NEWS
12TH CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL CHANIA
26, 28, 30, 31 August & 01, 03 & 04 September 2024
This year’s festival – which echoes, among other things, the thoughts, anxieties and concerns of our very fluid era – bears the title “East & West Wind”. After all, in the European area, the distinction between West and East is not only geographical, but mainly cultural. It is these contrasting aesthetic tendencies, this dissonant coexistence, that sets the tone for the European musical pluralism which the 12th Chamber Music Festival Chania seeks to spotlight. Each of its six concerts will juxtapose works from the German Classical and Romantic tradition with works from Russia, Armenia, Poland and the Czech Republic, all of them written in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Information: www.chambermusicfestival.gr
EXPERIENCE GREEK EASTER IN MINOA PALACE
EXPERIENCE GREEK EASTER IN MINOA PALACE
Easter is one of the biggest religious holidays in Greece! It is usually grandly celebrated with weeklong feasts, unique customs, age-old traditions and religious masses. The Greek Orthodox Church plays a significant role in the Greek Easter ‘Paska’ or ‘ Pascha’ celebrations.
This year experience the Greek Orthodox Easter in Minoa Palace!
On Holy Saturday, celebrate the Holy Resurrection at 22.30 at the Hotel’s Chapel, situated amidst the fragrant gardens.
Light your candle with the eternal flame and shortly after, celebrate by enjoying the traditional dinner in «Athina» Conference Hall, signifying the break of the 40-day fast.
On Easter Sunday, you and your family can begin the day with an American breakfast buffet at our restaurants, followed by a visit to the Spa & Wellness Center to relax and awaken your senses.
At 11.30, we welcome you at the Traditional Kafeneion for a traditional Cretan treat, before lunch.
At 13.00, your taste senses shall be stimulated by the mouthwatering spit-roast lamb, served at «Elia» restaurant. There you can enjoy the traditional custom of breaking the red-dyed eggs! All that with the accompaniment of a live local band that will introduce you to the Greek traditional music.
For more information and room availability click here https://www.minoapalace.gr/check-rates#!
Note:
**Drinks are not included in the package ** Spa tratments are not included in the package
11TH CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL CHANIA
28, 30 August & 01, 03 & 04 September 2023
2023 sees the Chamber Music Festival Chania enter its second decade as a summer fixture on Crete’s musical calendar. To date, the only event on Crete to focus on chamber music has hosted 34 concerts attended by at least 5000 music lovers.
The overall title of this year’s Festival is “The Creation of the World – Création du Monde”. Starting from the ballet music of that name written by the French composer Darius Milhaud in 1923, and staging five concerts in all–two in the iconic Theatre of Ancient Aptera, with the full support of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Chania and the Region of Crete–, the Festival will spotlight chamber works that broke new ground with their aesthetic and their content; works that opening up new horizons and Created (new) Worlds.
Information: www.chambermusicfestival.gr
EXPLORE THE RENOVATED ELIA RESTAURANT
Enjoy an authentic Greek scrumptious buffet breakfast prepared with the finest local ingredients in the elegant environs of the fully renovated Elia Restaurant. As the sun begins to set savor some of the most vast variety of local and thematic choices along with delightful flavors of the Mediterranean gastronomy from our rich Greek dinner buffet and socialize in the most enchanting of settings. Prepare your taste buds for the most flavorsome thematic evenings and the most mouth-watering Greek & Cretan delicacies. Find out more at
DISCOVER OUR NEW ROOMS
A block of 12 brand new rooms are our addition to the Imperial Wing. Fresh and minimal lines, sophisticated design, earthy and warm tones, all feature a contemporary and elegant design that can take accommodations to another level. See more at Types of accommodation
MINOA PALACE RESORT IS NOW CERTIFIED AS A "BIKE FRIENDLY HOTEL"
We are more than happy to inform you that from 2023 our hotel is officially a member of a network of Greek hotels friendly to cyclists and cycling tourism. We have been certified with the “Bike Friendly hotel” label, granted by NATTOUR, as well as the Hellenic Society for the protection of Nature (EEPF).
Enjoy pleasing cycling tours around the area, while exploring the sights and the natural beauties of Platanias that surrounds our hotel.
Our hotel has been certified to provide the cycling services as listed below:
- information about bike friendly services
- digital area map with cycling routes
- secure storage area, as well as parking racks for bicycles
- tool kit available
- daily laundry service (service paid extra)
- renting and repairing bicycles in the hotel or near (service paid extra)
- gym – fitness area inside the premises
- wellness services available. Sauna, Hammam, Jacuzzi, massages (services paid extra)
For any additional information check www.bikehotels.travel or contact us at info@minoapalace.gr
We wish you the best cycling trips!
