Recently in Greece Category

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]

People generally don't need too many travel tips for the Greek island of Mykonos. Watching the sunset is often reason enough. Wherever you go on the island, you'll find something exciting, interesting, and fun, from the flawless beaches on the southern coast to some fantastic restaurants, bars, and clubs in and around the town of Hora. But even though it's impossible to have a bad time in Mykonos, it's worth looking out for the Archaeological Museum of Mykonos, because it helps put in perspective the beautiful yet ancient island you're walking on. It houses the archaeological finds from Mykonos and nearby Reneia, and features several centuries of fine art and sculpture. A large ceramic vase known as a pithon from the Seventh Century B.C., for example, has an elaborately carved relief depicting the fall of Troy on its surface. A collection of Rhenian gravestones, meanwhile, feature intricate stonework detailing the lives of the people they commemorate. A display of ceramic and glass dolls and rings shows that artists of the time had a whimsical side as well. The museum is located just minutes from the Santa Marina Resort & Villas, Mykonos, a member of Starwood's Luxury Collection.