Greece Guide
Athens
For all too many people, ATHENS is a city that happened two-and-a-half thousand years ago. It's true that even now the past looms large – literally, in the shape of the mighty Acropolis that dominates almost every view, as well as on every visitor's itinerary. Yet the modern conurbation is home to over four million people – more than a third of the Greek nation's population – and has undergone a transformation in the twenty-first century. The stimulus of the 2004 Olympics made it far more than a repository of antiquities, lifting it above the clichés of pollution and impossible traffic that have blighted its reputation in recent years.
Highlights
1 The Acropolis Rising above the city, the great rock of the Acropolis symbolizes not just Athens, but the birth of European civilization.
2 Pláka Wander the narrow alleys and steep steps of this architecturally interesting and vibrant quarter.
3 Tower of the Winds Intriguing and elegant, this Roman addition to Athens is well worth seeking out.
4 The bazaar Athens' raucous and colourful street market, extending from the Monastiráki district up to the nineteenth-century covered food hall.
5 National Archeological Museum The world's finest collection of ancient Greek art and sculpture.
6 Psyrrí The heart of Athens' new nightlife, packed with bars, cafés and restaurants that are buzzing till late at night.
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