Tourist city of Athens. Beautiful Athens - myths, sights and complex history. Excursions in 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.

Short description

The city, the mention of which brings to mind amazing ancient Greek myths with their passions and battles of the gods, is one of the favorite places of travelers from all over the globe. A huge number of cultural monuments, exquisite and unique national cuisine, the gentle waters of the Aegean Sea, a developed entertainment infrastructure 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 vacation.

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 was included by them in the vast 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 numerous sights of the city: a huge number of 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: a huge number of tourists interested in the ancient sights and 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 an incessant, cheerful “nightlife” shimmering with thousands of neon lights is. 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 accurate as in the metro.

Athens is truly an amazing place to visit. 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.

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. A new airport opened its doors, new metro lines were launched, and 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 an ancient holy city and a 21st century capital, born of contrasts. 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 polis ("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. The work, which began in 447 BC, 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 became too cramped, opened its doors in June 2009. This ultra-modern building of marble, glass and concrete was built on stilts, as valuable archaeological finds were discovered at the site when construction began. 4,000 artifacts are displayed on 14,000 sq. m is ten times the area of ​​the 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

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 the market square and the ancient district of Kerameikos, Roman in the east on the approach to the Olympion (temple of Zeus) and the Arch of Hadrian. 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 council 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. The Panathenaic Road, the main artery of the ancient city, crossed the esplanade diagonally, linking the main gate of the city, the 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 Revolutionary War.

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.

The Portico of Attalus, on the east side of the market square, 120 meters long and 20 meters wide, was reconstructed in the 1950s and is now 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, the administrative center of the city took refuge behind the new walls of the 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. There was also the largest cemetery of that time, which operated until the 6th century and is partially preserved. 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, the ancient city of 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 Zeus the Olympian, the supreme deity, was the largest in ancient Greece - erected, as legend has it, on the site of the ancient sanctuary of 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 got 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 restored 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 St. 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 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 of the 19th century, the most beautiful palace in the city. 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 kafenion 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 gas plant 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 abound, some of them 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 1750s reception halls 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 recent 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, in a few minutes. 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. At the top, from the porch of the Chapel of St. George, 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 explore the most famous sites of Attica, the 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 spot, head south to Vouliagmeni, a luxurious and expensive port surrounded by greenery. The coast becomes more democratic only after Varkiza, near Cape Sounion.

The sentinel of Athens, holding guard on the top of the rock of the "Cape of Columns" at the extreme point of 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 (V 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 seaside resort of Agia Marina, on whose beautiful beaches life is in full swing in summer.

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, the former capital of 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 are the best times 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 the train station in Athens by commuter train. A convenient and comfortable way is to call a taxi. A more economical ground transport is a bus; buses from the airport follow four routes.

Calendar of low prices for air tickets

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Among the capitals of the ancient civilizations of the world, there is no city that, like Athens, existed for 15 centuries. And it still exists today as the capital of Greece, as the cultural center of the country, as a city in which the past is inextricably linked with the present.

The influence of Athens on European and world culture cannot be overestimated. Literature, religion, philosophy, poetry, theater, architecture, sculpture, first of the Roman Empire, and then of Europe, are the direct heirs of Greek culture. Such global concepts of humanity as democracy and the constitution are also of Greek origin. Just like modern sport, which “comes” from the Greek Olympic Games.

Of course, without Greek culture and its capital Athens, the modern world would be different.

Antique period

In the history of Athens, the myths of ancient Greece are intertwined with reality. No wonder.
The city, named after the beloved daughter of Zeus, already in the era of Mycenaean culture, in the 13th century BC, was large and famous in the ancient world, the cultural and political center of Greece.

Theseus is considered the founder of Athens. It is he who is credited with liberating the Athenians from the tribute that the city paid to Minos, the ruler of Crete. Theseus united the scattered cities - policies around Athens into a single city - state. But Theseus had no worthy successors, and after his death power in Athens passed to several wealthy aristocratic families.

