VISITGREECE

WelcomeIn Rallis, we believe that traveling is a

way of living. To experience, to feel, to

taste, to know new things, new people,

new places. Greece is much more than

just the most beautiful country on earth.

Greece is History, Culture, Nature, Way of

Life.

Walk in the paths of Aristotle, Alexander the Great and Homer

Experience a unique culture

Swim to crystal clear waters

Have an unforgettable culinary experience

Sail to deserted beaches

See turtles nesting on protected beaches

Walk through canyons

Scuba dive into mythical places

Enjoy the intense nightlife

Find your peace at secluded villages

Visit Greecewith Rallis Travel

1R E A L L I F E E X P E R I E N C E S

Sure, the highlights still take our breath away, but travel should be more than just ticking boxes. We think the real magic happens off the beaten track. Because it’s those real life travel experiences – the most spontaneous and simple of moments – that stay with you long after

you’ve returned home.

Temple of Apollo , Sounio, Athens

BasicFOR TRAVELLERS ON A BUDGET

These are amazing experiences at a great price. Basic trips use simple, convenient accommo-dation, travel on local transport or if group with our buses and include plenty of free time.Pick and choose inclusions to fit your

budget.

INCLUSIONS

Lots of free time and optional ex-tras, so you can tailor your trip to suit your budget. Each trip has an expert local leader and is full of

real life experiences.

ACCOMMODATION

Clean, central, budget accommo-dation.

TRANSPORT

A mix of local and private trans-port.

LuxuryALL ABOUT THE COMFORT

For those who trust the special-ists to find them the best experi-ences possible. Best hotels, best views, best food. Tell us your needs and fullfill them at your

own pace

INCLUSIONS

Tailored to the needs of the cus-tomer

ACCOMMODATION

Top rated hotels with the best service.

TRANSPORT

Private luxury transport

T R I P S T Y L E S

OriginalFOR FREE MINDED TRAVELLERS

We’ve smoothed away adventure travel’s rougher edges to craft a style of travel that has an added degree of… well, comfort. Enjoy a more relaxed pace, comfort-able accommodation and lots of

included activities.

INCLUSIONS

Plenty of included activities and meals. Each trip has an expert local leader and is full of real life

experiences.

ACCOMMODATION

Comfortable hotels with private amenities and often with plenty

of local character.

TRANSPORT

More private transport and shorter travel days

Greece is the place of your dream vacation and we can guide you

through a land of endless possibilities.

ATHENSDiscover one of the most ancient cities in the world.

Culture, Food, nightlife...Athens has everything

CRETEExperience the unique traditions and profoundly wild nature of Greece’s

largest island

SANTORINIBath yourself in the infinite blue of one of the most romantic places on earth. Santorini is simply a mira-

cle

SKIATHOSOne of the greenest Greek islands with unique beauty. In Skiathos you can enjoy swimming under the shadow of pine trees that grow literaly on the beaches as

well as the intense night life.

ZAKYNTHOSIl fioro di levante: the flower of the east the Venecians named the island and for a good reason. Beautiful small villages, unique beaches with sea turtles swim-

ming around you.

THESSALONIKIThe most lively city in Greece, the city that never sleeps. The people in this city know how to have a good time and they will

show you how.

MYKONOSOne of the most famous Greek islands. The party island where since the 50’s all the international jet set has partied on its beaches from Aristotelis Onasis to Leon-ardo di Caprio, Angelina Jolie, David Beckham and many others.

MONEMVASIAThe whole village is carved in a rocky island next to the main-land. Monemvasia of unbeliev-able beauty captivates all visitors

WH

AT

’S H

OT

1 - AC R O P O L I S

AT H E N S

2 - T H R O N E O F K I N G M I N O S

K N O S S O S H E R A K L I O N

3 - G O L D E N L A R N AX CO N TA I N I N G

T H E B O N E S O F P H I L I P I I FAT H E R O F

A L E X A N D E R T H E G R E AT

VERGINA ROYAL TOMBS.

Delfi Oracle site

Greece is the birthplace of Western philosophy (Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle), literature (Homer and Hesiod), mathematics (Py-thagoras and Euclid), history (Herodotus), drama (Sophocles, Euripedes, and Aristophanes), the Olympic Games, and democra-cy. The concept of an atomic universe was first posited in Greece through the work of Democritus and Leucippus. The process of today’s scientific method was first introduced through the work of Thales of Miletus and those who followed him. The Latin al-phabet also comes from Greece, having been introduced to the region by the Phoenicians in the 8th century BCE, and early work in physics and engineering was pioneered by Archimedes, of the Greek colony of Syracuse, among others.

