Athens Greece city description. Athens - tourist overview. The best photos of Athens

The city of Athens, the capital of sunny and beautiful Greece, shrouded in many myths and legends, is located on the plain of Attica, and its coast is washed by the picturesque Saronicos Gulf.

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Short description

A city, the mention of which brings to mind amazing ancient greek myths with their passions and battles of the gods, is one of favorite places travelers from all over globe. A huge number of cultural monuments, exquisite and unique National cuisine, gentle waters of the Aegean Sea, developed infrastructure entertainment and, of course, the ancient ruins of temples and sanctuaries attract to Athens all, without exception, connoisseurs of ancient attractions and tourists who want to have a quality and inexpensive holiday.

Athens Acropolis

Prices for holidays in Greece, in particular in Athens, are really low when compared with prices for holidays in other EU countries.

Currently, the population of the capital of Greece, including small suburbs, is just over 4,000,000 people. In addition, due to the availability of jobs, about half a million people from other countries live in Athens non-permanently. Greece cannot be called a populous country; more than a third of the population now lives in its capital and nearby suburbs. If you look at a map of Athens, you will notice that from the land side the city is surrounded by mountains: Imito, Pendeli and Parnitha.

We can say that the city is located in a kind of pool created by nature itself. On the one hand, this is the natural protection of the city, and on the other hand, the mountains and the Saronic Gulf limit the area of ​​Athens and do not allow them to go beyond natural barriers. Due to the city's high population density and technological progress, Athens suffers from a temperature inversion effect. In summer it is very hot in Greece, tourists should definitely remember this, especially those who suffer from cardiovascular diseases. But winter here can sometimes be frosty, and snow is nothing new for Athenians.

Temple of Olympian Zeus

History of the name of the city

The overwhelming majority of historians say that the name of the capital of Greece comes from the name of the goddess Pallas Athena, although, in fairness, it is worth noting that there is another version. A very interesting myth is that it tells how exactly the city got its name. In ancient times, a settlement near the Gulf of Saronicos was ruled by a king named Kekropos. He was only half human; instead of legs, he had a snake's tail. The ruler, born of the goddess Gaia, had to solve a rather difficult problem and choose who would be the patron of his village. After thinking, he said that the one from the gods who gives the best gift to the city will become its patron. Immediately Zeus’s brother Poseidon appeared before the people and struck the rocky ground with his trident with all his might. A huge fountain soared up from this place: people ran up to it, but immediately returned back with gloomy faces: the water in the fountain was the same as in the sea, salty and undrinkable. After Poseidon, the beautiful Pallas Athena appeared to the inhabitants; she showed people an olive tree that quickly grew out of the ground. Kekrop and the population of the city rejoiced and recognized Athena as the patroness of the city.

Temple of the Erechtheion

Thus, the city, surrounded by three mountains and located near a sea bay, received its name - Athens. After this, Poseidon was angry with Athens, and the shortage of life-giving moisture is felt in the city even today (and all this in a subtropical semi-desert climate). Sacrifices, gifts and the construction of the temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion did not help. Some historians do not agree with this myth and insist that the name of the capital of Greece occurred as a result of a slight change in the word “Athos,” which can be literally translated into Russian as flower.

Athens - a little history

Back in 500 BC, Athens flourished: the city's inhabitants were rich, culture and science were developing. The prosperity of the center of Ancient Greece was put to an end by the Great Roman Empire around the beginning of the 300s BC. 500 years after the Savior came to our world, the Byzantine Empire decided to close numerous philosophical schools in Athens and put an end to the prosperity of pagan cults. It was from this period of time that the capital of Greece turned from a rich city into a small provincial town, for which a war was waged between the French and Italians for many centuries. It could not be otherwise; from Athens it was possible to go out to the open sea and conduct profitable trade. The strategic location of the ancient city is difficult to overestimate even today.

Academy of Athens

A serious blow to Athens came in 1458, the year when the city was captured by the Turks and included by them in the composition of the huge Ottoman Empire. In those days, most of the inhabitants of Athens died from overwork for the benefit of the Ottoman Empire and from hunger. At this time, the Byzantines tried to regain control of Athens, and the city often became the scene of bloody battles. During them, many priceless historical and architectural monuments were destroyed, in particular, the well-known ancient Greek temple of the Parthenon.

Only 1833 brought relief to the small population of Athens, when the city finally became again the capital of the free Greek Kingdom. By the way, at that moment less than 5,000 (!) people lived in the capital. The population grew rapidly to 2,000,000 people already in 1920, when the descendants of native Athenians, who had been expelled by the Turks to Asia Minor, began to return to their homeland. The beginning of the 20th century was also marked by increased interest in the city’s many attractions: great amount archaeologists began to carry out excavations on the territory of Athens, and restorers tried to return architectural monuments to at least a semblance of their former greatness. Work was stopped only during the Second World War: the Nazis needed access to the sea and they occupied Greece in a short period of time.

Temple of Hephaestus

Modern Athens

No matter how strange it may sound, it was the Second World War, or rather its end, that marked the beginning of the new prosperity of Athens. Industry is developing rapidly in the capital and there is active trade with many countries of the world. Greece flourished until 1980: huge number tourists interested in ancient sights and the history of the country bring significant income to the budget. In 1981, as everyone knows, Greece joined the European Union, which brought the Athenians not only the joy of affordable loans and a rapidly developing economy, but also problems with overpopulation and movement around the city.

At the moment, Athens attracts travelers from all over the globe with its attractions, among which are the Theater of Dionysus, the Temple of Hephaestus, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Athenian Agora and, of course, the majestic Acropolis. The city has more than 200 large museums, where you can see unique exhibits dating back to the 500s BC. The first museum that travel agencies recommend paying attention to is the Benaki Museum, where you can get acquainted with cultural objects and ethnographic materials that will “tell” the history of the once great, powerful, invincible Athens, famous for its philosophers.

Arch of Hadrian

In addition to numerous attractions, a traveler who is brought to Athens will be able to appreciate what it is like to be incessant, cheerful and shimmering with thousands of neon lights, “ night life" The capital of Greece has a huge number of restaurants, large and small bars, discos and nightclubs. Everything in the city is done to ensure that a tourist who comes to Athens feels as comfortable and relaxed as possible.

The problem of transport these days is not as acute as it was in the 70-80s. years of the last century: you can quickly get to any place in the city by metro, which includes three lines, or by high-speed (!) tram. Surprisingly, trams in Athens move strictly on schedule, the break between the supply of transport is as precise as in the metro.

Athens - indeed amazing place For tourist trip. However, to be completely frank, there is one “but”... The Greek economy in the 21st century began to gradually decline: huge loans, economically stronger EU countries - all this forced the government to save on its citizens.

Athens

Athens

capital of Greece. The city already existed in the Mycenaean era, 1600-1200 gg. BC e. The name is presumably associated with the language of the Pelasgians, pre-Greek. inhabitants of the Balkan Peninsula, where it meant "hill, eminence". The name was reinterpreted by the Greeks and is associated with the cult of the goddess Athena. Modern Greek Athenai, Russian traditional Athens.

Geographical names of the world: Toponymic dictionary. - M: AST. Pospelov E.M. 2001.

Athens

(Athínai), capital Greece, on the Attica Peninsula, near the shore of the Aegean Sea; on a hilly plain through which the Kifisos and Ilisos rivers flow. 745 thousand inhabitants (2001), in the Greater Agglomeration 3500 thousand people. The city already existed in the Mycenaean era (XVI-XII centuries BC). In Ancient Greece, a city-state in Attica. From 146 BC e. under the rule of Rome, from the 4th century. - as part of the Byzantine Empire; from 1204 - the capital of the Duchy of Athens; in 1458 it was conquered by the Turks. In 1821–29 – adm. and cultural-political. center, and since 1834 - the capital of Greece. Now the chief economist. and cult. center of the country. Concentrates approx. 2/3 prom. production: metallurgy, machinery, oil refinery, chemicals, cellulose paper, textiles, leather footwear, sewing, food. industry Important transport node; port, fused with its outport city. Piraeus . Intl. Elinikon airport. Metropolitan. University (1837). AN, national library. Museums: national archaeol., decorative arts, Byzantine, Acropolis, national. painting gallery. A major tourism center. A combination of monuments of antiquity, the Byzantine Middle Ages and modern ones. The development gives A. a unique appearance. The city is dominated by the peaks of the Acropolis (approx. 125 m) and Lycabettus (approx. 275 m) hills. Acropolis (with temples: Parthenon, Nike, Erechtheion) and square. Agora (prototype of the Roman Forum) – cult, center (5th century BC); the Areopagus and Pnyx hills are the centers of societies. and watered. life of the Ancients. Among the ancient Greek buildings: the temple of Olympian Zeus, the Hephaestion, the theaters of Dionysus and Odeon, etc. The following churches have been preserved from the Byzantine era: Agios Eleftherios, Ayi Apostoli on the Agora. Regular modern layout. A. was founded in 1832. Buildings of the 19th century. (neoclassicism): Royal Palace(now parliament), National library, university, Academy of Sciences. In 1896, the Games of the First Olympiad took place in Azerbaijan.

Dictionary of modern geographical names. - Ekaterinburg: U-Factoria. Under the general editorship of academician. V. M. Kotlyakova. 2006 .