In 594 BC. A significant event occurred not only in the history of Athens, but also in the history of all mankind. Athens received a Constitution, a Supreme Court and a People's Assembly.
Three branches of government have survived to this day!

A hundred years later, wars with the Persians began. Athens supported the revolt of numerous Greek cities in Asia Minor. The Persian army landed in small forces in the city of Marathon, near Athens.

Running a marathon distance is equal to the distance between the city of Marathon and Athens. The messenger ran through it to warn the city of the impending danger, and died, reporting the Persian invasion.

To this day, marathon running is carried out in memory of this event; this discipline is included in the program of the Olympic Games. Thanks to the heroism of the Greek who warned the Athenians, and the leadership of the commander Miltiades, the Athenians won this battle.

Ten years later, the great Persian king Xerxes with a huge army won the battle of Thermopylae. The story of 300 Spartans is one of the episodes of this legendary battle. The brave Spartans held off Xerxes' army while the Greeks gathered forces. But it did not help.

The Persian army entered Athens; all the beautiful temples of the city were destroyed.

But after victory in a naval battle, in which the Greeks, under the leadership of the Athenian strategist Themistocles, destroyed the Persian fleet, the war ended in complete victory for the Greeks.

Themistocles was not only an outstanding commander, but also an excellent politician. On his initiative, Athens was surrounded by defensive walls, the port of Piraeus (until today the most important port in Greece) was built, and the city became a strong maritime power.

Golden age

The magnificent monuments of Athens, especially the Parthenon, date back to the period of greatest prosperity of the city-state, the so-called Golden Age. This period dates back to the 5th century BC, during the reign of Pericles.

The greatest architectural monument, the Parthenon, was built under Pericles, which made his name legendary.
The Golden Age of Athens is the time of the great philosophers Anaxagoras and Socrates, historians whose works are still cited today, after so many centuries, Herodotus and Thucydides.

The poets and playwrights Sophocles, Euripides and Aeschylus are not only not forgotten, but performances based on their plays are still staged today. Time has no power over the achievements of the great Greeks. Their names are popular and known in the world, along with the names of their contemporaries.

Athens after the Golden Age

Unfortunately, the Golden Age of Athens was not long, it was interrupted by two wars with Sparta from 431 to 404 BC. These wars were for supremacy over the Greek states.

With the defeat in these wars, Athens lost its political influence, but remained the cultural capital of the ancient world. The names of Praxiteles, Demosthenes, Plato and Xenophon are associated with this period.

In the 3rd century BC. a new disaster befell Athens. The invasion of the army that became powerful Macedonia, led by Philip II, and then by his son Alexander the Great, led to the decline of Athens.

In 146 BC. Greece was conquered by the Romans. Consul Sulla in 86 BC. brought a huge number of great works of art from Athens. But for almost 5 centuries after this, philosophical schools existed in Athens, which made it possible, after all the predatory invasions, to be the center of the ancient world.

It was only after the schools were closed in 529 AD. Athens fell into final decline. For a long time, the great city became a small provincial town of the Byzantine Empire.

Under the Turkish yoke

The Ottoman Empire replaced the Byzantine Empire. Muslim Turks had little interest in the values ​​of ancient culture. In 1458 they captured Athens. Many ancient buildings, architectural monuments and entire areas were destroyed from the 17th to the 19th centuries.

The fate of the city was most negatively affected by the wars between the Ottoman Empire and the Venetian Republic. In the 17th century, during the storming of Athens by the Venetians, the Parthenon was destroyed.

By the end of the 19th century, the Ottoman Empire had lost its power, and all the countries that were part of it by that time began to fight for independence. Greece was no exception.

In 1833, Athens again became the capital of a country reviving after the yoke. It was hard to imagine that the ruined and small village was once a great city-state. The country entered a time of monarchy, which was soon replaced by a constitutional monarchy.

