The CEO of the Athens Municipality's Development and Tourist Promotion Company (EATA), Ioannis Georgizas, said the programme was the result of close collaboration with a number of cultural and creative groups, as well as official bodies, with a series of events taking place in parks, squares, streets, museums and cultural spaces, with a focus on sustainability. The events kick off with the Athens Urban Picnic at Akadimia Platonos on May 1, featuring live music, dj sets and a kite show, among others. They include a festival dedicated to Mother's Day on May 12, a Street Outdoors Party at Koumoundourou Square on the same day, a story telling event on May 16, a skateboarding contest on May 18, a fashion show featuring traditional costumes at the Dora Stratou Theatre on May 19, a latin music festival (La Saramuya Fiesta) on May 26 and many other activities. The events end with the Athens All Star Party in the Lycabettus parking lot on June 2.

A lack of male pygmy hippos in captivity had complicated breeding efforts, so zoo staff were “absolutely thrilled” the baby was a boy, Noi Psaroudaki, the zoo’s wildlife veterinarian, told Reuters. “This is the first birth in the zoo in 2024, and what a birth!” Psaroudaki said. “Every captive birth of pygmy hippos is extremely important. We’re very happy to see this baby grow into a healthy adult hippo, and hopefully one day reproduce,” she said. Pygmy hippos are native to swamps and rainforests in western Africa. They are listed as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and it is estimated only about 2,000-2,500 still live in the wild. Weighing 7 kg (15.4 pounds), the male calf – whose name will go to a vote – was born on Feb. 19 and joins his parents Lizzie and Jamal as the only pygmy hippos at the zoo. The hippo, solitary and nocturnal by nature, will remain with its mother for a couple of months until it ventures into the outdoors enclosure. [Reuters]   Pygmy hippo: Not only cute, but extremely important The birth of a male pygmy hippopotamus at Athens’ Attica Zoological Park on feb. 19 was viewed as an important development for the survival of its species. The hippo belongs to one of the rarest and most endangered species. It is estimated that only 2,000 – 2,500 live in the wild and more specifically in the Ivory Coast, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Their main characteristic, as evidenced by their name, is their size. It is five times smaller and 10 times lighter than ordinary hippos, while they also have a smaller upper jaw. This particular hippopotamus – still unnamed – has now reached 18 kilograms. The experts who monitor its health say that they are particularly happy with his development, adding that the fact that it is a boy is a positive development.  “The ratio of female to male pygmy hippos in zoos is 7 to 1, so you understand that the birth of a boy is important for the evolution of his species,” zoo founder and CEO, Jean Jacques Lesueur, tells Kathimerini. The young mammal’s parents, Lizzie (named after late Queen Elizabeth II, as she was born on her birthday) and Jamal, are in their 20s, and hippos of this species reach around 30 years of age in captivity. The important thing is that both have a registered family tree, as in such rare animals there is always the risk of inbreeding. “Consider that in 2023 we had a total of 12 births in zoos and about half survived. Lizzie had previously given birth to four other babies, three of whom survived. We don’t have them here in the park, just like we won’t keep the baby hippo that was just born,” he adds. The Attica Zoological Park is a member of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) which monitors and records the genealogy and reproduction of endangered species through special programs. For each species there is a corresponding coordinator, who will decide where the little hippo will continue its life. “As soon as it reaches the age of three, its species coordinator will tell us which park to send it to, so that it can be paired with a suitable mate, thus avoiding even the slightest possibility of inbreeding,” Lesueur explains. Dimitris Posantzis, the zoo’s veterinarian, along with a colleague and the caretakers, monitored Lizzy throughout her pregnancy, but without any particular stress. “We did not have to intervene, as these animals usually give birth easily and do not require any help from us. Of course, we watched Lizzie from the first stages of her pregnancy, we did ultrasounds for the development of the fetus, while during the days when she would deliver there was additional monitoring through the cameras. Although Lizzie is now used to human presence we didn’t want to burden her by being around her all the time. Fortunately, everything went well and we are very happy,” he tells Kathimerini. Both Lesueur and Posantzis point to the contribution of zoos to saving endangered species. “There are many cases,” Lesueur says, giving as an example the Bali myna, also known as Rothschild’s mynah, a beautiful white songbird, which fell victim to the uncontrolled rare animal trade in Bali. “In 2001 there were very few left in the wild, the number recorded was 6! At the same time, however, in zoological parks the species has successfully been reproduced and through repeated reintroductions the species is beginning to recover. The current population in Bali comes from zoos. But it is still in danger.” Another example that comes up for discussion is the scimitar oryx (Oryx dammah), a species of antelope that, although it was one of the most common large mammals in the Sahara, was in danger of extinction in the 1980s-90s, as its huge horns had made it a target for hunters. It was declared “extinct from the wild” in 2000, but has now been reintroduced throughout North Africa.  “Thanks to zoo breeding programs, the species survives today,” Lesueur says, closing our discussion with the story of the Rodrigues fruit bat, also known as Rodrigues flying fox, that lived in Rodrigues, an island in the Indian Ocean. “In the 1970s, after a devastating cyclone, the population of this species dwindled to less than 100. Then the Durrell Wildlife Park on the isle of Jersey began a very successful breeding and reintroduction program. Now their population is considered safe, even in the event that disaster strikes again in nature,” he says.

