#carnival in epidaurus

[dijetemjeseca]

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Međunarodni dan Ujedinjenih naroda 🇺🇳

Vlaho Bukovac, Karneval u Epidauru, 1901., Zbirka Baltazara Bogišića, Cavtat

[epostravel]

Top Things to Do in Argolis, Greece, on a Budget

Argolis, located in the heart of the Peloponnese, is a captivating region that blends history, culture, and natural beauty. Visitors can explore ancient ruins, enjoy picturesque coastal towns, and indulge in delicious local cuisine- all without breaking the bank. Here’s a comprehensive guide to the top things to do in Argolis, Greece, on a budget.

Visit Ancient Mycenae

A Journey into History

Every trip to Argolis is complete with a visit to Ancient Mycenae. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is famous for its monumental ruins dating back to the late Bronze Age. The site features the iconic Lion Gate, the Tomb of Agamemnon, and extensive archaeological findings that narrate the rich history of this ancient civilization.

Budget Tips:

Entrance Fee: The entrance fee is modest, typically around €12, and discounts are available for students and seniors.

Self-Guided Tours: Instead of hiring a guide, consider downloading an audio guide on your smartphone or utilizing free resources online to enrich your visit.

What to Explore:

Stroll through the ruins, marvel at the impressive structures, and don’t forget to take photos of the breathtaking landscapes surrounding the site.

Discover Nafplio

A Charming Coastal Town

Nafplio, often regarded as one of the most beautiful towns in Greece, offers a unique blend of history and charm. Its narrow streets, neoclassical architecture, and vibrant waterfront create a picturesque setting perfect for exploration.

Things to Do:

Palamidi Fortress: For a small entrance fee of about €8, you can explore this impressive fortress, which requires a hike up 999 steps. The views of Nafplio and the Argolic Gulf from the top are worth the effort.

Arvanitia Beach: This free beach is perfect for a relaxing day. Bring your towel, sunblock, and a picnic to enjoy a day by the sea.

Culinary Experiences:

Nafplio is known for its delicious local cuisine. Try dining at family-run taverns where you can savor traditional dishes like moussaka and pastitsio at reasonable prices. Don’t miss out on street food, particularly gyros and souvlaki, which are both tasty and budget-friendly.

Explore Epidaurus

Home of the Ancient Theatre

Epidaurus is renowned for its ancient theatre, one of the best-preserved in the world. The theatre is famous for its exceptional acoustics and stunning architecture, making it a must-visit for anyone interested in history and performing arts.

Visiting the Theatre:

Entrance Fee: The entrance fee is around €12. If you visit during the summer, consider attending one of the performances, as it provides a unique experience in a stunning setting.

Other Attractions:

Sanctuary of Asclepius: This site was once a healing center in ancient Greece and is worth exploring. The peaceful atmosphere makes it an ideal spot for reflection.

Enjoy Hiking and Nature

Scenic Trails Await

Argolis is rich in natural beauty, and hiking is one of the best ways to experience it. The region offers several trails that cater to different skill levels.

Top Hiking Routes:

Mount Taletio: This moderate hike is free and provides breathtaking views of the surrounding area. It’s a great opportunity to immerse yourself in the natural landscape and enjoy fresh air.

Nemea Wine Route: This picturesque route takes you through vineyards and olive groves. Walking or cycling along the Nemea Wine Route is a budget-friendly way to enjoy the scenery and perhaps even taste local wines.

What to Bring:

Pack plenty of water, snacks, and a camera to capture the stunning views. Hiking boots are recommended for the more rugged trails.

Immerse Yourself in Local Culture

Participate in Festivals

Argolis is home to various local festivals that glimpse Greek culture and traditions. Depending on the time of year you visit, you might be able to join in on the festivities.

Notable Festivals:

Nafplio Carnival: Usually held in February or March, this lively event features parades, music, and traditional costumes.

Mycenaean Festival: This festival takes place in the summer and celebrates ancient Greek culture with performances, workshops, and exhibitions.

Engaging with Locals:

Attending these festivals is a great way to meet locals and other travelers, creating memorable experiences beyond typical tourist activities.

Visit Local Markets and Shops

Shopping for Souvenirs

Exploring local markets is an excellent way to immerse yourself in the culture while picking up unique souvenirs. Nafplio has several markets and shops selling handcrafted items, local products, and traditional foods.

Budget-Friendly Shopping Tips:

Local Products: Look for local honey, olive oil, and handmade pottery. These make great souvenirs and are often more affordable than those in tourist shops.

Bargaining: In some markets, bargaining is acceptable, so don’t hesitate to negotiate prices for souvenirs.

Conclusion

Argolis is a region where history, culture, and natural beauty converge, offering a wealth of experiences for travelers on a budget. By focusing on affordable attractions, local dining, and outdoor adventures, visitors can fully immerse themselves in the charm and richness of this enchanting area. Whether exploring ancient ruins, enjoying the vibrant atmosphere of Nafplio, or hiking through scenic trails, Argolis promises an unforgettable experience that won’t strain your wallet.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best time to visit Argolis on a budget?

The best times to visit are spring (April to June) and fall (September to October) when the weather is pleasant and accommodation prices are lower.