Athens

capital of modern Greece, center of the nome ( administrative district) Attica and the famous city of Ancient Greece. The ancient city was located 5 km from Phaleron Bay (modern Faliron) of the Aegean Sea, the modern metropolis moved close to the sea and stretched along its shore (Saronikos Gulf) for 30 km.
Geographical location and climate. The plain on which Athens is located opens southwest to the Saronic Gulf, where the port of Piraeus, the sea gate of Athens, is located 8 km from the city center. On other sides, Athens is bordered by mountains ranging in height from 460 to 1400 m. Mount Pentelikon in the north still provides the city with white marble, from which the Acropolis was built 2500 years ago, and Mount Hymettus (modern Imitos), glorified by the ancients, in the east, with its unusual color Athens has the epithet “violet-crowned” (Pindar), and is still famous for its honey and spices.
From mid-May to mid-September, and often later, there is almost no rain in Athens. Temperatures can rise to 30°C or more in the middle of the day; summer evenings are usually cool and pleasant. When the rains come in autumn, the heat-weary landscape awakens as the leaves turn green and the evenings become cooler. Although there is almost no frost or snow in Athens (minimum temperatures rarely fall below 0°C), Athens winters are generally cold.
Population Athens itself, according to the 1991 census, numbered 772.1 thousand people, but in Greater Athens, which includes the port city of Piraeus and a significant part of the Attica region, there were over 3.1 million people - almost 1/3 of the total population of Greece.
The city's attractions. The central part of Athens is divided into a number of clearly distinct areas. Behind the Acropolis, which forms the core of the ancient city, lies Plaka, the oldest residential area of ​​Athens. Here you can see monuments from the ancient, Byzantine or Turkish periods, such as the octagonal Tower of the Winds, built in the 1st century. BC, tiny Byzantine church from the 12th century. Agios Eleftherios (or Lesser Metropolis), hidden in the shadow of a huge building built in modern times cathedral(Great Metropolis), or the elegant stone door of a Turkish religious school - a madrasah, the building of which has not survived.
Most of Plaka's old houses have now been converted into tourist shops, cafes, night bars and restaurants. Descending from the Acropolis in a northwest direction, you come out to the Monastiraki area, where artisan shops have been located since medieval times. This distinctive shopping area stretches north to Omonia (Concord) Square.
Starting from here along University Street (Panepistimiou) to southeast direction, you can walk to the center of the modern city, passing richly decorated buildings National Library(1832), the University (1837, both by the Danish architect H.C. Hansen) and the Academy (1859, the Danish architect T.E. Hansen), built in the neoclassical style after the liberation of Greece from the Turkish yoke, and get to Syntagma Square (Constitution ) – administrative and tourist center Athens. On it stands the beautiful building of the Old Royal Palace (1834–1838, German architects F. Gärtner and L. Klenze, now the seat of the country's parliament), there are hotels, outdoor cafes, many banks and institutions. Further east towards the slopes of Lykabettus Hill are Kolonaki Square, a new cultural center including the Byzantine Museum (founded 1914), the Benaki Museum (founded 1931), the National Art Gallery (founded 1900), the Conservatory and the Concert Hall. To the south are the New Royal Palace, built at the end of the 19th century. (now official residence President of the country), National Park and the Great Panathenaic Stadium, reconstructed to host the revived Olympic Games in 1896.
City and suburbs. The village of Kifissia, located among pine-covered hills 20 km north of Athens, has long been a favorite vacation spot for townspeople. During Turkish rule, wealthy Turkish families made up half of the population of Kifissia, and after the liberation of Greece, wealthy Greek shipowners from Piraeus built luxurious villas there and laid railway to the port. This line, half underground and crossing the central part of Athens, is still the only urban rail road. In 1993, the city began construction of the metro, which was scheduled to be put into operation in 1998, but a number of archaeological finds made during the work delayed its launch until 2000.
Between the two world wars popular resort The Athenians became Glyfada, located on the seashore about 15 km south of the city center.
The area between Kifissia and Glyfada is already almost completely built up, mainly with 6-9-storey buildings. Once outside the city, you can still escape the heat on the wooded slopes of the three large mountains that frame Athens. Mount Ymitos in the east, long known for its honey and herbs, is decorated with an elegant ancient monastery. Currently, a nature protection zone has been established here. Mount Pentelikon in the northeast is pitted with quarries (their marble was also used to build the Parthenon). There is a monastery and rural taverns on it. The most high mountain Parnitos, north of Athens, is lined with numerous hotels.
Education and culture. The buildings of the University of Athens are a prominent architectural landmark in the city center, and its students take an active part in the life of Athens. Students make up a large part of the population in the part of the city that lies between the huge building of the National Archaeological Museum on Patission Street (October 28) and the ornate university buildings on Akademias and Panepistimiou streets. Athens has its fair share of international students, many of them studying at archaeological institutes established in Greece by other countries (such as the American School of Classical Studies and the British School of Archaeology).
In addition to numerous archaeological museums and institutes, Athens has the National Art Gallery, the Opera and a number of other theaters, a new concert hall, many cinemas and small art galleries. In addition, during the summer months, the Athens Festival organizes evening performances in the ancient amphitheater at the foot of the Acropolis. Here you can enjoy ballets and other performances by famous world troupes, performances by symphony orchestras, as well as productions of dramas by ancient Greek authors.
City government. The small population in Greece and the desire to unite the people after long Turkish rule contributed to a strong centralization of government. Accordingly, although the position of the mayor of Athens is elected, his powers are very limited, and almost all decisions on the city's problems are considered by the country's parliament.
Economy. Athens has long served as the industrial and commercial center of Greece. In Athens, together with its suburbs, approximately 1/4 of all industrial companies in Greece and almost 1/2 of all those employed in Greek industry are concentrated. The following main industrial sectors are represented here (part of the enterprises are located in Piraeus): shipbuilding, flour milling, brewing, wine and vodka, soap making, carpet weaving. In addition, the textile, cement, chemical, food, tobacco and metallurgical industries are developing rapidly. Exports from Athens and Piraeus are mainly olive oil, tobacco, textiles, wine, leather goods, carpets, fruits and some minerals. The most important import items are machinery and transport equipment, including ships and cars, petroleum products, metals and metal products, fish and livestock products, chemical products and paper.
Story. In the 2nd century. AD, during the time of the Roman Empire, Athens was still a majestic city, the magnificent public buildings, temples and monuments of which Pausanias described in detail. However, the Roman Empire was already in decline, and a century later Athens began to be subject to frequent raids by the barbarian tribes of the Goths and Heruli, who in 267 almost completely destroyed the city and turned most of its buildings into heaps of ruins. This was the first of four catastrophic destructions that Athens was to endure.
The first revival was marked by the construction of a new wall that surrounded a small area of ​​the city - less than 1/10 of its original area. However, the prestige of Athens in the eyes of the Romans was still high enough for local philosophical schools to be revived, and already in the 4th century. Among the students was the future Emperor Julian. However, the influence of Christianity in the Roman world gradually increased, and in 529 Emperor Justinian anathematized all the hotbeds of “pagan” wisdom and closed classical philosophical schools in Athens. At the same time, all the main Greek temples were converted into Christian churches, and Athens became the center of a small provincial episcopate, completely drowned in the shadow of the new capital of Constantinople.
The next 500 years in the history of Athens were peaceful and calm. 40 Byzantine churches were built in the city (eight of them survive to this day), including one (St. Apostles, restored in 1956) between the Acropolis and the ancient Athenian agora (market square). When at the beginning of the 12th century. this peaceful period ended, Athens found itself at the center of clashes between Arabs and Christian crusaders, who challenged each other for dominance over the eastern part Mediterranean Sea. After predatory raids that lasted about a hundred years, in 1180 the Arabs turned most of Athens into ruins. In 1185, the Athenian Archbishop Acominatus vividly depicted the picture of destruction: the city was defeated and plundered, the inhabitants were hungry and in rags. Then, in 1204, the devastation of Athens was completed by the invading crusaders.
Over the next 250 years, the Athenians lived as slaves under the yoke of successive rulers - Western European knights ("Franks"), Catalans, Florentines and Venetians. Under them, the Acropolis was turned into a medieval fortress, a palace was built over the Propylaea, and a high observation tower(which stood out in the Athens skyline for much of the 19th century).
After the capture of Constantinople by the Turks in 1453, Greece and with it Athens found themselves under the rule of new masters. The devastated surrounding lands gradually began to be cultivated again by Christian Albanians, who were transported here by the Turks. For two centuries, the Athenians lived poorly but relatively quietly in the Plaka quarter, while their Turkish overlords settled on the Acropolis and in the agora area. The Parthenon turned into the main city mosque, the Christian observation tower into a minaret, and built in the 1st century. The Tower of the Winds is in the tekke where the dervishes danced.
The peaceful period ended in the 17th century, when Athens was again devastated, this time by the Venetians, who drove out the Turks in 1687, but then were forced to leave the city after a plague epidemic. However, life in Athens resumed its normal course under Turkish rule, and it was not until the Greek War of Independence in the 1820s that the city came under siege. In 1826 it was destroyed for the fourth and last time when the Turks tried to expel the rebel Greeks from it. This time the Turkish victory was short-lived, and four years later Greek independence was confirmed by international agreement.
Almost immediately after liberation, ambitious plans arose to transform Athens into a majestic metropolitan city. These plans seemed unrealistic at the time: almost the entire city was in ruins, and its population had sharply declined. In fact, when the new Greek king Otto of Bavaria arrived here in 1834, Athens was little different from a village and did not have a palace suitable for a royal residence. However, several main streets and a number of monumental public buildings were soon rebuilt, including the royal palace in Syntagma Square and the complex of houses of the University of Athens. In the following decades, new structures were added: the National Park, the Zappion Exhibition Hall, the New Royal Palace, the Olympic Swimming Pool and the restored Panathenaic Stadium. At the same time, several richly decorated mansions appeared in Athens, which differed sharply from the typical one- and two-story buildings.
At the same time, archaeological excavations and restoration work were actively carried out; the layers of the Turkish and medieval periods were gradually removed from the Acropolis, and its ancient structures were carefully restored.
The next major change in the appearance of Athens, which had become a city of half a million people, came in the early 1920s, when a stream of Greek refugees expelled by the Turks from Asia Minor poured in, and the city's population almost doubled. To solve this critical problem, the suburbs were developed in a short time with international assistance, and the main directions for the future planning of Athens were outlined.
As a result of the Balkan Wars of 1912–1913, secured by the terms of the Treaty of Lausanne (1923), Greece almost doubled its territory and population, and soon Athens took a prominent place among the capitals Balkan countries. Piraeus, the port of Athens, has become important on the Mediterranean Sea and has become one of the busiest ports in the world.
During World War II, Athens was occupied by German troops, and then began Civil War(1944–1949). At the end of this difficult decade, Athens entered another period of accelerated development. The city's population grew significantly, new suburbs emerged, the sea coast was landscaped, villas and hotels appeared everywhere, ready to accommodate the expanding flow of tourists. Athens was almost completely reconstructed between 1950 and 1970. Traditional one- and two-story houses have given way to six-story ones residential complexes, and quiet shady streets - busy highways. As a result of these innovations, the traditional atmosphere of serenity for Athens disappeared, and many green spaces disappeared. The city continued to grow between 1970 and 1990, but authorities now have to pay much more attention to the problems of traffic control and pollution that Athens shares with many other modern capitals.
LITERATURE
Kolobova K.M. The ancient city of Athens and its monuments. L., 1961
Shakhnazaryan N.A. The emergence of the Athenian state. Yerevan, 1962
Brashinsky I.B. Athens and the Northern Black Sea region in the 6th–2nd centuries. BC. M., 1963
Zelin K.K. The struggle of political groups in Attica in the 6th century. BC. M., 1964
Frolov E.D. Social and political struggle in Athens at the end of the 5th century. BC. (Materials and documents). L., 1964
Ritsos D.N. . Technical problems caused by the rapid growth of Athens. Budapest, 1972
Brunov N.I. Monuments of the Athens Acropolis. Parthenon and Erechtheion. M., 1973
Gluskina L.M. . Problems of the socio-economic history of Athens in the 4th century. BC. L., 1975
Korzun M.S. Social and political struggle in Athens in 444–425 BC. Minsk, 1975
Dovatur A.I. Slavery in Attica in the 6th–5th centuries. BC. L., 1980
Mikhalkovsky K., Dzevanovsky A. Acropolis. Warsaw, 1983
Sidorova N.A. Athens. M., 1984
History of Ancient Greece. M., 1986
Strogetsky V.M. Greek historical thought of the classical and Hellenistic periods on the stages of development of Athenian democracy. Gorky, 1987
State, politics and ideology in the ancient world. L., 1990
Kumanetsky K. History of culture of ancient Greece and Rome. M., 1990
Latyshev V.V. Essay on Greek Antiquities. St. Petersburg, 1997

