Ancient and modern at the same time, this city is different from most European capitals.
Some of the sites you’ll be visiting are a testament to the greatness of the Greek civilization that for centuries – even after its decline and fall – influenced the social, economic and cultural development of important kingdoms and empires. Athens was the center of this civilization, with its democracy-based politics – something entirely new for the time – and the huge boost it gave to the flourishing of culture, arts, architecture and philosophy.
A visit to Athens is like an immersion into the history and culture of ancient Greece.
The heart of the city, and its main tourist attraction today, is the Acropolis, around which the whole city developed. Through the centuries, some incredible events have marked the history of the imposing Parthenon, the Caryatids and the temple of Athena Nike, which was even demolished. The Acropolis is fabulous at any time of day, but it has a particular allure in the evening when it is beautifully illuminated to show it off in all its splendor.
2009 saw the inauguration of the cutting-edge Acropolis Museum, where you can take a trip through the history of classical civilization, thanks to an endless variety of incredible artifacts.
Athens is home not only to ancient monuments such as the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Theatre of Dionysus or the Panathenaic Stadium; there are also vestiges testifying to the history of more recent centuries, including Syntagma Square, with the huge building that is today the Parliament, or the gardens adjacent to it, which belonged to the royal palace in the 19th century.
If you’re looking for the best vantage point to enjoy a view of the vastness of this city and the fascinating contrast between ancient and modern, you can do no better than climb up Mount Lycabettus: from here, Athens seems to stretch out beyond the horizon.
If it’s a little peace and quiet you’re after, you might like to visit the Glyfada neighborhood which has plenty of shops, the beautiful beaches just outside the city, or the impressively modern Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center with its spacious gardens and seawater canal.
Let me leave you with an interesting fact: the importance of Athens for Greece is clear from the fact that it is home to over 4 million of the 11 million Greeks that make up the country’s total population.
So, get ready to visit the wonders of this splendid city.
Enjoy your stay!
