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Conventions
Greece is the ideal place for conventions, business conferences and meetings. It combines excellent conference facilities with unique museums, archaeological sites, shopping and nightlife. At present there are 13 conference centres outside hotels, with a total capacity of 12,000 persons. Over a hundred hotels at several Greek destinations offer a full range of conference facilities.
Agrotourism
Agrotourism is a mild form of sustainable tourist development and multi-activity in rural areas through which the visitor has the opportunity to get acquainted with agricultural areas, agricultural occupations, local products, traditional cuisine and the daily life of the people, as well as the cultural elements and the authentic features of the area, while showing respect for the environment and tradition. Moreover, this activity brings visitors closer to nature and rural activities in which they can participate, be entertained and feel the pleasure of touring, learning and discovering.
At the same time, it mobilises the productive, cultural and developmental forces of an area, contributing in this way to the sustainable environmental, economic and social development of the rural area.There are many businesses all over the country which offer you the opportunity to enjoy the unique advantages of the Greek countryside through special programmes of agrotourism. These businesses are listed in the following categories:
-outlets/ exhibitions of agrotourist products;
-agrotourist catering and recreation centres;
-tourist offices organising or implementing programmes offering outdoor activities and tours of ecotourist and cultural interest;
-farms;
-businesses producing traditional products;
-popular art workshops
At the same time, it mobilises the productive, cultural and developmental forces of an area, contributing in this way to the sustainable environmental, economic and social development of the rural area.There are many businesses all over the country which offer you the opportunity to enjoy the unique advantages of the Greek countryside through special programmes of agrotourism. These businesses are listed in the following categories:
-outlets/ exhibitions of agrotourist products;
-agrotourist catering and recreation centres;
-tourist offices organising or implementing programmes offering outdoor activities and tours of ecotourist and cultural interest;
-farms;
-businesses producing traditional products;
-popular art workshops
Churches - Monasteries
The churches, places intended to meet the needs of Christian worship, are a characteristic and inextricable element of the Greek landscape. From the austere, aisleless country chapels to the imposing cross-in-square types, churches are built according to specific architectural forms which were gradually established since the first centuries of Christianity. Their decoration – whether painting, mosaic or other - always reflects the Orthodox doctrine, following specific style trends and established iconographic programmes.
Over the centuries, important architects, builders or painters have contributed to the construction and decoration of the Greek churches, many of which now are scheduled monuments.The oldest churches in Greece, the most important of which are found in Thessalonica, Nea Anchíalos, Nikópoli, Athens and Corinth, date from the early Byzantine period (4th – 6th centuries A.D.).
During this period, important ancient Greek temples, such as the Parthenon, the Erechtheion or the “Thission” in Athens, were transformed into churches, while many Christian churches were built near to or on the site of known idolatric centres (e.g. in Daphní, Elefsina, Delphi, Epidaurus, Delos). Churches were also built on sites connected with people or events which were important to the Christians, such as the burial sites of martyrs.During the Middle Byzantine period (7th century A.D. -1204), Greek churches acquired an intensely local character and were quite different from the corresponding monuments in Constantinople. The most important ones are found in Attica, Viotía, Argolida, Mani et al. Some of them are the main church of the monasteries they belong to and are called Catholicon. The churches of the Late Byzantine period (1204-1453) continued to follow traditional architectural models. Some of the most important churches built in that period are found in Arta, Véria, Kastoriá, Thessalonica and Mystrás.
The churches that were built during that time in areas under Frankish or Venetian occupation adopted many western elements – whether architectural or decorative.
The churches built in Greece during the Ottoman occupation are particularly austere, with the exception of the churches in areas under Venetian or generally western occupation (Crete, the Ionian Islands). After the War of Independence, the economic recession did not allow construction of grandiose churches. An exception is the Metropolis of Athens which was built in the middle of the 19th century with the intention of being the central church in the capital of the newly established Greek state. However, ecclesiastic architecture has flourished again since the end of the 19th century, in particular during the first decades of the 20th century.
Like the churches, monasteries are closely connected with the history and tradition of Greece. By “monastery” we mean the total number of buildings in which monks or, more generally, the members of a religious community live. Monasteries comprise a central church (called the Catholicon), chapels, the monks’ cells, guest houses, the dining room (the refectory), the kitchen, the library, etc.
The institution of monasticism first made its appearance in the 4th century A.D. with the anchorites (or hermits) in the desert of Egypt, and spread very quickly to other areas of the then Byzantine empire. It reached a peak around the 10th century A.D. and this led to the establishment of many monasteries.
The largest monastic community in Greece is located on Aghio Oros (Mount Athos), also known as the Garden of Panaghía (Virgin Mary). The first monks settled there during the 5th century A.D. However, the first monastic community was created in the 10th century when Ossios Athanassios the Athonites (from Mount Athos) founded the Monastery of Megisti Lavra (963) which has had a leading status among the other monasteries of Athos since then.