The region was already settled, and agriculture initiated, during the Paleolithic era as evidenced by finds at Petralona and Franch-thi caves (two of the oldest human habitations in the world). Greek history starts in the Neolithic Age (c. 6000 - c. 2900 BCE) with many settlements surviving until today all over continental Greece as well as Crete. The Cycladic Civilization (c. 3200-1100 BCE) flourished in the islands of the Aegean Sea (including Delos, Naxos and Paros) and provides the earliest evidence of continual human habitation in that region.

The Minoan Civilization (2700-1500 BCE) developed on the island of Crete, and rapidly became the dominant sea power in the re-gion. The term `Minoan’ was coined by the archaeologist Sir Ar-thur Evans, who uncovered the Minoan palace of Knossos in 1900 CE and named the culture for the ancient Cretan king Minos. The name by which the people knew themselves is not known. The Minoan Civilization was thriving, as the Cycladic Civilization seems to have been, long before the accepted modern dates which mark its existence and probably earlier than 6000 BCE.

The Minoans developed a writing system known as Linear A (which has not yet been deciphered) and made advances in ship building, construction, ceramics, the arts and sciences, and war-fare. King Minos was credited by ancient historians (Thucydides among them) as being the first person to establish a navy with which he colonized, or conquered, the Cyclades. The eruption of the volcano on the nearby island of Thera (modern day Santorini) between 1650 and 1550 BCE, and the resulting tsunami, is ac-knowledged as the final cause for the fall of the Minoans. The isle of Crete was deluged and the cities and villages destroyed. This event has been frequently cited as Plato’s inspiration in creating his myth of Atlantis in his dialogues of the Critias and Timaeus.The Mycenaean Civilization (approximately 1900-1100 BCE) is commonly acknowledged as the beginning of Greek culture,

even though we know almost nothing about the Myce-naeans save what can be determined through archaeo-logical finds and through Homer’s account of their war with Troy as recorded in The Iliad. They are credited with establishing the culture owing primarily to their architec-tural advances, their development of a writing system (known as Linear B, an early form of Greek descended from the Minoan Linear A), and the establishment, or en-hancement of, religious rites. The Mycenaeans appear to have been greatly influenced by the Minoans of Crete in their worship of earth goddesses and sky gods, which, in time, become the classical pantheon of ancient Greece.

The Golden Age of Athens (500-400 BCE), when Pericles initiated the building of the Acropolis and spoke his fa-mous eulogy for the men who died defending Greece at the Battle of Marathon in 490 BCE. Greece reached the heights in almost every area of human learning during this time and the great thinkers and artists of antiquity (Phidias, Plato, Aristophanes, to mention only three) flour-ished. Democracy (literally Demos = people and Kratos = power of the people) was established in Athens allowing all male citizens over the age of twenty a voice in gov-ernment. The Pre-Socratic philosophers, following Thales’ lead, initiated what would become the scientific method in exploring natural phenomena. Men like Anixamander, Anaximenes, Pythagoras, Democritus, Xenophanes, and Heraclitus abandoned the theistic model of the universe and strove to uncover the underlying, first cause of life and the universe.

This era ended with the rise of Alexander the Great. Al-exander’s legacy includes the cultural diffusion his con-quests engendered, such as Greco-Buddhism. He found-ed some twenty cities that bore his name, most notably Alexandria in Egypt. Alexander’s settlement of Greek colo-nists and the resulting spread of Greek culture in the east resulted in a new Hellenistic civilization, aspects of which were still evident in the traditions of the Byzantine Empire in the mid-15th century . Alexander became legendary as a classical hero in the mold of Achilles, and he features prominently in the history and mythic traditions of both Greek and non-Greek cultures. He became the measure against which military leaders compared themselves, and military academies throughout the world still teach his tactics.He is often ranked among the most influential people in human history, along with his teacher Aristotle.

G R E E C ET H E B I R T H P L AC E O F C I V I L I Z AT I O N

- ANCIENT GLORY -

In Rallis travel we are proud of our ancestors and we will show you their glorified civilization

ACROPOLISThe cradle of civilization, and of democracy. An ar-chitectural wonder of the ancient world. You cannot visit Greece without see-

ing the Acropolis

KNOSSOSThe original labyrinth and the oldest city of Europe (7000BC), destroyed by a tsunami. A re-markable collection of Minoan civilization along with the pal-

ace is preserved

EPIDAURUSThis huge ancient theater seating 13.000 people with perfect acoustics has hosted also modern plays with stars like Maria Kallas .

MYCENAEThis legendary ancient city founded by Perseus with impres-sive walls and the tomb of King

Agamemnon is a must see

DELFIThe famous ancient sanctuary, the seat of the oracle. It’s huge influence on the ancient world made it a UNESCO World heri-tage site. In ancient Greece it was believed to be the center of the

world.

VERGINAThe whole area of Greek Mace-donia is filled with remnants of Alexander the Great’s world. From Aristotel’s school to the palace of Aeges. Vergina is the most important site with tomb

of his father Phillip II.

