Dolphin Hellas Travel & Tourism - Travel in Greece

20/09/2024

The Benaki Museum does not need any special introduction. Renowned for its impressive and eclectic collection of artifacts, offers a deep dive into the rich tapestry of post-classical Greece. If you find yourself in Athens over the next 10 days, there's an additional reason to visit: it currently hosts an exclusive display of 12 of the original handmade costumes created by Academy Award and BAFTA winner costume designer Holly Waddington for Yorgos Lanthimos's film ‘Poor Things’. The pieces are stunning and provide a rare insight not only into the exquisite craftsmanship and detailed artistry that go into costume design, but also highlight the importance and power of costumes as a tool in telling a compelling story.

18/09/2024

A good starting point for those who want to learn more about their Greek origins or just want to know how rare (or common) their last name is!

Discover the hidden stories behind Greek surnames and how they trace family origins — starting with the name of a would-be U.S. president.

13/09/2024

On Sept. 15th 1977 the world was shocked by the news of the death of Maria Callas. She was just 53 but her health had been delicate for a while.The Maria Callas Museum will pay homage to the brilliant soprano on the anniversary of her death by offering a free concert directly opposite the museum and reduced general admission to its exhibition spaces. A unique opportunity to learn more about the dedicated artist that changed the face of opera and helped to shape its history, but also about Maria, the passionate woman, whose heart was broken. The words of Tosca’s great aria inevitably come to mind: “Vissi d’arte, vissi d’amore”: I have lived for art, I have lived for love.

Official website of Maria Callas: soprano, opera legend, ‘La Divina’. Diva of La Scala, celebrated as La traviata, Tosca, Norma, Lucia di Lammermoor, Medea.

11/09/2024

"If blood will flow when flesh and steel are one
Drying in the color of the evening sun
Tomorrow's rain will wash the stains away
But something in our minds will always stay
Perhaps this final act was meant
To clinch a lifetime's argument
That nothing comes from violence and nothing ever could
For all those born beneath an angry star
Lest we forget how fragile we are"

In memory of all those lost on 9/11 and the billions of lives that have been irreversibly affected ever since.

06/09/2024

The naval battle of Spetses (Sept. 8, 1822) is not widely known abroad, but is considered one of the landmarks of the Greek War of Independence. The victory of the Greeks prevented the Ottoman armada attacking the administrative centre of Revolution, the city of Nafplio. In commemoration of this event, the municipality organizes the Armata festival, the biggest celebration on the island, with a whole week of wonderful cultural activities and a re-enactment of the historical battle. On Saturday a replica of the Turkish flagship will be set alight, followed by a spectacular fireworks display. Don't miss it!

05/09/2024

The Acropolis Rally kicks off today! Crews are describing it as extremely challenging after completing their reconnaissance of the special stages. If you enjoy the adrenaline and wish to attend, visit the below site for details. https://cstu.io/b988e1

30/08/2024

The current affairs on the Psimythos prank force us to take a break from our Chios posts. A harmless joke that generated occasionally some really funny comments, it undoubtedly demonstrates how easy it is to get lost in the maze of the Internet, and how information can be manipulated. If you ask ChatGPT today about Psimythos, you will receive a nice text about a small village located on the island of Crete 🤔. If you try to find your way there on Google maps, it suddenly reappears on the island of Lipsi, some 170 nautical miles away 🙄. There is even a website (also part of the prank) dedicated to this made up island with photos from other parts of Greece. I don't know how many Internet users went on a wild chase, trying to pin-point this very "elusive" little paradise. The bottom line is that information and knowledge are two very different things, and only people with knowledge can actually assess the information out there. PS: the photos are from the very real island of Chios 😁!

28/08/2024

Like pretty much every Greek island, Chios is blessed with a breathtaking coastline! From north to south and east to west, you can find crystal clear waters and beaches for all tastes: sandy and well organized like Karfas and Lithi, rugged and pebbly like Apothika and Elinta, and of course the surreal Mavra Volia (black pebbles)! One thing they have in common: very little to no shade at all, so be well equipped.