Scientists struggled with the mystery of this temple for a long time, and after many years of research, the secret was found in the special arrangement of the columns. The main decoration of the temple is the statue of Athena - in the 5th century BC. They took her to Constantinople, and there she died in a fire.

The history of the Acropolis is the legends and myths of Ancient Greece. Here Aegeus, in a fit of despair, in anticipation of his son Theseus, threw himself into the sea. Where Poseidon argued with Athena, it was built, with the sanctuary of Pandora, magnificent sculptures of the Caryatids, which are the columns of the temple.

The favorite food of the Greeks is various meats, fish and seafood.

During the day, tourists usually spend time on excursions. In the evening you can relax in one of the countless restaurants, cafes, bars and taverns.

In the Vari area, where there are several popular taverns, you can try “lamb on a spit”. Magnificent and cocrezzi are served in all taverns in the area. It’s not for nothing that these taverns are called “glutton rows.” The average bill for four will be about 100 euros.

For lovers of antiquity, the Archeon Gevsis restaurant offers ancient cuisine recreated from sources.
The interior of the restaurant and the dining area create the illusion of the ancient world. Tourists dress in tunics, wash their feet with rose water, and finally a laurel wreath is placed on their heads.
Restaurant address: Kodratou, Athens, Grees.
Telephone: +30 210 5239661.

Seafood and seafood dishes can be tasted in taverns near Piraeus. It's not cheap, but very tasty. The average bill, depending on the selected delicacies, is from 30 euros per person.

Strophy's meat restaurant is located on the roof of an old mansion not far away. Dinner with a view of the Parthenon, delicious meat, local wine - what else could a tired tourist dream of on a hot evening?

Restaurant address: Rovertou Galli 25 P.C. 11742 Athens.
Telephone: +210 92141130.

Athens is a tourist city. Therefore, prices are high on routes and in restaurants visited by tourists. But if you deviate a little from the tourist path and find, then the prices are several times lower.

So budget prices for breakfast, lunch and dinner are: 162 – 243 rubles, 162 – 324 rubles, 325 – 500 rubles, respectively. A liter of local wine is 205 – 285 rubles, 0.33 of beer is 41 – 164 rubles. Cheap, tasty and satisfying.

Cultural life of Athens

Athens, like ancient times, is today not only the capital of the country, but also the cultural center of Greece.
Here it is National Opera of Greece, concert halls, theaters.

The opera received state status only in 1939. Today it is the largest theater in the country whose repertoire includes operas, ballets, operettas, symphonic opera concerts, classical music concerts, and children's plays.

Theater address: Greece, Athens, 59 Akadimias st.
Telephone: 30 210 3643725

Lycabettos Theater- unusual. It is located on the top of a hill above the city. The theater is not a repertory theater, does not have its own troupe, but is rented out for concerts by world rock and pop music stars.

Palace of Music in Athens built in 1961.
The appearance of such a modern hall was made possible thanks to the participation of many organizations, the Greek government, the National Bank, and individuals.
The Palace has several concert halls, music and multimedia libraries.
Advanced technologies were used during the construction of the Palace of Music. The concerts that regularly take place here are a notable event in the cultural life of the capital.

Address: Vasilissis Sophias and Kokkali Avenue, Athens.
Telephone:(+30)21072-82-333.
Web site: www.megaron.gr.

Athens nightlife

Nightlife in Athens is vibrant, varied and interesting. Bars, discos, clubs offer programs for every taste: national Greek music, jazz, rock, soul - whatever your heart desires.

One of the most popular and beloved clubs in Athens “Villa Mercedes”, which is located in the city center, offers dance music of a variety of styles.

The club has a good dance floor and a well-equipped stage where famous DJs Armin Van Buuren, ERIC PRYDZ and David Guetta perform. Themed parties are often held here.

