Five picturesque destinations near Athens for unforgettable Easter getaways.
Easter means many things to each of us, but for all of us it means village life, nature, and a return to our roots. These are the days that flow a little slower and invite every kind of reflection, the time you choose to spend with your people.
From my childhood years to today, I have spent these days in other places too, but I wouldn’t trade Easter in the village for anything. It’s the best opportunity to return and reconnect with nature, to taste customary dishes and record traditional recipes, and to observe the different customs and traditions of each place, which in urban centers usually fade. Below, you’ll find five picturesque destinations that make these days utterly unforgettable.
Koroni
The quaint seaside town of Messinia is ideal to visit year-round, but at Easter it becomes an especially popular choice, offering authentic traditional customs. Just a few hours from Athens (three and a half hours from Athens and less than an hour from Kalamata), amphitheatrically built Koroni, with its cobbled lanes, whitewashed paths, and well-preserved mansions, becomes for a few days the perfectly atmospheric setting for Easter.
During Holy Week, Koroni’s traditional homes are whitewashed, the pots in courtyards and along the cobbles brim with spring flowers, while the aromas of baking and Easter treats like koulouria and tsoureki waft through its narrow lanes. On Good Friday, the devout Epitaphios procession through Koroni’s picturesque cobbled lanes is a unique experience, with the faithful following, lit candles or lanterns in hand, and the chants carrying along the streets.
The custom of the “Varkarola” on Easter Sunday, the so-called «Varkarola the night of wishes» on Koroni’s waterfront, draws crowds every year. From 20:00 in the evening, boats and caiques begin taking visitors for rides and then, as they glide along, release lanterns and fireworks, lighting up the night sky. Those on the waterfront and in the boats light up the night sky with their lanterns, making wishes. A one-of-a-kind experience worth experiencing.
Leonidio
«Carnival in Patras and Easter only in Leonidio», wrote Dimitris Psathas once. Indeed, Easter is so intertwined with this mountain village of Arcadia, where for more than half a century distinctive customs, traditions, and Easter rituals have been revived. The best known of all is the spectacular custom of the paper hot-air balloons. With the first «Christ is Risen» heard, exactly at 12:00 midnight, the bells peal joyfully and thousands of balloons are released, lighting up the night sky.
Good Friday naturally holds a special place in Leonidio, with the Epitaphios processions taking place at the monasteries of Elona and Sintza, while at 22:00 all of Leonidio’s Epitaphios processions meet in Heroes’ Square. In the same square, on Easter Sunday, the customary Feast of Love takes place. It’s a tradition that includes the reading of the Gospel in the Tsakonian dialect, traditional dances with Tzoumbeloudes and Foustanellades, the offering of traditional sweets (usually diples), and culminates with the launch of dozens of balloons and fireworks.
Aegina
One of the most popular islands for Athenians thanks to its proximity to the capital, picturesque Aegina remains a favorite destination for the Easter holidays too. The first capital of modern Greece, the home of the pistachio, and one of the closest Argosaronic islands to Athens, it is, for many, even more beautiful in spring. The weather is ideal for endless promenades and the hinterland fills with blossoms and wildflowers.
During Holy Week, devout services with a springtime air are held in the island’s churches. On Good Friday evening, the Epitaphios processions take place in the town of Aegina. The town’s three Epitaphios processions—from the Metropolitan Church, Panagitsa, and Agios Nikolaos—meet on the seafront avenue, with people following, candles in hand. On Holy Saturday, the Resurrection is special wherever you are on the island. Churches hold the Resurrection service, from the monasteries of Agios Nektarios, Agia Aikaterini, Agios Christoforos, and Panagia Chrysoleontissa to the churches in town. After the Resurrection and the «Christ is Risen», people flock to homes or tavernas for the customary magiritsa.
One of the most famous and oldest customs on Aegina is the renowned Burning of Judas, which is revived after the traditional Easter Sunday meal and the custom of spit-roasting lamb or goat. From the afternoon of Easter Sunday at the picturesque little harbor of Perdika. Naturally, the custom is found and revived with many variations in various parts of Greece and symbolizes the punishment of the greedy betrayer.
Nafpaktos
The charming seaside town of Nafpaktos couldn’t be missing from the best Easter destinations. The “flaming” harbor, the old town with its cobbled lanes, and the Venetian castle create a truly impressive setting to spend the Easter holidays.
Good Friday in Nafpaktos is famous for its spectacular custom. In the beautiful little harbor of Nafpaktos, hundreds of candles and lit torches welcome the Epitaphios processions, while a blazing cross illuminates the harbor entrance. Immediately after, the night sky bursts with spectacular fireworks. This custom has been maintained since the 1950s, when fishermen “adorned” the embrasures with lit torches, wishing to salute in their own way the meeting of the Epitaphios processions from the town’s two churches (Agios Dimitrios and Agia Paraskevi) in the harbor.
Ermioni
In about two hours from Athens you can find yourself in a town «island» on the mainland that will transport you to a completely different setting. We’re talking about Ermioni, the picturesque seaside town in southeastern Argolida, with its scenic harbor, traditional houses, and cobbled alleys. Ermioni is known as an Easter destination, combining a deeply devout atmosphere with distinctive local customs and traditions. The Burning of Judas is among the area’s most famous rituals.
The effigy of Judas is made with fabrics, straw, wood, flammable materials, and firecrackers, while its form often alludes to figures in the news. The effigy is placed on a specially constructed platform set out at sea. Boats and craft with flares lit move in circles around the platform with the effigy, and the head of the mission undertakes to set it ablaze, while hundreds of spectacular fireworks light up the sky.
Source: Reader.gr
