Attica-Athens

Attica-Athens-The Cradle of Civilisation

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 city¢s 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 city¢s 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 capital¢s landmark hotels saw a splendid renovation, complete with sumptuous new luxuries, personal butler service and state-of-the-art convention centres clearly aiming at top-end business travellers, but nevertheless doing a good job of meeting the needs of guests after some measure of fun and sun, as well.

Athens has something for everybody and suddenly Athenians have a good reason to be proud of their city. Major infrastructure changes have transformed the city of Athens, including 120 kilometres of new, modern roads, 90 km of upgraded roads, 40 fly-over bridges, a 23.7 km Tram network, parking lots in central locations with contemporary management systems, modern train stations and a new, ultra-modern Traffic Management Centre, making the city easier to navigate and more enjoyable for even casual tourists. The new Athens state-of-the-art subway system spreads to 23 stations and serves approximately 500,000 commuters daily, with one of its striking features being the underground "station museums" displaying 5th century BC artefacts unearthed during excavations for the project. The new highways that divert traffic from the downtown have not only made the city¢s streets safer and the air cleaner, but they have made it easier to get in and out of town by car, bus or taxi. Landmark Syntagma Square is the largest and the most important square in Athens. It houses the monument of the Unknown Soldier, the Parliament and the most luxury hotels of the city. Not far from the capital there are many attractions that are ideal destinations for leisurely day trips. Choose to explore the 11th century Kaisariani Monastery, the battleground, tomb and museum at Marathon, the archaeological site of Ramnous and the splendid Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion rising over a stretch of coastline dotted with enchanting Greek luxury hotels. Or opt to indulge in the more elementary pleasures of enjoying good food and wine, updating your wardrobe, or generally pursuing la dolce vita. Nightlife in Athens does not end till the break of dawn. Spend time at one of the hip seaside clubs, pass the evening at an “ouzeri” in the old quarter of Plaka nibbling on small plates of delicacies under the Acropolis, or indulge in people watching while sipping coffee at the chic district of Kolonaki with its dozens of trendy café and boutiques. Wandering around the famous flea market of Monastiraki, an area littered with ancient ruins, will also prove absolutely delightful. South of Athens is Piraeus, the largest commercial port in Greece, with boat connections to all the Greek islands and major Mediterranean ports. Continuing along the coast from Piraeus, there are several fine marinas where the rich dock their impressive yachts, conveniently located only one hour from Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos”.

Gregarious, hospitable and relaxed, Athenians enjoy life to the full. As in any other major city, visitors will come across people from all walks of life, most of whom are very friendly and willing to offer assistance. Athens is a city of hedonists and consumers who are proud of their capacity to enjoy life. Late at night, people are out all over the city, and this is one of the first things that strike visitors. The excellent climate allows Athenians to indulge in their favourite pastime - socialising - outdoors nearly all year round. The city is replete with coffee shops and snack bars ranging from the very basic to the very chic. Athenians, like most Greeks, view dining out late in the evening as one of their main forms of entertainment. Literally thousands of traditional tavernas serving delicious, inexpensive food can be found throughout Athens and Attica. In addition, there are hundreds of restaurants serving a wide variety of international cuisine. And of course there is the ubiquitous Greek souvlaki! Visitors will be surprised and charmed by the energy with which Athenians engage in conversation about politics, football and, perhaps not unsurprisingly, philosophy. Cultural events including dance and theatre, recitals, concerts, international trade shows, conferences and symposia -many of which held in beautiful greek luxury hotels- public lectures, gallery exhibits, sports events and marathons, an integral part of life in this bustling cosmopolitan capital. Built in 161 BC, the Odeon of Herod Atticus at the foot of the Acropolis provides one of the most important open-air venues for staging the annual Athens Festival, featuring music concerts and dance troupes from around the world. Superb performances of ancient and modern drama are staged at the Herod Atticus Theatre. The National Theatre of Greece stages drama performances in modern Greek with English translations provided. Undoubtedly the pride and joy of the city's cultural life, the Athens Concert Hall comprises a modern theatre, concert and conference hall with spacious reception areas, exhibition space and a 500-seat recital hall. The Megaron Hall is a 2,000-seat auditorium hosting operatic, dance and drama performances almost daily. Perched high on its namesake hill in the centre of the city, the 4,000-seat open-air Lycabettus amphitheatre hosts a variety of concerts by contemporary jazz and pop artists, as well as chamber orchestras, mainly during the summer. In the past two decades sports in Greece went through a major revival with a large number of modern sports facilities constructed in and around the capital. For golf aficionados there is an 18-hole golf course at the affluent seaside suburb of Glyfada. The endless list of available sporting and leisure activities includes tennis, gliding, horse-riding, bird-watching, sailing, skin-diving, water-skiing, hiking, bowling.

Athens has been the choice of Professional Congress Organisers (PCO's) who have long ago been aware of the advantages involved in holding events in the Greek capital. Advanced infrastructures equipped with the latest technologies for meetings and congresses, air and land transport facilities, many greek luxury hotels --among the best in the world -- and a climate that is very attractive to congress-goers, are just a few of the factors that have made Athens a success in this area.