Category: Uncategorized

According to the ancient Greek legend the birthplace of the olive tree is the city of Athens. The first olive tree according to the myth was given as a present to Athenians by the godess Athena in Acropolis. Ancient sources mention that after the first six Olympic games – where the winner received an apple as a trophy – kotinos, the olive wreath made from branches of an olive tree next to the temple of Zeus in Olympia was established a prize. In the Athenian celebration of Panathinea, whose process is represented in the (in)famous Elgin marbles, a very important presence was olive wreaths made from an olive tree in the temple of Erechtheion, while they Athenians were holding branches of olive trees.

Due to the very important role that olive trees have played in the every day life of all people of the Mediterranean, the branches, fruit and oil of olive trees have acquired a symbolic role and have a rather special role in various parts of life for these people. Many objects of ebery day use are found to carry drawings of olive branches or olives. Olives and olive trees are also an inspiration in clothing, jewlery etv.

Vincent van Gogh inspiredby olives and farm lige in southern France has drawn a multitude of paintings that centre on olive trees, while the Greek poet Kostis Palamas, one of the most famous and important poets of the 20th century has written a poem about olives and olive trees.

Olive trees blossom at the end of May and their fruit, olives, are harvested towards the end of autumn and beginning of winter. Traditionally olives are harvested by hand by laying clothes on the ground and dropping the olives on them. Farmers create piles of the collected olives which are then cleaned up by hand and are moved to the villages for further processing. This traditional process is still carried out in all parts of Greece even today and is one farming process that involves a rather large number of Greeks, even people that are living in cities and are not full time farmers.

Whether you decide to visit Crete or Porto Heli you are bound to encounter farming activities that are associated with olive trees as both regions are olive oil producers. Local olive oil from these regions is very high quality so be sure to sample it in our hotels.

Peloponnese Hotels – AKS Porto Heli – AKS Hinitsa Bay

Nothing says ‘Greek Summer’ than a cool glass of frape coffe, which with positive or negative innuendos it symbolizes the summer chillout of the Greeks. It is truly a unique and special Greek pleasure.

Frape is a type of coffee that was invented on 1957 at the International Exhibition of Thessaloniki by a Greek employee of Nestle, Dimitris Vakondios. Nestle at the time was launching a chocolate beverage for children that had to be mixed in a shaker with water, and Vacondios, as he couldnt find hot water to use for his instant coffee – that Nestle was selling – used the shaker to mix cold water with instant cofee. That was it, frape was created in a second of inspiration!

The success of the coffee was instant [pun intended] and it spread throughout the whole of Greece within a few years. This type of cold coffee with ice is now an export product for Greece as you can find it in various locations throughout the world (even in Germany!) and there are multiple variations and/or frape cocktails (with ouzo, various liquers, chocolate etc).

However in the past few years the popularity of frape has slowly declined in favour of other coffees (mostly the Italian fredo) but it still remains a rather unique symbol of Greek summer. If you are visiting Greece for the first time it is certainly a pleasure you have to experience and simply chillax in a Greek cafe with your frape. 

One of the most beautiful trees in Greece a source of inspiration for many artists, the almond tree blossoms first of any other plant. The advantage of this early blossoming is that there is no competition and it assures the pollination of its “imperfect” flowers, by insects.

In ancient Athens, during the season of almond blossoming, the “Flower Festival” was organized. During this festival the parents crowned their 3yr old children with wreaths made of almond flowers allegedly because they begin the spring of their pleasant life.

In modern times, almond symbolizes luck and longevity, and its fruit are traditionally offered at weddings coated with sugar (koyfeta).

Almonds are also involved in the empirical prediction of weather phenomena. The tradition is that, when it blossoms in January, winter will continue with heavy snow and very low temperatures.

Hotels in Naoussa Paros, AKS Chroma Paros

The union of a couple in marriage is a reason for celebration all over Greece. In the island of Crete, where traditions and local customs are kept with great respect even today, weddings are a unique experience for everyone involved.

According to tradition, wedding ceremonies are always performed on a Sunday. On the Saturday before, relatives and friends carry the bride’s dowry to the groom’s house and then the two families hold two separate celebrations that begin early Saturday and end late on Sunday morning.

On Sunday, the day of the wedding, the groom along with his family would go to the bride’s house to get her, and the pair with the two families would proceed to the church. The ceremony was followed by a feast, after which the couple stayed in a relative or friend’s house, in separate rooms.

On Monday, they continued the revelry and feasting, while all the relatives and friends were going to the couple’s new home, to unpack and decorate the dowry. Feast followed again and after the end, the couple stayed alone for the first time.

The end of the wedding celebrations was on the next Sunday with the anti- marriage (antigamo) feast. The couple invited family and friends over to admire the dowry and of course to eat and drink.

What a way to start a new life!

Hotels in Crete, AKS Minoa Palace – AKS Anabelle Beach Resort

The name of Porto Heli according to the prevailing opinion came from a gradual linguistic alteration of the name “Aliis”, which was an ancient city, located at the current Porto Heli. The name Aliis through the years was pronounced Haliis and then Heli. To distinguish it from the nearby village of Heli (which now has been renamed Arachnaio) the word “Porto” was added to the name, simply because the village had a port.

In another view, the name (Heli) is one of the many Arvanitic names that are found in the Southern Argolid area and subsequently acquired the prefix Porto for the reason mentioned above.

Porto Heli Accommodation

Location: Ancient Epidaurus Little Theater (Port)

A rich agrotourism festival awaits visitors of Epidaurus on all weekends of July. Tourists have the chance to taste traditional local products, come into contact with manufacturers at their workrooms and explore the unknown, authentic side of Argolis. Continuing their successful efforts in organizing agrotourism feasts, the municipality of Epidaurus, Agrotouristiki S.A. and the Cultural Club of Ancient Epidaurus invite you to an Agrotourism Festival. Following the example of actions that started at the small port of Palaea Epidaurus (Old Epidaurus), these feasts complement the programme of Greek Festival (“Musical July” at the Little Epidaurus Theatre and the “Festival of Epidaurus” where classic tragedies and comedies are performed). Various events and excursions of agrotourist, cultural, traditional and folklore nature are organised and allow all interested parties to participate.

Location: Epidavros

Location: Spetses Island

Location: Herakleion