The particularity of Aghio Oros (Mount Athos) lies in the fact that it is an autonomous administrative region of the Greek State which politically falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and spiritually under the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople. All twenty Athos monasteries lead a communal way of life; that is, they impose common mass, prayers, accommodation, meals and work on the monks. The monks elect the person in charge of each monastery, the Abbot, who retains the title for life. The monasteries of Aghio Oros (Mount Athos), where the principle of the ávaton (inaccessible) still applies to women, possess a large number of heirlooms (manuscripts, historic documents, chysobulls, portable icons, etc). Apart from all the above, the monasteries themselves constitute unique cultural monuments, not only for Orthodox Christianity and Greece, but for the entire world as well.
The second biggest and most important monastery complex in Greece is Metéora. The first hermits settled there during the 11th century. The oldest monasteries, though, date from the 14th century. Of the 24 original monasteries there are only six in use today, while the remaining ones are deserted; the monasteries of Metamórphosis (Transfiguration), Varlaám, Ag. Nikólaos Anapafsás and Aghía Triada (Holy Trinity) are for monks, while the monasteries of Roussano and Aghios Stéfanos are for nuns. The monasteries of Metéora have been characterised monuments of cultural heritage by UNESCO.Important monastic monuments are the Monastery of Daphní in Attica (11th century), Ossios Lucas in Fokida (11th century), Nea Moní (New Monastery) on the island of Chios (11th century), et al.
Over the centuries, important architects, builders or painters have contributed to the construction and decoration of the Greek churches, many of which now are scheduled monuments.The oldest churches in Greece, the most important of which are found in Thessalonica, Nea Anchíalos, Nikópoli, Athens and Corinth, date from the early Byzantine period (4th – 6th centuries A.D.).
During this period, important ancient Greek temples, such as the Parthenon, the Erechtheion or the “Thission” in Athens, were transformed into churches, while many Christian churches were built near to or on the site of known idolatric centres (e.g. in Daphní, Elefsina, Delphi, Epidaurus, Delos). Churches were also built on sites connected with people or events which were important to the Christians, such as the burial sites of martyrs.During the Middle Byzantine period (7th century A.D. -1204), Greek churches acquired an intensely local character and were quite different from the corresponding monuments in Constantinople. The most important ones are found in Attica, Viotía, Argolida, Mani et al. Some of them are the main church of the monasteries they belong to and are called Catholicon. The churches of the Late Byzantine period (1204-1453) continued to follow traditional architectural models. Some of the most important churches built in that period are found in Arta, Véria, Kastoriá, Thessalonica and Mystrás.
The churches that were built during that time in areas under Frankish or Venetian occupation adopted many western elements – whether architectural or decorative.
The churches built in Greece during the Ottoman occupation are particularly austere, with the exception of the churches in areas under Venetian or generally western occupation (Crete, the Ionian Islands). After the War of Independence, the economic recession did not allow construction of grandiose churches. An exception is the Metropolis of Athens which was built in the middle of the 19th century with the intention of being the central church in the capital of the newly established Greek state. However, ecclesiastic architecture has flourished again since the end of the 19th century, in particular during the first decades of the 20th century.
Like the churches, monasteries are closely connected with the history and tradition of Greece. By “monastery” we mean the total number of buildings in which monks or, more generally, the members of a religious community live. Monasteries comprise a central church (called the Catholicon), chapels, the monks’ cells, guest houses, the dining room (the refectory), the kitchen, the library, etc.
The institution of monasticism first made its appearance in the 4th century A.D. with the anchorites (or hermits) in the desert of Egypt, and spread very quickly to other areas of the then Byzantine empire. It reached a peak around the 10th century A.D. and this led to the establishment of many monasteries.
The largest monastic community in Greece is located on Aghio Oros (Mount Athos), also known as the Garden of Panaghía (Virgin Mary). The first monks settled there during the 5th century A.D. However, the first monastic community was created in the 10th century when Ossios Athanassios the Athonites (from Mount Athos) founded the Monastery of Megisti Lavra (963) which has had a leading status among the other monasteries of Athos since then.
The particularity of Aghio Oros (Mount Athos) lies in the fact that it is an autonomous administrative region of the Greek State which politically falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and spiritually under the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople. All twenty Athos monasteries lead a communal way of life; that is, they impose common mass, prayers, accommodation, meals and work on the monks. The monks elect the person in charge of each monastery, the Abbot, who retains the title for life. The monasteries of Aghio Oros (Mount Athos), where the principle of the ávaton (inaccessible) still applies to women, possess a large number of heirlooms (manuscripts, historic documents, chysobulls, portable icons, etc). Apart from all the above, the monasteries themselves constitute unique cultural monuments, not only for Orthodox Christianity and Greece, but for the entire world as well.
