The Acropolis Museum Celebrates 12 Years Today

Today, Sunday 20 June 2021, the Acropolis Museum celebrates its twelfth anniversary.

The anniversary comes as the Museum has undergone its most difficult year to date, re-opening on May 14 after being closed to the public for more than six months due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Making the most of the enforced closure, museum staff, under the leadership of archaeologist Stamatia Eleftheratou, seized the opportunity to catch up on restoration projects and maintenance.

Further additions were made to the permanent exhibition, including the Makrigiannis plot, an excavation gallery uniquely incorporated into the architecture beneath the museum that showcases an ancient Athenian neighbourhood.

Now refreshed and renewed, the Acropolis Museum, welcomes visitors on the day of its birthday from 8 am until 8 pm, with reduced entry (5 euro) to all exhibition areas. Additionally, visitors will have the opportunity to participate in the new thematic presentation “Marathon-Salamis. In traces of myth and history”.

In this presentation, visitors will discuss with the Museum’s archaeologists about the Persian wars and their significance for the western world, the colliding opponents and the role played by gods and goddesses, the importance of the Marathon battle in the victory of the Salamis naval battle, the price paid by the Acropolis and how it was transfigured into creation and, finally, how the great moments of history are depicted in the exhibits of the Acropolis Museum.

Following the Museum’s birthday, this thematic presentation will be offered to Museum visitors every Friday and every Sunday.

	USEFUL INFORMATION
Greek	12 noon, 4 p.m. & 6 p.m.
English	10 a.m. & 2 p.m.
Registration	Please refer to the Information Desk at the Museum entrance on the same day. First-in first-served. Limited to 8 visitors per session.
Health protection measures	It is necessary to wear a protective mask (not provided by the Museum) and to use the whisper guide system headsets (provided by the Museum).
Price	The general admission fee (5 euro for this particular day) to the Museum is required.

 

The Acropolis Museum, one of the Most Important World Museums

The Acropolis Museum is one of the most important museums in the world, home to some of the most breathtaking artefacts known to man.

In May 2013, among 50 Museums, the ‘London Times’ voted it the third most important world museum, after the Smithsonian in Washington DC and the British in London.

Focused on the  archaeological site of the Acropolis of Athens, the museum was built to house every artefact found on the rock and on the surrounding slopes, from the Greek Bronze Age to Roman and Byzantine Greece.  It also lies over the ruins of a part of Roman and early Byzantine Athens.

The Galleries of the Acropolis Museum

There are three main galleries in the museum which include the Parthenon Gallery, the Archaic Gallery and the Gallery of the Acropolis Slopes.

The Gallery of the Acropolis Slopes on the ground floor houses significant finds found in the sanctuaries that were built on the slopes of the Acropolis as well as exhibits that were used by ancient Athenians during their day to day activities.

The Archaic Gallery on the first floor measures 9 metres in height. This gallery houses exhibits that once beautified the first temples that were built on the Acropolis as well as ancient Greek votive offerings such as Korai, Hippies (ancient horse riders), statues of Goddess Athena, sculpted male figures, bronze artefacts, clay offerings and some marble reliefs; as well as sculptures and finds dating back to the Byzantine era. Exhibits from the Propylaia, the Erechtheion and the temple of Athena Nike are also housed on the first floor.

The purpose-built Parthenon Gallery on the third floor, with ceiling-high glass walls that offer uninterrupted views of the nearby temple and of Athens, houses the Parthenon’s sculpted friezes and metopes in sequence  – as the gallery continues to press the case for the reunification of the marbles currently on display in the British Museum.

Greece’s First Digital Museum

Last year, Acropolis Museum became the first museum in Greece to ‘go fully digital’, after completing a comprehensive digitalisation project.

Showcasing exhibits in high definition alongside an array of multimedia applications, the Museum website provides detailed information on 2,156 artefacts in its permanent collection, as well as a dedicated website for children; the Acropolis Museum Kids.

International Praise and Recognition for the Acropolis Museum

Designed by Swiss architect Bernard Tschumi and his Greek collaborator Michael Photiadis, following 33 years of three unresolved competitions that included 438 international entries, the Acropolis Museum was opened to the public on June 20, 2009.

Since its opening, the museum has received international praise for its innovative and visitor friendly design.