10TH CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL CHANIA
26, 28, 29, 31 August & 01 September 2022
Aimez-vous Brahms… With playful mood and references that refer to literature (and cinema), the Chamber Music Festival Chania celebrates its 10 years.
Five concerts, five top Brahms compositions opposite seven works by other romantics & 15 musicians of international scope…
Rendezvous, as always, in Chania in his last week August (26.08 – 01.09).
DISCOVER OUR NEW WINE CELLAR
More than 250 of the finest Greek & International wines have found their home in our new Wine cellar. Artfully designed space, that refuses to compromise on aesthetics, manages not only to protect but to showcase our fine selection.
COVID-19 UPDATE SAFETY PROTOCOL
While assuring our guests’ fulfilling experience and memories of joy, Minoa Palace Resort introduces the Safety Protocol, an integrated Health and Safety Plan encompassing all measures and procedures across hotel departments during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Safety Protocol complies with the World Health Organization and the Greek Government health authorities.
Safety Protocol key guidelines:
• Staff equipped with personal protective equipment and trained accordingly
• Personal protective equipment available for all guests at reception desk
• Fast, contactless check-in and check-out
• Cooperation with Covid-19 certified doctor available 24/7
• Disinfectant dispensers throughout hotel public areas
• Disinfection of surfaces and high-volume touch points (door handles, elevator buttons, handrails etc) on a regular basis
• Social-distancing measures applied in all public spaces for guest safety
• Contactless procedures via the guest portal app for restaurant reservations, room service
• Air-conditioning operation with fresh air circulation
• Deep cleaning and disinfection of guest rooms
• Food safety and hygiene according to HACCP kitchen protocol
• Safe distancing between tables at all hotel restaurants and bars, tables disinfection after each sitting
• Physical distancing made easier due to hotel’s extensive outdoor spaces and large pool areas.
• Disinfection of pool and beach sunbeds after each sitting
• Increased water quality controls in pools
• Spa operation at a reduced capacity, time gaps between sessions to allow increased cleaning and disinfection
• Pre-booking required at the gyms to ensure adequate space
• Partnership Johnson Diversey
CLICK TO SEE OUR COVID PROTOCOL
9TH CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL
01 , 02 , 03 & 05 September 2021
Every instrumentalist uses his voice as the reference of how his musical instrument will produce music. With the human voice undoubtedly being the most perfect and natural of all instruments, the performer struggles all his life to make this inanimate tool “sing”. This coveted ”song”, the area where the sound acquires meaning and emotion, is the meeting point of all musical servants.
At the 9th Chamber Music Festival, inspired musicians meet talented singers, performing masterpiece songs from the 19th and 20th century alongside instrumental music inspired by vocal music. The voice, sometimes accompanied by the piano and sometimes by string ensembles, takes the leading role, not in a dominant way as in an opera, but in interaction with chamber music.
A small reference to the 250th anniversary of L.V. Beethoven shouldn’t have been omitted, as it happened last year due to the pandemic. Besides, his music remains always contemporary, always majestic and present in our hearts.
For more info visit Chamber Music Festival’s site
Book your tickets at viva.gr
8TH CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL 2019
26, 28, 30 August 02, 04 September 2019
The 8th Chamber Music Festival is inspired by the great El Greco. The Cretan Doménikos Theotokópoulos, widely known as El Greco (“The Greek”) boasted a dramatic and expressionistic style, which was met with puzzlement by his contemporaries but found appreciation in the 20th century. El Greco has been characterized by modern scholars as an artist so individual, that he belongs to no conventional school.
Three musical works from Jon Leifs, George Tsontakis and Philippos Tsalahouris carry into the 20th and 21st century El Greco’s intense spiritual force. Similar to the painter’s life, the festival embarks on a musical journey through Greece, Italy and Spain, exposing musically the same unique “colors” of each country, that shaped the painter’s visionary art.
These three musical ‘El Greco’ works initiate each one of the three concerts on 28.8, 30.8 and 2.9 and are enriched by several other musical ‘pearls’, with Greek, Italian and Spanish ‘colors’. Two additional concerts begin and end the 8th Minoa Palace Music Festival; a Prologue on 26.8 with works from the romantic era and a Finale on 4.9 featuring the celebrated Apollon Musagete string quartet.
For more info visit http://chambermusicfestival.gr/festivals/8th-chamber-music-festival/
Book your tickets here: https://www.ticketservices.gr/event/8th-minoa-palace-chamber-music-festival/?lang=en
MEET EUPHORIA RESORT
Our sister hotel Euphoria Resort opened its doors on May 11th 2018.
