Stories

Sounion is not the only destination in Attica worthy of drawing your attention away from Athens’ archaeological sites. Three magical sanctuaries, nestled in lush vegetation, patiently wait to be discovered.

Few people probably know that Samos, a distinctly family-friendly island nowadays, was a dominant power in the Aegean during the 6th century BC, later becoming the summer resort of choice for many prominent Romans.

As you head down the coast of eastern Macedonia and Thrace, it is worth taking the time to explore both the modern and the ancient city of Maroneia, before eventually heading down to the fortified settlement of ancient Zone.

Beyond the famed museum heavyweights that usually dominate visitor interest, Athens features a number of lesser-known gems that truly deserve to be discovered.

The colossal Kouros of Samos, rising to nearly 5 meters (4.80 to be precise), is the largest of its type to have survived almost intact to this day.

Episkopi of Sikinos, a unique palimpsest monument in almost constant use from the 3rd century AD straight through to the present day, revealed its greatest and darkest secret during the restoration works of 2018.

The statue of Iphigenia - a female figure in flight - may not be the most famous exhibit of the Archaeological Museum of Pythagoreio in Samos, but it is a rare example of hybrid sculpture well worth seeing in person.

It is difficult to pinpoint the exact origin of shadow theatre, since it’s been intricately entwined with so many different cultures, yet all theories converge on its first appearing in Asia.

Volax, the Tinian village with the unusual name and the mysterious lunar landscape that has led to endless speculations about fallen meteorites, was once one of the most important basket-weaving centers in Greece.

Dominant in the wild Cretan landscape, the carob tree aspires to play an important role on the Mediterranean table, ushering traditional forms of agricultural cultivation back into the spotlight.