In 2011, the Acropolis Museum was awarded Best Design of 2011 by the AIA (American Institute of Architects) and selected as one of six finalists for the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture in the ‘Mies Van de Rohe’ Architectural Competition

The Museum was designed to receive 10,000 visitors daily within its 23.000 square metres mixed area and between 2009 and 2018 it received over 8 million visitors.

All of the Museum’s expenses are totally covered by its own profits (tickets, gift shops, restaurant) without state or private funds.

 

Greece Extends Covid 19 Rules

 

Travel rules for international arrivals

The HCAA’s update for its Covid-19 aviation directives extends travel rules for passengers and restrictions for all international flights until Monday, June 21, at 6 am.

Who is allowed entry to Greece

People traveling for essential reasons and travelers from the following countries* are allowed to enter Greece – provided they have the required documentation – without the requirement for subsequent self-isolation: EU & Schengen Area countries, Australia, Northern Macedonia, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, United Kingdom, Israel, Canada, Belarus, Bahrain, New Zealand, South Korea, Qatar, China, Kuwait, Ukraine, Rwanda, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Thailand, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro.

* Regulations concerning countries on the admission list are subject to change by the Greek authorities, when renewed assessments are made based on epidemiological data from country of origin.

Entry requirements

Greece will allow entrance to travelers that have filled out the Passenger Locator Form (PLF) one day before travel. The PLF is mandatory and must be filled out by all travelers, regardless of their nationality.

Passengers from abroad must also have one of the following:

1. a vaccination certificate, stating that 14 days have passed since full vaccination for Covid-19. Vaccination certificates must be issued by a public authority and in one of the following languages: Greek, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish or Russian. The name on the vaccination certificate must match the name on the passport and also include, the type of vaccine administered, the number of doses and the dates they were administered.

2. a negative PCR or rapid antigen test (in Greek, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish or Russian) performed less than 72 hours. (The rule is in force for children over the age of 6.)

 

3. a recovery certificate (in Greek, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish or Russian) stating that one has recovered from the coronavirus in the past 9 months. This can be proven through a certificate of recovery issued by a public authority or a certified laboratory. (The rule is in force for children over the age of 6.)

4. a Digital COVID Certificate in digital or print form which will contain information on whether passengers have been vaccinated against Covid-19 or have a negative PCR/rapid test result or have recovered from the virus.

Important for travelers from Montenegro

Permanent residents from Montenegro are allowed to enter Greece with a COVID-19 vaccination certificate and a negative PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before travel.

Non-EU citizens are strongly advised to choose direct flights to Greece. In any other case, travelers should abide by the stop-over country requirements.

 

Rapid testing on arrival

Every traveler who arrives in Greece, regardless of the certificate in their possession, may undergo a random health screening (depending on the data provided on the PLF forms). If a passenger is selected for a rapid test and is positive for the coronavirus then he/she must quarantine for a total of:

– 7 days, if he/she has been vaccinated against Covid-19
– 10 days, if he/she has not been vaccinated.

In both cases, passengers will have to take a PCR test on the last day of their quarantine. If the test is negative the mandatory quarantine ends.

 

Rules for domestic air travel to the Greek islands

 

According to the HCAA’s updated aviation directive (NOTAM), people in Greece (residents and foreign visitors) are allowed to travel to the Greek islands by airplane only if they have one of the following:

– a vaccination certificate stating that 14 days have passed since full vaccination for Covid-19.
Greeks can issue their vaccination certificates here.
Foreigners are obliged to have a vaccination certificate in one of the following languages: Greek, English, French, German, Spanish, Italian or Russia. The vaccination certificate must be issued by a public authority, include the travelers’ name, the type of vaccine administered and the number of doses.

– a negative PCR test performed less than three days (72 hours) prior to the scheduled travel date. Foreigners must have a negative test in one of the following languages: Greek, English, French, German, Spanish, Italian or Russian. (The rule is in force for children over the age of 6.)
Negative PCR test results can be in print or electronic form.

– a negative rapid antigen test taken 24 hours prior to travel. Foreigners must have a negative test in one of the following languages: Greek, English, French, German, Spanish, Italian or Russian.  (The rule is in force for children over the age of 6.)
Negative rapid test results can be in print or electronic form.