Encyclopedia Around the World. 2008 .

ATHENS

GREECE
Attica, or the Attic Plain, is surrounded on all sides by mountains: from the west it is Aegaleos (465 m), from the north Parnet (1413 m), from the northeast Pentelikon (1109 m) and from the east Hymette (1026 m). In the southwest and south a low range of hills slopes gently towards Aegean Sea. Here, on the Attic plain, there is a city that has no equal in the world. This is Athens - the center of the centers of the whole world.
The name of the city comes from the name of the goddess Athena - the patroness of wisdom and knowledge. The first settlements on the site of modern Athens are known from the 16th-13th centuries. BC e. In Ancient Greece, Athens was a large city-state. After the enormous destruction brought by the Persian invasion, the city underwent reconstruction in the 5th century BC. e. This era is called the Golden Age of Greece. Rich silver deposits helped finance a widespread construction campaign, initiated by the famous politician of Ancient Athens - Pericles. At this time, the Parthenon, the most significant monument of the city, was built. Athens was the birthplace of many great thinkers: Plato and Aristotle, Sophocles and Euripides. The era of prosperity was followed by centuries of decline and dependence. In 146 BC. e. - 395 AD e. Athens was under the rule of Rome, and in the years 395-1204 - Byzantium. In 1204-1458, Athens became the capital of the Duchy of Athens, in 1458 it was captured by Turkey, and in 1834 it became the capital of independent Greece. Modern Athens is characterized by tall residential buildings, wide highways and sparse green spaces.
The capital of Greece and the region of Attica has about 900 thousand inhabitants. Together with the port of Piraeus and its suburbs, Athens forms Greater Athens with a population of about 4 million people.
When approaching the port of Piraeus past the island of Salamis or approaching the capital along the new highway, you can still recognize from afar the main monument of Athens - the Acropolis. And today, as in ancient times, it is the emblem of Athens and Greece. The Acropolis of Athens is a high hill, white ruins of once beautiful buildings. For three millennia, the walls of the Acropolis, rising 152 meters above sea level, protected the largest Greek settlement. Tourists often stop in the Greek capital only to visit the Acropolis with the majestic Parthenon - the temple of the city's patron goddess, Athena (VI century BC). Propylaea, look at the caryatids supporting the portico of the Erechtheion temple, stroll through the ancient quarter of Plaka, and then go to the islands. At the height of summer, heat and traffic jams cause inconvenience to tourists. In addition, Athens, surrounded on three sides by mountains, is known for its smog. And yet it is worth lingering in this full of contrasts, exciting, sunny city to experience the charm of its countless taverns and coffee shops, enjoy gourmet cuisine in restaurants, spend the night in an extravagant disco where oriental music is played. In Athens you can find absolutely everything: art galleries, cozy retro-style squares, museums with unique collections of ancient art, fashion boutiques and bustling markets with goods from all over the world and much more. The saying “Greece has everything” primarily applies to Athens.
The building of an ancient palace (1842), built in the city center, houses the country's highest legislative body - the parliament. Behind the palace lies the National Park, famous for its palm trees, tropical plants and abundance of cats. In front of the parliament building, a monument to the Unknown Soldier was erected in memory of the soldiers who died during the liberation of Greece from fascist troops. Tourists watch with interest the changing of the guard of Greek infantrymen dressed in traditional short pleated skirts and clogs with pom-poms.
Syntagma Square is located in the center of Athens. The most concentrated here expensive hotels cities. A contrast to the fashionable neighborhoods is Omonia Square with its adjacent neighborhoods. In the narrow streets, literally at every step you can come across shops selling cheap goods, street vendors scurry about everywhere, and numerous cafes, bars and inexpensive restaurants offer a variety of sandwiches, croissants, souvlaki and, of course, grape wine and aromatic Greek coffee.
In the eastern part of the city, north of the Acropolis, is the Plaka quarter. This corner of Athens seems to take us back to past centuries. The narrow, crooked streets here seem to climb up the slopes of the Acropolis, connecting to each other with stone stairs. In small houses with tiled roofs or flat terraced roofs, there are numerous workshops where artisans make souvenirs, often based on ancient Greek designs, and sell them right there in small shops. In Plaka there are buildings of the first university of Athens, several original churches, including the 11th century, and a very popular Shadow Theater in the city.
Fans of ancient history and culture will find several extremely interesting collections in the capital's museums. At the National archaeological museum, founded in 1881, houses the treasures found by Schliemann and his followers in the tombs of the Mycenaean kings, exhibits a collection of sculptures from the earliest works to masterpieces of Hellenistic art, a collection of vases and terracotta, ancient Greek ceramics and paintings. The Byzantine Museum houses a unique collection of early Christian sculptures and mosaics, as well as Byzantine icons. In the Goulandris Museum you can see a collection of idols with Cyclades Islands, examples of ancient and Cycladic art.
In addition, Athens is home to several medieval churches from the Byzantine era. National Gallery painting, ceramics. Agora Museum and theaters, including the National Lyric Theater. National Greek folk.
Attica is unique in its beauty. Once here, you get a unique opportunity to visit Delphi, Argos, explore the Corinth Canal, visit the Lion Gate, the Palace of Agamemnon and the tombs.
Industrially, Athens plays a huge role in the Greek economy. Greater Athens produces over 2/3 of all-Greek industrial output. The textile, clothing, leather and footwear, food, chemical, oil refining, metallurgical, engineering (including shipbuilding), and automotive industries are developed. This one is big market town is an important transport hub, industrial, cultural and scientific center of the entire country. Located in Athens international Airport Elinikon. It has its own metro. Athens is the center international tourism of global significance.
A university was opened in Athens in 1837, and two conservatories were opened in 1871 and 1926. The Academy of Sciences and the National Library operate. Athens is the birthplace of the Olympic Games. The world's first Olympics were held here in 1896.

Encyclopedia: cities and countries. 2008 .

