THESSALONIKI, GREECE
Hotel:
Coordinator:
in Nympheon:
Hotel La Moara
www.lamoara.gr
in Thessaloniki
Hotel Electra Palace
9, Aristotelous Square
Tel.: +30 2310294000
www.electra-hotels.gr
Elizabeth Phocas,
Deputy Director,
The Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP)
www.eliamep.gr/en
Tel: +306948043490
Monday, October 12
ARRIVAL IN THESSALONIKI AND TRANSFER TO THE VILLAGE OF NYMPHEON BY MINI BUS
Please look for a sign saying ELIAMEP on it upon your arrival at the Thessaloniki airport. Elizabeth
Phocas will travel with you to Numpheon.
Hotel check in
Nymphaio is the most beautiful village in northern Greece. But even if you’ve seen photos, nothing prepares you for
the surprise of actually being there. For one thing, its founders hid it so skillfully from prying eyes that there are no
tantalizing glimpses from afar. Instead you ascend a seemingly interminable corkscrew of a road, practically straight
up from the valley between Mts. Vermio and Verno, with the smokestacks of Ptolemaida belching in the distance and
not a trace of habitation in sight. Nymphaio is all the more remarkable because only twenty years ago two-thirds of its
houses lay in ruins; only sixty inhabitants, mostly elderly, eked out a living there. But Nymphaio is not just a
wonderfully executed reconstruction of a fascinating area; it is also actively fighting for two vanishing species. The
Arcturos refuge for bears and wolves.
7.00 PM
PROGRAM BRIEFING
LOCATION : Hotel bar
8.00 PM
DINNER WITH GREEK MMF AND THE MAYOR OF NYMPHAIO AT NEVESKA RESTAURANT FOR A BRIEF
INTRODUCTION TO THE HISTORY OF THE VILLAGE AND THE REGION
Tuesday, October 13
10.00 AM
VISIT TO ARCTUROS NGO
ARCTUROS was founded in September 1992. It is a non-profit civil society organisation based in Thessaloniki, aiming at the Protection and
Management of the Natural Environment and Wildlife. ARCTUROS' early activities focused on the Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) because this
species gives the opportunity for a global management of the mountain forest ecosystems in Greece, especially in Northern Greece. ARCTUROS'
main aim is to promote co-operation between governmental and non-governmental organisations in Greece and the Balkans and to exploit every
possibility in order to handle successfully matters of Conservation of the Natural Environment and wildlife. ARCTUROS established and
organised the Bear Sanctuary in an effort to definitely solve the problem of the dancing bears and of the captive bears that live in appalling
conditions. The Bear’s sanctuary is operating at Nymfaion area, Prefecture of Florina, since January 1993. ARCTUROS has currently 5.000
supporters.
12.00 PM
DEPARTURE FROM NYMPAIO
2.00 – 3.00 PM
Lk
VISIT TO THE VERGINA ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE
The city of Aigai, the ancient first capital of the Kingdom of Macedonia, was discovered in the 19th century near
Vergina, in northern Greece. The first excavations on the site were carried out in the 19th century by the French
archaeologist L. Heuzey and were resumed in the 1930's, after the liberation of Macedonia, by K. Rhomaios. After the
Second World War, in the 1950's and 1960's, the excavations were directed by M. Andronicos, who investigated the
cemetery of the tumuli. At the same time, the Palace was excavated by the University of Thessalonike and part of the
necropolis by the Archaeological Service of the Ministry of Culture. In 1977, M. Andronicos brought to light the
royal tombs in the Great Tumulus of Vergina (Megale Toumba). The most remarkable of these was the tomb of Philip
II (359-336 B.C.) and its discovery is considered to be one of the most important archaeological events of the century.
Since then, continuing excavations have revealed a series of significant monuments.
