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Like every year, 2014 will see Spetses, mainly, as well as Porto Heli, hosting during the second Saturday of September, their greatest festival, Armata. The festivities of course will go on all week, culminating in the reenactment of the naval battle between the Greeks and the Turks in 1822. This impressive reenactment includes many ships, fireworks, controlled explosions and fires. If you wish to watch it, you’ll either stand on the coasts of Spetses or you can board a boat from Spetses or Porto Heli and watch the naval battle from the sea to enjoy a unique spectacle. This reenactment is a tribute to the naval battle that took place on September 8, 1822, when the Turks wanted to destroy Hydra and Spetses in order to lead the Greek forces away from the Turkish-held besieged Palamidi at Nafplio. The Greeks were outnumbered, but they managed heroically to set fire on the Turkish flagship, which led the opposing navy to flee. In the modern era, these fighters are remembered every year, so the newer generations can learn about the sacrifices of their ancestors. Besides the naval battle, the festivities of the week include concerts, plays, traditional dances and other similar cultural events. If you ever find yourselves at Saronikos bay or Porto Heli during the first half of September, then Armata is a festival that shouldn’t be missed. Peloponnese Hotels – AKS Hinitsa Bay

Summer in Greece does not only last a few weeks like in the north of Europe. It doesn’t even only last three months, since the good weather, the sun and the warm sea are not exclusive to June, July and August. From spring to the middle of autumn, Greece and Argolida (and, of course, Porto Heli) are ready to welcome the visitors that would like to enjoy their charms. Besides, there are many people who prefer going on vacations in September, away from the large crowds of the summer, but missing none of its advantages. The beaches in Porto Heli, the central one, Hinitsa and all the rest, are still especially attractive, the taverns and bars in the harbor keep offering good food and entertainment, while the sights of Argolida, Mycenae, Epidaurus, Troizina are still a short drive away. September is also an ideal month for various events. The second Saturday of each September is the time when Armata is taking place in Spetses and Argolida, an event that commemorates the grand naval battle between the Greeks and the Turks in September 1822. It is an impressive sight and only if you can find yourselves in the area during September, can you enjoy it. If you belong to the people who would rather have a quiet vacation without compromising comfort and opportunities for entertainment, then Porto Heli in autumn is ideal for you. Peloponnese Hotels – AKS Hinitsa Bay

Conference tourism, that is receiving visitors to a place not just for vacation but also for a conference, is one of the most rapidly developing tourist sectors in Greece and that’s because the country combines many of those elements that would attract international scientific or business conferences. Beyond a welcoming climate and good weather, the organizers will find state-of-the-art facilities, which in many cases are a product of private funding, and also fertile grounds for doing business as well as a thirst for knowledge for which the Greek audiences are known. Organizing conferences in a country where science and literature have flourished, that has been the cradle of civilization, that gave democracy and theater to the world, developed mathematics, medicine and set the foundations for the natural sciences, acquires a special character and historical importance. The situation was not always like that, however. In the past there was no proper infrastructure, no proper facilities, whether they belonged to the state, the universities or private ventures. From the beginning of the 2000s onwards, the initiatives for the development of conference tourism increased, not just in Athens, where it would be expected, but in the provinces as well, where there are now excellent hotels thoroughly equipped to host dozens or even hundreds of conference attendees, providing them with everything they need, both during the proceedings and their free time. Within this difficult financial situation, it’s initiatives like these that can drive Greece to become a pioneer of a sector like conference tourism. Fortunately, there are people in Greece to lead that effort. AKS Conference Centre Peloponnese

