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Destination Guide

Greece

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It’s the pureness of this place. The smell of salty sea air, the sights of picturesque fishing villages, and the flavors of Earth’s best ingredients.

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It takes no stretch of the imagination to conjure an idyllic day spent in Greece. From the distinctly creative pulse of contemporary Athens to the swirling Cyclades, Greece is a heady mix of unparalleled history, charm, and warmth.

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Irresistibly intoxicating, Greece is a hotbed for discovery. On one hand you can trace the origins of Western culture, endlessly marveling at ancient ruins steeped in mythical tales. On the other, you could find yourself slipping past the cool crowd, into the chicest independent gallery opening in Athens. Then there’s the islands—some say 6,000 of them, give or take. Idyllic, sun bleached swimming coves and sweeping cliffside views are found on the iconic isles of Santorini and Mykonos, and the lesser-known gems of Paros, Sifnos, and Crete. But mostly there’s the people. 

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Tavernas are an integral part of life for both locals and visitors

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There’s a governing philosophy that is an overlay to almost everything in Greece: filoxenia. Loosely translated as ’friend to the stranger’, this mindset extends equally to the small exchanges of daily life, as does it to the country’s mastery of hospitality. Welcoming and warm-hearted, the Greek people are unrivaled hosts, with any visitor quickly becoming family. Very well-fed family. And with an extraordinary Mediterranean bounty, it’s little wonder this country is home to one of the world’s five blue zones, on the Aegean island of Ikaria. 

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The Ride

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We wanted to share some culture tips to get you in the mood.

 

We wanted to share some culture tips to get you in the mood.

 

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With over a thousand islands, Greece boasts plenty of beach space to dance upon. Homespun talents brush shoulders with big-name DJs in places like Mykonos and beyond.

Delos - The Eternal Festival 

A short, day boat trip from Mykonos, this sacred island is the mythological birthplace of twins Apollo and Artemis and long considered one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece. In fact, it might have been the first cross-cultural festival in human history—the Delia—a quadrennial celebration that drew diverse travelers from across the ancient world for singing, dancing, feasting, and every form of physical enjoyment.

“It’s a really beautiful story,” said Stelios Brigos, the vice governor and head of culture for the South Aegean.

“The name of Delos in Greek means the place that’s declared. It‘s like a declaration of existence, the declaration of life that was born there.”

When you walk through the ruins of Delos today, you see not only classical ancient Greek architecture but depictions of Syrian deities, a temple to the Egyptian goddess Isis, the ruins of a synagogue, Phoenician, Italian, and Palestinian artifacts—indicative of Delos’ time as a cultural melting pot.

 

Words Ruby Davies   Date 10 October 2020

Komoot Nature

Irresistibly intoxicating, Greece lures you with its ancient ruins steeped in mythical tales, its sweeping cliffside views and idyllic coasts, and cities that straddle the modern and the old. Click below to discover 12 picturesque routes.

Walk with Komoot

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Island Ways

Minos Beach Art Hotel is the perfect place to explore connectedness with flora and fauna, self-sufficiency and tradition, legacy and legend.

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Reconnecting with the Land at Pnoēs

At our newest Greek paradise on the isle of Tinos, the three-villa property Pnoēs Tinos brings the flavors and history of the island to the hotel through smell, taste, and sight.

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Jeff Koons Takes on a Greek Slaughterhouse

We spoke with art collector, industrialist, and hotelier Dakis Joannou about the latest exhibition at his DESTE Project Space Slaughterhouse on the Greek island of Hydra.

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Originals

Gina Mamidakis

She set out to promote Greek culture, the work of Cretan artists, and her homeland’s rich cultural experiences. The result is a beautiful success.

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Santorini’s New Design Oasis

Set to open in Spring 2022, Nous Santorini is a lush new oasis that encourages you to take care of yourself with room to stretch out, a private pool, lush landscaped gardens, and an holistic spa set against spectacular natural beauty.

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Conscious Future

Our Conscious Eye On: Parīlio

Through its connection to place, community, and creativity, Parīlio is working to make a positive impact on its pristine surroundings on the island of Paros.

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Conscious Future

Our Conscious Eye On — Cretan Malia Park

Founded by two Cretan sisters, Agapi and Costantza Sbokou, Cretan Malia Park offers a new take on sustainable luxury that is deeply rooted in their love for the island.

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Originals

Agapi & Costantza Sbokou

When hospitality is part of your legacy—as it is for Agapi and Costantza Sbokou, whose father founded the family hotel business—you feel a sense of responsibility to uphold the traditions that have helped the company grow over the decades.

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Originals

Roy Kalfopoulou

Roy Kalfopoulou has lived and breathed hospitality since birth. Born into a family of Greek hoteliers, her childhood unfolded against a backdrop of hotels, and then her degree in psychology allowed her to approach her “destined” profession with an academically empathic angle—taking her from internships and front-facing positions in London hotels to her own properties in Greece.

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Originals

Stratis Batagias

“Things flow easier when you’re in the mountains. Of course I love the sea, but my mind and body rest better in the mountains.”

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