Athens is neither the beginning, nor the end. Athens is
everywhere. In every point on the map. And every point on the
map is in Athens. Because Athens is the centre of all the
centres in the world.
Everything is concentrated within her. She is the city of the
Olympic Idea, the city of artists, cultural channel, scientific
centre, East and West for each voyager, the crossroads of every
major event for the active, the fashion that is in for avid
sophisticates, the Parthenon of all and for all.
Artistic happenings, festivals, conventions, athletic
competitions, celebrations, entertainment events choose Athens,
prefer Athens as their venue.
Athens
is The City. But even more it is the Pole... of attraction for
all.
The modern city of Athens
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
A monument over which a guard of honour keeps vigil The 1100 am
changing of the guard on sundays is a picturesque small
ceremony.
The Greek House of Parliaments.
This is a neoclassical building overlooking the Tomb of the
Unknown Soldier. Formerly used as the residential palace of
Greece’s first king, Otto (1832-1862), it houses since 1933 the
Greek Parliament. Adjoining the building is the National Garden
stretching as far as the Zappeion Exhibition and Congress Hall,
which stands in its own park.
The Lycabettus (Licavitos) Hill.
Clad in pinewoods and crowned by the picturesque white chapel of
St. George the hill provides a fine panoramic view over the
entire city. There is a restaurant and pastryshop on the top.
Access is by funicular or footpath.
Sintagma Square.
Below the Tomb of the Unkown Soldier stretches the most central
square in Athens lined by a large number of pastryshops, which
are usually filled with a lively crowd of Athenians and
foreigners.
The Plaka.
It is the oldest and most picturesque quarter in Athens
spreading around the Acropolis. Winding, narrow alleys are
flanked by single storey houses set next to elegant mansions.
There are also several small tavern as and nightclubs as well as
shops selling popular arts and crafts. Combined, they make Plaka
one of the most attractive corners of Athens.
Monastiraki.
This is in reality an extension of Plaka. It is the part of the
city with the greatest number of antique dealers and gift shops
of every kind.
Iliou Melathron.
Formerly the home of the celebrated archaeologist Heinrich
Schliemann, it is one of the most beautiful buildings in Athens
and stands at the upper end of Panepistimiou St. On the same
street a little further down, are the neoclassical buildings of
the
Academy,
the
University
and the
National
Library.
Technical University
in Patission St. is in the same style of architecture |
