Festivals and Events
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Epiphany
The traditional Blessing of The Water at Piraeus is steeped in Orthodox tradition. The faithful congregate by the sea to watch young men dive in to retrieve a cross thrown by a priest.
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Carnival
Numerous events, both traditional and modern, celebrate the different regions of Greece and Athens itself.
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French film festival
At the Institut Francais d’Athenes.
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Easter Week
Equivalent in importance to Christmas elsewhere, Pascha (Easter) in Athens is a colourful experience with processions and other ceremonies.
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Eco Festival
Promoting environmentally-friendly living with music, theatre and exhibitions.
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Athens Festival
Music and theatre performances in a modern, open-air amphitheatre.
http://www.hellenicfestival.gr/site/places/lika... -
Acropolis Rally
The route starts at the foot of the Acropolis and takes drivers through rugged terrain on the Greek mainland for three days before leading them to the finishing line at the Panathenaic Stadium.
http://www.acropolisrally.gr -
Rockwave Festival
At Terra Vibe. Headliners in 2006 included Franz Ferdinand, the Dandy Warhols, Twisted Sister and WASP.
http://www.didimusic.gr/rockwave -
Full Moon Day
This draws thousands to experience the city’s archaeological sites under the moonlight.
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International Film Festival
http://www.aiff.gr/defaulten.htm -
Athens Marathon
Runners follow the original 26-mile route of Phidippides, who ran from Athens to Marathon in 490 BC to report that the invading Persian army had been defeated.
http://www.athensmarathon.com -
Christmas
Not as important as in western Europe, but still a major event on the Greek calendar. Children sing carols door to door.
Theatre, Cinema and Opera
Athens has an active theatre life but as most productions are in Greek, options for English speakers are limited. Most productions in English take place during festivals such as the Athens Festival. One recent initiative has resulted in some excellent productions of both modern and ancient drama in English at one of Greece’s most striking open-air theatres – the Stone (Petra) Theatre in Petropolis in the suburbs of Athens. Outstanding Greek and foreign musicians often perform at the Lykavittos Theatre. Opera can be seen at the Olympia Theatre, performed by the Lyriki Skini (the National Opera Company), while classical music, from national and international ensembles, is typically performed at the Megaron Musikis near the American Embassy.
Athens provides great hunting grounds for cinema enthusiasts with a wide range of repertory screenings, small art-house theatres as well as the obligatory multiplexes. But what makes Athens really special are the open-air summer cinemas operating from June until September.
Museums and Galleries
You’d expect a city like Athens to have its share of top museums … and it does.
Perhaps the most important is the Museum at the Acropolis which contains masterpieces of the ancient Greek civilisation. http://www.culture.gr/2/21/211/21101m/e211am01.html.
The National Archaeological Museum has an amazing collection of art and artefacts. It’s best to come early morning or late afternoon to avoid the crowds. www.culture.gr/2/21/214/21405m/e21405m1.html.
The Byzantine Museum is one of the few European museums dedicated to Byzantine art. Each room in the museum depicts a Greek church and represents a specific period. www.culture.gr/2/21/214/21404m/e21404m1.html.
The Greek Folk Art Museum traces the life of an average Greek citizen from 1650 until modern times and showcases a variety of handicrafts. www.culture.gr/4/42/421/42101/42101t/e42101a.html
More about the lives of Athenians in days gone by can be found at the Athens City Museum.
For Children
Greeks adore children, but Athens isn’t exactly the most enthralling city for them. There’s been a traditional dearth of organised facilities for young visitors, but things have slowly changed. There are, for instance, now some theme parks such as the Allou Fun Park, which has rides and other attractions for all ages. There’s a go-kart centre at Agios Cosmas and a water park at Skala Oropos. Other places of interest might be The Greek Children’s Museum, the Spathario Museum of Shadow Puppets and the National Gardens with their duck pond, mini-zoo, playground and narrow winding paths shaded by towering trees. The Athens info guide has a comprehensive section devoted to children’s activities: www.athensinfoguide.com/athenschildren.htm
