We plan our own trip. Piraeus - the sea gate of Greece

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16,171 people/km²

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BE, BZ, YI, YK, YM, YN, ZN, ZP

Story

Piraeus has been known since antiquity when it was the port of the Athenian polis, the capital of the Maritime Union. To counter sieges, the port was connected to the city by "long walls".

Economy

Shipping is a major component of the city's economy. Piraeus is one of the centers of world shipping. Piraeus "Akti Miauli" (Embankment of Admiral Miaoulis Andreas-Vokos) is known in world shipping circles in the same way as the City of London is known in financial circles. On a relatively small area, there are hundreds of offices of shipping companies and companies related to shipping.

All members of the IACS (IACS), that is, the main maritime classification societies, are represented in Piraeus, including the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping.

Piraeus is also a hub for passenger and car ferry lines to the islands of the Greek archipelago and to the countries of the Eastern Mediterranean.

The port is visited by the largest cruise ships world, and for some cruise companies, Piraeus is the base or starting port of the cruise.

As a recognition of the contribution of the Liberty type ships in the development of the fleet of Greek shipowners into the first fleet of the world, in the port of Piraeus, near the old dry dock of Vasiliadis, the museum ship SS Hellas Liberty is exhibited.

Industry

Metallurgy, mechanical engineering, chemical, cement, food and flavor industries.

A powerful maritime industry stands out with a network of ports and auxiliary facilities.

Chemical and cement enterprises in the 80s of the XX century were closed or moved outside the city for environmental reasons.

Demography

Piraeus is one of largest cities Greece, has a population of 175,697 as of 2001. At the same time, the urban agglomeration of Piraeus is part of the agglomeration of Greater Athens. The Piraeus agglomeration also includes 6 suburbs, and its total population is 466,065 people (as of 2001).

Notable citizens

• Mattheopoulos, Dimitrios (1861-1923) - lieutenant general of the Greek army, participant in the Balkan wars of 1912-1913
• Ioannis Malokinis (1880-1942) - Greek sailor and swimmer, champion of the first modern Olympics
• Vandoros, Spyros (1887-1940) - Greek painter of the first half of the 20th century.
• Ioannis Paraskevopoulos (1889 - 1951) is a famous Greek astronomer of the 20th century, after whom a crater on the Moon, two comets and an asteroid are named.
• Aemilius Veakis - one of the greatest Greek actors
• Katina Paxino (1900-1973) - Greek and American stage and film actress (Oscar 1943)
• Parnis, Alexis (born 1924) - Greek writer and poet
• Kounellis, Giannis (born 1936) - Italian artist of Greek origin, one of the founders and main representatives of arte povera
• Anastasius (Archbishop of Tirana) (born 1924) - Archbishop of the Albanian Orthodox Church
• Michalis Kapsis (born 1973) - football player, player of the Greek national team - European champion in 2004
• Kostas Martakis (born 1984) - Greek singer and model
• Tolis Voskopoulos - Greek singer and actor, one of the most famous laika performers
• Iconomou, Michalis (gr. Μιχάλης Οικονόμου 1888 - 1933) - Greek impressionist painter. A prominent representative of Greek painting of the interwar period.
• Criaras, Emmanuel (gr. Εμμανουήλ Κριαράς 1906 - 2014) - a prominent Greek philologist and lexicographer of the 20th century.
• Dalaras, Yorgos (born 1949) - laiki and rembetika singer, composer

Sport

• Olympiacos Football Club
• Basketball club "Olympiacos"

twin cities

• Arkhangelsk, Russia
• Saint-Petersburg, Russia ()
• Odessa, Ukraine
• Baltimore, USA
• Marseille, France
• Rosario, Argentina
• Ostrava, Czech Republic
• Galati, Romania
• Varna, Bulgaria
• Shanghai, China

Gallery

Piraeus map 1908.jpg

Map of Piraeus, 1908

Peiraias budynek 3.jpg

city ​​buildings

Peiraias wiezowiec.jpg

Piraeus Tower

Agios Konstantinos Piraeus.JPG

Church of St. Constantine and Helena

Piraeus Kastella1.JPG

Castella

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Notes

"Unpaid member," repeated Arakcheev. - I have the honor. Hey call! Who else? he shouted, bowing to Prince Andrei.

