Athens in Greece

Athens has been inhabited for 7000 years. The city`s greatest glory was during the Classical period (4th and 5th centuries BC) of ancient Greece, from which so many buildings and artifacts survive. The city is dominated by the world-famous Acropolis and its theaters and temples, including the Parthenon, erected by Perikles as part of his grand building plan in the mid-5th century BC. Within the Byzantine Empire and under Ottoman rule, Athens played only a minor role. It returned to prominence in 1834, when King Otto made it capital of Greece. When the king`s architects planned the new, European-style city, they included many splendid Neoclassical public buildings, which today provide elegant homes for some of Athens` best museums and galleries.

The sights of Athens’ city center are closely packed, and often the best way of getting around is on foot, especially with the appalling traffic. There are about 20 tram routes that crisscross the city, and an extensive bus network. The metro system is most useful for crossing the city, getting to the port of Piraeus, and, from 2004, to the airport.

The biggest sights in Athens are: the Acropolis, the National Archeological Museum, Monastiraki (Athens` famous flea market), Ancient Agora, Plaka (where you should see the Lysikrates Monument, Agios Nikolaus Ragavas church, the Tower of the Winds), Benaki Museum, Temple of Olympian Zues, Museum of Cycladic Art.