– a negative self-test taken 24 hours prior to travel.
The self-test declaration form to certify a negative result is available in Greek and English here. Travelers must print it out and present it when requested at the airport. (The rule is in force for children over the age of 6.)

– a recovery certificate stating that one has recovered from the coronavirus in the past 9 months. This can be proven through a certificate of recovery issued by a public authority or a certified laboratory. (The rule is in force for children over the age of 6.)

According to the HCAA, tests (PCR and rapid) that have been carried out abroad and are valid at the time of boarding a domestic flight in Greece will be accepted under the same conditions under which they were accepted to allow entrance to Greece.

The staff of airline companies are responsible to check that passengers are carrying the required documentation during boarding.

The updated aviation directive concerning the rules to fly domestic to the Greek islands will be in force until Monday, June 21, at 6am.

Greece’s aviation directives are part of the Greek government’s efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19) in the country.

Travelers in need of information regarding specific details on the travel rules for passengers of international and domestic flights are recommended to contact their embassy, airline or the General Secretariat for Civil Protection.

 

Greece Extends Covid-19 Rules

 

Travel rules for international arrivals

The HCAA’s update for its Covid-19 aviation directives extends travel rules for passengers and restrictions for all international flights until Monday, June 21, at 6 am.

Who is allowed entry to Greece

People traveling for essential reasons and travelers from the following countries* are allowed to enter Greece – provided they have the required documentation – without the requirement for subsequent self-isolation: EU & Schengen Area countries, Australia, Northern Macedonia, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, United Kingdom, Israel, Canada, Belarus, Bahrain, New Zealand, South Korea, Qatar, China, Kuwait, Ukraine, Rwanda, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Thailand, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro.

* Regulations concerning countries on the admission list are subject to change by the Greek authorities, when renewed assessments are made based on epidemiological data from country of origin.

Entry requirements

Greece will allow entrance to travelers that have filled out the Passenger Locator Form (PLF) one day before travel. The PLF is mandatory and must be filled out by all travelers, regardless of their nationality.

Passengers from abroad must also have one of the following:

1. a vaccination certificate, stating that 14 days have passed since full vaccination for Covid-19. Vaccination certificates must be issued by a public authority and in one of the following languages: Greek, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish or Russian. The name on the vaccination certificate must match the name on the passport and also include, the type of vaccine administered, the number of doses and the dates they were administered.

2. a negative PCR or rapid antigen test (in Greek, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish or Russian) performed less than 72 hours. (The rule is in force for children over the age of 6.)

 

3. a recovery certificate (in Greek, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish or Russian) stating that one has recovered from the coronavirus in the past 9 months. This can be proven through a certificate of recovery issued by a public authority or a certified laboratory. (The rule is in force for children over the age of 6.)

4. a Digital COVID Certificate in digital or print form which will contain information on whether passengers have been vaccinated against Covid-19 or have a negative PCR/rapid test result or have recovered from the virus.

Important for travelers from Montenegro

Permanent residents from Montenegro are allowed to enter Greece with a COVID-19 vaccination certificate and a negative PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before travel.

Non-EU citizens are strongly advised to choose direct flights to Greece. In any other case, travelers should abide by the stop-over country requirements.

 

Rapid testing on arrival

Every traveler who arrives in Greece, regardless of the certificate in their possession, may undergo a random health screening (depending on the data provided on the PLF forms). If a passenger is selected for a rapid test and is positive for the coronavirus then he/she must quarantine for a total of:

– 7 days, if he/she has been vaccinated against Covid-19
– 10 days, if he/she has not been vaccinated.

In both cases, passengers will have to take a PCR test on the last day of their quarantine. If the test is negative the mandatory quarantine ends.

 

Rules for domestic air travel to the Greek islands

 

According to the HCAA’s updated aviation directive (NOTAM), people in Greece (residents and foreign visitors) are allowed to travel to the Greek islands by airplane only if they have one of the following:

– a vaccination certificate stating that 14 days have passed since full vaccination for Covid-19.
Greeks can issue their vaccination certificates here.
Foreigners are obliged to have a vaccination certificate in one of the following languages: Greek, English, French, German, Spanish, Italian or Russia. The vaccination certificate must be issued by a public authority, include the travelers’ name, the type of vaccine administered and the number of doses.