Athens

Athens - capital of Greece (cm. Greece) and the region of Attica, has 757,400 inhabitants (2003), and together with the port of Piraeus and its suburbs - about 4 million. Tourists often stop in the Greek capital only to visit the famous Acropolis. There is a subway. The Acropolis is a rocky hill 156 m high, a symbol of Greek civilization. It has been the center of the city since the 2nd millennium BC. e. Its classical buildings were made after the Greco-Persian Wars during the reign of the great Pericles, who wanted to emphasize the leading role of Athens in the liberation of Greece. On top of the hill central place occupies the majestic temple of the virgin goddess Athena - the Parthenon, which is considered the most perfect structure of Greek antiquity. The temple was built in 448–438 BC. e. by the architect Callicrates, apparently based on the artistic image of the great Phidias. An elongated rectangular building with a gable roof forming triangular fields (pediments), surrounded by Doric columns with exquisite Ionic capitals, the famous sculptor Phidias and his students decorated it with friezes and bas-reliefs. The Propylaea, the entrance to the Acropolis in the form of a marble colonnade and adjacent rooms, was built in 437–432 BC.
Other ancient buildings are also impressive - the Erechtheion Temple, the Theater of Dionysus. In Greece, the beginning of theatrical performances was associated with a ritual in honor of the god Dionysus (in ancient Greek mythology, this is the god of the productive forces of nature, the life-giving sap of trees, mainly grapevines). The Acropolis underwent major changes, but still retained its appearance for a long time. The greatest damage was caused to it by the Crusaders, as well as the Turks, who set up a gunpowder warehouse in the Parthenon, which, naturally, exploded. The original sculptures of Phidias were sold by the Turkish administration to the British ambassador and are now most of These treasures are in the British Museum. In the 20th century, environmental pollution took first place among the threats. Therefore, the remaining figures are already in museums, and under open air Exact copies are on display.
To the northwest of the Acropolis is the ancient Agora Square. To the southeast are visible the majestic columns of the Temple of Olympian Zeus (175-132 BC). Monuments of Roman rule have also been preserved - the arch and library of Hadrian (120-130 AD), the Roman Agora, etc.; Byzantine period - churches of the Lesser Metropolia, Kapnikarea (both 12th century). On the northern slope of the Acropolis is the ancient district of Plaka with narrow, crooked streets connected by stone stairs. Along the streets there are small houses with tiled roofs or flat terraced roofs. This exotic quarter has many artisan workshops, shops, taverns and coffee shops that attract tourists. In Plaka there is the building of the first university of Athens, several original churches, including the 11th century, and the very popular Shadow Theater in the city.
Tourists usually limit themselves to visiting the antiquities and walking around the Plaka quarter, and then go to the islands. At the height of summer, the heat and traffic jams cause inconvenience. In addition, Athens, surrounded on three sides by mountains, is known for its smog. And yet it is worth staying in this full of contrasts, exciting, sunny city to feel the charm of its countless taverns and coffee shops, enjoy the exquisite cuisine in the restaurants, and spend the night in an extravagant disco where oriental music is played. In Athens you can find absolutely everything: art galleries, cozy retro-style squares, museums with rare collections of ancient art, fashion boutiques and bustling markets with goods from all over the world and much more.
The building of an ancient palace (1842), built in the city center, houses the country's highest legislative body - the parliament. Behind it lies the National Park, famous for its palm trees and tropical plants. In front of the parliament building, a monument to the Unknown Soldier was erected in memory of the soldiers who died during the liberation of Greece from fascist troops. Tourists watch with interest the changing of the guard of Greek infantrymen dressed in traditional short pleated skirts and clogs with pom-poms.
Syntagma Square is located in the center of Athens. The most expensive hotels are concentrated here, such as the Grand Bretagne. A contrast to the fashionable neighborhoods is Omonia Square with its adjacent neighborhoods. In the narrow streets, literally at every step you can come across shops selling cheap goods, street vendors scurry about, numerous cafes, bars and inexpensive restaurants offer a variety of sandwiches, croissants, souvlaki and, of course, grape wine and aromatic Greek coffee. There are many inexpensive but quite decent hotels here.
Fans of ancient history and culture will find several extremely interesting collections in the capital's museums. The National Archaeological Museum, founded in 1881, houses the treasures found by Schliemann and his followers in the tombs of the Mycenaean kings, exhibits a collection of sculptures from the earliest works to masterpieces of Hellenistic art, a collection of vases and terracotta, ancient Greek ceramics and paintings. The Byzantine Museum houses a unique collection of early Christian sculptures and mosaics, as well as Byzantine icons. In the Goulandris Museum you can see a collection of sculptures from the Cyclades Islands, examples of ancient and Cycladic art.
In 2004, the 28th Olympic Games were held in Athens.

Encyclopedia of tourism Cyril and Methodius. 2008 .

This is a special city: no other European capital can boast of such a historical and cultural heritage. It is rightly called the cradle of democracy and Western civilization. Life in Athens still revolves around the witness of its birth and prosperity - the Acropolis, one of the seven hills surrounding the city, which rises above it like a stone ship with the ancient Parthenon on its deck.

Video: Athens

Basic moments

Athens has been the capital of modern Greece since the 1830s, the time when an independent state was proclaimed. Since then, the city has experienced an unprecedented rise. In 1923, the number of residents here doubled almost overnight as a result of a population exchange with Turkey.

Due to the rapid post-war economic growth and the real boom that followed Greece's accession to the European Union in 1981, the suburb took over the entire historical part of the city. Athens has become an octopus city: it is estimated that its population is about 4 million inhabitants, 750,000 of whom live within the city's official boundaries.

The new dynamic city was greatly transformed by the 2004 Olympic Games. Years of grandiose work have modernized and beautified the city. Earned new airport, new metro lines were launched, museums were updated.

Of course, problems of environmental pollution and overpopulation remain, and few people fall in love with Athens at first sight... But one cannot help but succumb to the charm of this amazing mixture of ancient times, born of contrasts holy city and capitals of the 21st century. Athens also owes its uniqueness to numerous neighborhoods that have an inimitable character: traditional Plaka, industrial Gazi, Monastraki experiencing a new dawn with its flea markets, shopping Psirri entering the markets, working Omonia, business Syntagma, bourgeois Kolonaki... not to mention Piraeus, which is essentially an independent city.

Sights of Athens

It is the small plateau on which the Acropolis is located (4 ha), rising 100 m above the plain of Attica and the modern city, Athens owes its destiny. The city was born here, grew up, and met its historical glory. No matter how damaged and unfinished the Acropolis may be, it still holds up quite confidently to this day and fully retains the status of one of the greatest wonders of the world, once awarded to it by UNESCO. Its name means "high city", from the Greek asgo (“high”, “sublime”) and police ("city"). It also means "citadel", which, in fact, was the Acropolis in the Bronze Age and later, in the Mycenaean era.

In 2000, the main buildings of the Acropolis were dismantled for reconstruction in accordance with new archaeological knowledge and modern restoration techniques. However, do not be surprised if the reconstruction of some buildings, for example the Parthenon or the Temple of Nike Apteros, is not yet completed; this work takes a lot of effort and time.

Areopagus and the Bele Gate

The entrance to the Acropolis is on the west side, at the Bele Gate, a Roman building from the 3rd century, named after the French archaeologist who discovered it in 1852. From the entrance, steps carved in stone lead to the Areopagus, a stone hill on which judges gathered in ancient times.

The huge staircase that ended the Panathenaic road (dromos), led to this monumental entrance to the Acropolis, marked by six Doric columns. More complex than the Parthenon, which they were meant to complement, the Propylaea ("in front of entrance") were conceived by Pericles and his architect Mnesicles as the grandest secular building ever built in Greece. Works began in 437 BC. and interrupted in 431 by the Peloponnesian War, were never resumed. The central passage, the widest, was once crowned with railings, intended for chariots, and steps led to four other entrances, intended for mere mortals. The northern wing is decorated with images dedicated to Athena by great artists of the past.

This small temple (421 BC), created by the architect Callicrates, built on an earthen embankment to the southwest (on right) from Propylaea. It was in this place, according to legend, that Aegeus waited for his son Theseus, who had gone to fight the Minotaur. Not seeing a white sail on the horizon - a sign of victory - he threw himself into the abyss, considering Theseus dead. From this place there is a magnificent view of Athens and the sea. This building, dwarfed by the size of the Parthenon, was destroyed in 1687 by the Turks, who used its stones to strengthen their own defences. It was first restored shortly after the country's independence, but has recently been dismantled again to be rebuilt with all the subtleties of classical art.

After passing the Propylaea, you will find yourself on the esplanade in front of the Acropolis, topped by the Parthenon itself. It was Pericles who commissioned Phidias, a brilliant sculptor and builder, and his assistants, the architects Ictinus and Callicrates, to build this temple on the site of former sanctuaries destroyed by the Persian conquerors. Work began in 447 BC and lasted fifteen years. Using Pentelic marble as a material, the builders managed to create a building with ideal proportions, 69 meters long and 31 meters wide. It is decorated with 46 fluted columns ten meters high, made up of a dozen drums. For the first time in history, each of the four facades of the building was decorated with pediments with painted friezes and sculptures.

In the foreground was a bronze statue of Athena Promachos (“the one that protects”) nine meters high, with a spear and shield - only a few fragments of the pedestal remain from this composition. They say that sailors could see the crest of her helmet and the gilded tip of her spear, sparkling in the sun, as soon as they entered the Saronic Gulf...

Another huge statue of Athena Parthenos, dressed in pure gold, with a face, arms and legs made of ivory and with the head of Medusa on her chest, was in the sanctuary. This brainchild of Phidias remained in its place for more than a thousand years, but was subsequently taken to Constantinople, where it was later lost.

Becoming the Cathedral of Athens during the Byzantine era, then a mosque under Turkish rule, the Parthenon passed through the centuries without much loss until that fateful day in 1687 when the Venetians bombarded the Acropolis. The Turks set up an ammunition depot in the building, and when a cannonball hit it, the wooden roof was destroyed and part of the walls and sculptural decorations collapsed. An even more severe blow to the pride of the Greeks was dealt at the very beginning of the 19th century by the British ambassador Lord Elgin, who received permission from the Turks to excavate the ancient city and took away a huge number of beautiful statues and bas-reliefs of the Parthenon pediment. Now they are in the British Museum, but the Greek government does not lose hope that someday they will return to their homeland.

The last of the sanctuaries built by the ancient Greeks on the Acropolis is located on the other side of the plateau, near the northern wall, on the site of the mythical dispute between Poseidon and Athena over power over the city. Construction lasted fifteen years. The consecration of the Erechtheion took place in 406 BC. An unknown architect was supposed to combine three sanctuaries under one roof (in honor of Athena, Poseidon and Erechtheus), having built a temple on a site with significant differences in ground height.

This temple, although smaller in size than the Parthenon, was supposed to be equal to it in magnificence. The north portico is without a doubt a masterpiece of architectural genius, as evidenced by its deep blue marble frieze, coffered ceiling and elegant Ionic columns.

Don't miss the Caryatids - six taller than life-sized statues of young girls supporting the roof of the southern portico. Currently these are only copies. One of the original statues was taken away by the same Lord El-jin, five others were exhibited for a long time in the Small Acropolis Museum (now closed), were transported to the New Acropolis Museum, which opened in June 2009.