21/08/2024

After a much needed break, we are back! We have a long list of travel ideas, history facts, practical information, interesting news and astounding images to share with you. Starting from our recent trip to an island that has stayed under the radar for too long: Chios! We would need thousands of words to describe just one of its several sites, let alone the entire island, so we will dedicate a few posts to do it justice. The first one is dedicated to the breathtaking 12c. Monastery of Panagia Krena. Completely covered with frescoes and with a particularly striking exterior due to the multi-colored natural building material, it is a monument of exceptional importance and great beauty!

02/08/2024

Today in History: in 338 BCE, Philip II of Macedonia defeats in Chaeronea (Boeotia, central Greece) a coalition of Greek city-states led by Thebes and Athens. The victory, partly credited to Philip’s 18-year-old son Alexander the Great, cemented the Macedonian hegemony in Greece and ended effective military resistance to Philip in the region. The images are from a recent, superb exhibition at the Museum of Cycladic Art, dedicated to this pivotal battle.
https://cycladic.gr/ektheseis/chaeronea/

31/07/2024

Mass tourism is responsible for many evils, including the destruction of the local ecosystems. Archelon, the sea turtle protection society of Greece, found a way to make tourism work in its favor. They organize short walks on some of the most important nesting beaches of the loggerhead sea turtle in Crete and the Peloponnese. They are educative, fun and, if you are lucky, you may get to see baby turtles emerge from the sandy beaches and begin their journey to the sea!
https://cstu.io/d72df1

26/07/2024

In a few hours, most of us will be glued to our screens to watch the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. It is a good opportunity for a throwback to, indisputably, one of the best opening ceremonies ever: the Athens 2004! If you happen to be in Athens, you can also visit the Olympic Museum and admire from up close some of the costumes and props that were used, along with tokens, memorabilia, documents and other exhibits!
https://athensolympicmuseum.org/en/exhibitions/

24/07/2024

In a few days, the world gets together in Paris for the 2024 Olympic Games. The modern games are quite unlike what they were in antiquity. If you want to learn more about the origins of the Olympic Games, here is an enlightening and fun article!
https://olympics.com/ioc/ancient-olympic-games

19/07/2024

If you are looking for a unique way to spend a night in Athens, the Stavros Niarchos Park offers a full moon sleepover on Sunday! The park will remain open overnight and invites everyone to experience a night different from all others, filled with music, all-night film screenings, group games, night rides with pedal boats, and many more activities.
https://snfcc.org/en/FullMoonSleepover2024

17/07/2024

The Greek cuisine did it again! Two salads made it to the top 10 in the world of Taste Atlas. They are wholesome, refreshing and filling, They are easy to make at home, but even better to taste in Greece 😉!
https://www.tasteatlas.com/best-rated-salads-in-the-world

10/07/2024

The shipwreck of Antikythera is one of the most exciting and fascinating archeological discoveries in the world. The news about significant discoveries from that area, including the existence of a second wooden vessel and hundreds of objects, triggered brand new questions. "Was there only one ship involved in this ancient maritime tragedy? How exactly did the wreck happen? Did the human remains recovered in recent years belong to passengers or crew members?" Until they are answered, we urge you to visit the National Archeological Museum, where many items from the wreck are on display, including the amazing Antikythera mechanism. Stay tuned!
https://www.esag.swiss/antikythera2024/

05/07/2024

The (new) Acropolis Museum opened 15 years ago and now ranks among the most popular museums in the world. One of its unique features is that at the base of the building are the extensive ruins of an ancient Athenian neighborhood, an area that is open to visitors. As of Wednesday this has been enriched with a 34-meter showcase that contains some 1,100 artifacts, including statues, table games and children’s toys, which were found during the excavations. Don't miss it!