– a negative PCR test performed less than three days (72 hours) prior to the scheduled travel date. Foreigners must have a negative test in one of the following languages: Greek, English, French, German, Spanish, Italian or Russian. (The rule is in force for children over the age of 6.)
Negative PCR test results can be in print or electronic form.

– a negative rapid antigen test taken 24 hours prior to travel. Foreigners must have a negative test in one of the following languages: Greek, English, French, German, Spanish, Italian or Russian.  (The rule is in force for children over the age of 6.)
Negative rapid test results can be in print or electronic form.

– a negative self-test taken 24 hours prior to travel.
The self-test declaration form to certify a negative result is available in Greek and English here. Travelers must print it out and present it when requested at the airport. (The rule is in force for children over the age of 6.)

– a recovery certificate stating that one has recovered from the coronavirus in the past 9 months. This can be proven through a certificate of recovery issued by a public authority or a certified laboratory. (The rule is in force for children over the age of 6.)

According to the HCAA, tests (PCR and rapid) that have been carried out abroad and are valid at the time of boarding a domestic flight in Greece will be accepted under the same conditions under which they were accepted to allow entrance to Greece.

The staff of airline companies are responsible to check that passengers are carrying the required documentation during boarding.

The updated aviation directive concerning the rules to fly domestic to the Greek islands will be in force until Monday, June 21, at 6am.

Greece’s aviation directives are part of the Greek government’s efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19) in the country.

Travelers in need of information regarding specific details on the travel rules for passengers of international and domestic flights are recommended to contact their embassy, airline or the General Secretariat for Civil Protection.

 

Greece Extends Covid-19 Rules for International and Domestic Travelers

 

Travel rules for international arrivals

The HCAA’s update for its Covid-19 aviation directives extends travel rules for passengers and restrictions for all international flights until Monday, June 21, at 6 am.

Who is allowed entry to Greece

People traveling for essential reasons and travelers from the following countries* are allowed to enter Greece – provided they have the required documentation – without the requirement for subsequent self-isolation: EU & Schengen Area countries, Australia, Northern Macedonia, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, United Kingdom, Israel, Canada, Belarus, Bahrain, New Zealand, South Korea, Qatar, China, Kuwait, Ukraine, Rwanda, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Thailand, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro.

* Regulations concerning countries on the admission list are subject to change by the Greek authorities, when renewed assessments are made based on epidemiological data from country of origin.

Entry requirements

Greece will allow entrance to travelers that have filled out the Passenger Locator Form (PLF) one day before travel. The PLF is mandatory and must be filled out by all travelers, regardless of their nationality.

Passengers from abroad must also have one of the following:

1. a vaccination certificate, stating that 14 days have passed since full vaccination for Covid-19. Vaccination certificates must be issued by a public authority and in one of the following languages: Greek, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish or Russian. The name on the vaccination certificate must match the name on the passport and also include, the type of vaccine administered, the number of doses and the dates they were administered.

2. a negative PCR or rapid antigen test (in Greek, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish or Russian) performed less than 72 hours. (The rule is in force for children over the age of 6.)

 

3. a recovery certificate (in Greek, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish or Russian) stating that one has recovered from the coronavirus in the past 9 months. This can be proven through a certificate of recovery issued by a public authority or a certified laboratory. (The rule is in force for children over the age of 6.)

4. a Digital COVID Certificate in digital or print form which will contain information on whether passengers have been vaccinated against Covid-19 or have a negative PCR/rapid test result or have recovered from the virus.

Important for travelers from Montenegro

Permanent residents from Montenegro are allowed to enter Greece with a COVID-19 vaccination certificate and a negative PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before travel.

Non-EU citizens are strongly advised to choose direct flights to Greece. In any other case, travelers should abide by the stop-over country requirements.

 

Rapid testing on arrival

Every traveler who arrives in Greece, regardless of the certificate in their possession, may undergo a random health screening (depending on the data provided on the PLF forms). If a passenger is selected for a rapid test and is positive for the coronavirus then he/she must quarantine for a total of:

– 7 days, if he/she has been vaccinated against Covid-19
– 10 days, if he/she has not been vaccinated.

In both cases, passengers will have to take a PCR test on the last day of their quarantine. If the test is negative the mandatory quarantine ends.

