Friday, April 7 – Thursday, April 13, 2017
Day 1 (Friday): Welcome to Athens
Individual arrival in Athens and the Fresh Hotel (or any other hotel of your choice).
*Early evening welcome drinks and briefing of the tour on the roof terrace of the Fresh Hotel. Joint dinner in the old city of Athens, just below the Acropolis of Athens (Plaka, 15 minutes walk). The Athenian artist Manolis Anastasakos will join us and talk about his projects.
Day 2 (Saturday): documenta 14 (Part 1)
After breakfast we take the Metro to one of the main venues of the documenta 14. The national museum for contemporary art (EMST) is located at the edge of the old city and used to be the brewing house of the beer FIX. Lunch after the documenta 14 in the nearby trendy area Koukaki and then walk to the hotel through the Plaka via the picturesque Apostolou Pavlou Street (or by Metro).
*Evening cocktails in the hip Romantso Bar (where regularly art shows are presented) and then dinner in the nearby area.
Day 3 (Sunday): Benaki Pireos Museum | Art Project Piraeus
Pick-up at the hotel by the tour bus and transfer to the Benaki Pireos Museum in the morning. The Benaki is one of the most acknowledged art and cultural institutions in Greece and is housed in several buildings – the new Pireos building stands for the development of the whole Gazi area. We follow the old Ermou Street, pass by the Keramikos excavations and arrive at the Thission. The archaeologist O.S. accompanies us on this stroll and explains us why these ancient remains constitute such an importance for the Athenians. The rest of the afternoon is free.
*In the early evening transfer by bus to Piraeus where we visit the local art project of the Berliner Weissensee Kunsthochschule and the Kunstakademie Athens directed by Prof. Hannes Brunner and Andreas Schlaegel. Dinner in Piraeus with the project managers.
Day 4 (Monday): Acropolis Museum | Plaka
After a short walk to Omonia Square we take the Metro to the Acropolis Museum. A few years ago Swiss architect Bernard Tschumi constructed this spectacular building which now houses the Acropolis artifacts. Guided tour through the exhibition by a licensed guide. After the museum we have a walk through the Plaka and have lunch in the Psirri area with a prominent street artist. Cacao Rocks will guide us afterwards through the quarter and will show why Athens is the new Berlin. Studio visit included.
*Free Evening
Day 5 (Tuesday): documenta 14 (Part 2)
By Metro to the documenta venue Parko Eleftherias (according to the time required we may visit another documenta venue). Lunch in the nearby Kolonaki area.
*Evening starts with a visit of the well-known foundation TAF Metamatic + FLUX LAB (including an introduction by the curator). Then drinks at the trendy TAF-Bar. Dinner in the Psirri area (by foot) with the curator of the TAF.
Day 6 (Wednesday): Benaki | Cycladic | Niarchos
Our tour starts with a bus transfer to the Kolonaki area where we visit the Benaki Museum (main building) and then the Cycladic Museum which presents the anniversary exhibition of the well known DESTE Foundation. Lunch together in a classic restaurant of Kolonaki (proper lunch is recommended since dinner will be a late-night-drink/snack only due to the ballet evening). Optional trip to the nearby top of Lycabettus hill (by cable car) where we enjoy a stunning view over the whole city. On foot down to the city center (passing by the neo-classical buildings of the Academy/University/Library) and back to the hotel.
*Early evening transfer by bus to the brand new Opera of Athens (donated by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation and built by Renzo Piano): 90 minute guided tour through the complex including the new opera, new National Library, exhibition spaces and park area). Transfer to the Greek National Opera, Olympia Building where we will see the contemporary dance piece ‘Topia’ by Antonis Foniadakis. The newly appointed ballet director Foniadakis returned to Greece after working for various companies (Maurice Béjart, Lyon Opera, Martha Graham). The evening ends with late night drinks nearby the hotel – if the weather permits on one of the many rooftop bars with Acropolis view.
Day 7 (Thursday): Athens | Departure | Extension
Farewell and individual tour of the city before departure.
In case you want to celebrate Easter in Greece (this year the Greek and the Catholic Easter is at the same time) you may continue your journey to the island of Syros. Swiss artist Judit Villiger has a base there and will show us the island (separate tour program).