Here, do not forget to enjoy the beautiful view of Salamis Bay, located on the western side.

Located on the western side of the Acropolis (161-174), a Roman odeon famous for its acoustics, is open to the public only during the festivities organized as part of the festival in honor of Athena (performances take place almost every day from late May to mid-October). The marble steps of the ancient theater can accommodate up to 5,000 spectators!

The theater located not far from the Odeon, although very ancient, is closely connected with the main episodes of the life of the Greek city. This gigantic structure with 17,000 seats, built in the 5th-4th centuries BC, has seen the tragedies of Sophocles, Aeschylus and Euripides and the comedies of Aristophanes. In fact, it is the cradle of Western theatrical art. Since the 4th century, the city assembly has met here.

New Acropolis Museum

At the foot of the hill (South side) is the New Acropolis Museum, the brainchild of Swiss architect Bernard Tschumi and his Greek colleague Michalis Fotiadis. A new museum built to replace the old Acropolis Museum (near the Parthenon), which had become too cramped, opened its doors in June 2009. This state-of-the-art building made of marble, glass and concrete was built on stilts, as valuable treasures were discovered at the site when construction began. archaeological finds. 4,000 artifacts are displayed on 14,000 sq. m is ten times more area old museum.

The first floor, already open to the public, houses temporary exhibitions, and its glass floor allows for observation of the ongoing excavations. The second floor houses the permanent collections, which include artifacts found at the Acropolis from the Archaic period of Ancient Greece to the Roman period. But the highlight of the exhibition is the third floor, whose glass windows give visitors a beautiful view of the Parthenon.

Acropolis metro station

Acropolis metro station

In the 1990s, during the construction of the second metro line, important excavations were discovered. Some of them were displayed right at the station (amphoras, pots). Here you can also see a replica of the Parthenon frieze representing Helios as he emerges from the sea, surrounded by Dionysus, Demeter, Kore and an unknown headless figure.

Old lower town

On both sides of the Acropolis stretches the ancient lower city: Greek in the north, around market square and the ancient area of ​​Kerameikos, Roman in the east on the approach to the Olympion (temple of Zeus) and Hadrian's Arch. Recently, all the sights can be seen on foot, passing through the labyrinth of streets of Plaka or going around the Acropolis along the main street. Dionysius the Areopagite.

Agora

Initially, this term meant “meeting”, then it began to be called a place where people did business. The heart of the old town, filled with workshops and stalls, the agora (market Square) was surrounded by many tall buildings: a mint, a library, a deliberative chamber, a court, archives, not to mention countless altars, small temples and monuments.

The first public buildings on this site began to appear in the 4th century BC, during the reign of the tyrant Pisistratus. Some of them were restored, and many were built after the sack of the city by the Persians in 480 BC. Panathenaic road, main artery ancient city, crossed the esplanade diagonally, connecting the main gate of the city, Dipylon, with the Acropolis. Cart races took place here, in which even cavalry recruits supposedly took part.

Today, the agora has hardly survived, with the exception of Theseon (Temple of Hephaestus). This Doric temple in the west of the Acropolis is the best preserved in Greece. It is the owner of a beautiful ensemble of Pentelic marble columns and Parian marble friezes. On each of its sides there is an image of Hercules in the east, Theseus in the north and south, battle scenes (with magnificent centaurs) in the east and west. Dedicated to both Hephaestus, patron of metallurgists, and Organ Athena (To the worker), protector of potters and craftsmen, it dates from the second half of the 5th century BC. This temple probably owes its preservation to its transformation into a church. In the 19th century, it even became a Protestant temple, where the remains of English volunteers and other European philhellenes rested. (Greco-philos) who died during the War of Independence.

Below, in the center of the agora, near the entrance to the Odeon of Agrippa, you will see three monumental statues of tritons. In the most elevated part of the area, towards the Acropolis, is the restored small Church of the Holy Apostles (about 1000) in Byzantine style. Inside, the remains of 17th-century frescoes and a marble iconostasis are preserved.

Portico of Attalus, on east side market square, 120 meters long and 20 meters wide, was reconstructed in the 1950s and is currently the Agora Museum. There are some amazing artifacts to see here. For example, a huge Spartan shield made of bronze (425 BC) and, directly opposite, a piece of clerotherium, a stone with a hundred slits, intended for the random selection of jurors. Among the coins on display is a silver tetradrachm depicting an owl, which served as the model for the Greek euro.

Roman agora

In the second half of the 1st century BC. the Romans moved the agora about a hundred meters to the east to create their own Central Market. After the barbarian invasion of 267 administrative center the city took refuge behind the new walls of decaying Athens. Here, as in the surrounding streets, you can still see many important buildings.

Built in the 11th century BC. The Doric gate of Athena Archegetis is located near the western entrance to the Roman agora. During the reign of Hadrian, a copy of the order regarding the taxation of the purchase and sale of olive oil was placed here for public viewing... On the other side of the square, on an embankment, rises the octagonal Tower of the Winds (Aerids) made of white Pentelic marble. It was built in the 1st century BC. Macedonian astronomer Andronikos and served simultaneously as a weather vane, compass and clepsydra (water clock). Each side is decorated with a frieze depicting one of the eight winds, under which the hands of an ancient sundial can be discerned. On the north side there is a small inactive Fethiye mosque (Conqueror), one of the last witnesses to the occupation of the market square by religious buildings in the Middle Ages and later under Turkish rule.

Two blocks from the Roman agora, near Monastiraki Square, you will find the ruins of Hadrian's Library. Erected during the reign of the builder emperor in the same year as the Olympion (132 BC), this huge public building with a courtyard surrounded by a hundred columns was at one time one of the most luxurious in Athens.

The Keramik quarter, located on the northwestern border of the Greek city, owes its name to the potters who made the famous Attic vases with red figures on a black background here. Here was also the most large cemetery of that time, operating until the 6th century and partially surviving. The oldest graves date back to the Mycenaean era, but the most beautiful, decorated with steles and funerary monuments, belonged to wealthy Athenians and war heroes from times of tyranny. They are located to the west of the cemetery, in a corner planted with cypress and olive trees. Such displays of vanity were prohibited after the establishment of democracy.

The museum displays the most beautiful examples: sphinxes, kouroses, lions, bulls... Some of them were used in 478 BC. for the hasty construction of new defensive fortifications against the Spartans!

To the west of the agora and the Acropolis rises the Pnyx Hill, the meeting place of the assembly of the inhabitants of Athens (ecclesia). Meetings took place ten times a year from the 6th to the end of the 4th century BC. Famous orators such as Pericles, Themistocles, Demosthenes gave speeches here to their compatriots. Later the assembly moved to a larger square in front of the Theater of Dionysus. From the top of this hill the view of the forested Acropolis is amazing.

Hill of Muses

The most beautiful panorama of the Acropolis and Parthenon still opens from this wooded hill in the southwest of the old center - the mythological bastion of the Athenians in the fight against the Amazons. At the top there is a perfectly preserved tomb monument of Philopappos (or Philoppapu) 12 meters high. It dates from the 2nd century and depicts this "benefactor of Athens" on a cart.

To mark the boundary between the old Greek city and its own Athens, the Roman Emperor Hadrian ordered the erection of a gate facing the Olympion. On one side it was written "Athens, ancient city Theseus”, and on the other - “The city of Hadrian, not Theseus”. Apart from this, both facades are absolutely identical; Striving for unity, they combine the Roman tradition at the bottom and the Greek form of propylae at the top. The 18-meter-high monument was erected thanks to gifts from the people of Athens.

The temple of Olympian Zeus, the highest deity, was the largest in ancient Greece- erected, as legend says, on the spot ancient sanctuary Deucalion, the mythical forefather of the Greek people, who thus thanked Zeus for saving him from the flood. The tyrant Peisistratus supposedly began construction of this gigantic building in 515 BC. in order to keep people busy and prevent a riot. But this time the Greeks overestimated their capabilities: the temple was completed only in the Roman era, in 132 BC. Emperor Hadrian, who received all the glory. The dimensions of the temple were impressive: length - 110 meters, width - 44 meters. Of the 104 Corinthian columns, 17 meters high and 2 meters in diameter, only fifteen have survived; the sixteenth, knocked down by a storm, still lies on the ground. The rest were used for other buildings. They were arranged in double rows of 20 along the length of the building and triple rows of 8 on the sides. The sanctuary contains a giant gold and ivory statue of Zeus and a statue of Emperor Hadrian - both were equally revered in the Roman era.

Nestled in an amphitheater with marble steps near Mount Ardettos, 500 meters east of the Olympion, this stadium was rebuilt in 1896 for the first modern Olympic Games to replace and replace the ancient one built by Lycurgus in 330 BC. In the 2nd century, Hadrian introduced arena gaming, bringing thousands of predators for bestiaries. This is where the 2004 Olympic Games marathon finished.

This is the oldest and most interesting residential quarter of the city. Its labyrinth of streets and staircases, dating back at least three thousand years, extends to the north-eastern slope of the Acropolis. It is mostly pedestrian. The upper part of the quarter is perfect for long walks and admiring the beautiful houses of the 19th century, the walls and courtyards of which are densely covered with burganvilleas and geraniums. Plaka is dotted with ancient ruins, Byzantine churches, and at the same time there are many boutiques, restaurants, museums, bars, small nightclubs... It can be either quiet or very lively, it all depends on the place and time.

Churches

Although the towers of the Metropolis, Plaka Cathedral (XIX century), located in the northern part of the quarter, inevitably attracts the eye, lower your eyes to its base and admire the delightful Little Metropolis. This small 12th-century Byzantine church dedicated to Saint Eleutrius and Our Lady of Gorgoepikoos (“Coming soon to the assistant!”) was built from antique materials. The outside of its walls are decorated with magnificent geometric bas-reliefs. All the priests of Greece gather on the neighboring street, Agios Filotheis, to shop in specialized stores. On the hills of Plaka is the charming little Byzantine church of Agios Ioannis Theologos (XI century), also worthy of your attention.