OLYMPIAThe most celebrated ancient Greek Sanctuary and home of the ancient Olympic games. The site still stands except from the statue of Zeus, one of the 7 won-ders of the world that was de-

stroyed in Christian times

DELOSThe birthplace of Apollo, Delos had a position as a holy sanc-tuary for a millennium before Olympian Greek mythology. One of the most important

archeological sites in Greece. An UNESCO World Heritage site

AN

CIE

NT

SIT

ES

1 / / M E T E O R A

Byzant ine monaster ies hanging f rom cl i f fs

surrounded by serene nature

2 / / C AV E O F T H E A P O C A LY P S E

Where Apostole John wrote the famous Book of

Revelat ions

Beginning its adult life as the capital for the Eastern part of the Roman Empire, the city of Constantinople—later Byzan-tium, and Istanbul today—became the center of an extremely vibrant society that preserved Greek and Roman tradi-tions while much of Western Europe slipped into the Dark Ages. The Byzan-tine Empire protected Western Europe’s legacy until barbarism waned, when finally the preserved Greek and Roman masterworks opened the eyes of Euro-peans and stoked the fires of the Renais-sance.

While Greece was under Roman rule, in 51 AD Christianity had been introduced when Saint Paul preached in Athens on Mars Hill as well as in Thessaloniki and Corinth. Christianity spread the sead of division in the Roman empire which wanned in the next decades.

In A.D. 324 the Emperor of the West, Constantine I, defeated the Emperors of the East, Maxentius and Licinius, in the civil wars of the Tetrarchy. Constantine became the first Christian emperor of the Roman Empire—though the com-plete conversion of the Roman Empire to Christianity was not accomplished during his lifetime. The construction of the city of Constantinople, however, was one of his absolute triumphs. While oth-er Ancient Greek and Roman emperors built many fine cities during their reign, Constantinople exceeded them all in size and magnificence. It soon became the capital of the Byzantine Empire, and thus marked the dawn of a new era.

Justinian I build Hagia Sophia, which was completed in A.D. 538. It became the center of the Greek Orthodox Church for a number of centuries. This massive cathedral still stands today in Istanbul, and remains one of the largest and most impressive churches in the world.

Most historians agree that after the ac-cession to the Byzantine throne of Hera-clius in 610 A.D., the Byzantine Empire became essentially Greek in both culture and spirit. Heraclius made Greek the of-ficial language of the Empire, and it had already become the most widely spoken language of the Byzantine population. The Byzantine Empire, having had its ori-gins in the Eastern Roman Empire, now evolved into something new—some-thing different from its predecessor. By 650 A.D., only a very few lingering Ro-man elements remained alongside the pervasive Greek influence. According to various historical sources, a large ma-jority of the Byzantine population from 650 A.D. onwards was of Greek cultural background. Additionally, the Byzantine army fought in a style which was much closer to that of the Ancient Athenians and Spartans than that of the Roman Legions.

For the next 800 years Byzantine empire withstood against attacks from Turks, Ar-abs, Franks, Crusaders and pirates with the help of Greek-fire, an explosive and incendiary substance made from sul-phur, pitch and petroleum whose effect was the equivalent of what airplanes and tanks had on 20th century warfare.

On 1453 the siege and fall of Constanti-nople is one of the major events of world history heralding the end of the Byzan-tine Empire and the beginning of the Ot-toman empire. Mehmed the Conqueror, with an army of 150,000 Turks besieges Constantinople and conquers it.

Byzantine Scholars flee the empire to the West bringing with them from Con-stantinople the knowledge and art that would play a pivotal role in bringing about the Renaissance in Western Eu-rope.

- MIEDIEVAL MYSTERIES -

The Byzantine Empire existed for nearly 1,125 years, and it’s one of the greatest empires of all time. Many historians have agreed that without Byzantium to protect it, Europe would have been overrun

by the tide of Islamic invaders.

1 - M Y S T R A S

The fortified city of Byzantine Empire near Sparta

2 - BY Z A N T I N E A R T

3 - PA L AC E O F T H E G R A N D M A S T E R O F T H E K N I G H T S

Rhodes was Conquered during the Crusades by Knights

Hospitaller which fortified the city and used the palace for

their Grand Master

BY Z A N T I U MT H E G O L D E N Y E A R S

MOUNT ATHOSUnique in the world mount Athos is a whole peninsula of monasteries dedicated to Mary. Extremely spiri-tual place inhabited only

by monks

CORFUVenetians, Franks, Turks Rus-sians and Greeks have fought for centuries over this island. This unique blend of cultures is felt today throughout the

island

RHODESThe castle of Rhodes built by the Knights during the crusades is a UNESCO world heritage site. And this is only one of the reasons you

should visit this unique island.