Are there free attractions in Argolis?

Many outdoor activities, such as hiking trails and beaches, are free. Some museums and archaeological sites also have free admission days.

How can I get around Argolis affordably?

Public transportation, like buses, is the most economical way to travel around Argolis. Renting a bicycle can also be a great way to explore local areas.

Is Argolis safe for travelers?

Yes, Argolis is generally safe for tourists. Standard safety precautions are always advisable, such as securing your belongings.

Can I find vegetarian or vegan food in Argolis?

Absolutely! Many local taverns offer vegetarian and vegan options featuring fresh, local ingredients, making it easy to find satisfying meals.

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Indicators On The Best Places To Visit In Greece You Should Know

A holiday to Greece is one of the most vibrant, historical, rich and lovely getaway choices you might make. In this travel guide to Greece we'll ensure you are mindful of every spectacular experience you can discover in your amazing getaway to Greece. Even with its little size, Greece has a very diverse natural surroundings such as coastlines, rocky mountains, lakes, rivers, canyons, waterfalls, forests, and islands. Greece's environment makes for a terrific nation for extreme sports such as rafting, kayaking, mountain biking, hang gliding, bungee leaping, treking, and more. The marine parks near the islands Alonissos and Zakynthos make a fascinating stop on your trip. The Greek countryside is the home of an abundant flower life. What comes to mind really rapidly when thinking of a getaway to Greece is checking out the numerous historic monoliths. And nobody would be dissatisfied. Greece is filled with historic websites, churches, arenas, abbeys, and old cities from lots of an age. And with so much enticing history in Greece, the nation has more than 300 museums. From Archaeological Museums, Greek Art, Theater Museums, Music, Natural History, to Science and Innovation Museums; there is something for everybody. With Greece's mild climate, many greenery is grown outdoors; and is therefore fresh, natural, and fragrant; which adds a lot of vibrant taste to Greek meals. Most herbs in Greece are gathered in the mountains and in the countryside, such as oregano, rosemary and thyme. A day spa check out is likewise a worthwhile addition to any travel guide to Greece. Another way to enrich your check out is to indulge in Greece's Agro tourism. Greece holds a range of events; particularly during summer season. Open-air movie theaters, cultural events, carnivals, and sports events consisted of. The Athens Celebration, the Epidaurus https://nami-cc.org/emilioxotf531/details-fiction-and-visit-greece/ Celebration, and "Musical July" are thought about amongst the most crucial art celebrations in the whole of the European continent. Theaters such as the National Theatre of Greece phase a variety of plays. The International Thessaloniki Movie Festival has actually ended up being a major regional festival.

Including the mountains or oceans in your Greek holiday is something to consider. Water sports, cruises, snowboarding, and hiking are all within your reaches in taking a trip to Greece. Or visit one or more of the secluded islands for a peaceful trip.

[nima-project]

May 24: The role of theatre in the establishment of Democracy lecture

The “Celebration” is a universal social phenomenon. Α celebration full of splendour and spectacle serves to showcase the will to live, the moral and spiritual appearance, the consciousness that supports this struggle that maintains, grounds, and evolves through the social convenience that we call a “Celebration”.

Everywhere and anywhere on the world, Celebration has taken many shapes and followed all of human activity. We have national, religious, even work related rituals that are mysterious and magical, orgasmic and terrible, all ending in a orgiastic feast. Myth is their common denominator.

Ever since humans began to exist in societies we’ve had primitive forms of celebrations. We see them in the cavemen of the stone age, not even fully human yet. Likewise, the remnants of rituals remain in today’s civilized societies. The Greek “anastenaria” (fire ritual that involves a barefoot dance on smouldering embers performed by nestinari, in Bulgarian language: “nestinarstvo”), to name but one small example, or carnival, May Day, all the celebrations centered on winemaking. However, by far the most representative of those kinds of celebrations and the prevailing one in all civilized people and different societies is Theatre.

Theatre is a celebration of Democracy. Born with the world’s first democratic city which was established in Athens after the victory in the Persian wars and, because of that first Theatre we are now happy to have the invaluable heritage of ancient theatres all over Greece like the Dionysian theatre in Athens, Epidaurus etc, but also plants surviving by the time of the Great Tragic Poets like Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, and the comic Aristophanes.

Theatre is neither a school of philosophy, nor a music hall, it’s not a speculation nor a soiree noir, it’s not a nervous irritation, nor a mental lewdness, it’s neither outrageousness nor orgy. In the Theatre what is shown off is the cultural heritage, the metaphorical armory of a state, the social virtue of a people. The face of the age, such as it is, is presented and controlled by the presence of the common people. This is why Theatre and spectacles have always been the food for the people. Here the people watch, listen, judge. This spiritual diet -Theatre- along with all other means of education that it completes and overcomes in effectiveness can shape, cultivate, and educate the social conscience, clear the citizens from their selfish drive and make them worthy of the whole. Theatre affects a large number of adult citizens at the same time, a characteristic that prompted Aristophanes to call it “Grown up school”.  