This museum in the eastern part of Plaka presents an interesting collection of folk art exhibits. After viewing the embroideries on the ground floor and the funny carnival costumes on the mezzanine, in the Theophilos Room on the second floor you will discover wall paintings, a tribute to this self-taught artist who decorated the houses and shops of his native land. Honoring tradition, he wore fustanella all his life (traditional men's skirt) and died in poverty and oblivion. Only after his death did he receive recognition. Decorations, ornaments and weapons are displayed on the third floor; on the fourth - folk costumes of various provinces of the country.

Neoclassical on the outside, ultra-modern on the inside, this museum dedicated to contemporary art is the only one of its kind in Greece. It alternates between a permanent collection, whose main theme is ordinary people, and temporary exhibitions. Visitors are given the opportunity to look at the great events of the 20th century through the eyes of Greek artists.

In 335 BC, after the victory of his troupe in a theater competition, in order to perpetuate this event, the philanthropist Lysicrates ordered the construction of this monument in the form of a rotunda. The Athenians nicknamed it “the lantern of Diogenes.” Initially, there was a bronze prize inside, received from the city authorities. In the 17th century

Anaphiotika

In the highest part of Plaka, on the slopes of the Acropolis, the inhabitants of the Kikpadian island of Anafi recreated their world in miniature. Anafiotika is a block within a block, a real peaceful haven where cars have no access. It consists of several dozen whitewashed houses, surrounded by flowers, with many narrow alleys and secluded passages. Arbors made of grape vines, climbing rose hips, flower pots - life here turns on a pleasant side for you. Anafiotika can be reached from Stratonos Street.

This museum is located in the westernmost part of Plaka, between the Acropolis and the Roman agora, in a beautiful neoclassical building and houses some very quirky and varied collections. (who, however, are united by belonging to Hellenism), transferred to the state by the Kanellopoulos spouses. Among the main exhibits you will see Cycladic figurines and antique gold jewelry.

Museum of Folk Musical Instruments

Located on Diogenes Street, in the western part of Plaka, opposite the entrance to the Roman agora, this museum invites you to discover musical instruments and traditional Greek melodies. You will learn how bouzoukis, lutes, tambouras, guides and other rare samples sound. Concerts are organized in the garden in the summer.

Syntagma Square

To the northeast, Plaka is bordered by the huge Syntagma Square, the heart of the business world, an area that was built according to a plan drawn up the day after independence was declared. The green esplanade is surrounded by chic cafes and modern buildings housing the offices of banks, airlines and international companies.

Here is the Great Britain Hotel, the pearl of Athens in the 19th century, the most beautiful palace cities. On the eastern slope is the Buli Palace, now the parliament. In 1834 it served as the residence of King Otto I and Queen Amalia.

Subway

Thanks to the construction of the metro (1992-1994) under the esplanade, the largest excavations ever carried out in Athens began. Archaeologists have discovered an aqueduct from the era of Pisistratus, a very important road, bronze foundries of the 5th century BC. (period when this place was outside the city walls), cemeteries from the end of the classical era - the beginning of the Roman era, baths and a second aqueduct, also Roman, as well as early Christian ossuaries and part of the Byzantine city. Various archaeological layers have been preserved inside the station in the shape of a transverse cup.

Parliament (Buli Palace)

The name of Syntagma Square evokes the Greek Constitution of 1844, proclaimed from the balcony of this neoclassical palace, seat of parliament since 1935.

In front of the building there is a monument to the Unknown Soldier, who is kept guard by the Evzones (infantry). They wear traditional Greek costumes: a fustanella with 400 folds, symbolizing the number of years spent under the Turkish yoke, woolen socks and red shoes with pom-poms.

The changing of the guard occurs every hour from Monday to Saturday, and once at 10.30 on Sunday. The entire garrison gathers in the square for this beautiful ceremony.

National Garden

Once a palace park, the National Garden is now a tranquil oasis of exotic plants and mosaic pools in the heart of the city. There you can see ancient ruins, hidden among shady alleys, a small botanical museum located in a pavilion, a zoo and a pleasant cafenion with a large covered gazebo.

To the south is the Zappeion, a neoclassical building built in the 1880s in the form of a rotunda. In 1896, during the first modern Olympic Games, it was the headquarters of the Olympic Committee. Zappeion later became an Exhibition Center.

To the east of the garden, on Herodes Atticus Street, in the middle of the park, is the Presidential Palace, a beautiful Baroque building guarded by two evzones.

Northern neighborhoods and museums

The Gazi quarter in the north-west of the city, which lives up to its name and is predominantly industrial, does not at first make a very pleasant impression. The former gasworks that gave the neighborhood its name is now a huge cultural center .

Just to the east lies the very lively quarter of Psiri, home to wholesalers and blacksmiths - and, for some time now, a growing number of bars, nightlife and trendy restaurants. Its small streets lead to the markets and Omonia Square, the heart of people's Athens. From here you can walk to Syntagma Square along two large streets in a neoclassical frame - Stadiou and Panepistimiou.

Neighborhood Monastiraki

Directly north of the Roman agora is Monastiraki Square, which is crowded with people at any time of the day. Above it rises the dome and portico of the Tsizdaraki mosque (1795), which now houses the Plaka branch of the Folk Art Museum.

The nearby pedestrian streets are filled with souvenir shops, antique shops and ragpickers who gather every Sunday at Abyssinia Square for a giant flea market.

Markets

The Grand Athenas Boulevard, linking Monastiraki with Omonia Square to the north, passes by market pavilions. The "belly of Athens", which is in constant activity from dawn to midday, is divided into two parts: fishmongers in the center and meat traders around.

In front of the building there are sellers of dried fruits, and on the nearby streets there are sellers of hardware, carpets, and poultry.

Archaeological Museum

A few blocks north of Omonia Square, on a huge esplanade lined with cars, is the National Archaeological Museum, home to a fabulous collection of art from the great civilizations of ancient Greece. Don't hesitate to spend half a day here, contemplating the statues, frescoes, vases, cameos, jewelry, coins and other treasures.

The museum's most valuable item is perhaps the gold death mask of Agamemnon, discovered in 1876 at Mycenae by amateur archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann. (hall 4, in the center of the courtyard). In the same room you will see another important Mycenaean object, the Warrior Vase, as well as funerary steles, weapons, rhytons, jewelry and thousands of luxurious objects made of amber, gold and even an ostrich egg shell! Cycladic collection (hall 6) also a must watch.

As you explore the ground floor and move clockwise, you will walk chronologically from the Archaic period, represented by the magnificent kouroi and kora, to the Roman period. Along the way, you will see great masterpieces of art from the classical era, including a bronze statue of Poseidon caught in the sea near the island of Euboea. (hall 15), as well as statues of the horseman Artemision on a war horse (hall 21). Tombstones are presented in large quantities, some of them are quite impressive. For example, huge lekythos - vases two meters high. It is also worth mentioning the friezes that decorated the temple of Atheia on Aegina, the friezes of the temple of Asclepius (Aesculapius) in Epidaurus and the magnificent marble group of Aphrodite, Pan and Eros in room 30.

On the second floor, collections of ceramics are exhibited: from items from the Geometric era to delightful Attic vases. A separate section is dedicated to the Greek Pompeii - the city of Akrotiri on the island of Santorini, buried in 1450 BC (hall 48).

Panepistimiou

The quarter, located between Omonia and Syntagma squares, gives a clear indication of the grand ambitions of the post-independence period. Definitely belonging to the neoclassical style, the trio consisting of the University, the Academy and the National Library stretches along Panepistimiou Street (or Eleftherios Venizelou) and clearly deserves the attention of city guests.

National History Museum

The museum is located in the former parliament building, at 13 Stadiou Street, near Syntagma Square, and is dedicated to the history of the country since the capture of Constantinople by the Ottomans (1453). The Revolutionary War period is presented in great detail. You can even see the helmet and sword of Lord Byron, the most famous of the Philhellenes!

Founded in 1930 by Antonis Benakis, a member of a prominent Greek family, the museum is located in his former Athens residence. The exhibition consists of collections collected throughout his life. The museum continues to expand and now offers visitors a complete panorama of Greek art, from the prehistoric period to the 20th century.

On the ground floor there are exhibits from the Neolithic period to the Byzantine era, as well as a fine collection of jewelry and antique gold leaf crowns. A large section is dedicated to icons. Second floor (XVI-XIX centuries) covers the period of Turkish occupation, mainly examples of church and secular folk art are exhibited here. The two magnificent reception halls from the 1750s have been restored, complete with carved wood ceilings and paneling.

Less interesting sections dedicated to the period of awakening of national consciousness and the struggle for independence occupy the two upper floors.

Museum of Cycladic Art

The collections of Nicholas Goulandris dedicated to ancient art are presented here. The most prominent of these is, without a doubt, on the ground floor. Here you can get acquainted with the legendary Cycladic art; figurines, marble household items and religious objects. Don't miss the plate of doves, carved from a single piece, the extraordinary figurines of a flute player and a bread peddler, and a 1.40 meter high statue, one of two depicting the great patron goddess.

The third floor is dedicated to Greek art from the Bronze Age to the 2nd century BC, the fourth floor displays a collection of Cypriot artifacts, and the fifth floor displays the finest pottery and “Corinthian” bronze shields.

The museum later moved to a magnificent neoclassical villa built in 1895 by the Bavarian architect Ernst Ziller (Staphatos Palace).

The exhibitions housed in the museum cover the period from the fall of the Roman Empire (5th century) before the fall of Constantinople (1453) and successfully illuminate the history of Byzantine culture through an excellent selection of artifacts and reconstructions. The exhibition also highlights the special role of Athens, the center of pagan thought for at least two centuries until the rise of Christianity.