PATMOSThe island that St.John the bap-tist visualized and wrote the Book of Revelation. The cave of the Apocalypse is a place of Christian

pilgrimage

HERAKLIONThe Venetian fortification of Her-aklion was one of the best in the Mediterranian basin. It withstood the longest siege ever, 21 years. It is one the best preserved Vene-

tian fortifications in Europe.

THESSALONIKIUNESCO has declared 15 Early Christian and Byzantine “orna-ments” of Thessaloniki as World Heritage Sites, recognizing the city as one of the most important to the historical memory of hu-

mankind.

METEORAThe Metéora is a formation of immense monolithic pillars. It means ‘middle of the sky‘ be-cause of the monasteries built on top of them. A place of breath-taking natural and spiritual beau-ty that UNESCO declared a World

Heritage Site

SPINALONGAOriginally, not an island – it was part of the island of Crete. During Venetian occupation the island was carved out of the coast for defence purposes and a fort was built there. The island was a very famous leper colony appearing

in books, TV and films.

ME

DIE

VA

L SIT

ES

- NATURE -

The great Greek outdoors invites you to discover it in every season. A tapestry of landscapes with an amazing array of biodiversity and ecological value will unfold be-fore your eyes: in national parks, waterfalls, rushing riv-ers, lakes, wetlands, mountain ranges, even volcanoes on Santorini, Nisyros and Milos. You’ll soon discover just how much variety such a small country can display. The mild climate and natural environment is ideal for hik-ing, riding, off-road driving, rafting, kayaking, rock and mountain climbing and canyoning.

There are 419 Natura 2000 sites, as well as 4 Geoparks that are part of the European Geoparks Network (EGN): Lesvos and its fossil forest, the Natural Park of Psiloritis on Crete, the Helmos-Vouraikos National Park in the Pelo-ponnese and the Vikos-Aoos National Park in the Zagoro-horia region of Epirus.

Greece’s 400 wetlands are places of special beauty and many are protected by the Ramsar Convention or belong to the Natura 2000 network. The lagoons of Messolongi, Gialova, Porto Lagos and Thrace, the Amvracian Gulf, the Strofilia forest, the deltas of the rivers Axios, Nestos, Ev-ros, Acheloos and Arachthos, lakes Kerkini, Vistonis, Veg-orotis, Mikri Prespa, Koroneia and Volvi offer a rich world of vegetation and are home to countless birds, amphib-ians, mammals and fish.At least 446 bird species, several of which are endangered, live or stop at the precious wetlands on the islands and mainland.The best places for bird-watching are the Dadia forest, the Evros and Pineios deltas, lakes Kerkini, Heimaditis and Zazari, the Gialova lagoon and Mount Olympus.

Ecotourism in GreeceAre you an ecotourism enthusiast seeking a memorable ecotourism experience in Greece? The nation with the eleventh longest coastline in the world, and which is also 80% mountains and hills, beckons. Traditional upland vil-lages with their special architecture and ancient folkways will welcome you in Pelion, Zagorohoria, Meteora, Olym-pus, Pindos, Rhodopi, mountainous Arcadia, Messinia, mountainous Nafpaktia, Taygetos, Parnon, and of course Crete with Psiloritis (Mt Ida), the Lefka Oroi (White Moun-tains) and their spectacular gorges. Hiking trails and for-est roads will lead you off the beaten track to lakes, rivers and hot springs, forests, cascades and valleys as well as to ancient temples, old castles and churches, the human and historical side of the landscape.

Agrotourism in GreeceThe wonders of nature are complemented by Greek hos-pitality. The locals will welcome you at traditional guest houses and family-run hotels. They will offer you local specialities, wine, raki and other authentic products at their restaurants and tavernas. You’ll bond with them at agrotourism hostels and family farms where you can participate in the chores of milking the animals, produc-ing cheeses and gathering the olives. You’ll pick fruit and vegetables from the gardens, pluck grapes from vines and help turn them into wine and raki, and when the work is done you’ll join the others at local festivals and feasts that will immerse you in the traditions of the area. Leaving, you’ll take with you the experience along with a souvenir of honey or jam or herbs you saw gathered with your own eyes.

N AT U R A L B E AU T YMost people know Greece for its crystal crear waters, however Greece has a relatively un-known virgin nature: Alpine lakes, dramatic gorges, steaming volcanoes, serene wetlands, national parks, mountain forests… and more flowers than you’ve ever seen. Allow us in Ral-lis Travel to help you discover Greece through alternative types of tourism: ecotourism and

agrotourism that reveal the secrets of Greek nature.

1 - H A L K I D I K I P E N I N S U L A

2 - D R A KO L I M N I L A K E

3 - S A M OT H R A K I I S L A N D

4 - L A K E TO W N O F K A S TO R I A I N S N O W

5 - S A R A K I N I KO B E AC H I N M I LO S I S L A N D

SAMARIA GORGEThe longest gorge in Europe and a World Biosphere reserve. A quarter million people cross the gorge every year and enjoy its stunning natural beauty from

Omalos to the Libyan sea.

