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Customer Service: +302103333300
Mon-Fri:9:00 to 21:00 & Sat: 9:00-14:00
Athens, the city of intellect, is part of the Attica basin. Attica is situated in the geographical center of Greece and is surrounded by the Euboean, Saronic and Corinthian Gulfs. The triangular shape of Attica is easily recognized on the map of Greece, spreading out into the western Aegean Sea. The peninsula ends to the south at Cape Sounion..The position of Athens in the Attica basin is defined by Mt. Parnitha and Mt. Penteli whose great masses rise above it on the north. Mt. Hymettus dominates the east, while to the west are the numerous low hills of Egaleo and Korydallos. Among all of these hills, is the one that glorified not only Athens, but the whole Greek world and became the symbol of western civilization: the rock of Acropolis! Athens has developed and spread out in the Attica basin to the point that it has become one with the port of Piraeus, while the suburbs have spilled outside the basin itself.Athens has a population of five million. It is the country's heart and the economic and industrial center, as well as the political and cultural center. No matter how crowded it becomes with residents and tourists, it is still hospitable and welcoming. During the summer the beaches are filled with Athenians and others enjoying their beauty. Greece is the cradle of European civilization, and Athens has been its capital since 1834. There is never a time to be bored or to be at a loss for an interesting activity in Athens. Visit the flea market and the bazaar area at Monastiraki, look inside some of the hundreds of tiny Byzantine churches, shop for a few hours in the fascinating boutiques of Plαka, have a leisurely lunch in a taverna, watch the people walk by, and spend an hour writing in your travel diary. Athens can seem overwhelming at first. First of all it is truly massive. The mountains, the rocks, the historic ruins, the panoramic views of valleys and sea: nothing is small. Secondly, it is not scrubbed and polished; it has an ancient, lived-in look as befits a city that has been inhabited for over 7000 years. Yet, it is so modern. An interesting feature of Athens is that it is a study in contradictions! At one moment you will be walking on modern streets with malls and superstores, then make a turn onto a side street and suddenly find yourself in another world with open air meat and fish markets, vegetable and fruit stands in front of you. There are ruins in unexpected places all over the city. What first appears to be a modern street, will have fenced off areas containing parts of ancient toppled columns, statues, etc. They have been sitting there for hundreds and hundreds of years, and are now fenced for protection. Following a visit to the Acropolis, it is an easy downhill stroll to the Agora, the heart of ancient Athens's political and commercial center. The Agora is steps from the Monastiraki and Plαka districts, each filled with shops, cafes, and restaurants. The next stop might be the National Archaeological Museum to see the Mycenaean gold, the classical bronze statues, and the beautiful frescoes from Akrotiri, the Minoan Pompeii on the island of Santorini. Attica has always been generous to its inhabitants. Its land produces an abundance of agricultural and garden products. Olives from the trees that legend says the goddess Athena gave to the town of Athens, grapes and the famed wine from the vineyards in the area are all local trademarks.