03/07/2024

Greece is not a country particularly friendly to people with disabilities. This is the embarrassing truth. Things, however, are improving. Making as many beaches as possible accessible is a great advancement!
https://cstu.io/8c9cbd

28/06/2024

Few architects have such a lasting impact on a city as Ernst Ziller has on Athens. He either designed or oversaw the construction of approximately 500 buildings in Greece from 1870 to 1916, most of them in the capital. No wonder that nineteenth-century Athens was characterized by many as “Ziller’s Athens.” Luckily, several of his buildings remain standing tall today, reminding Greeks and visitors of the splendors of the school of neoclassicism.

26/06/2024

Did you know that Athens has 225 theaters, 62 libraries, 41 cultural centers, 111 cinemas, 345 works of art in public display, 198 sights, 55 art galleries, 135 museums, 495 historical landmarks and hosts 127 concerts on average per year? If cultural trips is what you are looking for, our city will not let you down!

21/06/2024

The Athens & Epidaurus Festival is already underway. 11 venues including the magnificent ancient theater of Epidaurus and the stunning Odeon of Herodus Atticus right beneath the Acropolis will host a great variety of performances including opera, dance, classical and contemporary music and more. Visit the official site and buy tickets, it is a once in a lifetime experience!
https://cstu.io/d7476a

19/06/2024

Do you know how many canyons and gorges Greece has? 146!! Some are easy to cross, others require the skills and equipment of a professional. All of them, however, are astoundingly beautiful! If you crave for a small (or bigger) adventure in nature, Greece will not let you down.

14/06/2024

What a brilliant idea! The National Theater joins forces with Diazoma Association with the aim to introduce the public to the lesser-known ancient theaters in Greece. "Plutus" by Aristophanes will be performed in 17 different ancient theaters from July through September. There will be no fees or tickets for the performances, other than the admission to archaeological sites where the venues are located. For more information on the dates and locations, visit https://https://cstu.io/95ec48

12/06/2024

A very good article on the origins of the taverna but also its importance - to this day - in building, nurturing and protecting human relationships through sharing. “The taverna becomes a social act, and where the syncretism between people unites them in a pan-human and all-inclusive universe.”

Where do you go when all you want is good food in an unpretentious setting? For us Greeks, the answer is the humble taverna. Here's our pick of the best haunts in Athens.

07/06/2024

Frachthi Cave is a site often overlooked. Yet, it is one of the oldest human dwellings, or settlements, in Southern Europe. It is known for its valuable findings, which date back to the Paleolithic period, over 40,000 years ago, including the oldest complete human skeleton in Greece, dating back to 8,000 BC, the earliest handmade Neolithic pottery from clay, along with a series of clay anthropomorphic and zoomorphic idols and other evidence, revealing the way prehistoric man lived. All are on display in the superb Archeological Museum in Nafplion.

05/06/2024

Where does one feel closest to God? All over Greece there are inconspicuous, small (to tiny) humble chapels, hidden in forests or camouflaged in rocks. Like the open-air church of Kakaviotisa in Lemnos, where you can stargaze; the miraculous chapel of Agia Theodora in Arcadia with 17 massive trees growing on its roof but no visible roots; the church of Agia Foteini in Mantineia that combines ancient Greek, early Christian and Byzantine architectural elements; or the Monastery of Kipina in Tzoumerka built into the rock for safety!

31/05/2024

Zagori, a cluster of 46 picturesque traditional villages, is now inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as Greece's 19th monument, is the country’s first cultural property recognized as a cultural landscape. It has has rightfully earned its place among the world's treasures as a pristine, authentic, and intact landscape with unique cultural characteristics.
https://cstu.io/58f2f5

24/05/2024

The weather is getting warmer and our minds wander off to turquoise waters! If you haven't made up your mind for your summer holidays, here are some ideas, including 4 in Greece😀❤️.
https://cstu.io/ddb66a

22/05/2024

In ancient Greece, dining together was more than just eating—it was about connecting and building relationships. This tradition of sharing meals has continued to shape how Greeks celebrate and eat together today. It reminds us that mealtime is all about good company, shared experiences, and filling our hearts as much as our stomachs.
https://cstu.io/15b937

17/05/2024

If on May 18th around noon you are anywhere close to Flisvos Marina, look up! 😀
https://www.raf.mod.uk/display-teams/red-arrows/the-team/