Perched on the seashore of Kolymvari, the 5* Euphoria Resort inspires with the breathtaking view of the horizon. It is built in a historic village that carries the traditions of Cretans, keeping alive the images of the past and its fascinating bygone era. As its name reveals, this premium family resort is a symbol of comfort and happiness with its modern and sophisticated rooms and suites, sharing pools and lush gardens.
Have a look at https://www.euphoriaresort.gr/
7TH CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL 2018
24/08, 27/08, 29/08 & 01/09/2018
The 7th Chamber Music Festival bids farewell to the Summer and welcomes Fall. This year’s festival is a musical journey through Light and Darkness. This theme is expanded and researched in four concerts.
The first concert exposes the theme of darkness and light through Schönberg’s Verklärte Nacht and Mendelssohn’s sextet. The second concert is dedicated to our dark part, the spiritual, the unknown, the inner struggle and contemplation with works from Olivier Messiaen, Biber and Arvo Pärt. The third concert depicts the light, the outside, the impulse that reaches our senses, therefore it is a concert of works inspired by images from Debussy, Mussorgsky and Górecki. Finally, our fourth concert is a tribute to the loss of a dear friend. It is a memorial and a goodbye.
For more details use following link http://chambermusicfestival.gr/
6TH CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL 2017
6th Chamber Music Festival
07/09, 11/09 & 13/09/2017
We are delighted to announce that we are on our way to the opening of the 6th Chamber Music Festival! This year, 3 concerts on 7, 11 & 13th of September will travel us through 112 years of musical creation. 8 memorable musical references are presented, starting from 1828 in Vienna up to 1940, to the Soviet Union of World War 2.
For more details use following link http://chambermusicfestival.gr/
5TH CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL 2016
5th Chamber Music Festival
27/08, 28/08, 31/08/2016
The 5th Minoa Palace Chamber Music Festival enlightens two special figures of the romantic second half of the 19th century, Cesar Franck and Johannes Brahms.
Both of them were virtuosic pianists, both revered Bachian polyphony and strict structure and both valued the spirit of Classicism when others found it unfashionable. Both wrote with what we recognize today as a distinctly “romantic” voice.
Their intense interest in the chamber music area created plenty of masterpieces. Among them we chose some exceptional examples.
Franck (1822-1890)
Though musically precocious, César Franck never became the money-making piano prodigy his father desired. After moving out of his parents’ house in Paris (where the family had moved from Liège in 1835), Franck supported himself by teaching and playing the organ. He became organist at the newly built church of St. Clotilde in 1858 and slowly acquired fame for his organ improvisations. Composition remained intermittent, however, and mostly focused on monumental, labor-intensive oratorios and operas, until a blossoming of creative energy in the late 1870s that continued until his death. This produced several symphonic poems, distinctive chamber music, important piano and organ pieces, and the Symphony in D minor, all displaying Franck’s characteristic tonal architecture, cyclical thematic transformations and intensely chromatic harmony.
Brahms (1833-1897)
Brahms was soon declared as one of the 3 B’s of the great German music and according to Robert Schumann the “successor’’ to Beethoven, a prediction that Brahms was determined to live up to. His extreme talent in composition was combined with extreme perfectionism and self-criticism, which resulted in lengthy and painful revisions of his own compositions. In contrast to the stormy, passionate works of “neo-German” composers such as Richard Wagner and Franz List, Brahms retained reverence for the classical heritage and maintained the Romantic tradition of his great predecessor, Beethoven. Although controversy developed between supporters of Brahms and the followers of Wagner in particular, Brahms was not a reactionary. He looked both backward and forward, producing innovative harmonies that prompted Arnold Schoenberg to write “Brahms the Progressive,” a 1933 essay that has influenced contemporary evaluations of the composer.
OUR DONATION TO DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS
In this particularly difficult period that we are going through, our hotel decided, for once again to support the action of Médecins Sans Frontières’/ Doctors Without Borders. Instead of purchasing Christmas cards, we donated the amount to be allocated to their programs, thereby ensuring access to medical care for thousands of patients.
The Greek Section of Médecins Sans Frontières’/ Doctors Without Borders was
founded in 1990 and this year is celebrating 25 years of action. So far, more than
450 Greek doctors, nurses and technicians have provided their services in our
country and around the world providing our fellowmen, beyond medical and
humanitarian aid, hope and dignity. Syria, Haiti, Palestine, Rwanda, Ethiopia,
Afghanistan, Greece are just a few of the countries where the members of the
Greek Section of Doctors Without Borders have worked to save as many people as
possible.
In order to make this action real, they are supported by thousands of Greek citizens
and companies, who share the same values and vision with them. Any help from all of us gives them means in order to continue their work.