Recently in Greece Category

Exploring a castle sounds like something straight out of a fantasy novel, but it is a historic reality and a fantastic option for travelers visiting Messinia in Greece. Castles (or beautiful, jagged fragments of former castles) are a part of the Messinian landscape just as the blue sea sets a backdrop of infinite life. On the southern tip of the west Greek Peloponnesian coast, the castle of Methoni is a pre-Byzantine relic that some believe is haunted. It is approached by a fantastic cobbled path along the water, a striking sight. Despite its tremendous age, greenery still grows between some of its cracks, a fantastic juxtaposition of youth and wisdom. North on the coast in Pylos, the castles known as Paleokaston and its younger and more manicured brother Niokastron provide sweeping views of the Bay of Navarino below.

Roam the ancient castles of Messinia, and then retire to something better, more modern, and even more majestic: Your mansion-style villa at The Westin Resort, Costa Navarino, where you'll certainly be treated like a king or queen. Your concierge will help tailor an outing or multiple adventures to suit your tastes, whether it's guided tours of several spots or self-directed hiking in one place. Have you explored any incredible castles along your travels? If so, please share them with us in the comments section below.

After years of planning and preparation, the new Acropolis Museum is finally open in Athens, providing a venue worthy of the priceless treasures it holds. The museum, which welcomed its first visitors on June 21, is a staggering glass-and-marble structure designed by Bernard Tschumi that at once blends into the surroundings and makes a statement of its own. Located just 400 meters from the Acropolis itself, visitors will find more than 4,000 pieces of art spread out of 226,000 square feet of gallery space on three levels. The museum houses some of the finest masterpieces in Greek history, from the archaic to the Roman Empire, in its cutting-edge galleries. The third floor Parthenon Gallery, for example, presents the Temple Sculptures - including the famous Chryselephantyne statue of Athena - against a backdrop of the Parthenon itself. The view at sunset must be spectacular. The museum has a view of on-going archaeological excavations as well, with its ground level "hovering" above digs where researchers are unearthing items that date back to 700 B.C. Who knows, you might just catch the history bug and join them in writing the story of this great civilization, piece by piece. Starwood has three hotels in Athens, including the luxurious Hotel Grande Bretagne, a member of the Luxury Collection.

The rich, volcanic soil of Santorini is excellent for agriculture, with Mediterranean staples like cherry tomatoes, fava beans, white eggplant, and capers growing in garden plots all over the island. But of all the local crops, none is as prized as the island's succulent grapes, which are turned into some of the region's finest white and red wines. Visitors to Santorini who are interested in seeing how Greek wine is made can drop by the Boutari Winery, which is located near the Minoan ruins of Akrotiri. This world-class wine destination offers daily tours that take visitors through every stage of the wine-making process, from growing and harvesting the grapes, to pressing the juice and aging it in barrels, to blending and bottling the finished product. Guides offer up trivia along the way, explaining, for example, that no true red wines are produced in Santorini, as some amount of white wine is always added for balance. Of course, no true winery visit would be complete without a tasting, and at Boutari they do it right. Visitors can sample four wines of their choice - the Kallisti comes highly recommended - while enjoying flavorful mezedes between the different varietals. It's a delicious way to learn some local history. Starwood has two Luxury Collection properties on Santorini: Mystique, Santorini and the Vedema Resort, Santorini.

[image via Boutari]

When it comes to fine art and history, visitors to Athens can easily become overwhelmed with options. From the Acropolis to the Agora, it can seem like there's an ancient wonder around every corner. Yet there is one place where people can get a foundation in Greek art without wearing out a pair of shoes racing from monument to monument. Located in central Athens, the Benaki Museum is the country's largest independent museum, with masterpieces from every era of Greek history. Founded by Anthony Benaki in 1930, the museum features everything from a 5th century statue of Hercules to a gallery of 20th century artist Nikos Hadjikyriakos-Ghika's oil paintings, water colors, tapestries, manuscripts, and costume designs. The neo-classical building is a work of art as well, representing a rare example of an architectural style prevalent before the war. It's an elegant setting for a collection that goes back to the dawn of democracy itself. Starwood has three Athens properties, including the Hotel Grande Bretagne, just minutes away.

[image via gogreece.com]