The second biggest and most important monastery complex in Greece is Metéora. The first hermits settled there during the 11th century. The oldest monasteries, though, date from the 14th century. Of the 24 original monasteries there are only six in use today, while the remaining ones are deserted; the monasteries of Metamórphosis (Transfiguration), Varlaám, Ag. Nikólaos Anapafsás and Aghía Triada (Holy Trinity) are for monks, while the monasteries of Roussano and Aghios Stéfanos are for nuns. The monasteries of Metéora have been characterised monuments of cultural heritage by UNESCO.Important monastic monuments are the Monastery of Daphní in Attica (11th century), Ossios Lucas in Fokida (11th century), Nea Moní (New Monastery) on the island of Chios (11th century), et al.
Arts and Culture
Civilisation is the sum total of the material and cultural achievements of a group of people. Culture and arts are two concepts that are closely interwoven, as art is the characteristic expression of the culture of a given period. Arts such as architecture, sculpture, pottery, weaving, music, jewellery making, and painting have a long-standing tradition in Greece, where civilisations were already established in pre-historic times.
Little is known to date about the Palaeolithic period in Greece, but quite a lot about the subsequent Neolithic period (7th – 4th millennia B.C. approximately) and its civilisation, which is found mainly in areas such as Thessaly and Macedonia.Civilisations with impressive achievements developed during the Bronze Age (3,000 – 1150 B.C. approximately) in the Northeastern Aegean, the Cyclades (its trade-mark being the big-sized marble figurines), Crete and the Greek mainland. The civilisations which flourished during the 2nd millennium in the latter two areas, known as the Minoan and Mycenaean respectively, are considered the first two major civilisations of Greece. The architectural remnants (e.g. palaces), as well as the samples of pottery, stone carving (vessels, sealstones), metallurgy (vessels, weapons), jewellery making and painting (murals) are impressive and representative of these civilisations.
During historic times, the civilisations of the Geometric (9th – 8th centuries B.C.) and the Archaic periods (7th – 6th centuries B.C.) are considered forerunners of the culture of the classical period (5th – 4th centuries B.C.). The classical works of art, with their ideal proportions and beauty, expressed the philosophical ideals of their times and were the model of the European Renaissance of the 15th century A.D. During the subsequent Hellenistic (3rd – 1st centuries B.C.) and Roman times (1st century B.C. – 3rd century A.D.) Greek civilisation developed within the framework of big kingdoms and an empire, respectively. Again within the framework of an empire, Greek civilisation developed during the Byzantine period - early, middle and late - (4th -15th centuries A.D.), while in more recent times civilisation is marked by the Ottoman domination and the first steps of the new Hellenic state after the War of Independence of 1821.
A visit to archaeological sites, museums and monuments all over the country offers a vivid picture of the civilisations in Greece, their achievements in arts and technology from the pre-historic era to modern times.
Little is known to date about the Palaeolithic period in Greece, but quite a lot about the subsequent Neolithic period (7th – 4th millennia B.C. approximately) and its civilisation, which is found mainly in areas such as Thessaly and Macedonia.Civilisations with impressive achievements developed during the Bronze Age (3,000 – 1150 B.C. approximately) in the Northeastern Aegean, the Cyclades (its trade-mark being the big-sized marble figurines), Crete and the Greek mainland. The civilisations which flourished during the 2nd millennium in the latter two areas, known as the Minoan and Mycenaean respectively, are considered the first two major civilisations of Greece. The architectural remnants (e.g. palaces), as well as the samples of pottery, stone carving (vessels, sealstones), metallurgy (vessels, weapons), jewellery making and painting (murals) are impressive and representative of these civilisations.
During historic times, the civilisations of the Geometric (9th – 8th centuries B.C.) and the Archaic periods (7th – 6th centuries B.C.) are considered forerunners of the culture of the classical period (5th – 4th centuries B.C.). The classical works of art, with their ideal proportions and beauty, expressed the philosophical ideals of their times and were the model of the European Renaissance of the 15th century A.D. During the subsequent Hellenistic (3rd – 1st centuries B.C.) and Roman times (1st century B.C. – 3rd century A.D.) Greek civilisation developed within the framework of big kingdoms and an empire, respectively. Again within the framework of an empire, Greek civilisation developed during the Byzantine period - early, middle and late - (4th -15th centuries A.D.), while in more recent times civilisation is marked by the Ottoman domination and the first steps of the new Hellenic state after the War of Independence of 1821.
A visit to archaeological sites, museums and monuments all over the country offers a vivid picture of the civilisations in Greece, their achievements in arts and technology from the pre-historic era to modern times.
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