The 3 vessels, the frigate LIMNOS, the submarine PAPANIKOLIS and the Fast Attack Missile HS DANIOLOS will be open to the  public on Friday 22nd March from 15:00 to 19:00, on Saturday 23rd March from 09:00 to 19:00, on Sunday 24th March from 09:00 to 19:00 and on Monday 25th March from 09:00 to 17:00. The Hellenic Navy's General Staff underlined that children aged under 12 are not allowed to visit the submarine PAPANIKOLIS.

Thousands of citizens will have fun with dancing, singing, acrobatics, the traditional merry-go-round at the Carnival events organized by the Athens Chamber of Commerce, the Municipality of Athens and OPANDA. The venue will be the historic center of the city - Syntagma, Plaka, Monastiraki - as the aim of the chamber is the revival of carnival events in the "Quarter of the Gods". "We want to see again in the streets of Plaka carnival-goers having fun with their souls, as was the case in the past. Let's once again make the most beautiful corner of Athens the center of the capital's carnival events and let this celebration be from now on a pole of attraction for residents and visitors, something that will also stimulate entrepreneurship", is the message of the president of the Athens Chamber of Commerce Yannis Hatzitheodosiou. The municipality of Athens will culminate this three-day Halloween celebration with a series of events, in neighborhoods and in the city center. For Saturday (16/3) activities for young and old have been planned in various parts of Athens. Children will create their own paper war collage in the Art Gallery, participate in an educational experiential program in Agios Georgios Square in Kypseli and have fun at the Halloween celebration on the pedestrian street at the junction of Gennai Kolokotroni and Matrozou. The Philharmonic Orchestra of the Municipality of Athens will flood the Kallidromi with its melodies, the percussion ensemble Bloco Swingueira with Brazilian rhythms and dance will perform a carnival route from the Peripheral Filopappou to Merkouri Square, while cultural clubs will revive customs in other parts of the city. In Zappeio, there will be a children's Halloween celebration and a revival of the Plakiot Carnival by the Athens Chamber of Commerce. On Halloween Sunday (17/3) young and old carnival goers will participate in two big celebrations in the center of the city. In the morning (11:30), children will go wild in their carnival costumes at Zappeion, where group games and pantomime, stilt walkers, circus artists, mascots and many surprises await them. In the afternoon, the Athens Chamber of Commerce revives, with the support of OPANDA, the traditional carnival in the streets of Plaka with a large carnival procession, which will start at 17:30 from Syntagma Square, with the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Municipality of Athens and other musical and dance forms to set the rhythm. Following the route through Ermou and Evangelistria streets, Mitropoleos Square and Pandrossou Street, the parade will end at Monastiraki Square. This will be followed by a series of spectacular acts with acrobats, impressive dancers, Brazilian dances, as well as superFire & Pyroshow and supermagic show. The event will be presented by Ioanna Maleskou and Thanos Vagios. On Clean Monday (18/3) the focus will be, as always, on the Hill of Philopappos, for the Athenians to celebrate Koulouma with music and dance and to fill the Attic sky with colorful kites. The Philharmonic Orchestra of the Municipality of Athens will welcome the public from 11 am, while at 12 noon the music group "Charisma" and Isidoros Pateros will take the stage. "Throughout the weekend of March 16 and 17, the streets and squares of the city turn into an endless colorful merry-go-round, with parties for children, musical meetings with the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Municipality of Athens, carnival routes with the flavor of tradition. On Clean Monday, March 18, you are all invited to Filopappos Hill to traditionally celebrate Koulouma with music, dance and Lenten food", said the mayor of Athens, Haris Doukas.   The program of events in detail Saturday, March 16 11:00 Athens Municipality Gallery Collage with confetti in the Art Gallery. Halloween museum educational program for children aged 4 to 6 years. Young visitors will observe Rika Pana's works in the exhibition space and create their own paper war collage. 11:00 Agios Georgios Kypselis Square "Carnivalize, play, tumble" - Children's educational experiential program. 11:00 Gennaiou Kolokotronis & Matrozou Children's Halloween celebration. Music, dancing, Halloween competitions for the best costume, theatrical performances, games and many surprises for the little carnival-goers. 11:30 Kallidromiou Street Musical tour of the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Municipality of Athens 12:00 Regional Filopappou-Troon-Dorieon-Merkouri Square Carnival route with the percussion ensemble Bloco Swingueira with dance and rhythms from Brazil. 