Immediately after the discovery of the royal tombs, in 1977, restoration work was begun for the exquisite wall
paintings they included. A conservation laboratory was organized on the site in order to preserve and restore the
priceless objects included in the tombs, such as couches made of ivory, gold and bone, metal vases etc. In 1993 was
completed the subterranean structure that protects the tombs by retaining the stability of the temperature and
humidity, which is necessary for the preservation of the wall paintings. As seen from outside, this building looks
exactly like an ancient earthen tumulus. The most important remains are the monumental palace, lavishly decorated
with mosaics and painted stuccoes, and the burial ground with more than 300 tumuli, some of which date from the
11th century B.C. One of the royal tombs in the Great Tumulus is identified as that of Philip II, who conquered all
the Greek cities, paving the way for his son Alexander and the expansion of the Hellenistic world.
4.30 PM
WINEGROWER’S TRADITIONAL LUNCH AT “KTIMA KYR –YANNI” HOSTED BY THE
OWNER MR. YIANNIS BOUTARIS
(Giannakochori – Tel.: +30 23320 51100)
Ktima Kyr-Yianni literally means "Master Yianni's Farm" in Greek. Purchased and developed by the Boutari family
in the 1960's, these fifty hectares of vineyards used to be part of a large farm, that was left unmanaged since World
War I. At the time the decision to invest in viticulture was a major shift in the production philosophy of Boutari.
Being traditionally a house of negociants the company thus introduced the concept of the single vineyard approach to
premium winemaking in Greece. For almost two decades thereafter the core blend of the classic Boutari Grande
Reserve used to be derived primarily from this vineyard. In fact, the establishment of the estate, whose acreage is
exceptionally large for Greek standards, brought about dramatic changes not only within the Boutari company, but
also among the people of the entire area of Naoussa. Seven hundred more hectares of vineyards were soon planted by
other growers with the scientific, moral and financial support of both government agencies and the Boutari company.
As a result, the reputation of the once famous wine country of Naoussa was revived and its status as a prominent
European region of V.Q.P.R.D. wines was subsequently acclaimed by the mid 1970's. Under the leadership of
Yiannis Boutaris the spirit of innovation and ceaseless experimentation persisted as the priority of the vineyard
management throughout the 1980's. Several different Greek and international varieties were planted in addition to
the indigenous Xinomavro (or "Naoussa Noir), which is still the most widely planted variety in Naoussa. The French
varietals Merlot and Syrah were selected among many others both for their successful physiological adaptation, as
well as for their contribution to the typical wine character of Xinomavro. The series of trials conducted by viticulture
and enology specialists over the last thirty years have ultimately led to optimal cultural practices and superior wine
quality. Integrated Pest Management and sustainable farming are strictly observed and have proven to be
exceptionally cost effective and environmentally sound. During the mid 1990's Boutari Group greatly expanded to
become a market leader in the Greek drink industry, while the estate itself was coming of are. The construction of a
winery on site was thus necessitated mark for high quality. Production and sales today are both independent from
Boutari Group and the wines are marketed under the brand name of "Ktima Kyr-Yianni". From berry to bottle
through fermentation and oak aging the estate wines are thus solely made on the premises. There are presently four
labels for respective products in the estate line of wines: Ramnista, Yianakohori, Syrah, Merlot. Finally, Ktima KyrYianni is an active member of ENOAΒΕ (Wine Producers Association of Northern Greece Vineyard) and has been
intricately linked to the network of wineries, hotels, restaurants, museums and various sights that make up the
"Wine Routes of Northern Greece", a programme of regional ecotourism funded by the European Union.
7.30 PM
ARRIVAL IN THESSALONIKI CITY CENTER
CHECK-IN AT THE ELECTRA PALACE HOTEL
EVENING FREE
Wednesday, October 14
9.30-11.30 AM
PANEL DISCUSSION ON “THESSALONIKI AT THE CROSSROADS OF THE BALKANS AND THE BLACK SEA
REGION”
CHAIR:
SPEAKERS:
Mr. Nikos Efthymiadis, Honorary Chairman, Business Advisory Council for SEE of the Stability Pact, Thessaloniki
TBA
12.00 – 2.00 PM
GUIDED WALKING TOUR OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES OF THESSALONIKI
The walking tour will start from the White Tower, the symbol of the city, where the Fellows will have the chance to
visit the new exhibition inside the Tower and will continue through the roman ruins of the city, from the Palace of
Galerius at Navarino Square to the Galerian Arch, ending at the Byzantine church of Rotonda.