SAMOTHRAKIMysterious Samothraki of an-cient paganistic rituals. They worshiped its unique nature. Rivers flow from its mountains creating dreammy pools to

dive

VOURAIKOS GORGE22km fascinating train ride to Kalav-ryta. It is said to be one of the most spectacular train rides in Europe. The stunning view to the cliffs, the ravines and the amazing surround-

ings will take your breath away

LASSITHI PLATEUIts unique location was known from prehistoric times with many settle-ments from that time still existing. At 850 meters elevation this hidden gem hosts the cave where Zeus was

born

PLASTIRA LAKEPlastiras Lake is a human interven-tion managed to unite the artificial with the natural element. A magical place with forests, in which Fairies found their shelter. A place for visi-tors who seek peace and serenity, but also for those who look for ad-venture, combining mountain and

lake activities.

LOUTRAKIHot waters spring from the earth amidst platanus trees. A very popular spa compared by many to spas in Switzerand. Visited all year long, even with snow, a place

of absolute relax and serenity.

NAOUSSANaoussa is the city where Aristo-tle chose to make his school. He walked and tought his students under the trees in places of green beauty. The park of St. Nikolas is a platanus forrest with rivers and waterfalls, so picturesque you

can believe elves live here.

VALIA CALDAValia Calda national park is a place of pristine natural beauty. People have not skorged this place with cities or villages and it remains virgin. It is an ideal place

for trekking and kayaking.

NA

TU

RA

L BE

AU

TY

ANCIENT PATHSVisit the most major archaelogical sites of Greece. Enjoy the ancient glory of Athens and visit Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic games, the tomb of King Agamemnon in Mycenae, experience the perfect acoustics of the ancient theater of Epidaurus where Maria Callas has sung Medea. Visit Delfi, the center of the world, according to ancient Greeks and magical Meteora flowting in midair. Visit Thessaloniki the most lively Greek city with excelent cuisine and the archaelogical site of Vergina where the Phillip the father of

Alexander the Great is buried. 8 DAYS

TOP

TR

IPS

AEGEAN SUNExperience small tastes of culture, antiquities, sea, sun and great food in a package that combines everything. From clas-sical Athens to the other ancient sites, Mycenae, Delfi, Olympia and Epidaurus. Then start the island hopping from Mykonos the party island where the whole jet set parties. Move to ro-mantic and magical Santorini voted best island in the world and one of the most photographed places on earth. Finish

your trip at Crete with the unique culture and nature.10 days

ALEXANDER’S FOOTSTEPSGreek Macedonia had the priviledge of giving birth to one of the most influential people in the history of mankind. Al-exander the Great. With this package we will follow the his footsteps. From the palace that he was born in Aegaes, to the school of Aristotle were he was tought. Vergina hosts all the treasures found in the area as well as the tomb of his mythical father Phillip II of Macedonia. We will visit Phillipous, a UNESCO world heritage site which combines its ancient glory with the first ever Christian church in Europe, founded by Apostole Paul. The visit of the beautiful city of Kavala and 3 days of resting in paradisal Halkidiki with the pristine beaches and the uniwue

nature.10 days

WINE AND OLIVESGreece is famous for its oil and wine. Follow wine and olive paths in Peloponesse that have been ther for millenia. Visit ancient Olympia the home of the Olympic games, Epidaurus the ancient theater with the unique acoustics and the tomb of king Agamemnon in Mycenae. Experience the unique nature and tastes in the area of Sparta and Mistra a place of unique beauty. Taste the world famous Kalamata ol-

ives, in Kalamata.

TOP

TR

IPS

NATURE’S BREATHSure Greece is famous for the beaches, but in reality it is mainly a mountainous country of unique nature. The northern part of the country especially hosts places of natural serenity and small villages with deep traditions. Get off the beaten track of sea and sun and experience the forests, rivers and lakes of Greece. Visit Thessaloniki and the archaeological treasures of Alexander the Great that lived here, view the beautiful villag-es around Tzoumerka and experience profound serenity and nature. Ioannina, the lake town, will stay in your heart forever while in the cultural island of Corfu you will want to stay for-

ever.

SAILING IN THE BLUEFor the lovers of the sea there is no place in the world like the Aegean. Sail from Athens and visit some of Greece’s most beautiful islands. Mykonos full of beautiful shops in small al-leys, Paros where you will go out for a drink and return with the rise of the sun. Naxos with the beautiful villages hanging on its mountains, Koufonisia with beaches that will take your breath away, Santorini with the most beautiful sunset in the

world and Milos the island of love.

