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General Info for Athens - Attica 1
 Named
after Athena, goddess of wisdom and knowledge,
Athens is generally considered to be the cradle
of Western civilisation. While some scholars
date the earliest traces of settlement found on
the Acropolis as far back as 5000 BC, Athens
became the strongest Greek city-state around 500
BC, entering its Golden Age after emerging
victorious from the Persian Wars. The city
enjoyed a cultural explosion that ended with the
Peloponnesian War (431-401 BC), but Athenian
achievements in philosophy,
drama and art continued even after the citys
glory faded, creating a legacy that conquered
the world as Hellenistic culture.
Modern-day
Athens, the
home of 4,500,000, is an important political,
social, cultural and economic centre in the
Balkans and Southeast Europe holding a great
fascination for large numbers of year-round
visitors. Entertaining at any time of the year,
the city is one of the most exciting art and
music centres in the world, pulsing with life,
famous for its annual festivals, glamorous and
glitzy image, pricey boutiques and luxury
hotels. One could travel to Athens a hundred
times and never tire of it. From the Acropolis
to its sun-soaked beaches, the citys
antiquities merge harmoniously with the refined,
cosmopolitan air of a modern resort with luxury
hotels, broad tree-lined avenues and rich
commercial stores.
Athens boasts over 50
museums, the most important being the recently
renovated National Archaeological Museum that
houses more masterpieces of ancient art than any
other in the world, with exhibits spanning some
7,000 years. The Benaki Museum, the Byzantine
Museum and the National Gallery are well worth a
visit.
The
Athens 2004 Olympics
brought some welcome improvements and the
ancient capital has reclaimed much of its former
beauty. The hosting of the Games forced a much
needed head-to-toe renovation and Athens entered
a second Golden Age. The city underwent a
multi-million-euro face lift with the
expansion of parks and pedestrian zones, the
restoration of historic neoclassic buildings,
the construction of walkways linking its
archaeological sites and the construction of
many new hotels, ranging from boutique luxury to
uptown chick. The capitals landmark hotels saw
a splendid renovation, complete with sumptuous
new luxuries, personal butler service and
state-of-the-art convention centers clearly
aiming at top-end business travelers, but
nevertheless doing a good job of meeting the
needs of guests after some measure of fun and
sun, as well. |
