THE ART OF DINING IN THESSALONIKI, GREECE

Ancient Greeks believed that the arts and gourmet dining were inextricably linked, both satisfying all five senses. In modern Greece, this is still the case in the gourmet capital of the country, Thessaloniki. A number of the city’s museums and art galleries now offer connoisseurs of art and food excellent dining opportunities. An epicurean weekend in Thessaloniki starts from £42 per room per night at the three star Mandrino Hotel. The Byzantine Museum’s B Restaurant started a trend in the city and many other art establishments followed. The B Restaurant is situated within the premises of the museum and offers indoor and outdoor dining, depending on the season.

Discover the treasures of Crete

Its people have fought against a relentless wave of conquerors throughout history. Minoan ruins, classical temples, Venetian castles, Ottoman mosques and Allied and Wehrmacht cemeteries decorate the mountainous terrain, tracing the passing of various civilizations and the ongoing struggle of the Cretans to oust foreign rulers and eventually unite with Greece in 1913. Many ancient myths are associated with Crete and its major claim to fame is being home to an infant Zeus. According to Greek mythology, Zeus was the supreme god, who had the unnerving ability to throw thunderbolts.

The magical Greek island of Santorini

Legend says that the Greek island of Santorini is the last remaining piece of the lost land of Atlantis. If you find that harder to swallow than an overcooked souvlaki, don't worry, you are not alone; I did as well, as I have always thought that the Azores in the Atlantic Ocean were the remnants of Atlantis. Well, it makes more sense given the ocean's name. But having been to Santorini there is no doubt in my mind what it is: a magic place. From the breathtaking views to the stunning architecture which is different to anywhere else in Greece, Santorini will capture the heart of even those travellers who think they have tired of Greek islands.

Greek islands grow in desirability

Improved communications and transport networks on the Greek Islands have led to growth in Greece property investment. Regeneration investment carried out in preparation for the 2004 Olympics, coupled with a growing economy, and increasing tourism figures, have further strengthened the Greece property market. Obelisk International says latest figures show that year-on-year price growth has been seven percent up to quarter 1 of 2007, with prices for apartments in Athens registering a 12 percent rise in the first quarter of 2006. During the period 1999 to 2002, Athens saw house prices increase on average by 164 percent.

Rovers get 700 tickets for Greek clash

ICKETS for Rovers' UEFA Cup first round first leg match against Greek side Larissa FC are now on open sale. Mark Hughes takes his side to Volos in Greece for the opening leg of the competition on Thursday 20th September with a local time kick-off of 6pm (4pm kick-off UK time). The club has been allocated 700 tickets for this fixture, priced at £14 each (20 euros).

U.S. nominates Greece to join program for visa-free travel

Greece took a step on Monday toward becoming the first country to benefit from a new U.S. law that would expand a program for visa-free travel to the United States. The U.S. Departments of State and Homeland Security nominated Greece as the first candidate to join the program since U.S. President George W. Bush signed a new law last month allowing the expansion. Greece must still undergo further steps before its citizens can travel to the United States without applying for visas. Homeland Security spokesman Russ Knocke said the nomination was an important step, but that it was unclear how quickly Greece could begin participating in the program.

Thessaloniki suburban railway

The first journey on Thessaloniki's new electrically-powered suburban railway to Litohoro in Pieria was carried out on Sunday with Transport Minister Mihalis Liapis on board. Inaugurating the Thessaloniki-Litohoro railway line, Liapis said its construction had cost 50 million euros. The 98-kilometre line will go into commercial operation on Monday, while passengers will be able to travel free of charge on the first day in order to become acquainted with the new service.

Optimism over the course of Greek tourism

Jean Claude Baumgarten, president of the World Council of Travel and Tourism (WTTC), on Thursday expressed his optimism over the course of Greek tourism, during a meeting with Greek Tourism Minister Fani Palli Petralia in Athens. Commenting on recent fires that hit large parts of the Peloponese and their likely impact on the country’s tourist product, Jean Claude Baumgarten stressed there were no cut in reversations both for this winter and next summer, while he forecast that Greek tourism will continue growing with a rate of 4-5 percent in the coming years.

Santorini to acquire much-needed hospital

A hospital will be built on one of Greece's most popular tourist destinations, the island of Santorini, in a bid to better meet the needs of the 100,000 patients that seek medical attention on the island each year, Health Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos said yesterday. Avramopoulos said that a medical clinic will be initially built in Imerovigli which will then be upgraded to a hospital over the next two years. According to figures from local officials, some 92,000 people sought medical attention on the island in 2006, with most of the cases arising during the busy summer months.

Package holidays in Greece are being reduced

Package holidays in Greece are being reduced in price by up to a third because of fears of forest fires. Last week, the Greek travel agents’ association assured visitors that hotels, museums and archeological sites have escaped the flames and are all operating as normal. However, operators say bookings have been hit.

In paradise of blue

The first time I walked into L'Olivier a ceramics gallery and shop on the Greek island of Naxos, I felt an edge of excitement that is all too rare for a hardened travel writer. It was some years ago, late evening, early summer. I was in the little village of Halki at the center of mountainous Naxos, the biggest island in the Cyclades, that great loop of islands that boasts such world-famous destinations as Santorini, Mykonos and sacred Delos in the heart of the Aegean Sea.

Greece: All national roads are fully accessible, all archaeological sites and museums are open

"The fires are not affecting bookings to Greece and the islands, nor should they. There is no need to switch destinations. Indeed, the way the fires are reported it sounds like the whole of Greece is on fire, which is just not true, " By the latter part of the week the fires, some of which are believed to have been started by arsonists, had been beaten back, although fire service officials said that the danger had not yet passed.

Greek wildfires don't deter tourists

ATHENS: For all the calamity caused by a barrage of brutal wildfires in Greece, travelers seem undeterred, tourism officials say. The inferno, still blazing but seemingly under control, hit the western Peloponnesus, a popular tourist destination, hardest, destroying large swaths of property, gutting hundreds of homes and killing at least 64 people. Flames that at times rose 100 meters, or 330 feet, into the air, burning trees and shrubs surrounding Olympia, the ancient birthplace of the Olympic Games, forced tour operators to shut down scores of hotels and travel facilities in the area.