F O O D T R E A S U R E S Simple and pure

One thing has always been true about Greek cuisine: the empha-sis on genuine raw materials, unadulterated and grown locally simple dishes, cooked slowly and without fussy sauces, seasoned with herbs and olive oil rather than exotic spices, with love and imagination.

Greece has a culinary history that spans millenia and has influences from many civilizations that conquered its lands in the past. Traditional Greek food is excel-lent and voted many times as one of the best cuisines in the world. Over the past couple of decades a new wave of chefs has sprung up, who are committed to recreating the traditional Greek cuisine they were nurtured on but with new combinations and techniques. Often trained abroad, where they have come into contact with other food cultures, they are two-way ambassadors. As they return, they experiment with new ap-proaches to traditional recipes, chang-ing techniques and creating a modern Greek cuisine. Domestic production which had been neglected is also being rediscovered, transformed and rede-

signed.As examples, we have the rare Cretan skolymbous, a wild green that costs more than fillet mignon, sweet potatoes from Trikala, chestnuts from Volos, farmed black pork, mountain goat from Crete. An intriguing fusion: the old with its historic value, blended with new ideas, to give it new life. Innovative, with surprising revelations, excitingly fresh. You’ll be impressed by the inventiveness of the new generation of cooks in the fine restaurants of the mainland and is-lands, from Crete to Corfu, from Halkidiki to Laconia. You don’t have to seek them out. In Rallis travel we have tasted the treats of our land and we know where the best are. Let us guide you and we promise you’ll be asking for a second helping.

G reeks approach food with a combinat ion of ser iousness and nos-ta lgia , inevitably think ing back to the dishes they were ra ised on. They don’t eat to l ive but rather l ive to eat , and a meal i s a l -most a lways a socia l , conviv ia l occas ion, which revives the or igi -

nal meaning of companionship – people who broke bread together. There is no not ion of the western ‘eat and run’ syndrome. Here in Greece, a lunch or dinner can last for hours, and the more people gathered at the table the better, for good food and good wine br ing good ta lk . So, s i t down and prepare to enjoy yoursel f.

The thing that will strike you immediately is the freshness and excellence of the local produce: the just-picked salads, the freshly caught sea-food, the meat raised on a hillside not factory-farmed. This is the flavour of Greek cuisine: salt from the ubiquitous sea, olive oil, our liquid gold that contains all the goodness of the sun, and bread, the staff of life, ground from wheat, the age-old fruit of the earth. And all in one

mouthful. In Rallis travel we have tasted the treats

of our land and we know where the best are. Let us guide you and we promise you’ll be asking for a second helping.

- FOOD TREASURES -

C R E TA N S DA N C I N G T R A D I -T I O N A L S O N G S

B O U ZO U K I

PA I N T E D H O U S E I N C H I O S

Contemporary Greek culture and traditions are very rich and diverse, reflecting Greece’s location at the crossing point where the West meets the East and the country’s great and turbulent history. This rich and tumultuous past greatly influences contemporary lifestyle, the Greek perspective on the world, Greek music, food, customs and traditions, even the way Greeks do business. Greeks as a whole are extremely proud of their history, their cultural heritage and their contribution to literature, art, philoso-phy and politics. They speak with intense passion of their country as the cradle of European civilization.

The Greek society consists of close-knit families where important social organizations have gradually evolved from the idea of family. The institution of marriage also plays an important role in society. The word family in Greece refers to a particular social group whose members are related by blood or marriage at different levels or in different forms or combinations.

Greek food and beverages are famous all over the world for both quality and taste. Greek cuisine is often cited as an example of the healthy Mediterranean diet while shar-ing food and drinks with relatives and friends is one of the basic elements of the Greek culture. Greek cuisine incorporates fresh ingredients, among them garlic, on-ions, fennel, zucchini, grapes, apples, dates and figs, into a variety of local dishes some of which can be traced back to Ancient Greece. Eating is taken seriously in Greece and sitting at the table enjoying food and conversation is a sacred time for them.

The music of Greece is as diverse and celebrated as its history. Greek music separates into two parts: Greek traditional music and Byzantine music. Pure forms of Byzantine music can only be seen in Orthodox churches nowadays, since music has evolved drasticaly. Bouzouki, an instrument that is a desendant of ancient pandoura is the protagonist of modern Greek music. Greeks love to dance in its sound and you can find bouzoukia practically everywhere in Greece. So if you go to ‘Bouzoukia‘ be pre-pared to dance until the morning. Nights in Greece are a delight. A summer night out usually starts with a dinner at the many taverns and restaurants in the Greek islands and continue with a soft drink in a lounge bar or with a crazy night in a club till the sunrise. Greeks drink mainly

wine and other drinks also, but with measure, they do not like to get completely drunk , they just drink to have fun. ome places known for their nightlife are Mykonos, Crete, Kos, Rhodes and more. Folklore and traditional music is very popular also in many parts of Greece especially in Northern Greece, Crete and the islands where people dance with traditional costumes.