While waiting for notification of his enrollment as a member of the committee, Prince Andrei renewed his old acquaintances, especially with those persons who, he knew, were in power and might be needed by him. He now experienced in Petersburg a feeling similar to that which he experienced on the eve of the battle, when he was tormented by restless curiosity and irresistibly drawn to higher spheres, to where the future was being prepared, on which the fate of millions depended. He felt from the anger of the old people, from the curiosity of the uninitiated, from the restraint of the initiates, from the haste and concern of everyone, from the innumerable number of committees and commissions, the existence of which he learned again every day, that now, in 1809, preparations were being made here in Petersburg, some kind of huge civil battle, of which the commander-in-chief was an unknown to him, mysterious and seemed to him a brilliant person - Speransky. Both the most vaguely known matter of transformation, and Speransky, the main figure, began to interest him so passionately that the matter of the military regulations very soon began to pass in his mind to a secondary place.
Prince Andrei was in one of the most favorable positions in order to be well received in all the most diverse and highest circles of the then Petersburg society. The party of reformers cordially received and lured him, firstly because he had a reputation for intelligence and great erudition, and secondly because by setting the peasants free he had already made himself a reputation as a liberal. The party of old dissatisfied, just like the son of their father, turned to him for sympathy, condemning the transformation. The sorority, the world, welcomed him, because he was a rich and noble fiancé, and almost a new face with a halo of a romantic story about his imaginary death and the tragic death of his wife. In addition, the general voice about him of all who knew him before was that he had changed a lot for the better in these five years, softened and matured, that there was no former pretense, pride and mockery in him, and there was that calmness that purchased over the years. They started talking about him, they were interested in him and everyone wanted to see him.
The next day after visiting Count Arakcheev, Prince Andrei was at Count Kochubey's in the evening. He told the count his meeting with Sila Andreich (Kochubey called Arakcheev so with the same vague mockery that Prince Andrei noticed in the reception room of the Minister of War).
- Mon cher, [My dear,] even in this matter you will not bypass Mikhail Mikhailovich. C "est le grand faiseur. [Everything is done by him.] I'll tell him. He promised to come in the evening ...
- What does Speransky care about military regulations? asked Prince Andrew.
Kochubey, smiling, shook his head, as if surprised at the naivety of Bolkonsky.
“We talked about you the other day,” Kochubey continued, “about your free ploughmen…
- Yes, it was you, prince, who let your men go? - said Catherine's old man, contemptuously turning to Bolkonsky.
- The small estate did not bring income, - answered Bolkonsky, so as not to irritate the old man in vain, trying to soften his act before him.
- Vous craignez d "etre en retard, [Afraid to be late,] - said the old man, looking at Kochubey.
“I don’t understand one thing,” the old man continued, “who will plow the land, if they are given freedom? It is easy to write laws, but difficult to manage. It's all the same as it is now, I ask you, count, who will be the head of the chambers, when will everyone have their exams?
“Those who will pass the exams, I think,” answered Kochubey, crossing his legs and looking around.
- Here Pryanichnikov serves me, a nice man, a gold man, and he is 60 years old, will he go to exams? ...
“Yes, it’s difficult, since education is very little widespread, but ...” Count Kochubey did not finish, he got up and, taking Prince Andrei by the hand, went towards the incoming tall, bald, blond man, about forty, with a large open forehead and an extraordinary, strange whiteness of an oblong face. The newcomer was wearing a blue tailcoat, a cross around his neck and a star on the left side of his chest. It was Speransky. Prince Andrei immediately recognized him and something trembled in his soul, as happens at important moments in life. Whether it was respect, envy, expectation, he did not know. The whole figure of Speransky had a special type, by which one could now recognize him. In no one of the society in which Prince Andrei lived did he see this calmness and self-confidence of awkward and stupid movements, in no one did he see such a firm and at the same time soft look of half-closed and somewhat moist eyes, he did not see such a firmness of an insignificant smile , such a thin, even, quiet voice, and, most importantly, such a delicate whiteness of the face and especially the hands, somewhat wide, but unusually plump, tender and white. Prince Andrei saw such whiteness and tenderness of the face only among soldiers who had been in the hospital for a long time. It was Speransky, the state secretary, the speaker of the sovereign and his companion in Erfurt, where he met and spoke with Napoleon more than once.
Speransky did not shift his eyes from one face to another, as one involuntarily does when entering a large society, and was in no hurry to speak. He spoke quietly, with the assurance that they would listen to him, and looked only at the face with which he spoke.
Prince Andrey followed Speransky's every word and movement with particular attention. As happens with people, especially with those who strictly judge their neighbors, Prince Andrei, meeting a new person, especially one like Speransky, whom he knew by reputation, always expected to find in him the complete perfection of human virtues.
Speransky told Kochubey that he was sorry that he could not come earlier because he was detained at the palace. He did not say that the sovereign had detained him. And this affectation of modesty was noticed by Prince Andrei. When Kochubey called Prince Andrei to him, Speransky slowly turned his eyes to Bolkonsky with the same smile and silently began to look at him.
“I am very glad to meet you, I have heard about you, like everyone else,” he said.
Kochubey said a few words about the reception given to Bolkonsky by Arakcheev. Speransky smiled more.
“My good friend, Mr. Magnitsky, is the director of the commission of military regulations,” he said, finishing every syllable and every word, “and if you wish, I can put you in touch with him. (He paused at the point.) I hope you find in him sympathy and a desire to promote all that is reasonable.
A circle immediately formed around Speransky, and the old man who had been talking about his official, Pryanichnikov, also turned to Speransky with a question.
Prince Andrei, without entering into a conversation, observed all the movements of Speransky, this man, recently an insignificant seminarian and now in his hands - these white, plump hands, who had the fate of Russia, as Bolkonsky thought. Prince Andrei was struck by the extraordinary, contemptuous calmness with which Speransky answered the old man. He seemed to address him with his condescending word from an immeasurable height. When the old man began to speak too loudly, Speransky smiled and said that he could not judge the advantage or disadvantage of whatever the sovereign wanted.
After talking for some time in a general circle, Speransky got up and, going up to Prince Andrei, took him with him to the other end of the room. It was evident that he considered it necessary to deal with Bolkonsky.
“I didn’t have time to talk with you, prince, in the midst of that animated conversation in which this venerable old man was involved,” he said, smiling meekly contemptuously and with this smile, as if acknowledging that he, together with Prince Andrei, understands the insignificance of those people with whom he just spoke. This appeal flattered Prince Andrei. - I have known you for a long time: firstly, in your case about your peasants, this is our first example, to which it would be so desirable to have more followers; and secondly, because you are one of those chamberlains who did not consider themselves offended by the new decree on court ranks, causing such rumors and gossip.
- Yes, - said Prince Andrei, - my father did not want me to use this right; I started my service from the lower ranks.