Many tourists spend the evening under the Acropolis. The performance called “Sound and Light” is a beautiful and unforgettable spectacle. You can see it from a cafe on Plaka. In the taverns of the old town you can listen to a folklore program.

Club - Berlin Club - during the day an ordinary cafe. In the evening this place turns into a wonderful rock and roll club.
The dance floor is always crowded. Famous DJs often work at the club.
There is a bar with a wide range of drinks and snacks.
The club is open until 4 am.
Address: Agias Paraskevis 72, Bournazi Square.
Prices: cocktails in Athens nightclubs cost from 7 to 12 euros, a bottle of wine from 50-80 to 100 euros, a bottle of whiskey costs from 80 to 200 euros. At most clubs, your entrance ticket entitles you to a free drink.

In Athens and the immediate vicinity of the capital there are several dozen nightclubs, not counting taverns with folklore dance programs.
It is impossible to describe them all. But the perfect end to the evening is a visit to a nightclub, where you can dance, listen to music and drink a good cocktail.

Where to stay

There are more than 200 hotels in Athens, designed to suit all tastes and financial capabilities of tourists. The choice is not easy, but we will try to help you make it.
We invite you to get acquainted with some popular hotels in the Greek capital, located in its very center.

Crowne Plaza Athens City Center Hotel

This five star hotel is for lovers of luxury.
Located almost 3 kilometers from the center, in a quiet location. Metro station nearby.

The range of services is typical for a high-star hotel: fitness room, sauna, rooftop pool.
Price of accommodation depends on the type of room, and starts from 6715 rubles.
Reservations can be made directly through the hotel's website.

Address: Michalacopoulou Street 50, Athens, 11528 Greece.

Novus City Hotel

Located just a kilometer from the center, close to the National Archaeological Museum of Athens, the Parthenon, and the Acropolis. Has a 4 star category.

Prices per night in a double room start from 4751 rubles and increase depending on the room category to 7206 rubles. Breakfast is included in the price.
The hotel has a swimming pool, spa services, restaurant, free parking.

Address: 23, Karolou.Str., Athens

Athens Center Square Hotel

A small three-star hotel 400 meters from the city center near the central market is perfect for shopping lovers.
The market starts right at the door.

The advantage is the magnificent view of the Acropolis, which opens from some rooms - they, of course, cost more.
Minimum price for a room 5924 rubles.

Hotel address: 15 Aristogitonos Street & corner of Athinas 7 Kapnikareas, 10552.

Economy Hotel

The 2-star hotel for budget tourists is located just half a kilometer from the most popular attractions of the capital - the Parthenon, the Kotzia Museum, and the Agora.

Price for double room per night is 3363 rubles, breakfast is included in the price.

Hotel address: 5, Kleisthenous str, Athens

Hotel Alma

This 2-star hotel is located 900 meters from the very center of Athens and is probably the most economical of all the hotel businesses operating in the heart of the Greek capital.

Double room price is 2810 rubles. Tourists in their reviews note the cleanliness of the rooms and the consistency of the price/quality ratio.
Most tourists go to Athens not at all to spend time in the rooms, but the hotel is quite comfortable for an overnight stay.

Address: 5 Dorou Str Gr, 10432, Athens.

Where to go in emergency situations

Unfortunately, travel is not always without incident. You can lose documents, get sick, or find yourself in a situation that requires police intervention.
In case of emergency, it is necessary to have telephone numbers to contact the relevant services.

If you lose your documents, you need to contact the Consular Section of the Russian Embassy in Greece:
Athens, 152 32 Chalandri, st. Tzawella 5, tel.: 210 671-19-45, telephones: 210 671-19-06, 210 672-88-49, 210 671-19-35, 210 674-97-08.

For health problems:

You must contact the telephone numbers indicated in the health insurance policy, which is mandatory for obtaining a Schengen visa.
Only doctors called by these numbers provide medical care free of charge! Any other medical services for Russian tourists are paid.

