of the Aegean. Although popular, especially among Greeks, the island has remained unspoiled by mass tourism and retained its traditional way of life. The island boasts a rich culinary tradition. Legendary chef and guru of Modern Greek cuisine Nikolaos Tselementes, whose name is synonymous to "cookbook" in Greek, was born and raised in Sifnos. The island's restaurants and tavernas carry on Tselementes' legacy, with emphasis on local ingredients and age old recipes that have brought Sifnos the unofficial title of the island with the best food in the Cyclades. National Geographic's special edition, «Journey of a Lifetime - 500 of the World's Greatest Trips»

Taste like Greece in London

Taste of London 2012 saw a little slice of Greece at Taste of London. Greece is a country bursting with flavours, and not just of the foodie type! From its picture postcard islands and sparkling waters, to its ancient cities and towering monuments the country is home to some of the world's most stunning landscapes, a rich and welcoming culture and a history that brought us, among other things, the Olympic Games. Visitors could explore a traditional Greek market where top food and wine producers were pedalling their wares and offering a nibble and a sip of the best ingredients from across the country; and learn from the best as top chefs Dimitris Skarmoutsos, Andy Harris and Tonia Buxton as they prepared exciting Greek recipes live in the Taste food theatres. See more @ truegreece.org

Airlines honor Athens International Airport with one more airport marketing distinction

Routes Europe 2012, the biggest gathering of airports and airlines, concluded with another distinction for Athens International Airport, its eleventh in 8 years: specifically, during the 7th Routes Europe Conference, which, this year, was held in Tallinn – Estonia (May 20-22) with the participation of 1,000 aviation professionals, AIA was highly commended in the "Mediterranean and Southern Europe" category, in recognition of its continuous, dynamic and creative support to the airlines' developmental efforts, especially during the extremely adverse conditions that the Greek economy is facing at the moment. It is noteworthy that, with 11 top distinctions, AIA is the most awarded airport and the only one that has been awarded continuously for 8 years in the context of the Routes Conferences.

Read the TrueStory at: www.truegreeece.org

Athens and Epidaurus Festival 2012

The Athens and Epidavrus Festival is a great celebration that has lasted 56 summers, and has hosted some of the leading lights of theatre, music and dance. From Mitropoulos and Callas to Rostropovich, Pavarotti, Leonidas Kavakos and Dimitris Sgouros. From Rondiris and Koun to Streller, Peter Hall, Noh theatre, Bunraku puppet theatre, and the Peking Opera.

Above all, however, it is a venture with an eventful past often clouded by events in Greece's recent history. A venture that, over the last six years, has taken on a youthful vitality, and openness. A reversal of this state of affairs was clearly necessary – to pursue modernism once more, to systematically open up the Festival to cutting-edge international productions, and to promote young Greek artists who have something to say to contemporary audiences. To spread the events of this arts festival across the entire city, to seek out new and different audiences, and to cater for ever more arts lovers through the select events of a contemporary festival.

A new identity – a festival that is inclusive, that reflects its host city, and that brings the livelier aspects of society back into play. This is the challenge to be met; work to this end began in earnest in 2006, and the wager has yet to be won.

Read more at: http://www.visitgreece.gr

You can find the Programme here.

Flame of knowledge burns bright in Olympia

Every summer since 2001, Ancient Olympia -- that cradle of symbolism for ancient Greek ideals -- has been hosting a summer school on political science and international relations, drawing students and academics from around the world.

This year, the summer school will run from July 5 to 16 at the International Olympic Academy at the foot of Cronus Hill, and will be hosting 100 students and 15 professors at its premises, which includes accommodation, a conference center, a library and state-of-the-art sports facilities.

Now entering its second decade, the Olympia Summer School has earned international plaudits and prestige, with applications coming in every year from all corners of the Earth from postgraduate and PhD students from the world's finest universities. So far, the school has welcomed 500 students from 38 countries. Almost 95 percent of the students are from abroad, with half coming from the United States and Europe. Along with the research, education and networking opportunities provided by the summer school, it is also a powerful cultural networking tool that attracts funding from overseas and propagates Greek history and culture in other parts of the world. The academy has also forged ties with numerous institutions abroad, such as the universities of Yale and St Andrews, offering scholarships to students wanting to study at the International Olympic Academy.

More @: http://www.ekathimerini.com

Call it Dionysian DNA, Call it Hard Work, Greeks Make Wine Much More than Fine

Hard work and patience does pay off. Especially when it comes to fine wine. Just ask many of Greece's contemporary winemakers. Both blessed and burdened (inthe good sense) with making good on their Dionysian DNA, modern Greek winemakerscultivated their ancient forefathers' land and wine craftsmanship managing to bringdifficult-to pronounce Greek grape varieties to the lips of the world's masters of wine,including judges, sommeliers, journalists and authors.The New York Times, Decanter, Wine & Spirits, Wine Spectator and others herald theAssyrtiko, Moschofilero, Agiorgitiko, Xinomavro - and not only -- Greek wine varietiesusing words like "adventure," "exciting" and "pleasure of discovery.""My impression is almost exactly like I'm visiting Greece," said Laura Maniec,proprietor of Corkbuzz Wine Studio, in a recent article published in the New YorkTimes about Greek reds. "They're open-minded and experimental, but within theirtraditions…."Greece is considered one of the upcoming wine regions, demonstrating unique,distinctive indigenous varietals and dramatically diverse terroir.

Read more at: www.truegreece.org

13Th Pelion Festival

Since its beginning, in 2000, the Pelion Festival has attracted professional musicians, students, friends of classical music, lovers of art and history as well as those who choose alternative tourism, in an environment where art, music, discourse and nature create a unique bond and offer ideal conditions for creative holidays. The Festival seeks to promote the collaboration of musicians around the world where there will be the opportunity for communication through music, an exchange of ideas and an exploration of new perspectives in interpretation and music education. Special focus is given to cultural decentralisation where the children of the region actively take part in the events. Emphasis is also given to the promotion of young musicians and composers who, each year, present their many musical compositions in a first world performance. Apart from the music and several art events, the festival also aims to promote the local history of the region by organising a series of lectures and discussion groups on the subject. You are all welcome to take part in the Festival either as a session participant, a session observer or as a member of the audience. The festival attracts music students and teachers, as well as music lovers in general. This year, it is held on June 14-August 12 in Zagora and Tsagarada.

You can find the Programme here.

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