Politismos eMagazine | Athina Pantazatou
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Author: Athina Pantazatou

Kardamyli: A charming fairytale town

04.04.2019 in Travel

Kardamyli: A charming fairytale town   In Kardamyli, stone houses with tiled roofs sit protected in a bay at the base of Mt. Taygetos just across from the small, lush island of Meropi.   The old district of the town features restored towers and pebbly creeks with olive trees and cypresses. Kardamyli attracts both tourists seeking outdoor sports/recreation and those seeking a leisurely vacation. Nature lovers, artists, Greeks and foreigners (mainly British but also Germans and other northerners), have made this“gate to the Messinian Mani” their hang out. There are boutique hotels with personality, taverns in stunning courtyards overlooking the…

Syros: A patchwork of Catholic and Orthodox sacred devotion

04.04.2019 in Travel

Syros: A patchwork of Catholic and Orthodox sacred devotion   Syros, the capital of the Cyclades is always high on the list of eclectic weekend outings during the early holiday season.   Mansions are spread along the island’s two hills overlooked by the Orthodox Byzantine temple of the Resurrection and the Catholic church of Saint George. In Ermoupolis, one must visit the stunning villa that houses the city hall and historic Apollo Theater. There are alsothe lovely streets around Miaouli Square, the Vaporia neighborhood with more gorgeous mansions (some of which have been turned into brilliant little hostels), and the…

Chalkidiki: Blue waters, countless coves and beaches, lush landscape, and picturesque villages

04.04.2019 in Travel

Chalkidiki: Blue waters, countless coves and beaches, lush landscape, and picturesque villages   Chalkidiki is one of the most popular destinations in Greece and an area of ​​particular natural beauty.   It is only a few miles from Thessaloniki, the three peninsulas of Kassandra, Sithonia, and Athos. Chalkidiki caters to the needs of all travellers. There is exciting nightlife in Kassandra, tranquillity and exotic beaches in Sithonia, and a family friendly atmosphere in Athos. Adventure lovers will find more than 20 marked trails and 17 cycling routes that pass through the oak forests of Mt. Cholomon and the fir forests…

The Byzantine Churches of Athens

07.03.2019 in History

The Byzantine Churches of Athens     Scattered all over the city center, with much of their history yet untold, the Byzantine temples in downtown Athens are invaluable epicenters of grandiose architecture and Christian art.   Panagia Kapnikarea Dedicated to the Virgin Mary and sitting in one of the busiest commercial streets of downtown Athens, Ermou Street, the cruciform domed church actually belongs to the University of Athens and has supported the needs of the Theological School’s students since 1931. The name of the church allegedly comes from its first owner, either an individual or institution in Byzantine times, who…

Tasteful Athens: fish and seafood galore at “Psarakia kai Thalassina”

18.12.2018 in Gastronomy

Tasteful Athens: fish and seafood galore at “Psarakia kai Thalassina”     With a slender, coquettish black cat in their logo and a perky name like little fish/“psarakia” (a diminutive form of “psaria”, not connoting size as much but rather adorability!) the restaurant chain “Psarakia kai Thalassina” has been stirring the… sea waters in Athens, since 2013.   Excellent quality, great portions, and low prices define the successful trio that has established “Psarakia kai Thalassina” a top choice for the local fish lovers. Their specialty kitchen stuff are on a never ending quest for the freshest ingredients. Their hearty servings…

Zoe Tiganouria: “Music is a Universe full of senses”

17.12.2018 in Arts & Culture

Zoe Tiganouria: “Music is a Universe full of senses”     Zoe Tiganouria is a Greek composer, performer, and accordion soloist. Born and raised in Samothrace in a family of traditional musicians, she has worked with many accredited Greek and international artists like Dimitra Galani, George Dalaras, Haris Alexiou, Marinella, Nikos Papazoglou, Eleftheria Arvanitaki, Mario Frangoulis, Al Di-Meola, Ömer Faruk Tekbilek, Goran Bregović, Chico Freeman, Zülfü Livaneli, and many more.   Zoe has produced more than twenty personal singles and albums since 2006 and has composed several soundtracks for documentaries and television series. Zoe’s compositions and renditions are included in…

The Great Famine through 6,000 newspaper clippings An interview with Professor Eleni Nikolaidou

31.10.2018 in Arts & Culture

The Great Famine through 6,000 newspaper clippings An interview with Professor Eleni Nikolaidou     “The Starvation Recipes” book is the result of studying the daily Athenian newspapers—the “Athinaika Nea”, the “Vradini” and the “Kathimerini”—during the Nazi occupation (1941-44). Life in the nation’s capital was particularly nasty, burdened from hunger, retaliation acts, street barricades, and fear. The newspapers took upon the task to offer advice on how to consume less and began publishing “survival recipes” …   When Professor Eleni Nikolaidou began her research on the living conditions of the Athenians during the German occupation, little did she suspect that…

Central Peloponnese: Where Do We Go from Here?

04.10.2018 in Travel

Central Peloponnese: Where Do We Go from Here?     Lounged in valleys or strewn on mountain slopes, the historic villages and rural towns of central Peloponnese are a hidden treasure, often missed by casual travellers. For those who wish to be put through the grind and resist the spell that is a Greek isle in the summer, they are a revelation. Whether it be the latest trend in winter-sports locations like Vytina, a foodie’s paradise like Leonidio, or a quaint traditional settlement like Karytaina, it will definitely be worth the ride!   Megalopolis Reported by Herodotus as the battleground…

The amazing products and culinary tradition of the Arcadian region

17.07.2018 in Gastronomy

The amazing products and culinary tradition of the Arcadian region     Arcadia’s lush landscapes and crystal-clear waters, have swayed many poets, prose writers, and painters, from antiquity to modern times, and inspired an entire school in neoclassical literature.   Ancient writers used to call Arcadia’s locals valanifagous (acorn eaters) and the area was referred to as Polypidakas, meaning “having multiple springs”. Today the region remains as beautiful as ever. With its glistening mountain peaks, the beaches at the Myrtoan Sea, its traditional settlements, medieval castles, and imposing monasteries, it is a place with much to offer. The capital city…

Galatopita

10.07.2018 in Gastronomy

Galatopita   Serves: 12-14
Preparation time: 1 hour 15 minutes, plus cooling time Ingredients: 8 cups/2000 ml dairy milk 2 cups/500 g fine semolina flour 2 cups/500 g raw sugar ½ cup/125 g butter (or 1 standard US stick) at room temperature 6 eggs 1 vanilla pod Directions: In a bowl, beat all six eggs well and set them aside. Preheat the oven at 350 °F/180 °C. Scrape the vanilla pod (see method below). Add both the seeds and the pod to the milk and warm it up in a large pot, over medium heat. When the milk is warm enough,…