The police number is 100, the fire department is 199, and roadside assistance is 104. However, do not forget that not everyone in Greece speaks English.

Athens is one of the most interesting tourist cities in the world. Rich history, architectural monuments, museums, restaurants and taverns, beaches and nightclubs - everything in the capital is conducive to a varied, interesting holiday.

Attractions

Guide

The capital of the Greek Republic is located in the historical region of Attica. Together with the nearest settlements and Piraeus, it forms the Athens metropolitan area with a population of more than 3.7 million people. Due to the number of inhabitants of the agglomeration, the Attica region is considered the most densely populated in Greece. The Greek capital is surrounded by mountains, which influence the local climate.

Summers here are hot and dry, with rare precipitation, winters are warm and humid with rare snow and frosts. In spring the weather is changeable, but in April and March there may be hot days with air temperatures of +28 - 30 degrees. May is a period of flowering and lush greenery, which begins to fade under the bright sun in the summer months. The swimming season here opens in May-June and lasts almost until the end of October, when the water temperature in the sea begins to drop below +23 degrees. Athens' outlet to the sea is the Saronic Gulf of the Aegean Sea, separating Attica from the Peloponnese.

The history of Athens is reflected not only in the sights and archaeological finds, but also in mythology. The first king of Athens, Kekrops, was a snake man, and he decided what to name the city and to which deity it should be dedicated. Poseidon and Athena competed for the right to be the patron of the city. Wanting to appease Kekrop, she sent him her gifts, and Kekrop accepted an olive tree from Athena, which provides food to the inhabitants of the country to this day.

The citizens of Athens were the commander Themistocles, the poet Sophocles, the philosopher Socrates and his student Plato, the father of comedy Aristophanes and other ancient cultural and artistic figures. Athens maintained its high cultural level after becoming part of the Roman Empire, and then for some time after the transition to the Byzantine Empire. European, Ottoman influences ruled the life of Athens until 1833 - the creation of the Kingdom of Greece. Twice Athens became the capital of the revived Olympic Games - in 1896 and 2004. From them, as well as from UEFA events, specially built stadiums and other facilities have been preserved in the city.

Transport

In 2001, a new airport, Eleftherios Venizelos, was opened in Athens, named after the founder of the civil aviation service in Greece. The airport is located approximately 17 km from the city center, near the town of Spata. The Athens metro line runs straight to the airport. If you arrived through other air gates of Greece (there are international airports in Thessaloniki, Crete, Peloponnese, there are 15 in total), then from the north of the country you can get to the capital by road from Lamia, from the west - by highway from Corinth. The closest seaport to Athens is Piraeus.

All Athens public transport is air-conditioned, and the tram is also high-speed. The tram and metro route system consists of only three lines. Tram routes go along the coast and into the city center. A special feature of Athens transport is the funicular that takes passengers to Lycabettus Hill.

Districts of Athens

Over the past few years, the Greek capital has repeatedly provided world news with topics for stories about protests. Despite assurances from the authorities of safety, in some areas of the city, for example, in Omonia, tourists are better off staying away, sticking to traditional attractions and routes.

Everything that is most historically important is located in the Acropolis area: the hill itself with the Parthenon, the ancient theaters. Hotels here are some of the most expensive. Most guests stay in the Plaka area, the ancient quarter between the Acropolis and Syntagma Square. The buildings of Plaka are not very ancient, they are only two or three centuries old, but they stand on ancient foundations and neither wires nor other city communications interfere with admiring these buildings, since they are all laid underground.

South-west of Lycabettus Hill is the Kolonaki quarter, which houses many museums. The quarter itself is known as the location of the Lyceum, where Socrates and Aristotle taught. Today it is one of the most expensive areas of the city. If you are looking for cheaper hotels, it is better to do it in the Monastiraki quarter.

