Curriculum vitae
Welcome,
My name is Eva VRONTINAKI, I was born and raised in Athens where
I live and work as an official tour guide.
Since my childhood, I love discovering hidden stories behind
places, monuments and artifacts which come from different
historical periods. As a consequence, my special interest for any
part of Greek culture - through history, mythology, archeology,
literature, art, nature and customs - led me to study History and
Archaeology at the University of Athens (Kapodistrian University of
Athens) and History of Art (Master's degree) at the University of
Lille in France (Charles-de-Gaule Lille III University). During my
studies I had also participated in different archaeological
programs in Greece - excavation programs: The Neolithic Cave of
Poros (Drakaina Cave) on Kefalonia island, the Diogenes' Gymnasium
at Plaka in Athens, the Hellenistic Fortress on Antikythera island
etc. and recording programs on the collections of Hellenistic and
Roman ceramics from the Archaeological Museum of the University of
Athens.
At present, I am a licensed tour guide authorized by the Greek
State to conduct guided tours in English, French and Greek.This
means that I communicate my knowledge and personal experience to
visitors helping them to discover the different colors of Greek
culture from past to present. Parallel to this, having a genuine
passion for my job I am working constantly to have a continuing
education on different aspects of Greek culture studying and
attending conferences (especially regarding the progress of
archaeological researches in Greece).
As a professional, I offer guided tours throughout Greece for
individuals, groups and families.
What kinds of tours are offered?
- Cultural visits in archaeological sites, monuments, museums and
art galleries (permanent or current exhibitions)
- Walking tours in cities (*especially in Athens)
- Excursions in Greece (one day trip or trips including overnight
stays - mainland and Islands)
- Thematic tours (Religious tours: The Steps of Apostle Paul in
Greece, Pilgrimage in Orthodox Monasteries, Cultural tours:
Classical Athens, Byzantine Athens, Discovering the ancient Attica
from the cape Sounion to Eleusis, Panhellenic sanctuaries and
games, Byzantine Peloponnese etc.)
In any case, by sending me an email presenting your preferences,
we can customize together your tour according to your special
interests.
If you wish to have a different and unforgettable experience in
the magic world of Greek culture with your personal tour guide, I
will be at your disposal!
Recommended visits
Acropolis
Archaeological site of the Acropolis and
the New Acropolis Museum: The most famous and
emblematic site of Classical Greek culture!
http://www.theacropolismuseum.gr/en
(For the site there are two types of visits: a simple visit with
your tour guide and a 3D visit with your guide and an iPad* with an
application of 3D reconstruction of Acropolis that helps you
restore the ancient form of Acropolis monuments)
More details for iPad see here: http://moptil.com/
Ancient Athens
Ancient Athens: Kerameikos (ancient cemetery),
Classical and Roman Agora, Temple of Olympian Zeus and Hadrian's
Arch (walking tour and archaeological visits)
Walking Tour in the historical center of Athens
Walking Tour in the historical center of Athens
: Old town-Plaka district, Panepistimio Street, Syntagma Square -
Hellenic Parliament, National Garden and Panathenaic Stadium
Museums of Athens
Museums of Athens:
- National Archaeological Museum of Athens: The
most important museum of ancient Greek art from the Neolithic era
to late Roman period, a real treasury of ancient art or otherwise
the Ark of ancient Greek art! http://www.namuseum.gr/index-en.html
- Museum of Byzantine Art: The Byzantine world
from the 6th century AD up until the fall of Constantinople in 1453
through mosaics, religious sculpture, icons, frescoes and precious
ecclesiastical artifacts. http://www.byzantinemuseum.gr/en/
- Benaki Museum: A real time-travel through a
great collection of Greek art from the Neolithic era (5000 BC) to
the 20th century. http://www.benaki.gr/index.asp?lang=en
- Museum of Cycladic Art: The finest collection
of Cycladic art with a great variety of Cycladic figurines dated in
the early Bronze Age (3rd millennium BC) that have inspired many
artists during the 20th century such as Picasso and Modigliani. https://www.cycladic.gr/en
- National Gallery of Art: Greek modern art from
the 18th to the 20th century (Gyzis, Lytras, Tsarouchis, Moralis
etc.) and a minor collection of European art (El Greco, Rembrandt,
Dürer, Brueghel, Van Dyck, Caravaggio, Goya, Delacroix, Uttrillo,
Cézanne etc.) http://www.nationalgallery.gr/site/content.php?set_locale=2
Attica
Attica is the wider area in which Athens is located. As Athens
is the heart in the body of Attica, not far from Athens we can
discover a different landscape from the urban with important
archaeological sites.
- Ancient Sanctuaries of Attica: Sanctuary of
Poseidon at Cape Sounion, Sanctuary of Artemis at Brauron,
Sanctuary of Dimitra at Eleusis and Sanctuary of Amphiaraos at
Oropos.
- Ancient city of Ramnous: The best preserved
Attic city (demos) next to the field of the famous Battle of
Marathon between the Greeks and the Persians in 490 BC.
- Byzantine Monastery of Dafni: An important
Byzantine Monastery dated in the 11th century with wonderful
mosaics and inscribed on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites as
one of the typical examples of the golden age of Byzantine
art.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Greece
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Greece
Until today, there are 18 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Greece
(last inscription in 2016) and there are also 14 sites on the
tentative list. But what is the importance of UNESCO World Heritage
Sites? The World Heritage Sites are monuments which are considered
as the best examples of human creative genius and represent
important parts of the world history of humanity. http://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/GR/
Indicatively, I mention the following:
- MYCENAE: Mycenae was the most important
acropolis (citadel) during the Late Bronze Age (15th-12th c. BC) in
Greece. According to Homer, the poet of Iliad and Odyssey, Mycenae
was the kingdom of Agamemnon, the leader of the expedition of the
Greeks against Troy. The Lion's Gate and the Treasury of Atreus
have been listed as "outstanding examples of human creative
genius".
- DELPHI: The pan-hellenic Sanctuary of Apollo
was one of the most important oracles in the Mediterranean and a
symbol of Greek cultural unity from the 8th century BC
onwards.
- OLYMPIA: The pan-hellenic Sanctuary of Olympian Zeus was the
birthplace of the ancient Olympic Games beginning in 776 BC.
- EPIDAURUS: The Sanctuary of Asclepios, the god
of medicine, provides valuable insight into the healing cults of
Greek and Roman times. The Theater at Epidaurus is considered as
one of the original masterpieces of Greek architecture.
- VERGINA: The Royal Tumulus (tomb) of Philipos
II of Macedonia, father of Alexander the Great, was a brilliant
archaeological discovery due to the historical importance of this
king and the precious finds made of gold, silver and ivory.
- MYSTRAS: The medieval citadel of Mystras known
also as "the Wonder of Morea" was the last Byzantine stronghold
before falling to the Ottomans in 1461.