 

Rules for domestic air travel to the Greek islands

 

According to the HCAA’s updated aviation directive (NOTAM), people in Greece (residents and foreign visitors) are allowed to travel to the Greek islands by airplane only if they have one of the following:

– a vaccination certificate stating that 14 days have passed since full vaccination for Covid-19.
Greeks can issue their vaccination certificates here.
Foreigners are obliged to have a vaccination certificate in one of the following languages: Greek, English, French, German, Spanish, Italian or Russia. The vaccination certificate must be issued by a public authority, include the travelers’ name, the type of vaccine administered and the number of doses.

– a negative PCR test performed less than three days (72 hours) prior to the scheduled travel date. Foreigners must have a negative test in one of the following languages: Greek, English, French, German, Spanish, Italian or Russian. (The rule is in force for children over the age of 6.)
Negative PCR test results can be in print or electronic form.

– a negative rapid antigen test taken 24 hours prior to travel. Foreigners must have a negative test in one of the following languages: Greek, English, French, German, Spanish, Italian or Russian.  (The rule is in force for children over the age of 6.)
Negative rapid test results can be in print or electronic form.

– a negative self-test taken 24 hours prior to travel.
The self-test declaration form to certify a negative result is available in Greek and English here. Travelers must print it out and present it when requested at the airport. (The rule is in force for children over the age of 6.)

– a recovery certificate stating that one has recovered from the coronavirus in the past 9 months. This can be proven through a certificate of recovery issued by a public authority or a certified laboratory. (The rule is in force for children over the age of 6.)

According to the HCAA, tests (PCR and rapid) that have been carried out abroad and are valid at the time of boarding a domestic flight in Greece will be accepted under the same conditions under which they were accepted to allow entrance to Greece.

The staff of airline companies are responsible to check that passengers are carrying the required documentation during boarding.

The updated aviation directive concerning the rules to fly domestic to the Greek islands will be in force until Monday, June 21, at 6am.

Greece’s aviation directives are part of the Greek government’s efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19) in the country.

Travelers in need of information regarding specific details on the travel rules for passengers of international and domestic flights are recommended to contact their embassy, airline or the General Secretariat for Civil Protection.

 

Healthline Names Greek Diet

Healthline Names Greek Diet “World’s Healthiest” and Presents the Top Greek Foods for a Healthier Lifestyle
For the 15th consecutive year, American medical advising media platform, Healthline, has placed the Greek cuisine at the top of its annual list of healthiest cuisines in the world once.

Healthline emphasised the benefits that Greek foods and ingredients can offer to people’s health, skin, hair and also, mentioned that the Greek diet is known to “bring longevity” and is the “most recommended diet among nutritionists”, as it is mostly plant-based.

“The Greek cuisine is a perfect manifestation of the Mediterranean diet, which actually originated on the island of Crete, where locals have a higher life expectancy and a lower risk of heart disease than the average person, due to the food they eat,” Healthline wrote.

What makes the Greek cuisine special is also the fact that in Greece, each piece of land has a different microclimate, so the agricultural products produced around the country differ from each other. Fat is featured in the way of olive oil and nuts rather than meat, while fruits and vegetables are ever present in most Greek dishes. Additionally, while some of the most popular Greek foods are laden with calories, such as moussaka, pastitsio or souvlaki, there are plenty of healthy options based on legumes, fish and salads.

Paediatric nutritionist, dietician and professor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, Keith Ayoob, was interviewed by Healthline and stated that “the Greek diet is an example of how eating healthy does not have to be boring, because people chow down on delicious eats without compromising their bodies.”

“That is because Greek local cuisines rely on natural and unprocessed ingredients, and time-tested preparation methods, and offer up most of the ingredients that make other Mediterranean region cuisines so healthy,” Dr. Ayoob explained.

According to Healthline Media, research over the last 40 years has shown that the traditional Greek diet is one of the healthiest on the planet. This may also explain the paradoxical phenomenon that despite some of the bad habits that characterise Greek people, such as low level of physical activity and a lot of smoking, Greek men have the longest life expectancy in Europe (at 75 years old), while women come 5^th in the whole Europe (at 80.3 years old).

