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Travel through history at Philippi
A visit to the ancient site of Philippi has been on my bucket list for years. Why? Well, it is one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites in Greece. But what has truly drawn me to visit this site, is that it tells a story of multiple eras. From the ancient Greeks, to the Romans,…
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The myth of traditional Greek blue and white buildings, revealed
There is no Greek-er picture than one with white-washed houses, preferably with a blue roof. The traditional Greek island architecture is what makes Greece famous, but how orthodox is this building style for Greece? Here is the myth of traditional Greek blue and white buildings, revealed. The story we want to believe There is a…
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Impressively deep and incredibly blue. The Corinth canal
The most popular holiday destination on the Greek mainland, Peloponnese, is known as a large peninsula in the South. However, technically, Peloponnese has been an island for almost 150 years. The Corinth canal separates this famous peninsula from the mainland of Greece as a narrow straight line of clear blue water. Location The Corinth canal…
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Nature, religion, and a box of bones. The monastery of Timios Prodromes
The holy monastery of Timios Prodromes offers everything a culture-loving tourist in Greece desires. From the mountainous landscape to incredible architecture, fascinating stories, religion, and exclusivity. With just 50 reviews on Google, this monastery might be the hidden gem of Greece. Location The holy monastery of Timios Prodromes lies just west of Argos, in the…
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Experience the ancient theatre of Epidaurus
In the north of Peloponnese, close to Nafplion and just 2 hours away from Athens, lies the ancient city of Epidaurus. Epidaurus was a small city established in the sixth century B.C. Today, it is a big tourist attraction due to the most well-preserved ancient theatre. The site is on the list of UNESCO world…
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The many abandoned and unfinished buildings in Greece
During your stay in Greece, you might be surprised by the many empty or half-finished buildings you come across. You find them in cities, towns, villages, and even remote areas. They are everywhere, and as an architect, I wanted to understand the reason behind them. After talking with many Greek citizens and homeowners I created…
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Building amongst archeological sites
Around 50 years ago, Thessaloniki decided to do something about the endless traffic jams in the city. The idea was a metro, connecting the rectangular-shaped city center underground. Today, however, not one station opened. Why? Because building amongst archeological sites is nearly impossible. The tunnel for Thessaloniki’s metro resulted in the largest archeological dig in…
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The old, the empty, and the ugly. The story behind architecture in modern Greek cities.
The Greeks are famous for their architecture and even invented this type of art. Look at the Parthenon, the Temple of Apollo, or the ancient theatre of Epidaurus. All great examples of architecture and now on the list of UNESCO world heritage sites. Also, on the Greek islands, architecture resembles art. The idyllic villages with…
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When a monk makes camp. Panagia Kakaniotissa
Just a few kilometers West of Myrina, on the island of Lemnos, is a church that is unlike any other. Panagia Kakaniotissa. A small church without a roof but covered by the tip of the mountain it was built in. This small church is one of the most unique churches in the world. History The…
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Much more than a beach. Paralia Mikro Fanaraki
In the East of the island of Lemnos, there is a small beach called Mikro Fanaraki. A small lantern. The beach is probably named after the little lighthouse on the rocks closeby. Although Mikro Fanaraki itself is small as well, there is so much to see and do around that it deserves a visit during…
