 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
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