Piraeus: Piraeus city in Greece Piraeus character ancient Greek mythology Piraeus nomarchy in Greece, located in the region of Attica ... Wikipedia

City in Greece, on the Aegean administrative center the nome of Piraeus; part of Greater Athens. 170 thousand inhabitants (1991). The main foreign trade port of the country (cargo turnover 13 million tons in 1980; the outport of Athens). Metallurgy, mechanical engineering, chemical, ... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

This term has other meanings, see Piraeus (meanings). City of Piraeus Πειραιάς Country Greece ... Wikipedia

A city in Greece, on the Aegean Sea, the administrative center of the Piraeus nome; part of Greater Athens. 169 thousand inhabitants (1991). The country's main foreign trade port (cargo turnover over 10 million tons per year; the outport of Athens). Metallurgy, mechanical engineering, ... ... encyclopedic Dictionary

- (Peiraiéus) a city in Greece, on the northeastern shore of the Saronic Gulf Aegean Sea, in the nome of Attica, as part of Greater Athens (See Athens). 187.4 thousand inhabitants (1971). Knot of two main railways: P. Athens Thessaloniki and P. Athens ... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

Marxist-Leninist ist. science, investigating and summarizing a huge factual. material, considers G. as ist. category, due primarily to socio-economic. the structure of society. Marx and Engels first opened the main. laws of development G. ... ...

- (Piraiéus, English Piraeus), a city in the south of Greece, 8 km south of Athens, is part of the Bol agglomeration. Athens. 176 thousand inhabitants (2001). From the 5th century BC. - trade. and a military harbor, the stronghold of Ancient Athens. In 86 BC destroyed by a Roman general ... ... Geographic Encyclopedia

- (Peiraieus) largest port and prom. center of Greece, part of Greater Athens. 184 thousand inhabitants (1961). The first settlements on the site of P. appeared in ancient times. In the 5th c. BC e. P. bargain. and military harbor, stronghold of Athens. The peninsula, on which is located ... ... Soviet historical encyclopedia

City- fortified settlements with perpendicular crossing. streets, sanctuaries of gods and societies. buildings already existed in 8-6 thousand BC. (Chatal Huyuk, Jericho), but to become an economic, political. And cultural center some territory G. could only then, ... ...