12:00 Papadiamanti Square-Halepa-Agios Andreas Lamprini Square Carnival route of the revival of lesbian skating with the participation of lesbian skaters from the Lesvos Farmers' Union "Agios Dimitrios" and the Cultural Association of Traditional Dances and Cultural Activities "O Molyvos". Sunday, March 17 11:30 Zappeio (courtyard area) Children's Halloween celebration with the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Municipality of Athens. Music, dance, stilts, balloon construction, face painting, circus artists, group games, pantomime, mascots and many surprises for the little friends. 17:30 Syntagma Square and Monastiraki Square Revival of Plakiotiki Carnival. Action of the Professional Chamber of Athens with the support of OPANDA. Carnival parade from Syntagma Square and carnival spree in Monastiraki Square. * The event will take place simultaneously in Syntagma Square, in the surrounding streets and in Monastiraki Square. Clean Monday, March 18 Filopappou Hill 11:00 Musical walk by the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Municipality of Athens. 12:00 Concert by the band "Charisma" and Isidoros Pateros. 11:00 Park for Children & Culture (former K.A.P.A.P.S.) Traditional feast with music, dances and Lenten dishes from the Cultural Association of Ano Ampelokipi. With the support of OPANDA.  

At the popular Half Note Jazz Club (17 Trivonianou, Mets), the trio will pay homage to the legendary jazz figure, Chet Baker, known for his sensitive and cool sounds. Polyzogopoulos, a prominent figure on the contemporary Greek jazz scene, will lead the performance, bringing to life some of Baker’s most beloved jazz standards. Andreas Polyzogopoulos is one of the most important new chapters in the extremely interesting contemporary Greek, and not only, jazz scene. Born in a small village of Ilia, a multi-talented artist, he started his career in music playing the guitar, until he discovered the trumpet at the age of 18. He studied jazz trumpet at the Amsterdam Conservatory, alongside names like Paolo Fresu & Markus Stockhausen! From his first steps, Andreas Polyzogopoulos showed that he is special and in 2008 he recorded his first album entitled "Perfumed Dreams" with the band Poly Quartet and won first place in the Motives For Jazz competition in Belgium. In 2010 he became a member of the European Youth Jazz Orchestra. He has recorded 5 personal albums and participated in around 60 recordings to date. In recent years, he has been touring and distinguished himself abroad, in clubs and major festivals. He has collaborated with Jaques Morelembaum, Michel Portal, Tony Lakatos, Gunter “Baby” Sommer, Mode Plagal, Psarantoni, Savina Giannatou, Maria Farandouri, Dulce Pontes, Dimitris Kalantzi, Vangelis Katsoulis, Giorgos Kontrafouris, Takis Barberis, Than. Papakonstantinou et al. A characteristic feature of Andreas Polyzogopoulos is the constant search for the new, without the fear of risk. A look at his discography testifies to this with the acoustic and successful Pink Floyd tribute album followed by the ambient and electric album “One Inch of Love”. The European sound of jazz is the area that Andreas Polyzogopoulos feels most familiar and familiar with, with influences from Frezu, Rava, N. P. Molvær etc. considering equally important in music, rhythm and also ..silence! The three top musicians approach the sensitive and cool sound of Chet Baker, playing some of his favorite jazz standards and in the special format without drums (!), as preferred by Chet Baker himself in the last decade of his life.  Andreas Polyzogopoulos – trumpet Kostas Konstantinou – double bass Giorgos Kontrafouris – piano Tickets cost 12 euros from Viva’s more.com.

Here are seven updated places in Athens where love blossoms, accompanied by dining and drinking recommendations:

The pre-Lent festival will conclude on March 17th, a Sunday. This year's theme is "Be Unplugged!" and the events will begin on Wednesday (January 16), with town crier (Maria Agouridi) riding on a musical float, announcing the famed carnival's start, and calling the public to gather at the square. On Saturday morning, a procession will take place with musical bands, carnival bicycles, the organizers, the carnival queen (Georgia Sakka), and other celebrants. Then Patras Mayor Kostas Peletidis will receive the carnival's banner. At 18:00 on Saturday a party will start at the Aghios Georgios Square, while at 20:00, the theater troupe Helix and a Baroque procession will leave from the City Hall to parade through the city with participants including actors, musicians, acrobats, fire jugglers, and Harlequins. This is the traditional Saturday night parade, not the spectacular Grand Parade at the close of the carnival. At 21:00, the mayor will declare the official opening of the Patras Carnival, to be followed by the traditional 'chocolate war', during which the city's confectioners throwing chocolates from the City Hall's balcony. A concert will also take place and the start of the annual Treasure Hunt will be also declared. The official schedule of the carnival has not been announced yet, while festivities every year include surprises. The Patras Carnival is the largest in Greece and involves preparations that begin a year earlier, with a large number of volunteers as well.

