Architecture

The first spire was toppled during the earthquake, and the second, which was significantly damaged, on expert recommendations, was partly removed weeks ago.

A small amount of explosive was put on the spire to separate it from the cathedral building and it was then lowered to the ground by a crane.

New measures are being examined to further reduce crowding at open-air markets and supermarkets, Development Minister Adonis Georgiadis said on Saturday.
He told Open TV that "at the moment open-air markets and supermarket are operating in a satisfactory fashion."

Our suburban neighborhood is quieter than usual. I occasionally hear a ball bouncing as lone youths shoot baskets, and a number of people visited the local beach on Saturday afternoon, but most children are staying indoors, most neighbors seem invisible, and even the dogs are making less noise. I can hear the birds, both from my desk and when walking in olive groves full of wildflowers.

Now that times have changed and Britain is leaving the European Union, it's time to reconsider Greece's claim for the return of the Parthenon sculptures, according to an opinion piece in the Washington Post published this weekend.

Despite the differing opinions today, the author notes, the case is stronger than ever that they should return to Athens, the cradle of Western culture.

A five-story concrete hotel built on Istanbul's 1600-year-old city walls and a historical fountain draws anger of the residents in Cankurtaran neighborhood.
Some stones of the fortification wall, on which serious destructions are noticeable, have been unhitched and the faucet part of the fountain has been removed.
Also, some parts of the fountain have been destroyed.

Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris was unable to hold Christmas Eve Mass for the first time in more than 200 years after a fire ravaged its structure in April.

With heavy hearts, French Catholics instead gathered at the nearby church of Saint-Germain l'Auxerrois, a few hundred meters away, for a service celebrated by the cathedral's rector Patrick Chauvet.

For the first time in more than two centuries, there will be no Christmas service at the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.

The cathedral suffered a severe fire in April this year. Eight months later, repair works at one of the most famous Christian temples continues.

The Arsakeio Arcade in downtown Athens is to be renovated thanks to a 12-million-euro investment that will turn it into a culture and gastronomy center promoting healthy lifestyle and food, it has been announced.

Turkey's largest animal hospital has moved to prefabricated modular buildings due to damage to the hospital caused by the 5.8-magnitude earthquake in September.

Unlike so many others who left Greece amid the brain drain during the country's 10-year crisis crisis, photographer Yannis (John) Pitsakis and his architect sister Garyfalia came back home after working respectively in London and Rotterdam for several years and decided to start their own business. The siblings are both vegetarians and share a love of cats, dogs, cycling and bags.