An endless golden sandy beach, a huge forest with palm trees and crystal clear waters. This is not something you’ll see in Florida and the United States, but in Greece and Crete; it’s the renowned palm tree forest of Vai, one of the most popular tourist destinations on the island, just a few hours away by car from Heraklion. And how can it not be a sought after attraction, when it can take pride in one of the most beautiful beaches in Greece, that is accompanied by the largest natural palm tree forest in Europe? When it was discovered in the 70s by the hippies, it was a place of free expression and carefree thinking. However, that took its toll on the natural environment and since the 80s the forest at Vai has been protected by the authorities and regularly maintained, thus making it one of the most popular beaches. It also has (paid) parking spaces, beach bar, sunbeds, umbrellas and will also offer you the opportunity to practice your water sports skills. If you’re in Crete, then you can’t miss the chance to visit the palm tree forest of Vai, not just for the beach, but for the forest itself that seems to belong in tropical, exotic destinations in the middle of the oceans. During the tourist period, you should expect to meet large crowds, but the weather there is in any case ideal for swimming from the end of spring to the middle of autumn. Crete Hotels – AKS Minoa Palace

Heraklion today is a modern city, one of the largest in Greece. There are wonderful vacation destinations around it, like Hersonissos, which is famous all over the world as a non-stop party place. Close to Heraklion there are also some of the most visited archeological sites in Greece, like the Knossos palace. The city itself has a rich history, which is obvious in its architecture, that is the medieval buildings one can see mainly in the harbor. What most people don’t know, however, is that Heraklion was founded by Saracen pirates, during the third decade of the ninth century AD, after they had conquered a large part of Crete’s northern coast. The fort they built was surrounded by a big moat, a chandax in Greek, that’s why the city that was formed after the expansion of the fort was named Chandax. Chandax terrorized the Aegean and the Mediterranean seas, since it was the base of operations of the pirates. Many Byzantine emperors tried to take hold of the city, but their efforts ended up in failure. It was Nikiforos Fokas (who would become the emperor later in his life) that conquered the Saracens in 961 AD and also made sure to erase any trace of them from the area. The adventures of Heraklion didn’t end there, but its pirate era was now in the past. Beyond the Byzantines, Heraklion belonged to the Venetians and the Ottomans, but also the Cretan State, before it finally became Greek in 1913. Crete Hotels – AKS Minoa Palace

Porto Heli along with its surrounding areas is known all over Greece as the Greek Riviera and that’s because it combines beautiful beaches, natural landscapes and a mild tourist development that attracts the best crowds of the country and of Europe. We would like to suggest to you 5 things that you can do while at Porto Heli, so you can maximize your enjoyment of the town. 1. Fresh fish at the harbor Porto Heli is a natural harbor and the fishermen in the area bring in fresh fish every day, which you can enjoy in the taverns of the area. Of course, don’t just stay in the harbor. Venture further outside, to the beaches that are surrounded not just by pine trees but nice little taverns as well. 2. Swimming…everywhere Since we mentioned beaches, you should know that Argolida is full of wonderful beaches. There is the central and crowded one at Porto Heli, the exquisite Hinitsa Bay, Ververonta beach, Aghios Aimilianos and Kosta coast, bit further outside. Choose the one that suits you. 3. A drink at the harbor An evening walk in the temperate climate of Argolida, a drink in one of the bars of the harbor…ideal nights that are generously offered to you by Porto Heli itself. 4. Excursions Really close to Porto Heli you can find Mycenae, Epidaurus, Troizina, the islands of the Argosaronikos bay. No matter how many days you’ll spend at Porto Heli, you’ll always find something different to do. 5. Shopping Porto Heli also has a very nice market, exactly because it attracts nice crowds. Do your shopping there without stress and take your time. Porto Heli Hotels – AKS Hinitsa Bay

Directly across AKS Hinitsa Bay Hotel and the amazing beach at Hinitsa bay lies a beautiful and untouched island, Hinitsa itself, whose history reaches all the way back to antiquity. It was called Alioussa back then and was already mentioned in the second century AD by Pausanias himself as a haven for the boats and the fishermen of the area.