Sights and excursions

There are 250 public and private museums in the Greek capital - it’s good if you have time to examine at least a small fraction of the exhibits presented in them. The 156-meter Acropolis hill rises above the rest of the city - a symbol of the heyday of Greek civilization, royal power and the worship of the gods of Olympus. Of all the things that were built on the Acropolis long before the advent of our era, the best preserved is the Parthenon, a temple in honor of the patroness of the city, Athens. The entrance to this ancient sanctuary is closed, so you will have to find out the details of this place and feel the atmosphere of Hellas in the nearby Acropolis Museum.

On the Acropolis itself you can also see the ruins of the temple of Nike Apteros, and at the foot of the hill there are 15 surviving columns of Olympion, a temple in honor of Zeus. One of the oldest theaters in Greece is located on the south side of the hill. View comedies and tragedies in the 6th century BC. Up to 17 thousand spectators came here; the building itself was dedicated to the god of wine drinking and fun, Dionysus. On the slopes of the Acropolis lay a Roman theater - the Odeon of Herodes, built in the 2nd century AD.

To the north of the Acropolis there are the remains of an ancient square - the Agora, where once upon a time life was noisy and trade was brisk. The Byzantine period of Athens is evidenced by the 11th century Church of Our Lady of Kapnicarea on Ermou Street and the 10th century Church of the Holy Apostles with frescoes under the dome.

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, the tiny Byzantine Church of the Lesser Metropolis or the elegant stone door of the 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.

From here along University Street in a south-easterly direction, you can walk to the center of the modern city, passing the richly decorated buildings of the National Library, the University and the Academy and get to Syntagma (Constitution) Square - the administrative and tourist center of Athens. There is a beautiful building of the Old Royal Palace on it, there are hotels, outdoor cafes, many banks and institutions. Further east towards the slopes of Lycabettus Hill are Kolonaki Square, a new cultural center including the Byzantine Museum, Benaki Museum, National Art Gallery, Conservatory and Concert Hall. To the south are the New Royal Palace, the National Park and the Great Panathenaic Stadium, reconstructed to host the revived Olympic Games in 1896.

Vacation with children

To the delight of little travelers, Athens can offer them not only museums, but also parks, gardens, water parks, zoos, and a planetarium. In the city center there is a large green area - the National Garden with the adjacent Zappion Park. There is a small zoo and a botanical garden, whose green alleys serve as a good refuge from the heat. The works of painters, not only from Greece, but also from other countries of the world, under the age of 14 are presented in the interactive Children's Museum, where master classes and creative activities are held.

The entire history of Greece, but only in a presentation accessible to children, will be told and shown in another children's museum - the Greek. Its interiors sometimes resemble kindergarten groups, but the content is quite serious: the ancient history of Greece and modern times. Another place to get acquainted with the history of Greece and the secrets of the starry sky in a modern interactive format is the Cosmos center with virtual excursions. If the Greek Children's Museum is suitable for younger children, then Cosmos can surprise and captivate even teenagers who were literally born with gadgets in their hands.

It is worth going to the Allou Fun Park, designed for visitors of all ages - from children to their parents, in the afternoon, since it is not open in the first half of the day. Baby carousels, roller coasters, and other extreme rides - none of the family members will be bored here.

The Attica Zoo features marine and land mammals (elephants, zebras, giraffes, various species of monkeys, dolphins and seals), birds and reptiles. You can continue your acquaintance with the fauna at the Reptile Center, where the most dangerous species of snakes are collected: black mambas, rattlesnakes, cobras and anacondas.

At a distance of 3-20 km from Athens there are three water parks - Oropos Water Park, Copa Copana and Water Fun. The first of them is the closest to the capital, the second is considered one of the best in all of Greece and is a year-round entertainment center, the third is also very popular. Each of them has slides, swimming pools, and children's areas.

Wellness holiday

Holidays in Athens and in Greece in general are a medicine for soul and body, a paradise for lovers of natural healing methods. The sea as a natural SPA, solar treatments, resinous air, for the soul - temples of Ancient Greece and later eras, monasteries, unity with nature.

