Alonissos: A Home for Rare Species

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)   Many of Greece’s islands continue to provide shelter for some of the most precious species of the Mediterranean fauna and flora. At the Sporades complex of islands, off central Greece’s coast, lies Alonissos, an island, famous for the refuge it provides for the Mediterranean monk seal (monachus monachus).  Until recently, the island suffered a steady decline of population due to migration; however, the situation now is reversed thanks to the people’s willingness to preserve both the island’s popular tradition and wildlife.   The National Marine Park of Alonissos had a lot to do with the island’s revival. Being the first designated Marine Park in the country, it has now become the largest marine protected area in Europe. The park is open to visitors who wish to explore the island’s lush nature and approach areas –were permitted- for swimming, snorkelling and observation of the sea bed and wildlife, amateur photography and filming. 

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“The Observer”: Hidden Greece

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)   In the last few decades Greece has assumed its rightful place among the top tourist destinations in the world. Mass tourism has flourished and places like Crete, Rhodes, Corfu, Zante have become synonyms of “two weeks of fun in the sun,” attracting thousands of tourists every summer. Yet there are still places not frequently visited or barely known to the majority of prospective tourists.  British newspaper “The Observer” has assembled a panel of experts and persuaded them to reveal their personal favourites in a long article titled “Greece: the inside track,” where readers may find out about little-known islands – such as Kythnos, Milos, Kastellorizo (Megisti), Ikaria and Antipaxoi – as well as special places to stay such as the fishermen’s boat houses on Alonissos, where to stay, and what to visit.