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center is a meeting point for people, ideas and cultures. People of all ages, of every race, free from discriminations, gather in all of its spaces, with no restrictions, on any occasion of their life, in smaller or larger groups, at times to attend the events offered at the SNFCC all year round. At Christmastime, the Cultural Center puts on its festive gear and every nook and cranny of its premises is lit up to welcome and embrace this meeting of people, this coming together, its public, on a great festive occasion: Gatherings. This year, the SNFCC’s Christmas World is presenting impressive public artworks by Vendel & de Wolf, Tom & Lien Dekyvere, and VOUW (Justus Bruns and Mingus Vogel) from the Light Art Collection (Netherlands); by Jonas Vorwerk from WIREFRAME Public Art Agency (Canada); and by Petros Dermatas – luminous dreams from Greece, inviting the audience to join in the magical experience they create. Luminous, airy shapes and grids and sparkling compositions make up a choreography of light, provoking interaction with the viewer, while at the same time enhancing, through the embodied experience, the interaction of visitors with public space and the dynamics of human coexistence within it. All light installations are accessible for people with disabilities. SIGN Great Lawn Vendel & de Wolf (Netherlands) Light Art Collection, Netherlands Bamboo canes, lined with aluminum tape, rise up into the sky, as if swayed by the wind, and transform into a cluster of fiery, light-emitting tongues, a sign of fire. Their rhythmically flashing light seems to be emanating from the earth, rising upwards, spreading a glow across the night. The bamboo poles, both light transmitters and receivers, send out their bright flames into the night sky, expressing the twofold nature of fire: both a force of destruction and of rebirth. Humans use fire to create things; fire turns sand into glass, flour into bread; but fire also destroys. The installation seeks to reproduce the awe caused by this wondrous element of nature, and to activate the importance of fire as an archetype, as a force that warms but also annihilates, as light and as darkness. Fire awakens the senses and creates a mental crossroads, in which the viewer is asked to choose between destruction and new beginnings. Sign marks a starting point for two different routes. Paul Vendel (1964) and Sandra de Wolf (1966) have been co-creating since their student years at the Amsterdam’s Gerrit Rietveld Academie. Their works consist mainly of installations in outdoor or semi-outdoor public spaces, and are usually site-specifically designed for these spaces. The artists prefer to incorporate recognizable items and found objects or materials in their works, which are addressed to the wider public. RHIZOME Dome Tom & Lien Dekyvere (Belgium) Light Art Collection, Netherlands Collaboration and solidarity visually translated into a work of art is the idea behind this installation by Tom and Lien Dekyvere. A web of stretched, thin, cord-like ropes forms a multilevel structure that floats overhead and metaphorically reflects the concept of network in the era of modern technology. The fibers extend from one point to another, weaving an evocative abstract landscape, a “cocoon” inspired by the various different ways in which contemporary people communicate with each other, either in person or remotely. They connect different times and places, highlighting the shared need of all people for communication. The project was redesigned for the SNFCC Dome. Tom and Lien Dekyvere explore the deeper levels of reality and cognition. They focus on the boundaries between nature and technology, robots and humans, the animate and the inanimate. Like modern alchemists, they experiment with new and unexpected connections between the natural and the artificial, the metaphysical and the real, creating installations that prompt an expanded sensory perception. BLOOMLIGHT Mediterranean Garden VOUW (Netherlands) Light Art Collection, Netherlands The Bloomlights are a series of lanterns that respond to passersby like an organic creature. When a viewer approaches, the Bloomlight slowly bends to meet them and “talk” with them by unfurling its blooms to reveal a warm soft light. The tall lampposts with their elegant bright lampshades transform into objects resembling tender alien beings or human-friendly machines. They become the object and subject of viewing, reciprocating the gaze of the spectator. When the passerby walks away, the Bloomlight gradually returns to its upright resting position, closes its luminous bloom and dims its light. Drawing inspiration from nature, and showing sensitivity about the issue of light pollution and reckless energy consumption, the Bloomlights are designed to shine bright only when needed, thus limiting overconsumption and giving center stage to the starry sky and the magic of nature. Justus Bruns and Mingus Vogel met at Delft University of Technology and have been working together since 2017 under the name VOUW, based in Amsterdam. Their concern