The social role Theatre plays

…The plays performed present a high level struggle. With speech and counterspeech they try to convince us of something truly great, something that interests the entire city state and all its values. We see the trials, the judgement and catharsis of morals, of traditions, of the law of the city state and the entire system of civilization. In the time of Aeschylus -father of theatre- that struggle, and that judgment was done without any restrictions.  The appointed judges had their ears tuned to the voices of the people, and the citizens where the one who had the last word, with their approval or disapproval. Anyone who has watched a performance in an ancient theatre can attest to the feeling of awe caused by the grandeur of it all, the satisfaction brought by listening to a brave speech done well upon the stage, especially when that satisfaction is shared by the entire audience.

It is undeniable that in order for the Theatre to flourish it needs the presence of an audience of citizens, to watch and judge and controls, and as such it cannot exist under any other system of government but democracy. Today, when we unearth an ancient theatre we can say with certainty: here, then, stood a democratic nation. Democracy and tis byproduct, Theatre, was shared with other countries of the world and along with the traditions themselves passed the vocabulary. Democracy. Theatre. Drama. Tragedy. Comedy. Chorus. Orchestra. Scene. Those words and all their derivatives traveled everywhere and since then mean the same thing in any language.

But that amazing celebration of democracy is born and dies with it. It acts like a barometer of how democratic a regime is at certain times and places. Does the system flourish? Are the people in power, acting as creators? Do they shape the face of their culture? Then this is a golden age for theatre. Is democracy threatened? Are the people hunted? Pushed to the side? In the Middle Ages, the darkest time for democracy and the people, theatre is pushed to the sidelines, actors are burned to the stake for heresy and they’re not protected or granted any rights under law. Anyone could kill them like dogs on the side of the street until  the Renaissance which brings the dawn of a golden age, human nature is again winged and full of hope, and Theatre, headed by Shakespeare, finds its place and is again a mirror to its society.

Lack of theatrical education

Light theatre. This way of measuring worth: lightness. It sells in these days and brings in mind the old greek proverb “when there are little merchants in the streets there is a lot of poverty in the homes”. This merchandise, lightness (the lightness of song, of melody, or plays) has taken an undeserved spot right next to the worthy and worthless alike, and what's more, it gets praise and credit for it. But all of these light, easy shows are simply bad poetry and bad art. They are the small “values” that roam around because these are all the world can accept, while real values get buried away.

Modern Greece is a so called democratic nation, but that democracy has just as much to do with the democracy that gave birth to theatre as the National Theatre on Agiou Konstantinou street has to do with the Epidaurus theatre, or the Hilton with the Parthenon.

According to the spirit of that system, Theatre is the people’s celebration, when the people are in power, when the power comes from the voters and not their lords. The theatre has its throne. A throne of the glory of freedom and justice. There, brought before it to be judged, come Virtue and Vice, the spirit of hard work and the spirit of resistance, the fighting spirit and the spirit of conformity, of conservatism. There the People, sitting in their throne, dressed in all their glory, watch the game, judge and are judged in turn, their conscience cleared, the rules of society formed. The requisite is Democracy. Not a new or an old Democracy but Democracy in itself. Pure, self sufficient and real.

Questions/Themes for discussion stemming from the lecture

1. What is the relationship between the ancient Theatres and plays with the new?

2. What’s the relationship between the European youth and theatre today?

3. What themes do the plays put on today explore? Do they seem like gossip, something that will placate the passing fashion of each season, or do they truly work on exploring ideas that are worth it?

4. Do the great ideas behind modern plays have anything to do with the foundations of the European Union? (tolerance, understanding the other, teamwork and cooperation, intercultural dialogue, solidarity, justice, honesty, meritocracy, equality, respect for human rights…

5. What about ancient works? Based on your answer do you believe in the aesthetic and educational work that theatre does, how it strives towards the refinement of its audience, especially the young, and their introduction to the timeless values it discusses?

6. Imagine that next to every church and football field -things that even the smallest villages has these days- is a theatre, a place for the citizens to meet and watch a mental kind of game,a spectacle that would shape its political conscience. Is that a bridge between democracy and theatre? Give more examples.

7. Generally do you agree or disagree with the text and why?

Text by Vassilis Rotas (1889 – 1977), greek author, critic, and translator (his translation of Aristophanes’ “The Birds” is a classic, especially since it was used for the 1961 production of the comedy by Karolos Koun’s Theatre of the Arts). V. Rotas was a very important personality with a great number of works for theatre, poetry, and literature, starting from the time of the German occupation as an answer to the request of the revolutionaries for theatre. They ended up forming a troupe that included professional actors and amateur revolutionaries alike.

V. Rotas was not greatly influenced by the aesthetic trends of his time, although he was deeply moved by folklore and folk songs, as well as traditional fairytales and Karagiozis. That attitude supports his view that the creator, instigator, deciding force and receptor of everything were the people.

Another great influence to his work were the works of Shakespeare as well as ancient greek tragedies. In many of his plays he followed the form and “feel” of greek tragedies, Shakespeare’s histories, and shadow puppet theatre (Karagiozis).

The text came from an introduction to a seminar by the Marxist Research Centre on 28/2/1977, titled “Theatre and Democracy”.