20 kilometers from Athens is Lake Vouliagmeni and the resort of the same name. You can plunge into the lake itself throughout the year: even in winter, the water temperature here never drops below +22 degrees. The lake is fed by underground thermal springs, their water contains radon and a whole “bouquet” of microelements that contribute to the treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system, reproductive organs, skin, rehabilitation after injuries and operations. A nice bonus of this resort: the lake is inhabited by Garra Ruffa fish, which will exfoliate your skin.

Beach holiday

The beaches closest to Athens are on the coast of the Saronic Gulf. If you wish, you can get to the opposite coast to the waters of the Gulf of Petalia or to Cape Sounion - the southernmost point of Attica.

Along the coast of the Saronic Gulf, resorts and beaches stretch in an almost continuous strip: from Piraeus to Vouliagmeni, 20 km from Athens, and a little further to the south - Lagonissi. Vouliagmeni is primarily a lake with thermal water, partly underground; there is no beach as such, but swimming is quite possible. The beaches in Glyfada are suitable for a variety of holidaymakers: young people, families with children, lovers of active recreation. 35 km from the city center in Varkiza is Yabanaki Beach - a place where active water recreation is concentrated and parties are held.

Active recreation and entertainment

Bike tours around the city, climbing walls, diving, windsurfing, golf courses - this is not a complete list of activities available to tourists in and around Athens. One of the climbing walls, Summit, is located just in the suburbs. Nearby is the Altantis sports and recreation complex, which has 12 courts with different surfaces for tennis fans. The cycling tour will be tailored to the level of physical fitness of the excursionist, it is accompanied by a guide, and the route itself runs past the Acropolis with the Parthenon, the Temple of Zeus, the Theater of Dionysus and the Panathinaikos Stadium, built for the first revived Olympic Games in 1896.

The diving center is located in Lagonissi, about 40 km from Athens. Beginners will be taught the rules of diving and provided with an experienced instructor; diving pros can rent equipment. At the windsurfing center Surf Nissalia, 25 km from Athens, you can receive appropriate training and rent equipment for various types of surfing. If there is not enough water in the sea and water parks, then in Athens there is a sports complex Aquadome with all-season indoor and outdoor summer pools. Yabanaki Beach Park is recognized as a water sports center.

At the beginning of June, the foot of the Acropolis becomes the starting point for the Akropolis race, the Greek stage of the European Rally Championship. These competitions have been held since 1951. After such a spectacle, you will probably want to get behind the wheel and drive with all your heart. It’s hardly worth doing this with a rented car, but you can have fun at the Athens Karting – a family sports center where you can come with children aged eight years and older. The tour of the center lasts five hours.

Nightlife in Greece is rich and varied; sometimes the city streets look livelier at night than during the day: restaurants are open until two in the morning, and clubs and discos open at 11 p.m. until the morning. Nightclubs are located in the areas of Gazi, Plaka, Psirri, Kolonaki, Syntagma Square. At night, the establishments of Athens feature not only popular music, but also live Greek music, especially in restaurants in Plaka and Psirri.

Nightlife is also in full swing in the resort suburbs - for example, in Glyfada, Varkiza, Vouliagmeni and others. Gamblers go to the northern part of the city to try their luck. It is located there - on the top of Mount Parnassus, of all places! – Casino Mont Parnes.

Kitchen and souvenirs

It is worth remembering that towards the city center the amount in the restaurant check will increase, and in taverns somewhere on the outskirts it will decrease. One thing will remain unchanged - the abundance and variety of dishes, symbolizing the generosity of the sea and the fertility of the land of Greece. Any lunch or dinner will include traditional feta cheese, olives, seafood, a variety of vegetables, flavored with olive oil, lemon juice and herbs. A special feature of Athens catering is the inexpensive tiropitadiko cafes, which serve tiropeta - cheese pies made from puff pastry.