The Coptic art section is worth seeing (especially shoes of the 5th-8th centuries!), the treasure of Mytilene, found in 1951, delightful crossbars and bas-reliefs, collections of icons and frescoes exhibited in the Church of the Episcopia of Eurytania, as well as magnificent manuscripts.

National Pinakothek

Significantly modernized in last years The Pinakothek is dedicated to Greek art of the last four centuries. It chronologically presents various movements, from early post-Byzantine painting to the works of modern artists. In particular, you will see three mystical paintings by El Greco, a native of Crete who, along with Velazquez and Goya, was the most famous artist of 16th century Spain.

At the northern end of Vasilissis Sophias Boulevard, the sloping streets of the Kolonaki quarter form a chic enclave famous for its fashion boutiques and art galleries. All morning, and especially after lunch, there is nowhere for an apple to fall on the terraces of the cafes of Filikis Eterias Square.

Mount Lycabettus (Lycabettos)

At the end of Plutarch Street there is a long line of markets leading to an underground cable tunnel with a funicular that will take you to the top of Lycabetus, famous for its beautiful panorama. Sports fans will prefer the stairs starting from the end of Lucianu Street, a hundred meters to the west (15 minutes rise). The path, bending, leads through cypresses and agaves. Upstairs, from the porch of St. George's Chapel, in good weather you can see the islands of the Saronic Gulf and, of course, the Acropolis.

Around Athens

Situated between the sea and the hills, Athens is the ideal starting point to conquer the most famous places Attica, a peninsula separating the Aegean Sea and the Saronic Gulf.

On weekends everyone goes to the beach. Located right next to the city walls, Glyfada stole the show during the 2004 Olympic Games: it was here that most of the nautical competitions took place. A chic suburb with numerous boutiques and a seaside resort famous for its marinas and golf courses, Glyfada comes alive in the summer with discos and clubs opening along Possidonos Avenue. The beaches here and towards Voula are mostly private, dotted with umbrellas and packed at the end of the week. If you're looking for a quieter place, move to south direction to Vouliagmeni, a luxurious and expensive port surrounded by greenery. The coast becomes more democratic only after Varkiza, near Cape Sounion.

A sentry of Athens holding guard on the top of the rock of the "Cape of Columns" in extreme point Mediterranean Attica, the temple of Poseidon forms one of the vertices of the "sacred triangle", a perfect isosceles triangle, the other points of which are the Acropolis and the temple of Aphaia on Aegina. It was said that once, when entering the bay on the way to Piraeus, sailors could see all three buildings at the same time - a pleasure now inaccessible due to the frequent smog that descends over these places. Sanctuary restored during the era of Pericles (444 BC), retained 16 of the 34 Doric columns. Once upon a time, trireme racing was held here, organized by the Athenians in honor of the goddess Athena, to whom the second temple, built on a nearby hill, is dedicated. The place acquires strategic importance: its fortress, now disappeared, made it possible to simultaneously control the silver mines of Lorion and the movement of ships to Athens.

Built on the pine-clad slopes of Mount Hymetos, a few kilometers east of Athens, the 11th-century monastery is quiet at the end of the week when a landing party of picnickers lands nearby. In the central courtyard you will find a church whose walls are covered with frescoes (XVII-XVIII centuries), the dome rests on four antique columns, and at the other end of the monastery there is an amazing fountain with a ram's head, from which water flows, which is said to have miraculous properties.

Marathon

This place, one of the most famous, witnessed the victory of the 10,000-strong Athenian army over the Persian forces three times larger in 490 BC. To deliver the good news, as legend has it, a runner from Marathon ran the 40 km that separated it from Athens - so fast that he died of exhaustion upon arrival. The 192 Greek heroes who died in this battle were buried on the mound - this is the only credible evidence of this famous event.

Monastery of Daphne

Situated 10 km west of Athens, on the edge of a highway, the Byzantine monastery of Daphne is famous for its 11th-century mosaics depicting the apostles and the mighty Christ Pantocrator watching over them from the central dome. Having received significant damage from an earthquake in 1999, the building is now closed for restoration.

Pressed on one side by Attica and on the other by the Peloponnese Peninsula, the Saronic Gulf - the gateway of the Corinth Canal - opens the door to Athens. Among the many islands, Aegina is the most interesting and easiest to get to. (1 hour 15 minutes by ferry or 35 minutes by speedboat).

Most of the ships are moored on the western shore, in the beautiful port of Aegina. Few people know that it was the first capital of liberated Greece. Fishermen repair their gear here in front of tourists relaxing on cafe terraces and riding in gigs. The narrow pedestrian street leading from the embankment seems to be created for walking and shopping. At the northern exit, in Colon, at an archaeological site, there are a few ruins of the Temple of Apollo (5th century BC). The archaeological museum displays artifacts found nearby: donations, pottery, sculptures and steles.

The rest of the island is divided between pistachio plantations, which are the pride of Aegina, several groves with olive trees and beautiful pine forests, stretching in the east to the very seaside resort Agia Marina, on whose beautiful beaches In summer life is in full swing.

From there you can easily reach the Temple of Aphaia, built on a promontory visible from both shores. The splendor of this Doric monument, perfectly preserved, allows us to guess the former power of the island, which was once a rival of Athens. Built in 500 BC, it was dedicated to the local goddess Aphaia, daughter of Zeus, who took refuge in these places to escape the persecution of King Minos.

If you have some time, visit the ruins of Paliochora, former capital Aegina, built on a hill in the interior of the island. Founded in Antiquity, the town grew up during the High Middle Ages, an era when residents took refuge on mountain tops to escape pirate raids. Until the 19th century, when its inhabitants abandoned it, Paliochora had 365 churches and chapels, of which 28 have survived, and in them you can still see the remains of beautiful frescoes. Just below is the monastery of Agios Nektarios, the largest on the island.

Hotel deals

When is the best time to go to Athens

Spring and late autumn - best time to visit Athens. Summers can be very hot and dry. Winter is sometimes rainy, with few snow days. But at the same time, winter can be an ideal time to visit the city, when it may be fresh, but there are no crowds.

Very often there is smog over the city, the reason for which is the geography of the city - due to the fact that Athens is surrounded by mountains, exhaust and pollution from cars very often linger over the city.

How to get there

How can I get to Athens from the airport? First of all, there is a direct metro line (blue) from the airport to the city. The final station in the city center is Monastiraki metro station. You can get to railway station in Athens on commuter train. A convenient and comfortable way is to call a taxi. More economical ground transport- bus, from the airport buses follow four routes.

Calendar of low prices for air tickets

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Ancient Greek Athens is a majestic and revered city. It had a huge number of inhabitants. The area was distinguished by beautiful architecture. Athens is also the center of the arts and culture of the Greeks. Main city Attiki is not located on the seashore, as was customary since ancient times, but several kilometers from the body of water. The settlement was founded around a large hill, on the top of which in a picturesque area stood a fortress of unprecedented beauty - the Acropolis.

Basics

Legend has it that the city was named after the warrior maiden Athena. She was the goddess of wisdom, patronized arts and crafts, all kinds of sciences, but at the same time she was a great supporter of battles and battles.
The city was founded so long ago that history hides the true date from contemporaries. There is evidence that Athens existed during the Mycenaean era and even long before it. Athens was glorified by Plato and his associates in their teachings.
Athens, like other cities in Greece, was a polis. This city-state reached its peak in the 9th century BC. During this period, Athens was no longer ruled by kings, but by tyrants. But residents did not see anything wrong with the definition of this name. Translated from Greek “Tyranos” means ruler. However, at first everything was ideal, but over the years the rulers began to take away the most valuable things from people. The population was periodically plundered. Since then, the word “tyrant” has become almost a dirty word. By him was meant a cruel ruler.
Residents tolerated tyrants because they enjoyed the patronage of the nobility and the highest council of elders (Areopagus).
First population
It is believed that at first Athens was inhabited by certain Pelasgians, and the first king, according to mythology, was Cecrops. This time is dated 2-3 millennia BC. Later, the Ionians arrived in Athens. By the way, according to legend, the majestic Athena gave the residents of the city an olive tree long after the moment when the policy began to flourish. So she won honor and recognition. After all, the olive is a symbol of wealth and life. The goddess out-competed Poseidon, who wanted to give water to the inhabitants of Athens in order to win their honor and respect and become a recognized ruler. Olive meant more.
Mines flourished in the city, where slaves mined silver, tin and a number of other minerals. Iron deposits were also found not far from the city. Without thinking twice, the Athenians set up enterprises for the extraction of useful metal.
Athens was famous for its ceramic dishes, olive oil, various types of honey, and wines. Marble was mined and processed in Athens. All this contributed to the enormous flourishing of trade and crafts. Athens prospered and gained bonuses economically. Whole families flocked here to found and build their homes. So the city grew more and more.

The reign of Draco is noteworthy. From his name the concept of “Draconian laws” came into modern times. This cruel ruler established very dangerous orders. According to them, residents were punished with death even for the most minor offenses. For example, someone could be deprived of their life for stealing an onion.
In ancient times, property inequality reigned in Athens. But in the 6th century BC. this was put to an end. This is all due to the growing clashes between the nobility and ordinary poor residents. The bloody unrest was suppressed by the election of an archon, who eventually, thanks to his intelligence, restored general order. Solon abolished the draconian orders and began to build a wonderful society, carrying out reforms in the main areas of life of the Athenians.