is the use of technology as a tool for cultivating empathy and real contact between people, instead of its utilization only in terms of efficiency and productivity. Observing the evolution of modern reality, they envision the future and propose a public space that is friendly and welcoming for all. LOOPS Southern Walks Jonas Vorwerk (Netherlands) WIREFRAME Public Art Agency, Canada The audiovisual installation Loops creates an environment of five luminous rings that produce sound and light in interaction with the viewer. They are essentially simply designed, user-friendly devices that combine analog with digital technology in their operation. The viewer is invited to touch and handle the circular devices and play with the musical compositions they emit, improvising or changing the pace of the sound. The ring acts like a steering wheel, while its circular shape affords it an element of movement that matches the repetition of music in loops, as well as the movement and color changes of the light as it flows in the periphery of the circle in sync with the rhythm of the music. With references to the musical experimentations with analog tape recorders of the ’50s and ’60s, which laid the groundwork for the modern way of sound production, the installation combines digital technology and the lived experience, the touch, the presence, the connection with space and materiality, thus fusing an older way of using technology with modern-day developments. Loops create a soundscape that is activated by touch, while at the same time involving the intangible element of musical waves and light radiation. It functions as an outdoor music workshop in which the viewer, technology, sound, light, aesthetics and the natural environment work together to complete the project. Jonas Vorwerk is a multimedia artist who creates environments made of light, sound and space. He uses the element of repetition, randomness, interaction and variables, to explore ways of osmosis between digital technology and physical reality. He is interested in music and the spectacle in relation to entertainment and the modern mass culture, and wants his works to be exhibited in large public places, busy streets and open landscapes, always in interaction with the viewers and in relation to all their senses. This is the second time a work of his is hosted at the SNFCC, the first being his installation Light Holders , which was presented last year at the Great Lawn. Synathroisis Planted Roofs Petros Dermatas: luminous dreams (Greece) The image of lit lighters raised in the hands of audiences at concerts of the past, as a sign of participation and interaction, formed the inspiration for the luminous landscape created by Petros Dermatas: luminous dreams. If the movement of these lighters can be seen as “echoing” the candles people used to hold during ceremonies, then modern-day mobile phones have taken the place of lit lighters at concerts. In any case, they indicate active participation and convey the warmth created by the connection of an individual with everyone else around. The lighting installation that looks like a sea of bright spots, each of them unique, speaks to the importance of public gatherings in shaping our individual identity. In a reality where the individual’s alienation from the whole makes the need to belong imperative, the installation Synathroisis uses the magic of light to help the viewer confront vital social issues, suggesting that there is power “in unity.” The Petros Dermatas: luminous dreams lighting design workshop was founded in Athens in 2022. The workshop uses a research approach that affords each creation a distinct original feature. Showing respect to the inherent characteristics of materials and paying great attention during the production process, the workshop aims for the highest standards and a combination of craftsmanship and artistic design. 01/12/2023 - 07/01/2024 17.00-00.00 *Photographs: Nikos Karanikolas

From December 23rd to January 6th, 2024, ten Christmas Villages will operate in the same number of neighborhoods, with wooden houses and Santa Claus, with games and various interactive events, constructions, treats, face-painting and many surprises, while Christmas heroes, stilt walkers, animators, puppets, jugglers will participate in the children's joy. The Municipality of Athens, through the Organization of Culture, Sports and Youth (OPANDA), creates the spaces that will operate daily in the squares of Messolonghi (Pagrati), Heldreich (Neos Kosmos), Jacqueline de Romigi (Thisio), Agia Ekaterini (Kato Petralona), Athanasiou Diakou (Thymarakia), Nathanael (St. Eleftherios), Agios Andreas (Labrini), Agios Panteleimon, Agios Dimitrios (Panormou, Ampelokipoi) and Penelope Delta (Greno-Russian). "Children's smiles are the driving force behind everything we do. And this Christmas, the neighborhoods of Athens will be filled with games, artistic activities and performances, spreading joy to young and old. The Christmas Villages are set up in the city squares to bring us closer to the magical atmosphere of the holidays," said Mayor Kostas Bakoyannis.