Going out for a coffee is a special habitude for the Greeks, a strong part of their culture. The average coffee meet-ing for a Greek is about 1 and half hour. The Greeks get together over a coffee and chat loudly. In the village squares, you will see the traditional type of cafeteria in Greece, the kafenion. Mostly old men go there to drink their traditional Greek coffee, chat and play cards.

In Ancient Greece it was believed that Zeus often clothed himself in mortal clothes and appeared as a stranger seeking hospitality. Since then in Greece it is considered an honour to treat strangers, because maybe Zeus is one of them. Greek

people are famous for their hospitality all around the globe.

F I LOX E N I AA G R E E K W O R D M E A N I N G ‘ B E F R I E N D T H E S T R A N G E R S‘

- GREEK CULTURE -

1 / / CO R F U

Easter custom where people throw

c lay pots in the streets.

2 / / DA N C I N G I N PA N I G I R I A

3 / / H E R O D I O N T H E AT E R

Where many ancient Greek t ragedies

and comedies are played ever y year

4 / / N AO U S S A

“Janissaries and Boules” Carnival custom

Greeks celebrate all kinds of things all year round. Whether, cultural, or religious or of paganistic nature, festivals and cultural events play a major part in the lives of Greeks.

Most festivals in Greece take place in sum-mer. They can be religious festivals (panigiri) on the occasion of the name day of the pro-tector saint in a village or town, or they can also be cultural festivals with various events. The panigiri – festival – features free food, drink, traditional music and dancing with the congregation into the wee hours. On the Ionian islands of Corfu, Kefalonia and Zante, the patron saints Spyridon, Gerasimos and Dionysios are honoured with panache and processions accompanied by marching bands. In Agiassos on Lesvos, on Prophet Eli-jah day, riders on decorated horses climb up to the mountain chapel, where one of them will be selected to bring down the Prophet’s icon. The celebrations on August 15 in hon-our of the Virgin, attract thousands of wor-shipers. Especially popular are those at the cathedral of Tinos, Ekatondapyliani on Paros and Hozoviotissa on Amorgos. In Crete you can find a panigiri nearly everyday in a differ-ent village each having a main food theme which is served for free: wine celebration, goat celebration, cheese celebration, snail celebration etc.

Easter is the most important festival of the Greek Orthodox Church. It starts 7 weeks before Easter Sunday and comes to its peak the Holy Week. On Good Friday, a special cel-ebration takes place when all the flowered tombs of the Christ (named Epitaphios) are gathered at the squares and make the tour of the towns. The peak of the Easter is on Good Saturday at midnight, when pilgrims go the church and get the Holy Light. At midnight exactly, the priest appears holding a lighted torch and shares the Holy Flame on the candles of near worshippers. After mid-night, families and friends eat “magiritsa”, a soup made from lamb tripe, rice, dill and lemon. The rest of the lamb is grilled on Sunday morning for lunch, accompanied by wines and dances. This festival is of great importance in all the regions of Greece but

some places, such as the Greek islands of Corfu island and Chios island, are very fa-mous for their Easter celebrations. In Corfu people throw clay pots from windows and balconies which crash noisily on the streets below while in Chios the two main churches engage themselves in a ‘rocket war’ which turns this village into a virtual battlefield. In some towns, the Burning of Judas takes place on Easter Sunday in the evening.

Another important festival season is the Carnival. The Carnival is called “Apokries” in Greek and it is expressed by three weeks of feasting and dancing. The Carnival takes place three weeks before Lent Monday. Im-portant Carnival Parades take place in Patra, Xanthi, Corfu island and Rethymno with wonderful parties. In Naoussa the custom named “Janissaries and Boules” prevails in celebration. There are many indications that the custom is connected with the an-cient festivals for welcoming spring during which Dionysus, the ancient Greek god of wine, was honoured. However the custom changed during Ottoman occupation and started what is now a ritual event that still adheres to the same routes and strict prin-ciples to this day, with verbal rules passing from one generation to the next.The exact dates of the Carnival vary, depending on the Easter.

Other important celebration days include New Year’s Eve, Christmass, Indipendence day on the 25th of march, ‘Ohi‘ day on the 28th of October, Clean Monday during which families go for a picnic in the country-side and fly kites and many others.

Many cultural festivals also take place with the most prominent being the Athens Epid-aurus Greek Festival, with events in the An-cient Theatre of Epidaurus, the Herodeion Theatre in Athens and other venues. Such festivals with music concerts, theatre perfor-mances, lectures and custom revivals take place in all Greek islands and towns, usually in summer, presenting the local culture and occasionally hosting international participa-tions.