Piraeus is the largest port in Greece. The first settlements on the site of P. appeared in ancient times. In the 5th c. BC. P. bargain. and military harbor, stronghold of Athens. P in, on the rum is the city, was surrounded by the so-called. long walls, conn. with Athenian fortifications ... ... Ancient world. encyclopedic Dictionary

Books

• , Matyshak Philip. The book of the doctor of Roman history, the author of numerous books on the history of Rome, Philip Matyshak, invites the reader to travel to Ancient Athens in the times of Pericles and Phidias. The author, as an experienced guide,…
• Ancient Athens for five drachmas a day, Matyshak F.. The book of the doctor of Roman history, the author of numerous books on the history of Rome, Philip Matyshak, invites the reader to travel to Ancient Athens in the times of Pericles and Phidias. The author, as an experienced guide,…

They are striking in their scale: the port harbors occupy a vast territory, serving hundreds of ferries and ships every day. The port handles about 20 million passengers a year, which allows it to be considered the largest passenger port throughout Europe.

However, behind the bustle of the transport hub, the city of Piraeus itself is lost, yes, it is the city, and not the district of the capital. Of course, the border between them is almost invisible, but legally Piraeus is considered an independent territorial unit. Today we will talk about sights and interesting places port city.

Initially, there was an unremarkable fishing village here. Only in the 5th century BC. the Greeks drew attention to a convenient harbor.

History of formation ancient city begins with the decision of the ruler Themistocles to move the port of the capital Athens to a more fortified place than the open Falera Bay. It was planned to maintain a large fleet (up to 400 ships), which would be difficult for the invaders to reach. Geographically, the Piraeus Peninsula was ideally suited, since its harbors are covered by long coasts. For even greater protection, they were later surrounded by walls that united Athens with the peninsula.

The construction of the port is also being developed by the city of Piraeus. Even the name of the settlement is connected with the marine theme: “to cross”, “to cross”. Former village turns into main sea ​​gate and a bustling mall. So he stayed until the end of ancient times: in 86 BC. The Romans capture Athens and Piraeus falls into disrepair.

In the Middle Ages, the territory was in the power of the Turks, who placed their flotilla in the former port. Now the sea harbor is called Porto Leone, and the entrance to the port docks is guarded by a statue of a lion. Later, the Venetians capture the port and take the statue to Venice.

But only Greece, which won its independence, returns Piraeus to its former level of power. The city is populated by refugees and migrants, and the port part is being gradually restored. In 1869, the first subway line was laid to the harbor, which indicates the high importance of the port.

In 1923, the city was captured by the second wave of immigrants associated with the signing of the Greek-Turkish treaty. Literally per day local residents increases by 100 thousand. The subsequent growth of the population and the development of the port lead to the fact that in the 1970s Piraeus undergoes extensive redevelopment. City receives modern look, and a copy of the already mentioned lion appears at the entrance to the sea berths.

Modern Piraeus - where is it and how to get there

Today, the territory of the sea harbor occupies tens of kilometers. But, despite the huge size, Greek city Piraeus is considered more a part of Athens than an independent municipality. This is not surprising: over the years of development, the seaside town has literally merged with Athens, and transport networks connect Piraeus with any point of the capital city.

The port is located in the southwestern part of Attica, on the shores of the Aegean Sea. The distance from the center of Athens to the seaside town is no more than 14 km. There are several ways to get to Piraeus:

• By metro (green line, line No. 1);
• By bus (from the city No. 40, No. 49, from Athens Airport No. X96);
• Taxi (from the city 20-30 euros, from the airport 50-60);
• On your own in a rented car.

Depending on the point of departure and the route of transport, the trip from Athens to Piraeus will take from 10 to 60 minutes.

Weather in Piraeus

As for all of Greece, in Piraeus, the peak of high temperatures occurs in July and August. At this time, the thermometer reaches +32-34°C during the day and +23-25°C at night, and the water warms up to +27°C.

And another small port of Athens is the harbor of Lavrion. The port is located in the town of the same name, located in the southeast of Attica. The distance from the center of Athens is 60 km, and from the port of Piraeus 70 km.

The sea harbor is equipped with several berths from which ferries leave for the islands of Kea, Kythnos, Lemnos, Thassos and others. The port serves up to 16 flights per day. Lavrion is famous among tourists affordable prices for rent of yachts and boats.

