The city of Athens took its name in the antiquity after Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom and daughter of Zeus. She was the protector deity of the city.
It has been the official capital of the country since 1834 and is also the only city of Europe with such an oriental touch. Athens is considered as the cradle of modern civilisation and is of course one of the few capitals of Europe with a history of thousands of years.
Besides its historic importance, it is the most important commercial centre of the country and the main Greek port, Piraeus, one of the biggest and more important of the Mediterranean, lies a few km to the south.
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Due to its rich historical past, Athens is a great place for sightseeing. Apart from the world famous Acropolis, which stands on the highest point of the town and has become the trademark of the whole Greece, there are many other ancient, Medieval and Byzantine remains to see.
The city of Athens might discourage the newly-arrived visitor by its disorganised, slightly brutal appearance. Nevertheless, it has a lot more to offer than it seems, while great efforts have been made to reorganise the city since the Olympic Games of 2004.
Many Neoclassical buildings adorn the centre of the town, which have been renovated presently and house mainly public services or cafeterias. Such buildings are found in Omonoia square, Panepistimiou avenue, Thissio area and Monastiraki.
These areas are also famous for their picturesque atmosphere and many people go there, especially in Thisio and Monastiraki, to relax under the shade of the Acropolis. |
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Besides the famous archaeological sites and museums, Athens has many pedestrian lovely streets, nice neighbourhoods similar to small island villages, parks and hills covered with pine trees, numerous restaurants and cafes, bars, night clubs, galleries, and a lot more that will not leave the visitor unsatisfied.
In a close proximity from the center of Athens, you will also find many nice beaches to enjoy a swim. Most of these beaches are well organized and have calm waters. The most famous are Porto Rafti, Lagonisi, Varkiza and Schinias.
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 Greek Animal Welfare Fund
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