| Athens Ancient History in a Modern City Athens is | | | | BC the temple is dedicated to Athena. Although |
| a huge metropolis of over 4 million people, around | | | | still standing, it has suffered a great deal of |
| 40% of the Greek population. It is a busy bustling | | | | damage. Not the least of which occurred during |
| city, where present day apartment blocks, live | | | | the Turkish occupation, when it was used to |
| side by side with the relics and ruins of one of the | | | | store weapons and explosives which then, |
| greatest civilizations of the ancient world. An | | | | surprisingly, blew up! |
| appealing and heady mix of southern European, | | | | The Parliament Building: An impressive building |
| Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cultures, as well | | | | which until it burned down in 1910 was a royal |
| as the fiery but friendly Greek temperament, this | | | | residence. It was restored and opened in 1935 as |
| is a city where every day is lived to its fullest! | | | | the home of the National Assembly. It was built |
| Food is a major highlight in Athens, with the | | | | by King Otto in1835. |
| accent firmly on lamb, seafood and salads. The | | | | Rockwave Festival: A large and growing rock |
| Mediterranean's virtually invented the healthy diet, | | | | festival that lasts for three days every summer |
| which is now used as a model by many western | | | | featuring around 20 bands over the course of the |
| dieticians. The portions are good, the prices are | | | | event. Different music styles are being |
| cheap and the ouzo (Greek spirit) flows freely at | | | | incorporated from trance to rock. |
| every restaurant. | | | | National Archaeological Museum: This would be |
| The main reason that most tourists go to Athens | | | | worth visiting just for the grandeur of the building |
| of course is the history. There is over 3,000 | | | | itself. But it also holds one of the best |
| years of history contained in the relics and | | | | archeological museums to be found anywhere. |
| buildings of Athens and | | | | Among the huge collection of ancient Greek |
| Temperatures in Athens can be unbearably hot in | | | | artifacts is what may be the first ever computer. |
| the summer reaching over 40 degrees and a | | | | The Temple of Olympian Zeus: The huge size of |
| crowded city full of traffic and tourists is not the | | | | the original temple can be appreciated from the |
| place to be. There is very little in the way of park | | | | massive remaining columns. Originally there were |
| land in the city. So if you do travel in summer and | | | | 114 of them. The temple was built from 515BC |
| are in need of a break, then a day trip to one of | | | | onwards and destroyed in the 4th century AD. |
| the islands, some of which are in easy reach, is | | | | Prior to its destruction it contained an immense |
| the only real option. Spring and fall are a better | | | | statue of Zeus made from ivory and gold. |
| bet, when the climate is more temperate and the | | | | The Olympic Stadium: The stadium holds 75,000 |
| streets and historical sights are less busy. | | | | people and was the heart of the 2004 Athens |
| Athens is probably the greatest repository of | | | | games with a hugely impressive glass and steel |
| ancient artifacts and buildings in the western world | | | | roof weighing 17,000 tons held in place (hopefully |
| and these alone are worth a week of anybodies | | | | securely!) by 2 massive arches. |
| holiday. But they are far from all that Athens has | | | | Agora: A huge architectural park filled with statues |
| to offer. | | | | and ruins of temples and buildings including the, |
| Athens must see | | | | very well preserved 2nd century Temple of |
| The Acropolis: Not one, but several temples | | | | Hephaistos. The Stoa Attalou a 2nd century BC |
| including the Parthenon, surely the most famous | | | | building, a new build by Greek standards, contains |
| of the Athens landmarks. Built in the 5th century | | | | a collection of ancient artifacts. |