Athens Vacations, Athens Vacation Reviews, Tourism Guide

Athens Vacation Guide

One of the oldest remaining cities on the face of the planet, Athens has stood at the center of the world for thousands of years as a leader in philosophy, history, culture, and mythology. From places such as the Acropolis—often credited as the birthplace of modern civilization—with the Parthenon, the Erectheon, and temples to Zeus, Agora, Athena, and Dionysus, to places such as the National Archeological Museum or the harbor of Piraeus, Athens is a symbol of what Europe has been over the millennia: the birthplace of the humanities.

Classical Athens is how most people prefer to remember the city, and it is the basis for the tourism that forms the major industry of this Greek city. It was the centre for arts, philosophy, science, math, and more. Plato’s Academy was based here, as was Aristotle’s Lyceum, and it was here that democracy was first born. In fact, many people call this the cradle of Western civilization, and the proof of that has been well-preserved over the years. In addition, the city was host to the first modern Olympic Games back in 1896, hearkening back to the times when the ancient games had been hosted in Olympia from 776 B.C. to 393 A.D.

Athens has been inhabited by various people over the past 7,000 years, making it one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. As a result, it comes as no surprise when the layers of history begin to peel back away from the city. From the city-state of Ancient Greece to the Byzantine Period to the Ottoman Empire and the new modern redevelopment, there is no doubt that this city is still a leader of cultural magnificence and splendor. From the Greek food to the Greek hospitality to the Greek history, Athens is the epitome of what Greece has been over the years, and is a legacy unto itself.