Pick up and buy a ferry ticket from the port of Piraeus

Attractions Piraeus

In addition to the large-scale port of Piraeus, the sights of local culture are famous, of which there are many in the city. What is the story of the repair of the intersection of Philo and George streets, when the famous Piraeus statues of Artemis, Athena and Kouros, as well as other sculptures and antiquities, were accidentally discovered. The collection was transferred to the Athens Museum, but later returned to his hometown.

In addition, there are many architectural monuments and specialized museums that store ancient artifacts. So the tourist in Piraeus has something to see and where to go on excursions.

This institution stores the "living" history of the formation of Piraeus. Here you can travel back to the time of Roman domination, catch the classic heyday of Greece and get acquainted with the culture of the Mycenaean era.

The total area of ​​the museum is almost 1400 square meters. The exposition is located in 10 halls, each of which is dedicated to a specific topic. The collection includes statues, bas-reliefs, ceramics, household items, musical instruments and embossed plaques.

Archaeological Museum Piraeus is located in a two-storey building at 31 Harilau Trikoupi Street. The institution is open daily from 08:00 to 15:00, except Mondays. The ticket price will be 3 euros.

Piraeus is home to the largest maritime museum in Greece. Its exposition, which contains more than 2,000 exhibits, allows you to trace the history of the formation of the Greek flotilla. It contains ship models, weapons exhibits, sailors' uniforms, flags, naval awards, navigational instruments and maps. And the library fund has more than 10 thousand publications on the marine theme.

Maritime Museum Piraeus is located at 12 Akti Themistocleous Street. The institution is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 09:00 to 14:00. The entrance ticket costs 4 euros.

Museum of Laskarina Bubulina

Foundation dedicated to the memory of a Greek revolutionary, the only woman in the world to earn the title of Admiral of the Fleet. She is the heroine of the Greek struggle for independence in 1821.

Today, a memorial exposition has been opened in the house of the glorious warrior on the island of Spetses. You can get to the museum with the help of pleasure boats departing from the port of Piraeus. Depending on the speed of the vessel, the journey will take from 4 to 2 hours.

One of the main attractions of Piraeus is the Church of Saints Constantine and Helena - majestic building 18th century, built in the Baroque style. It is echoed by the Church of the Holy Trinity, built in the same century, which survived a major fire, but was restored and bursting with baroque beauty.

Separately, it is worth noting the ascetic-looking church of Zoodokhos Pigi, which is a functioning monastery. It is located on top of a hill, so its high bell tower and domes attract tourists from afar with a majestic view.

Dion park

Archaeological center located directly below open sky. The ruins of altars and temples, preserved sculptures, as well as ancient mosaics preserve the heritage and beauty of the past.

Not far from the park was the Odeon, an ancient amphitheater. Only ruins have survived to this day, reminiscent of the culture of the country developed in the era of antiquity.

Monument to Themistocles

The bronze statue of the commander Themistocles, which appeared in Piraeus in 2010, is so popular with tourists that every souvenir shop sells a small copy of it. The original sculpture is located on Akti Miauli Street.

Shops and restaurants

In addition to attractions, there are enough other entertainments in Piraeus. For example, the city has many cafes, restaurants and taverns where you can appreciate the local cuisine.

Also worth shopping: central streets Iroon Polytechneiou and Grigoriou Labraki are famous for their numerous shops, markets and shopping centers.

The port city also has equipped beaches located at a safe distance from the port and passing ships. One of the most best zones- Votsalakia beach, stretching from Mikrolimano Bay to Zei Bay. In addition to sunbeds and umbrellas, there is a tennis court, a volleyball court and a swimming pool.

Popular hotels in Piraeus

There are enough hotels and hotels of various classes in the city. From popular places note here:

Rest in Piraeus is interesting for its peculiar sights and proximity to the capital Athens. Settling here, tourists can observe beautiful views port harbors, at any time to go to Greek islands or go to the city center and see the famous Acropolis.

Fascinating trips and pleasant experiences!

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Classmates

Piraeus has been the largest port in Greece and the Mediterranean since "classical" times (the age of Pericles), when the so-called Long Walls were erected between Athens and Piraeus, the surviving remains of which are still visible today. Today's Piraeus is independent Big city. The port, with its ferries to the islands that bring most visitors to Piraeus, is attractive in itself.