The exhibition highlights the importance the Battle of Chaeronea had in ancient times, at the transition from the Classical to the Hellenistic period. "The latter became an era in which Greek civilization was dominant for centuries and laid the foundations of what we call the Western world," the MCA notes. "The theme is the battle that opposed the Macedonian army of Philip II against that of the allied Greek cities of southern Greece - and in particular the Sacred Band of Thebes and the army of Athens - a conflict that for the first time brought the eighteen-year-old Alexander to the front line of history: Alexander who was soon to conquer the world with his great campaigns in Asia." The exhibition was presented at a press conference on Wednesday by the Museum's antiquity curators Panagiotis Iossif (professor, University of Radboud, Holland) and Ioannis Fappas (assistant professor, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki). Several of the objects are on public view for the first time, with archaeological evidence originating in excavations of the Polyandrion of the Thebans and the Tumulus of the Macedonians, both sites of multiple burials. Some have not been fully published, while several were studied in detail during preparations for the exhibition. One of the outstanding exhibitions is that of the tomb of the warrior from Igoumenitsa wearing unique battle gear, the historical Macedonian shield inscribed with the name of King Alexander, golden staters (coins) issued by Philip, Alexander, and his successors, and the bones of the Sacred Band of Thebes soldiers. Relating to today Andy Warhol's 'Alexander the Great' (1981) portrait from MOMus-Museum of Contemporary Art, one version of his iconic work that was commissioned by Greek collector Alexandros Iolas, is also on show. The show also honors Greece's early archaeologists at the end of the 19th century and the start of the 20th, including reports of their excavations (Panagiotis Stamatakis, Georgios Sotiriadis, respectively). In addition, it includes information on how the modern Greek state handled the battle and its monuments in its narrative, and how the newspapers of those times saw it. Slowly forgotten, the Battle of Chaeronea rekindled the public's interest from the end of the 18th century, when the marble pieces of the fallen Lion of Chaeronia attracted visitors, academics, and locals. The exhibition is divided into nine units. The last one, "The Battle of Chaeronea today" looks at how the battle can be reconstructed for younger generations that might not be familiar with museums. It includes a diorama of the battle with Playmobil figurines especially made by collectors for the show, with the help of Playmobil Hellas, and descriptions through comics. "We examine the event itself, what follows, we see what this famed Hellenistic world that opens up after the battle of Chaeronea is, and we experience its consequences to this day. All the gold that the Western world used up to 1492 is the gold that Alexander brought in his campaign. In other words, objects that had very long-term consequences and that we are still experiencing today," Iossif said. Fappas, whose professional interest in Boeotia is long term, said that "the exhibition is unique because the objects are unique. If the specific objects did not exist, the exhibition could not have been done." He especially thanked his colleagues at the Boeotia Ephorate of Antiquities and the Antiquities Ephorate of Thesprotia prefecture, "for trusting us with immovable objects for the exhibition." He also thanked the Ministry of Culture's conservation laboratory and the National Monuments Archive directorate, "which guards treasures and archival material of unbelievable significance for our homeland's modern history." MCA president and CEO Sandra Marinopoulos said that the Museum wanted to provide a platform to new archaeologists, who can bring new thinking, creativity, and enthusiasm. She also announced that in April 2024 the museum would host the first museum exhibition in Greece of 100 photographs by Cindy Sherman, whose work continues to inspire and influence modern art today. The show will be part of the Museum's contemporary art program. INFO: Museum of Cycladic Art Stathatos Mansion, Vasilissis Sofias & 1 Irodotou Street (Kolonaki) December 14, 2023 - March 31, 2024 Relating to today Andy Warhol's 'Alexander the Great' (1981) portrait from MOMus-Museum of Contemporary Art, one version of his iconic work that was commissioned by Greek collector Alexandros Iolas, is also on show. The show also honors Greece's early archaeologists at the end of the 19th century and the start of the 20th, including reports of their excavations (Panagiotis Stamatakis, Georgios Sotiriadis, respectively). In addition, it includes information on how the modern Greek state handled the battle and its monuments in its narrative, and how the newspapers of those times saw it. Slowly forgotten, the Battle of Chaeronea rekindled the public's interest from the end of the 18th century, when the marble pieces of the fallen Lion of Chaeronia attracted visitors, academics, and locals. The exhibition is divided into nine units. The last one, "The Battle of Chaeronea today" looks at how the battle can be reconstructed for younger generations that might not be familiar with museums. It includes a diorama of the battle with Playmobil figurines especially made by collectors for the show, with the help of Playmobil Hellas, and descriptions through comics. "We examine the event itself, what follows, we see what this famed Hellenistic world that opens up after the battle of Chaeronea is, and we experience its consequences to this day. All the gold that the Western world used up to 1492 is the gold that Alexander brought in his campaign. In other words, objects that had very long-term consequences and that we are still experiencing today," Iossif said. Fappas, whose professional interest in Boeotia is long term, said that "the exhibition is unique because the objects are unique. If the specific objects did not exist, the exhibition could not have been done." He especially thanked his colleagues at the Boeotia Ephorate of Antiquities and the Antiquities Ephorate of Thesprotia prefecture, "for trusting us with immovable objects for the exhibition." He also thanked the Ministry of Culture's conservation laboratory and the National Monuments Archive directorate, "which guards treasures and archival material of unbelievable significance for our homeland's modern history." MCA president and CEO Sandra Marinopoulossaid that the Museum wanted to provide a platform to new archaeologists, who can bring new thinking, creativity, and enthusiasm. She also announced that in April 2024 the museum would host the first museum exhibition in Greece of 100 photographs by Cindy Sherman, whose work continues to inspire and influence modern art today. The show will be part of the Museum's contemporary art program.

