Tag Archives: Mediterranean Sea

Travel & Hotel Books: ‘Great Escapes Greece’

Greece is the land of gods and scholars as well as the birthplace of democracy and Western philosophy. Completely surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea, it is also one of the most popular vacation destinations—and has much more to offer than just the blue and white islands of the Cyclades.

A voyage to the most beautiful hotels in Greece

Greece’s ancient art and culture form the cradle of Western civilization—numerous monuments and museums tell to this day of the country’s rich history. Greece is unique also by virtue of its breathtaking landscapes, the hospitality of its inhabitants, and its fabulous hotels, making it the dream destination of many travelers. The fresh and healthy cuisine, the crystal clear sea, and the canvas-worthy sunsets do the rest—a trip to Greece is pure delight.

Angelika Taschen travels from the mountains of Macedonia in the north to the Peloponnese with its mythical places like Corinth, Sparta, and Olympia, and to the larger and smaller groups of islands in the south. She opens the doors to some of the country’s most extraordinary hotels, including Imaret in Kavala, located in a former Ottoman complex; Tainaron Blue Retreat in a secluded former defense tower in the Mani; and The Windmill, a converted windmill on the island of Kimolos in the Cyclades. She invites readers to discover legendary luxury hotels, like Eagles Palace in Halkidiki or Poseidonion Grand Hotel on Spetses, and takes them to enchanting B&Bs like Guesthouse Mazaraki in Mystras or Mèlisses on Andros, run by food blogger Allegra Pomilio.

Along her itinerary, she visits hotels on well-known picturesque islands—such as the Mystique on Santorini and the Soho Roc House on Mykonos—but also accommodations in remote places like the Mediterraneo on the island of Kastelorizo, which lies in the very southeast of Greece off the Turkish coast. In addition she shows interesting architectural and design concepts, such as The Rou Estate hotel village, a historic, carefully restored hamlet on Corfu; the minimalist Olea All Suite Hotel on Zakynthos; and Ammos on Crete, where no two pieces of furniture are alike and new eccentric pieces are added every year.

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Walking Tours: ‘Amorgos Island In Greece’ (Video)

Located near Naxos and Ios, on the southern side of the Cyclades archipelago, Amorgos is one of the most beautiful Greek islands. So, it’s not a surprise that it was the setting location of the famous 1988 movie “The big blue”, starring Jean Reno!

Video Timeline: 00:00​ Introduction 00:45​ Lagada 01:23​ Greek Orthodox Church 02:00​ Edge of the Village of Tholaria 02:33​ Olive Press 04:17​ The Virgin Mary of the Upper Side of The Village 05:03​ The Holy Trinity 05:44​ Essential Oil Distillery 07:34​ Bay of Aegiali

Aerial Views: ‘Sicily – Italy’

Places visited: Valley of the Temples with the Temple of Juno and the Temple of Concordia, the Cathedral of St. Agatha, the Cefalù Cathedral, the Capo Cefalù Lighthouse, the Port of Cefalù, the Etna Volcano and the beautiful old town.

Sicily, the largest Mediterranean island, is just off the “toe” of Italy’s “boot.” Its rich history is reflected in sites like the Valley of the Temples, the well-preserved ruins of 7 monumental, Doric-style Greek temples, and in the Byzantine mosaics at the Cappella Palatina, a former royal chapel in capital city Palermo. On Sicily’s eastern edge is Mount Etna, one of Europe’s highest active volcanoes.

Coastal Walks: ‘Banyuls-sur-Mer’, France (Video)

Nestling At the heart of the Vermillion Coast, at the foot of the famous terraced vineyard, the delightful seaside town of Banyuls-sur-Mer, home town of the sculptor Aristide Maillol, offers its visitors and holidaymakers a marvellous range of things to explore. With its seafront esplanade, dotted with palm trees, the sandy and pebbly beaches, the marina, thalassotherapy institute, wine cellars, and also the aquarium of the Arago Laboratory, which displays Mediterranean fauna, the underwater path of the marine nature reserve of Cerbère-Banyuls, and the Mediterranean garden of Mas de la Serre, Banyuls-sur-Mer really provides a wide range of attractions!