Alioussa or Hinitsa (a name which is probably derived from the ancient one) can be found quite often in the history of Greece and the Mediterranean. It is reasonable to assume that it had a part in the constructions and process of Tyrian purple, which was famously made by the inhabitants of Alieis, a settlement that used to be where Porto Heli is now and which flourished during the centuries before the coming of Christ. Hinitsa also appears in history along with the Slavic raids during the sixth century AD, while it was used as a naval station, during the course of the fleet of the Byzantine Emperor Constantos II, towards Sicily.

Today Hinitsa is a small island that you can visit if you have a boat and want to explore an uninhabited place. The waters are crystal clear but there are obviously no organized beaches. Do not worry, however. Just across there is the Hinitsa bay beach, the best beache in Argolida.

 Peloponnese Hotels – AKS Hinitsa Bay

Porto Heli Conference Centre of AKS Hotels is the most complete conference center in the Peloponnese and one of the best in Greece. It is equipped with cutting edge technology and has facilities that will cater to every need of the organizers and the conference attendants themselves.

Porto Heli Conference Centre offers:

• Two halls for 800 and 200 people respectively, giving you the opportunity for parallel panels
• 1200 square meters exhibition area
• Multiple smaller rooms for team projects
• Business Centre
• Parking for 170 vehicles
• Excellent technological equipment, with projectors, sound systems, screens and of course wifi internet access included.

You can also organize culinary evenings, based on either international or Greek cuisine, wine tasting evenings, as well as pool parties and beach parties at the beach that is practically next to the the Porto Heli Conference Centre. Finally, for your stay you can opt for the luxury hotels AKS Porto Heli Hotel and AKS Hinitsa Bay Hotel, that can provide you with anything you imagine a luxury hotel offers.

If you want to organize a successful conference at a majestic place, then your search will end with Porto Heli Conference Centre.

Conference Centre Peloponnese

The Summer is conference season and Greece is highly sought after in the scientific and business world during this period. And that’s because the conferences can be ideally combined with a place that offers perfect weather, majestic landscapes, rich history and excellent facilities. The Porto Heli Conference Centre and AKS Hotels are the biggest attraction for conference tourism in the Peloponnese. The center has cutting edge technological equipment, spacious rooms for all the needs of the conference, but, most importantly, it is located in a town unique in its beauty, where the conference attendants can relax and enjoy themselves away from the hustle and bustle of the stressful cities. Porto Heli combines sea, forest and clean air and is also quite close to some of the most important archeological sites in Greece, like Mycenae, Epidaurus and Troizina. Conferences may take up a big part of the day, but the few off hours that remain will be spent pleasantly at an idyllic place. With easy access from Athens, Porto Heli Conference Centre is the perfect choice as your conference venue, not just for the Peloponnese, where it is by far the most complete conference center, but for the whole of Greece as well. AKS Conference Centre Peloponnese

Argolida has been inhabited for millennia, not just since the times of ancient Greece, as we know them from history courses, but even further to the past. People have settled in this blessed land for tens of thousands of years, because they could immediately recognize its exceptional climate, its fertile soil, and its easy access to sea. We have written in the past that there are traces of ancient civilizations in the Frahthi cave and that soon Greek and Swiss archeologists will start searching for evidence on the oldest settlement in Europe. Research on the beginnings of civilization will be supported by a catamaran boat, Tûranor PlanetSolar, which has bleeding edge equipment. Even though it is registered in Switzerland, it was made in Germany. Almost every horizontal surface is covered in solar panels, which makes it work independently of fossil fuel, especially in seas like Greece’s that bathe in the sun. Inside there are laboratory facilities, since it is mainly used for marine biology research; this will make it especially valuable in the archeologists’ efforts to uncover the secrets of the past. The boat will be in Greece during the entire August and until the beginning of September, in other words as long as the search goes on; official festivities have been organized at the ports of Athens, Eretria and Nafplio, where the boat is going to anchor. Peloponnese Hotels – AKS Porto Heli