2.00 – 3.30 PM
INFORMAL LUNCH WITH A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE US CONSULATE, THESSALONIKI
5.00 – 6.00 PM
PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS (TBA)
Thursday, October 15
9.30-11.30 AM
VISIT TO THE “ITHAKI” THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY
(SINDOS, THESSALONIKI – TEL..: +30 2310 798139)
Ithaki was set up in 1983 to be the first therapeutic community for substance users in Greece. Its successful operation
paved the way for the therapy and social reintegration of addicted persons in Greece. ITHAKI includes live-in
facilities with a capacity of 70 persons and is intended for adult users of psychoactive substances and their families in
northern Greece and it is based in Thessaloniki. Since the year 2000 ITHAKI has opened its doors to addicted
pregnant women and mothers allowing them to enter the therapeutic community. Accommodation is provided along
with child care at the nursery school where children are involved in creative activities and mothers are trained in
taking care of them. Through the Centre for Prisoners' and Released Prisoners, ITHAKI has implemented
programmes for the support of addicted prisoners in the civil prison in Diavata and Pavlos Melas military prison.
Those who complete the
program and are released from prison are assisted in their social reintegration. ITHAKI
also runs an Alternative Transitional School where the members of the program can conclude their secondary
education and obtain equivalent degrees. There is also a Specialised Vocational Training Centre operating within
ITHAKI, which is intended for members and graduates of therapeutic program. All three production units (farm,
ceramics and carpentry workshops) provide vocational training, along with covering special needs in such products
and selling these products in the free the market (self-financing).
12.00 – 1.00 PM
VISIT TO THE JEWISH MUSEUM OF THESSALONIKI GUIDED BY MS. ERIKA PERAHIA, HEAD OF THE MUSEUM
(13, AGIOU MINA STR. – TEL.: +30 2310 250406-7)
For more than twenty centuries, Thessaloniki was the shelter for the persecuted Jews of Europe. Uprooted
throughout their long history from other historical centers of the Diaspora, they were transplanted in this city,
creating a large and vibrant Jewish Community, indisputably one of the most important ones in the world, especially
during the period 1492-1943. Precise indications about the chronology of the first settlement of Jews in Thessaloniki
are lacking. They may have first arrived from Alexandria, Egypt, around 140 BC. However, we do not possess any
hard evidence that would have allowed us to nail down with certainty this event, that remains to this day, an
unsolved historical question. The ancient Jewish Community of Thessaloniki constituted a typical example of a Judaic
community in a Mediterranean urban center of the Hellenistic and Roman eras. Its members were called
Romaniotes. They adopted the Greek language, while retaining several elements of Hebrew and Aramaic, as well as
the Hebrew script. It is well known that of the 50,000 Jews of pre-war Thessaloniki less than 2,000 were saved. Soon
after the liberation of the city from the Nazis (October 1944), the Jews that had joined the Resistance Forces turned
up. They gathered at the Synagogue of the Monasteriotes, the only one that had been saved from destruction, and
elected a Governing committee. This Committee managed to take back the Community's property and organized some
sort of Community life with the help of organizations such as American Joint Distribution Committee and HIAS.
After May 1945 some of those who survived the death camps gradually returned in Thessaloniki..
AFTERNOON FREE
7.00 PM
THESSALONIKI - A GUIDED TOUR AT THE CULTURE OF COFFEE
From the coffee places and bars by the sea, to the more traditional cafes at the city center, accompanied by modern,
funky, jazz or traditional sounds, Thessaloniki is a city that never rests and its people always have time to enjoy the
famous “frappe” coffee either for business or pleasure.
9.00 PM
FAREWELL DINNER
Friday, October 16
DEPARTURE
USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
ELIZABETH PHOCAS: +30 6948043490
VANESSA STACHTOU: + 30 6946878323
US CONSULATE IN THESSALONIKI: +30 2310 242905, 212030