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Athens

Athens

Country

Greece

Continent

Europe

Best Cities to Visit

  • Parga
  • Nafplio
  • Veria
  • Kastoria
  • Karpenisi

Size

39 KM2

Population

3,153,000

Spending Budget

$80 - $85

Famous For

  • Democracy
  • Theatre
  • Museums

Best Time to Visit

  • January
  • March
  • April
  • May
  • September
  • October
  • November

History

The center of Athens has been inhabited for at least 5000 years. This makes Athens an open-air museum with historical remains from all ages. Athens is mostly known for its ancient history and particularly the Golden age of Pericles in 500 BC. Pericles was elected for 14 years consecutively in the most significant political position of his time. Under his authority, Athens became the most powerful state city of Greece. His main contribution was, of course, the establishment of democracy.What follows is the Hellenic period and Alexander the great (323-146 BC). Athens is no longer the administrative center of Greece and has lost its political influence. However, Athens position is still dominant due to its intellectual power. Athens continued to do so during Roman times (146BC-330 AC). Romans not only adopted the Athenian culture but also tried to rejuvenate the city’s old glory The dawn of Athens, itself, might be considered during the 5th century BC and after that period begun a reign of foreign rulers. During Ottoman times (1453-1821) Athens played no significant role or influence but it developed a small industry which consisted mostly of small workshops of tanners, textiles and soaps. The siege of the Acropolis in 1687 by the Venetians, which resulted in the destruction of the Parthenon, marked the beginning of a new period of Turkish rule, in which the city gradually declined. The appearance of the city during this period of time, very little of which is still preserved, is mainly known from depictions by foreign travelers.

Present Day

With equal measures of grunge and grace, Athens is a heady mix of ancient history and contemporary cool. The cultural and social life of Athens plays out amid, around and in landmarks that are centuries old, if not millennia. The remnants of Ancient Greece get the most attention, of course, thanks to a little thing called democracy. Oh, and mythology, and drama, and philosophy. But don’t overlook the later years: thousand-year-old Byzantine churches, for instance, which squat, unruffled in the middle of streets and attached to hillsides. Ottoman traces can be seen in architecture and in food. And the neoclassical style of the 19th century adds elegance all over the center.Athens is Europe’s oldest capital, records show the city’s origins go back to around 3,400 years ago, also making it one of the oldest cities in the world. Athens is home to the first known democracy. Democracy was established in Athens around 500 B.C. It was based on a direct democracy system, in which eligible citizens directly voted on laws.Athens has the most theatrical stages in the world.It’s understandable that the Greeks take theatre very seriously, as the tradition of theatre dates back to the time of Athens’ first democracy – so much so that Athens is home to 148 theatre stages, more than the West End and Broadway combined.

Future

Athens has succeeded in making remarkable progress in attaining a higher quality of services and infrastructure especially in terms of urban development, safety and security and sustainable mobility. The City thrives again as a safe and attractive business travel and meetings destination and during the past years, has hosted many of the biggest and most demanding world-class events and all kinds of conventions, conferences, and corporate meetings, as well.Athens offers great value for money, there are new hotels and new venues opening and a number of international events are taking place.Athens is also a city where large projects are being completed or are underway, such as the opening of the Contemporary Art Museum, the new National Library, Culture Center and Opera House by the seaside, the Ellinikon development, to name but a few. Meanwhile, new hotels are opening, most of them with new meeting space and facilities and new entries are added constantly in the gastronomy and culture scene.The City of Athens, the Athens Development & Destination Management Agency, and the Athens Convention & Visitor Bureau have been implementing a long-term strategic plan for Tourism development, growth and promotion. In close cooperation with the private sector, we are intensifying our efforts towards placing Athens higher in the international tourism and meetings market map and achieving sustainable growth that will benefit all Athenians and enhance our visitors’ experiences.
Must Visit Places ------------

Theatre of Dionysus

Travelers who are mad about theatre won’t want to miss the Theatre of Dionysus, the oldest theatre in Greece. Many of the most famous ancient Greek comedies and tragedies debuted on the stage here. The theatre, originally a temple built in the sixth century BC, is dedicated to Dionysus, the god of merriment and wine.

Byzantine and Christian Museum

The glories of Greek Orthodox Christianity await visitors to the Byzantine and Christian Museum in Athens. The museum is chock full of more than 25,000 artifacts relating to Grecian artifacts from approximately the third to the 20th centuries.

Roman Agora

Centuries ago, shoppers may have rubbed shoulders with the likes of Julius Caesar and Augustus since they helped fund the Roman Agora. In contrary to the Ancient Agora which it replaced, it had a purely commercial character. The Roman Agora was built during the waning years of the first century BC when Greece was part of the Roman Empire.

Museum of Cycladic Art

What started out in the 1960s as two people acquiring artifacts associated with Greece’s Cyclades Islands resulted in a world-class collection of Cycladic art. The Museum of Cycladic Art opened in 1986 featuring more than 3,000 artifacts and figures created between 3300 and 1100 BC on the Aegean Sea archipelago.

Philopappos hills

The Acropolis may be the most famous hill in Athens, but Philopappos Hill isn’t far behind. It also has an ancient history. Ancient Greeks believed the nine muses lived there and eventually named the hill after a monument to Philopappos, a Roman senator who is considered a benefactor of Athens.

Temple of Athena nike

There’s something indescribably graceful about the Temple of Athena Nike that has been standing in a prominent spot on the Acropolis since 420 BC. Athena was the goddess of war and wisdom. Nike is the Greek word for victory

Anafiotika

Ruins aren’t the only things worth visiting in Athens. In-between the ancient and the sparkling new lies Anafiotika, an old neighborhood that is worth a wander. This picturesque slice of Athens can be found below the Acropolis and just north of the historic neighborhood of Plaka.

Benaki Museum

The Benaki Museum, housed in the Benaki family’s former mansion, is home to an outstanding collection of art representing various stages of Greek culture. Its holdings include 120,000 works of art starting in prehistoric times and ending today. With 181,000 books, it is Greece’s largest Muslim library, though they are housed in one of the museum’s four satellite facilities.

Panathenaic

Though built by the ancients, Panathenaic Stadium holds a special place in sports history. This original stadium, which dates to around 300 BC and was rebuilt in 144, has hosted several Olympics. More importantly, the stadium is where the Olympic flame starts on its journey to the nation hosting that year’s athletic contests.

Monastiraki

Travelers who like to shop ‘til they drop may enjoy a visit to Monastiraki, a huge market and neighborhood in the historic district in Athens. On weekdays, there is a normal marketplace with shops selling souvenirs. On the weekends, it transforms into a huge flea market, with vendors carting in tables and carpets from which they sell junk, antiques and everything in-between.