On Sundays in the morning behind the metro station works " swap meet”, which sell mainly cheap clothes, pirated CDs and other goods, but it’s worth a look. A truly attractive area, rather, is the vicinity of the harbors of Zeya Marina and Mikrolimano with moorings for boats, boats and light ships. There are many cafes and restaurants on the waterfront. In addition, the city has an excellent archaeological museum.

A Brief History of Piraeus (Greece)

Piraeus became a port at the beginning of the 5th century BC under Themistocles, who appreciated the benefits offered by the three natural harbors. Therefore, he surrounded it with defensive walls, which were destroyed during the Peloponnesian War. They were restored in the IV century BC. Under Pericles, construction was completed long walls- this provided for the city in the event of a siege the opportunity to receive reinforcements and supplies by sea.

IN modern Piraeus in a number of places, the remains of these walls and the towers that strengthened them have been preserved. Under the Turks, Piraeus fell into decay, and by the end of the War of Independence, only one monastery remained here. However, from the 1830s, Piraeus began to grow. Initially, the influx of population was provided to the port by refugees from, who left their homeland after the Turks devastated the island, then immigrants from Crete and arrived.

By the beginning of the First World War, Piraeus bypassed, which was formerly the main port of the country, and the shipping that opened in the meantime along (in 1862) and the Corinth (in 1893) canal only strengthened the strategic importance of the capital's port. As well as, after the "population exchange" between and in 1923, Piraeus grew rapidly. More than 100 thousand Greeks from Asia Minor settled in the port city, who doubled the population of Piraeus almost in one single night and bestowed new culture, whose most enduring legacy was rebetika - blues with an admixture of jazz.

Arrival and transport in Piraeus (Greece)

The easiest way to get from Athens to Piraeus is by metro, line 1: about twenty minutes from Omonia station. You can take the tram to the SEF stop (Sgadio Irinis ke Filias - Stadium of Peace and Friendship), where you can go to the Neo-Faliro metro station or walk to the piers of Mikrolimano. There are many buses: No. 40 (an interval of 10 minutes from 5:00 am to midnight; from 1:00 am to 5:00 am - 1 hour) connects Piraeus with, and No. 49 with Omonya (5:00-0:00 interval is about 15 minutes, 1:00-5:00 - 1 hour interval) and stops a little closer to the ferry piers.

The road takes about an hour. From the airport to Piraeus in about 1 hour 20 minutes you will be taken by express bus number 96. A taxi from the center of Athens will cost you 8 euros during the day - consider this option, especially if you intend to get to Zeia Marina or Mikrolimano - the way from the metro to either of the two harbors is not the nearest one (however, bus No. 904 goes to the first one, and trolleybus No. 20 goes to the second one). The bars and restaurants of Piraeus are included in the general Athenian list: if you want to stock up on food before going to the sea or have breakfast before a long journey, you will find many establishments both near the market, and near the metro station or on the embankments. There are many stands with souvlaki, Everest chain cafe on the corner of Akti-Kalimasyoti near the metro.

• Piraeus ferries in Greece

Hundreds of ferries depart from Piraeus daily, so it's no surprise that correct schedules are hard to find despite the fact that tourist office publishes it on his website. Most ships to the islands east of the Peloponnese in, to and in high demand leave between 7:00 and 9:00 in the morning. Then, from 15:00, ferries leave in the direction of the Cyclades and, and the last departures in the evening to many ports, but most of night ferries go to, to the northeastern sector of the Aegean Sea and to the western Cyclades. Ferries run frequently, so you'll never have to spend an extra night in Athens or Piraeus during high season.

It is not necessary to buy tickets for regular ferries in advance, although if you need a place in a cabin or want to transport your car on the ferry, it is better to buy a ticket in advance. It’s also difficult to get tickets when the Greeks are on vacation or celebrating Easter and the Assumption Mother of God More and more companies are selling tickets online. During the season, it is worth booking in advance a place on the Flying Dolphin hydrofoil. It is better to arrive in Piraeus by 7 o'clock and ask shipping agents at the metro station and on the embankment near the Karaiskaki plateau.

Often an agent works for a single company, so you'll need to talk to at least three or four agents to get the full picture. Prices for internal Greek flights are not very different, but the quality of service, the conditions on the ship and the accuracy of the schedule and route are different. If, for example, you are heading to (Thira) or, choose a ship that stops on no more than three or four islands along the way, and take a ticket to Crete for a direct flight. Ferries following different routes depart from different berths, and some berths are far apart (some large ships buses are sent for passengers - like at airports).