The healthiest foods and ingredients that are included in the majority of Greek dishes include:

Olive Oil

The scientific evidence for the benefits of olive oil is not only limited to the prevention of coronary heart disease, hypertension, thrombosis, diabetes, loss of cognitive functions and obesity, but it is also known to contribute significantly to longevity, mainly due to its two main components: monounsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants.

Wine

The old Greek saying which claims that “a glass of wine a day is good for the health”, is actually truthful according to Healthline scientists, who believe that wine, and especially red wine, really helps fight back heart diseases – but always in small amounts. A glass of wine along with a Greek meal is an integral part of the Greek lifestyle, but it is also a very common cooking ingredient in Greek dishes.

Fibre

Foods that are rich in dietary fibres, such as fruits vegetables, legumes and cereals protect against coronary heart disease and various forms of cancer, while they are also a great source of Vitamin C. According to the standard of the Cretan diet, it is necessary to consume at least 30 grams of dietary fibre per day and 400 grams of fruits and vegetables.

Fish

Fish, and especially fatty fish like mackerel, sardines, salmon and tuna, are a staple food of the Greek diet and can be found in abundance across the country. In addition to their high-quality protein, fish provide Omega-3 fatty acids that are essential for the physical and psychomotor development and the prevention of chronic diseases. Small fish are also very good sources of calcium.

Horta

The antioxidant properties of horta (greens), such as nettle and pike, act as a preventative against the growth of cancer cells and against cardiovascular diseases, thanks to their high concentration of Carotene B. In fact, the Greek land produces more than 150 edible grasses that are regularly included in the Greek cuisine either as salads, side or main dishes.

Healthline Media reports that it is committed to providing every individual with clear, credible, evidence-based health and wellness information and that its content is always medically reviewed to verify its clinical accuracy.

Following the Greek cuisine, the rest of the healthiest cuisines in the world are:

2. Japanese
3. Mexican
4. Korean
5. Thai
6. Spanish
7. Italian
8. Indian
9. French
10. Lebanese

Thessaloniki Documentary Festival kicks off

The 23rd Thessaloniki Documentary Festival kicks off on Thursday (June 24) and will be held until July 4 at nine open-air cinemas in Thessaloniki, two pop-up screens at the city’s port, and also online.

This so-called ‘hybrid’ festival offers cinema goers a total of 92 films, while home viewers can access 142 films from the festival’s catalogue online. This year’s festival presents 151 documentaries from across the world, including 78 Greek productions of which 8 will enter an international competition, also to be held during the festival.

Opening the festival, and screened at the port, is a musical documentary titled “Tina” by Dan Lindsay and T. J. Martin, which explores the life and work of megastar singer Tina Turner.

The Thessaloniki Documentary Festival (TDF) is the first in Europe introducing a new section devoted to the presentation of podcasts, exploring relations of this contemporary audio genre with the art of cinema. A podcasts competition will be held too, including 23 Greek-language and English-language podcasts, an off-competition section with 13 Greek-language podcasts, and a special podcasting section with two podcasts from the US and Denmark. Special podcasts created during the festival will also be presented.

TDF is supported by the Ministry of Culture & Sports, the Central Macedonia Region and the municipality of Thessaloniki, among several other public and private entities.

How tourists can come to Greece – What is changing

There are two main changes in Greece’s health control for incoming tourists.

Specifically, regarding the new measures that come into force, the Ministry of Tourism stated:

1. Recognition of rapid tests: From now on, entry into Greece without further restrictive measures will be allowed to travelers from abroad with a negative rapid test (antigen test) result.
2. Raising the age limit for checks on children: Following recommendations from the European Union, checks for necessary certificates upon entry will now be performed on children aged 12 and over, instead of six years, as was before.

The specific amendments concern controls for people coming from countries for which tourist travel to and from Greece has been liberalized.

Also, the two changes for the rapid tests and the lower age limit for children simply modify the existing control regime, which is still in force and provides that every incoming tourist is entitled to free entry into Greece if they provide either a:

• vaccination certificate,
• or negative PCR test,
• or disease certificate,
• or a positive diagnosis in the past two to nine months.

It is also noted that travelers to Greece now have the opportunity to display the Digital Certificate COVID-19 of the European Union in digital or printed form.