Aerial Views: Greece – Islands & Coastlines (4K)

Greece is a country in southeastern Europe with thousands of islands throughout the Aegean and Ionian seas. Influential in ancient times, it’s often called the cradle of Western civilization. Athens, its capital, retains landmarks including the 5th-century B.C. Acropolis citadel with the Parthenon temple. Greece is also known for its beaches, from the black sands of Santorini to the party resorts of Mykonos.

Poetic Travel: ‘Santorini – Cyclades Islands’ (Video)

Film & Edit: Carsan Choong

Santorini is one of the Cyclades islands in the Aegean Sea. It was devastated by a volcanic eruption in the 16th century BC, forever shaping its rugged landscape. The whitewashed, cubiform houses of its 2 principal towns, Fira and Oia, cling to cliffs above an underwater caldera (crater). They overlook the sea, small islands to the west and beaches made up of black, red and white lava pebbles.

Walks: ‘Ölüdeniz – Resort Village In Turkey’ (Video)

Ölüdeniz is a resort village on the southwest coast of Turkey. It’s known for the blue lagoon of Ölüdeniz Tabiat Parkı and the wide, white Belcekız Beach. Overlooking the village is Babadağ mountain from where paragliders take to the skies. The Lycian Way is a long-distance marked footpath starting in Ölüdeniz, and has coastal views. To the south, Butterfly Valley is a nature reserve with a secluded bay. 

Island Home Tours: ‘Villa Violetta’, Porto Rotondo On Sardinia, Italy

The property sits on a peninsula with direct access to the beach in Porto Rotondo. The villa is gated and located in Punta Volpe, one of the most exclusive spots of Porto Rotondo always highly patrolled due to the importance of its residents. It has generous spaces both inside and outside, perfect for families.


Its five comfortable rooms are distributed around the house, providing lots of privacy for the guests. The house has a beautifully kept garden, a terrace on the rocks with 270° view on the Mediterranean and a private access to white sandy beach. A new swimming pool and a guest house have been recently added.

Walks: ‘Ortigia Island, Syracuse In Sicily’ (Video)

Ortygia is a small island which is the historical centre of the city of Syracuse, Sicily. The island, also known as the Città Vecchia, contains many historical landmarks. The name originates from the ancient Greek ortyx, which means “Quail”.

Video timeline: 0:00​ Drone intro and Map 1:59​ Walk begins at Ponte Umbertino 3:41​ Archimedes Statue 6:59​ Temple of Apollo 8:26​ Outdoor Market 15:42​ Temple of Apollo 18:24​ Via Cavour 22:58​ Piazza Duomo 23:43​ Cathedral of Syracuse 31:24​ Piazza Minerva 33:21​ Via Roma 34:56​ Piazza Archimede 36:53​ Fish House Art Gallery 41:06​ Porta Marina 42:07​ Foro Vittorio Emanuele II 48:43​ Giardino Aretusa 50:54​ Lungomare and Arethusa Spring 57:30​ Ortigia Promenade 1:07:35​ Forte Vigliena 1:15:40​ Jewish Quarter 1:20:24​ Piazza Minerva 1:24:58​ Largo Aretusa 1:26:59​ Lungomare and Arethusa Spring

Walks: ‘Lloret De Mar Beach’, Costa Brava, Spain

Walking from the viewpoint of Dona Marinera along the Platja de Lloret de Mar Beach and boulevard.

Lloret de Mar is a Mediterranean coastal town in CataloniaSpain. It is 40 kilometres (25 miles) south of Girona and 75 kilometres (47 miles) northeast of Barcelona. With a population of 39,364 in 2009, it is the second largest town in the Selva comarca of Catalonia.