In the second half of summer, despite the heat, shopaholics flock to Athens - the sales season begins here, during which some store owners are ready to discount up to 80 percent of the price. One of the largest shopping streets is Ermu, named after the god of trade Hermes, where inexpensive brands like Zara are concentrated. Luxury shopping begins in the fashionable Kolonaki area. For real rarities, antiques and just souvenirs, you need to go to the Plaka area or to the flea market in Monastiraki, for gastronomic shopping - to Athenas Street.

Capital of Greece. The city already existed in the Mycenaean era, 1600-1200. BC e. The name is presumably associated with the language of the Pelasgians, pre-Greek. inhabitants of the Balkan Peninsula, where it meant a hill, a hill. The name was rethought by the Greeks... Geographical encyclopedia

The capital of Greece, one of its oldest cities. In Ancient Greece, Athens was a city state (polis), which played a leading role in its history and culture. Athens is located in Attica. In the 16th - 13th centuries. BC. on the rocky Acropolis there was a fortified... ... Historical Dictionary

Athens- Athens. Acropolis. ATHENS, capital (since 1834) of Greece. 748 thousand inhabitants. Located on the Attica Peninsula, in a hilly valley near the Aegean Sea. International Airport. Metropolitan. A large commercial, industrial and cultural center. Mechanical engineering... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

Capital of Greece, adm. c. Attica region. 748 thousand inhabitants (1991). Together with the port of Piraeus and its suburbs, Athens forms Greater Athens with the population of St. 3 million people. An important transport hub. Elinikon International Airport. Greater Athens gives St. 2/3… … Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

- (Athenae, αὶ Αθη̃ναι). The main city of Attica and the greatest city in all of ancient Greece. The oldest part of the city was first called Cecropia. since, according to legend, it was built by Kekrops, the first king of Attica; Later this place was named... Encyclopedia of Mythology

- (Athenai), capital of Greece. Located on the Attica Peninsula, near the Aegean Sea, in a picturesque hilly valley. According to legend, it was founded in the 16th-13th centuries. BC e. In Ancient Greece, the city was a state, a major economic, political and... ... Art encyclopedia

ATHENS, capital (since 1834) of Greece. 748 thousand inhabitants. Located on the Attica Peninsula, in a hilly valley near the Aegean Sea. International Airport. Metropolitan. A large commercial, industrial and cultural center. Mechanical engineering (including... ... Modern encyclopedia

Athens, capital of Attica in Dr. Greece, named after the goddess Athena, is one of the most famous centers of science and art of the ancient world. When ap. Paul arrived in A. (Acts 17:15ff.), the apogee of the glory of this city was left behind: the main trade. became the center... Brockhaus Biblical Encyclopedia

Ancient, city state (polis) in Attica (region in Greece), which played a leading role in the economic, political and cultural life of Greece; an example of ancient democracy, which reached its peak under Pericles (2nd half of the 5th century BC) ... Modern encyclopedia

Famous for its works of art and science, the city of ancient Greece, the main city in the Attica region. Greek culture flourished here. science and art, and here is the arena of activity of many famous Athenians. Currently the capital of Greece. Complete dictionary... ... Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language

Noun, number of synonyms: 2 posidonia (4) capital (274) ASIS Dictionary of Synonyms. V.N. Trishin. 2013… Synonym dictionary

Books

• Athens. Between Sky and Sea, Philippe Plisson. “Indeed, we Greeks are the world’s first navigators, and we entrusted Philip Plisson with the creation of this magnificent album. In it, Athens, and, in fact, the whole of Attica, looks...
• Athens. Between sky and sea. , Philip Plisson. `Indeed, we Greeks are the world's first navigators, and we have entrusted Philippe Plisson with the creation of this magnificent album. In it, Athens, and, in fact, all of Attica, look...