The countries from which entry is allowed, under the aforementioned conditions, without the requirement for subsequent self-isolation are EU and Schengen Area countries, as well as the USA, UK, Israel, Serbia, UAE, New Zealand, Australia, South Korea, Thailand, Rwanda, Singapore, the Russian Federation, North Macedonia, Canada, Belarus, Bahrein, Qatar, China, Kuwait, Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro *, and Saudi Arabia.

Non EU citizens are strongly advised to choose direct flights to Greece. In any other case, travelers should abide by the stop-over country requirements.

All travellers must complete their PLF until the day before entering the country, providing detailed information on their point of departure, the duration of previous stays in other countries, and the address of their stay while in Greece. In case of multiple stays, they are required to provide the address for the first 24 hours at least. One PLF should be submitted per family.

 

Travelling to Greece read this

The tourism ministry on Friday announced two significant changes to the health protection protocols for tourists entering Greece.

Firstly, the government has decided to also permit entrance into the country to travellers with a negative rapid test. Secondly, the minimum age at which children are entering the country is required to submit documentation showing they are Covid-free has been raised from six to 12 years, by order of the new EU guidelines.

The above changes concern people arriving from countries for which non-essential travel to and from Greece is permitted.
Those travelling to Greece are also given the option of displaying an EU Digital Vaccination Certificate, in either digital or written form, instead of a negative test.

The changes are applied to existing rules, which required travellers to display certification of either a negative PCR test, vaccination, or of a Covid-19 diagnosis made in the last two to nine months.

Greece Travel Guide 2021:

Why Olive Oil is called

Olive oil is always ‘seated’ at the Greek family table.

Not to mention it also has the power to take a dish to the next level. It’s a Mediterranean-diet staple, and the best olive oil can make any recipe taste better.

It is also important to note that olive oil has been an important part of Greek culture since antiquity.

Israeli Company Leases Maritime Reconaissance Drones to Greece

An Israeli company, Israel Aerospace Industries, is now leasing maritime reconnaissance drones to Greece, which will have an option to buy them after their lease agreement is up.

The “Maritime Heron” drone aerial reconnaissance system will be leased to Greece for the duration of three years, but the nation will have the ability to purchase them after that time, according to a statement from the IAI that was released recently.

This is not the first sign that the military relationship between the two Mediterranean nations is growing ever stronger.

The first contracts regarding the establishment of drone bases on Malta and in Greece were signed in 2020, covering all the unmanned aircraft and their essential ground support at each site. Under that deal, Israel’s Defense Ministry also leased the Heron unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system for three years.

Daytime and nighttime reconnaissance possible

The Heron system, which is used by Israel’s military and in naval forces around the world, is equipped with both day and night activity platforms.

It will be used by Greece primarily for border defense, the Israeli ministry said in a statement at the time, adding that the security relationship between Israel and Greece is expanding.

“We hope to sign additional agreements with Greece as well as other European partners, assisting them in addressing security challenges – in times of the corona pandemic and beyond,” stated Yair Kulas, the head of Israel’s International Defense Cooperation Directorate.

FRONTEX, the European Union’s border security agency, has also been the beneficiary of Israeli drone technology.

The Maritime Heron unmanned aerial vehicles perform constant reconnaissance both day and night and can contain patrol radar systems and satellite communications. Their uses are multiple, with protection of maritime and land borders, search and rescue, and disaster management among them.

The drone contract is reported to be worth several tens of millions of euros; the joint Airbus/IAI/Frontex agreement calls for Frontec to pay for the operational flight hours for the vehicles.

The international program may be expanded to include other Mediterranean countries such as Spain and Portugal, according to appropriate needs as time goes on, as decided by Frontex.

FRONTEX selection of IAI’s Maritime Heron allows the organization to use many sensors operated on manned aircraft, such as Elta Systems’ ELM2022 maritime surveillance radar and Automated Identification System (AIS) devices, according to reports.

This includes tracking ships as they ply their their routes at sea, as well as High Definition Electro-Optical payloads for identification and recognition of vessels and other targets that are seen by radar and other equipment.

According to a statement from IAI, its unique “Long Runner” capability enabling Maritime Heron drones to land and take off from remote locations without preparation may be utilized to address new missions as needed by Frontex.

IAI drones have already been leased to such nations as Canada, Australia, Spain and Germany. At one time they were also the most prominent international unmanned surveillance systems in Afghanistan, supporting coalition forces with both the “Searcher” and Heron models of the aircraft.