Estates of Athens

According to historians, Solon developed a number of laws according to which residents received freedom in terms of inheriting property. The benefits were enjoyed by ordinary hard workers - artisans and traders. Citizens were divided into 4 estates, which depended on their financial situation. All people, regardless of their position in society, received equal rights. Any, even not very important, policy issues were decided by the opinion of the majority and only after general discussions.
Solon always defended only the highest stratum - the aristocracy, in whose ranks there were nobility and wealthy peasants. Under him, only the rich held government positions. However, at the same time, the poor classes could also decide their destinies. So, in the 500s BC, certain commoners Aristogeiton and Harmodius killed the ruling tyrant, who was completely arbitrary and did not give people a normal life.
Despite this, the nobility always found an opportunity to unite and lead people the way they needed. They rigged votes at people's meetings, made large bribes, and used the services of demagogues (dubious people's leaders).
The flourishing concerned external relations. Athens owned the port of Piraeus. It was the center of Mediterranean trade. The policy began to dominate the Maritime Union, which included at least 200 policies. Athens owned a common treasury, which greatly increased the authority of the Athenians.

Great War

In the 400s. BC. Athens was attacked by the Spartans. This epic is called the Peloponnesian War. It lasted about 30 years. In the history of Athens and Ancient Greece, these were some of the most significant and bloody battles. As a result, the maritime union of Athens could no longer be called a community, and in the city, as a result of a coup, a group of rulers numbering 30 tyrants took power. The People's Assembly was a fiasco.
Athens capitulated to Sparta. The protracted war weakened not only this The largest city Greece, but also most policies. During the same period, a major external enemy appeared on the arena - Macedonia. The ruler of this country was systematically approaching Athens. As a result, the city-policies decided to unite. This is how the union was created:

• 1. Thebes.
• 2. Magar.
• 3. Corinth.
• 4. Athens.

The Greek coalition battle was defeated. After all, the Athenian nobility, in the majority, curried favor with Macedonia. Thus began the Hellenistic era in Greece. During this period, the Macedonians took over. They gave freedom to the population only formally. However, the Athenians survived, thanks to their ancient history. For example, the Roman Lucius pardoned Athens only because they have such rich history. The inhabitants were given freedom.

Decline

Athens began to gradually decline by the 3rd century BC. The Peloponnesian War completely ruined Greece. Scientists claim that as a result, Hellenism collapsed. On the one hand there are internecine wars, on the other – the advancing Romans. Already at the beginning of our era, the city was not only captured, but also catastrophically plundered by Silla’s warriors. This Roman brought a huge army to Athens, and there was not a single chance left for the inhabitants of the besieged city to win.

Roman rule lasted until the 3rd century. At the same time, Athens did not lose its high position in Greece until the German Heruli warriors came and destroyed everything almost to the ground. Only cultural values ​​and some institutions, for example, schools, have been preserved. By the way, this time gave the world the most famous Roman emperor Julian, who just studied at one of the Athenian schools. However, he closed these educational institutions.
The center of Hellenism “went” to Macedonia, Athens quickly fell into decline. Unfortunately, the rich city became more like a periphery, a small village. Population in 500 of the new era was only 20 thousand people.
The further history of Athens is far from rosy, but rather sad. The city was besieged and robbed many times. The Acropolis, which was an unsurpassed palace, lost its grandeur. In the mid-15th century, the Turks entered Athens. And they, in turn, had to defend the city from the Venetian raid. During that period, the significant architectural monument Parthenon suffered greatly. He practically fell under fire from Venetian guns.
Revival of the capital
Athens became the capital of the state at the beginning of the 19th century. Then the city was more like a provincial village, but free from the Ottoman yoke. King Otto, who ruled in those years, ordered the revival of the once a beautiful city. Intensive construction began. The design of the architect Leo von Klenze was taken as a basis.
Even more quarters appeared at the beginning of the 20th century. Refugees from the territories of Asia Minor came to the city. The Second World War brought new troubles to Athens. The city was occupied by the Nazis. But with the victory over the fascists, prosperity and a new revival came to Athens.
Athens is now largest metropolis Greece is the capital of the Olympic Games. They have been held here again since the end of the 19th century. The thousand-year glory of this city is not forgotten even now. Even in the 20th century, the city was still shaken by political upheavals, but cultural activity did not stop. In 1981, Greece joined the European Union, which gave the country and, of course, its capital, enormous investment privileges.
So, Athens to this day remains the cherished dream of those tourists who have not yet had a chance to visit the capital of Greece. Majestic architecture, cultures, traditions, wonderful history. All this is preserved in numerous museums of antiquity.

Knossos Palace.Crete

The Palace of Knossos, or more correctly Knossos, is the most famous Greek landmark, which is more than four thousand years old. It is located near the capital of the island of Crete, Heraklion. It seems incredible, but the legendary palace with the mythical creature the Minotaur was discovered only a hundred years ago, and until that moment there were only suspicions about the existence of an ancient architectural monument on this site.

Gastronomic trip to Greece

Vacation is exactly the time when you want to do only the things you love. Everyone imagines vacation in their own way: new places, fresh air, lots of impressions, leisurely walks, plenty of sleep, delicious food. For this reason, many go on vacation to other countries, because it is believed that the best way to relax is by changing the environment. And to make your vacation healthy, you should pay a lot of attention to your vacation menu. Where do we have the healthiest food? Of course, in the Mediterranean countries, and especially in Greece. Therefore, we invite you on a gastronomic journey to this country.

Greece - where to relax with children

Hilandar Monastery on Holy Mount Athos

In the northeast of the Athos peninsula of Greece there is the oldest Orthodox monastery in this part of Athos - Khalindar or Hilandar. It was founded in 1197. Khalindara Monastery is located in a very picturesque place and is surrounded on all sides by greenery.

Gods of Ancient Greece

This truly legendary greek city. The capital of ancient and modern Greece has experienced great ups and no less epic falls throughout its history. Like a Phoenix, Athens was reborn after devastating wars, conquests and natural disasters. At the same time, the Greeks managed to retain part of historical heritage cities: today the ruins of the Acropolis and the remains of ancient sculptures coexist with fashionable hotels and modern shopping centers. The features of the most important Greek polis will be discussed in today’s material.

The history of these glorious places goes back almost ten thousand years. The exact date of the founding of the city of Athens is unknown, but according to the widespread version, settlements appeared here in 7 thousand BC. They were located in the southern part of Attica, where there are low mountains covering a valley with settlements on three sides.

The founder of Athens is considered the first ruler in the Athenian kingdom - King Kekropos, who was half man, half snake. According to legend, when choosing a patron of the city, he asked the gods a simple task: to make a useful gift. Poseidon gave him a fountain, but the water in it turned out to be salty and undrinkable. And the goddess Athena gifted the new polis with a tree with unusual fruits - olives. Kekrop chose a gift from the goddess, in whose honor the city of Athens was named.

Athens reached its apogee of glory in the 5th century BC. Actually from 500 to 300 BC. the golden age of development has reached all Ancient Greece, and its capital has become the cradle of culture, economics and politics. However, the political system of the Greek country was such that Athens was not so much the capital of Greece, but rather acted as independent state. The policy remained the most important center ancient times until the rise of the Roman Empire.

In the third century AD, Athens lost its former greatness and became provincial town. Then there are long centuries of constant wars and conquests by foreign troops, leading to the looting, destruction and even burning of Athens. A new round of the city’s history begins only in the 19th century, when the Greeks managed to free themselves from the dictates of the Ottoman Empire.

Since 1833 Athens official capital Greece. Having achieved independence, the Greek kingdom begins to develop rapidly. King Otto of Bavaria intended to return the country to its former greatness and restore the prestige of the capital. To do this, architects were called to Athens who designed several city streets and public buildings in the neoclassical style (including the University of Athens, the National Park, Syntagma Square, etc.). Gradually the city regained its former appearance and in 1896 the first modern Olympic Games were held here in the new stadium.

The 20th century is marked by the beginning of archaeological excavations, which help restore the heritage of ancient Greece. In the 1920s, the Greeks signed an agreement with the Turks on the exchange of populations, as a result of which a wave of immigrants rolled into Athens. Added to this are the treaties on the Balkan Wars that were successful for the Greeks, after the conclusion of which the territory and population of the country, incl. Athens doubles in size.

During World War II, the city fell under German occupation, but after the war it again continued its rapid development. The construction and industrial boom of the mid-20th century, at the beginning of the 21st century, leads to transport and environmental problems. To date, some of them have been successfully resolved, which was greatly facilitated by the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Modern Athens is a dynamic city that combines ancient heritage with the vibrant and vibrant life of 21st century Europe. There are many nightclubs, brand stores, entertainment centers And tourist hotels. But above all this, the ancient Acropolis, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Parthenon and the remains of ancient theaters still rise.

Geographical location

Athens is located on mainland Greece, in the south of the Balkan Peninsula. Polis is located on the central plain of Attica, surrounded by mountains and the Saronic Gulf. Over the years of active development and settlement, the city has come close to these natural boundaries. So further expansion of the urban area is practically impossible.

Greece is southeastern Europe, and Athens is one of the southernmost European cities. But you are unlikely to need a map of European countries, but a map of the city of Athens will be useful to any traveler. The city is very large, so getting around without a street map is quite difficult.

Population

Everyone knows what a glorious capital Greece is and what the main attractions of Athens are called. But few people know that the population of the city of Athens accounts for 1/3 of the total population of the country! Just think about it: a third of the state’s residents live in one city.

The permanent population in Athens in 2017 is more than 3.5 million people, while the total number of residents of Greece in the same year is 10.9 million people. At the same time, migrants and some local population, registered in other regions. Their number can be approximately estimated at another 500 thousand people. This is how capacious the Greek capital is.

Climate

Like the rest of the country, Athens is influenced by the Mediterranean climate. It provides a consistently sunny, hot summer and a long autumn, which in fact smoothly turns into spring. Winter frosts are rare in the region.

The area where Athens is located has low humidity, so the summer heat can be tolerated comfortably. Summer temperatures reach +30°C and above. Rainy days most of the time in the fall, but in the summer precipitation is very rare.

How to get to Athens

The Greek capital can be reached by plane, ferry and land transport.

The city's air harbor is called Eleftherios Venizelos. Upon arrival at Athens airport, it is very easy to go straight to the city center. There is a branch line from the terminal