The program of this year's events was edited by the Municipality's Culture, Sports & Youth Organization (OPANDA) and Technopoli, in collaboration with This is Athens and the radio station Athens 9.84, while the actions of "Olympia, Municipal Musical Theater Maria" have a special place Kallas", as well as the new cultural spaces, the Municipal Market of Kypseli, the Maria Kallas Museum and the Athens Book Space in the reformed Freedom Park. Events include, among others, educational programs and workshops for children and families, music in live concerts and parties, musical theater performances, book launches and readings, events inspired by books and museum exhibitions, as well as ten "Christmas villages" with unique holiday surprises in each . "The Municipality of Athens is again this year carrying the festive spirit of Christmas from one end of the city to the other. A program full of music, special performances and hundreds of surprises awaits young and old to celebrate the brightest time of the year. Happy holidays with health and love to everyone", said the mayor of Athens, Kostas Bakoyannis. The "Christmas Villages" in ten neighborhoods From December 23 to January 6, ten "Christmas Villages" in as many neighborhoods will offer rich activities for young and old. From Acharnon and Lamprini to Pagrati and Hellinorosson, Santa Claus and his elves will "transform" some of the most central neighborhoods into "villages" of joy and celebration, they will welcome young and old children with constructions, sweet treats , face painting and many more festive events. The events are accompanied by, among others, stilt walkers, jugglers, mascots, animateurs, puppets and jugglers. Athens is full of music Syntagma Square will once again "dance" to the rhythm of Christmas this year. For seven days, a total of 15 live concerts by local artists, bands and bands will take place on the main Christmas music stage. The George Zervos Trio, The Wedding Singers, Hermaphrodites Child, Vasilis Kazoulis with Kitrina Podilata and Alexandra Koniak, Dimitris Tsakas Quintet, Polkar, Gumbo Ya Ya with Sugahspank and Emily Mesko, Nefeli Fasouli, Sub Quartet, Panos Vlachos, Jerome Kaluta, the Mihalis Kalkanis Group, the Christmas Gala with the voices of Maria Katrivesis and Yiannis Housakos, Jaguar Bombs and Tonis Sfinos & The Playmates, promise to lift the festive mood. Parties will be set up again this year in unexpected places of the city. The Mobile Party Needless will turn the Square of Justice (Santaroza) into a Christmas dancefloor, the radio station Kosmos will set up a "Xmas Party" specially dedicated to the magazine "Schedia" at the Municipal Market of Kypseli, the Cool Crips at the Serafion of the Municipality of Athens, the Stoa Emporon is transformed by Pepper 96.6 into a fun spot, while on Christmas day, the "Xmas Extravaganza" & Beyond at the Kypseli Municipal Market with dynamic beats by favorite selectors and DJs. At the same time, at the "Olympia, Maria Callas Municipal Music Theater" the popular operetta by Nikos Hadziapostolos "Apachides of Athens", directed by Vassilis Mavrogeorgiou and musical direction by Cornelios Michaelides, with the Symphony Orchestra and Choir of the Municipality of Athens. The same venue will host the concert of Thodoris Kotonias and Savveria Margiolas, as well as "Christmas in New York" by the Athens Big Band, while the cultural spaces of OPANDA and the Polychoros "Anna and Maria Kalouta" will be "flooded" for throughout the holidays with Christmas songs, traditional melodies, but also concerts for children. Finally, on the festive days, the ATHINA 9.84 van will fill the neighborhoods of Athens with Christmas music and children's choirs. His stops include the Benaki Museum on Piraeus Street, as for one morning he will musically "dress up" the educational activities surrounding the exhibition of Giorgos Chatzimihalis, while on 20-28/12 he will decorate the Syntagma with his music. Especially for December 20, the city's radio station joins forces with "Together for the Child" in the Christmas radio marathon supporting families and children in need.   The magic of the book "travels" young and old Fairy tales have their "honorary" every Christmas, which is why the new cultural space of the Municipality of Athens, the Athens Book Space in Eleftheria Park, invites young and old to "get lost" in the magic of the pages. Children will enjoy activities that combine the reading of fairy tales and stories from around the world with comics, music, and even chess, in separate and highly original workshops, while adults will have the opportunity to take part in a creative reading workshop, in the Reading Club of Classical Literature, as well as to attend discussions and analyzes of poetry collections and novels by writers and journalists. At the same time, the Municipal Market of Kypseli will also be "seduced" by the magic of the book, as it hosts the Christmas book markets of Psychogios Publications and the Booktopia group, while the Children's and Adolescent Library will dedicate an educational program to the life and work of Charles Dickens. Museum tours and exhibitions with free