Many maps of Piraeus show a diagram of the berths of the main harbor, according to the destinations of ships departing from them, however, the port is being reorganized and therefore do not hesitate to ask the ticket agent once again: on any given day, any ship may end up on a berth that was not intended for it at all. But there are always signs and other signaling indicating the ship's destination and time of departure. You will not be sold a ticket on deck, but there is a kiosk with a ticket office near the pier.

The collection of the Archaeological Museum at Harilau-Trikoupi 31 (Tuesday-Sunday 8:30-15:00; 3 €) is excellent, and if you are interested in classical antiquity, it might be worth a special trip there. The exposition begins at the top, where a bronze kouros is on display. The sculpture is attributed to 520-530 BC, and dating allows us to consider this statue as the oldest bronze statue that has survived to this day. Nearby, statues of Artemis and Athena cast somewhat later. All three sculptures were discovered in 1959 when pipes were being laid. It is assumed that they were hidden in 86 BC, when Sulla laid siege to Piraeus. The building in which they were hidden burned down during a fire and hid the statues under its rubble, which, thanks to this, were happily preserved.

Many other exhibits of the museum are raised from the bottom of the harbor, including those displayed in the last room on the lower floor, where you can see stone reliefs of the 2nd century AD depicting the battles of the Greeks with the Amazons - it is curious that there are exactly the same objects: it is possible that the ancient Greeks they mass-produced them for subsequent export to Rome (and many ships with a similar cargo sank in the harbor). Also noteworthy are some ancient musical instruments, stone burial stelae and statues. And one huge gravestone from the Black Sea island of Istros looks more like a temple in miniature. And in the courtyard behind the museum, during excavations, archaeologists even discovered a small theater, but outsiders are not allowed.

Going down to Zeya Marina (other name: Pasalimani), you can admire the luxurious floating palaces anchored here. Nearby at Akti Themistokleous in the Naval Museum (Tuesday-Friday 9:00-14:00, Saturday 09:30-14:00; 3 €) you can get acquainted with the Greek maritime and naval heritage and look at models of ships and models of ancient triremes and other ships. The institution, to be sure, is not for everyone, but the exhibits will interest not only specialists, but also boys. The boats in Mikrolimano look more modest than those in See, but the harbor itself is more beautiful, and there are many cafes on the promenade where you can sit and admire the sea.

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There is an opinion that if the city is a port, then swimming in its waters is not safe. Perhaps somewhere this opinion is relevant, but not in Piraeus. If you drive along coastline, then you can see excellent equipped beaches. One is opposite a rock surrounded by the sea, like an island. And the other is opposite the Maritime Museum. The water is clean, as is the sand on the beaches. There are cafes, changing rooms, showers. They are located far from the port, and ship routes are laid away from them to avoid pollution. Few people - mostly locals.

Traveling in transit, tourists miss the opportunity to admire the city. But in vain! There is something to see in Piraeus, however, as in any city of legendary Greece. The ruins of Themistocles and the church of Agia Triad are amazing. By visiting the Maritime Museum, located in the harbor of Zea, you can trace the history of shipbuilding, admiring the models of ships, both past centuries and the present. The archaeological museum will shed light on the past of civilization.

A bit of history

Interesting fact. During the Middle Ages, Piraeus was called Porto Leone. The name of the city was given in honor of the gigantic stone sculpture of a lion, which, as it were, protected the entrance to the port.

Soon, of course, from the point of view of history, Piraeus falls into decay and to XIX century almost completely empty. However, in 1834, when the capital of Greece was again moved to Athens, the revival of Piraeus begins - active urban planning is underway and the influx of population is increasing. In the 70s of the last century, the city underwent a grandiose redevelopment, as a result of which many old administrative buildings were demolished.

Attractions Piraeus

The beaches of Piraeus

Note information. Piraeus annually hosts the Ecocinema Film Festival, as well as a carnival under interesting name"The Way of the Three Kings". By joining a field trip, you can enhance the impressions of the rest.

And yet the main attraction of Piraeus is the smallest, but at the same time the most picturesque bay named Mikrolimano. Now this bay natural origin, is literally flooded with fishing yachts and all sorts of restaurants located on a hill that seems to frame the bay. From any restaurant offers an unimaginable beauty of the view of the bay. And at the very top of the hill there is a restaurant with a great view of Athens.