- CULTURAL EVENTS -

In Greece, the birthplace of the arts, sciences, music, history and culture, you can relive the miracle. Unique performances and

events for every taste!

1 - C H I O S

‘Rocket War‘ between the churches in Vrondado

2 - S A N TO R I N I

Easter celebrations in the village of Pyrgos

3 - PAT R A

Carnival Parade

F E S T I VA L S

S PA R TA

Statue of K ing Leonidas that marks the f in ishl ine of Spar tathlonAthlete of Spar tathlon k iss ing the feet of K ing Leonidas’ s tatue at the f in ish-

l ine of Spar tathlon.

- SPORT EVENTS -

The first two decades of the fifth century B.C. marked one of the great turning points in world history. These were the years of the Persian and Greek wars. By the year 490 B.C., the Persian Army was ready to expand their territory and move into Europe. They landed a large force just outside of Athens on the plains of Marathon and prepared for attack. The Ath-ens, vastly outnumbered, desperately needed the help of Sparta’s military base to help fend off the at-tack. Time was short, so the Athenian generals send Phidippides (or Philippides) a professional runner to Sparta to ask for help. The 140 mile course was very mountainous and rugged. Phidippides ran the course in about 36 hours. Sparta agreed to help but said they would not take the field until the moon was full due to religious laws. This would leave the Athenians alone to fight the Persian Army. Phidip-pides ran back to Athens (another 140 miles!) with the disappointing news. Immediately, the small Athenian Army (including Phidippedes) marched to the plains of Marathon to prepare for battle.

The Athenian Army was outnumbered 4 to 1 but they launched a suprise offensive thrust which at the time appeared suicidal. But by day’s end, 6400 Persian bodies lay dead on the field while only 192 Athenians had been killed. The surviving Persians fled to sea and headed south to Athens where they hoped to attack the city before the Greek Army could re-assemble there.

Phidippides was again called upon to run to Athens (26 miles away) to carry the news of the victory and the warning about the approaching Persian ships. Despite his fatigue after his recent run to Sparta and back and having fought all morning in heavy armor, Phidippides rose to the challenge. Pushing himself past normal limits of human endurance, the reached Athens in perhaps 3 hours, deliverd his message and then died shortly thereafter from ex-haustion.

Sparta and the other Greek polies eventually came to the aid of Athens and eventually they were able to turn back the Persian attempt to conquer Greece. The Greek victory marked one of the decisive events of world history because it kept an Eastern power (the persians) from conquering what is now Europe. The victory gave the Greeks incredible confidence in themselves, their government and their culture.

When the modern Olympics began in 1896, the initiators and organizers were looking for a great popularizing event, recalling the ancient glory of Greece. The idea of a mara-thon race came from Michel Bréal, who wanted the event to feature in the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 in Athens. This idea was heavily supported by Pierre de Cou-bertin, the founder of the modern Olympics, as well as by the Greeks. The winner of the first Olympic marathon, on 10 April 1896 (a male-only race), was Spyridon Louis, a Greek water-carrier, in 2 hours 58 minutes and 50 seconds.

In 1983 the first route of Pheidippides, from Athens to Spar-ta revived, with the name Spartathlon. The race covers the 246 km between Athens and Sparta and is considered an ultra-marathon and one of the most difficult races on earth.

The original epic runs of Pheidippides continue to inspire runners today. Today, athletes who run the Athens Mara-thon and the Spartathlon will be running in the same foot-steps as Pheidippides.

Come to Greece and run the Original Marathon Route, from Marathon to Athens.

M A R AT H O NRun on the Original Route

I n Rallis travel we understand the chal-lenges of the modern tourism indus-try and we know that planning, de-veloping and adapting destination

resources to the evolving needs of the market is the key to success. Our mission is to offer the traveler a unique experience, with competitive value for money prod-ucts and high level services. Meeting and exceeding clients’ goals and objectives is our priority, as we strive for excellence in quality, integrity, and value.

Rallis Travel is poised to take advantage of the ever growing travel market in the so called ‘borderless world’. Our mission is to expand our relationships with airlines, charter flight operators, tour operators and travel agents and increase the incom-ing tourism from Southeast Asia. Our goal is to brand ourselves as providers of the ultimate travel planning experience in Greece for every travel service available in the industry.

In Rallis travel we can make custom-made packages tailored to the needs of the cul-ture of every country or every traveler. Just tell us your dream and our specialist will guide you through endless possibilities to find the perfect experience

We are proud of our beautiful ancient country and we will be happy to show it to you. Visit Greece and let the details in our hands.

Greece is the place of your dreamvacation and we can guide you through a land of endless possibilities.

In this small room he spoke to them about the wonders of the world, that it was possible to cross the Aegean Sea on foot by jumping from island to island all the way to the port of Salonika. Gabriel Garcia Marquez '100 years of Solitude’

VISITGREECE