entry To celebrate its first Christmas, the city's new museum, the "Maria Callas Museum", opens its doors for a double guided tour with free entry (phone reservation required). Participants will discover the world of the great diva, opera and lyrical theatre, through a path of experiential experience, enriched by audio-visual media, texts, new technologies, audio and historical evidence. At the same time, the first concert in its premises comes from the Athenian Quintet "Dimitrios Dounis", where in the two performances "Christmas Visions" they will present a festive program with Christmas suites from the Renaissance to the present day, written by Greek and foreign composers. At the Arts Center will be held the solo exhibition of Kostas Bassanou entitled "Working Title", which deals with the invisible creative space of artistic production, while at the Athens Municipality Art Gallery the first retrospective exhibition of the painter Alexis Kyritsopoulos entitled "Parallel", with works from in 1963 to date. The Museum of Folk Art and Tradition "Aggeliki Hatzimichalis" will present the exhibition of handmade weavings "The Feathered Weaves of Ossa Thessaloniki", while on New Year's Eve it will organize a folkloric holiday tour of the Hatzimichalis mansion. Finally, the "Melina" Cultural Center organizes for visitors over 60 a nostalgic cultural walk through the city's past, starting from the permanent exhibition "Travelling of old Athens", continuing to the story-filled Thisio and the pedestrian street of Heraklion and ending in the exhibition "Eureka: Science, Art & Technology of the Ancient Greeks" of the Heraklion Museum. Night of Wishes - Atmospheric Christmas Revival in Kotzia Square "Wishing Night" has now become a beloved Christmas Eve custom. On December 24, young and old will "light up" Kotzia Square with traditional biodegradable lanterns, which will travel to the sky carrying wishes. On this magical Christmas night, the atmospheric melodies will come from the van of the ATHINA 9.84 station, which will musically "dress up" the event with selections from its radio producers. We welcome 2024 from Syntagma Square On New Year's Eve, the appointment is of course given at Syntagma Square. Hosted by the duo of ERT's "Studio 4", Nancy Zampetoglou and Thanasis Anagnostopoulos, the world will say goodbye to 2023 with an audio-visual extravaganza full of live music, dance, fireworks, glitter and many surprises, and welcome 2024 with optimism and joy (the line-up of the first live concert of the year will be announced soon). New Year's Eve Party The biggest New Year's party will take place again this year in Varvakeio. Just before the change of time, Street Outdoors will be waiting for the people in the most central Agora of the city, where DJs and producers will turn wishes into music, so that 2024 will find the citizens in the most danceable party in the heart of Athens until early morning hours. (More information and detailed schedule of events: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dZu_niqAliBNrZAoyPCg_WpkUNqfs_sHI8b01tJ3Ufo/edit?usp=sharing)

A special festive event with free entry for the public and hosted by Nadia Kontogeorgis, marks the start of the SNFCC Christmas World and is made possible thanks to a donation from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF). On the first night of December, countless holiday lights are turned on, casting their glow on the plane trees of the Canal and the decorated fir trees of the Agora. A Festival of Lighting Installations sets a bright tone in the evening Stavros Niarchos Park: four works by distinguished foreign artists and a Greek participation magnetize the eyes by creating a choreography with the material light. Even the Fountains on the Canal participate in the spectacle in their own spectacular way. The scenery is completed by the Ice Rink in Kanali, waiting for experienced and non-skaters to dance on the ice. The appointment is at 19:00 at the Agora where the youth choir of El Sistema Greece opens the evening with traditional carols and other well-known Christmas songs. Next, Mwenso and the Shakes come straight from Harlem, New York and blow the crowd away with a special Christmas program called 'Afrofuturistic Christmas Wonderland'. An exuberant music performance sprinkled with Christmas gold dust and all-time classic hits such as Santa Claus is coming to town, Have yourself a merry little Christmas, Rudolph the red nose reindeer, Winter wonderland and Silent night. This is a celebratory concert held in collaboration with the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York, as part of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation-Lincoln Center (SNF-LC) Agora Initiative, a partnership to redefine public space, part of which are the "Twin Agoras" at the SNFCC and Lincoln Center. The entire event will be broadcast from Lincoln Center's David Geffen Hall. The December 1 celebration will also be broadcast online by ERT2. More information and the detailed program of the SNFCC Christmas World can be found at snfcc.org/Xmas2023, as well as on the SNFCC social media pages @SNFCC. Entrance is free.