1.Athens origins
Athens dates back on 3000 BC, making it one of the oldest, continuously habited cities in the world! What a heritage!
2.The cradle of Western civilization
Athens is considered the cradle of western civilization, since it is the birthplace of democracy, western philosophy and literature, the Olympic Games, political science, major mathematical principles and theatre! All in one!
3.The Parthenon
Athens’ most famous landmark refers to the sacred hill where Greeks built many temples the most important of which is the Parthenon, in honour of the Goddess Athena from whom the city took its name.
4. 1896
The very first Olympic Games may have been held in 776 BC in Olympia, Greece, yet the first modern version of the Games as we know them where held in Athens in 1896 and then returned to the city, in 2004.
5. 30% of the Greek population lives in 1% of Greece!
Athens is the most populated region of Greece with a population around 4,5 millions, however it is one of the smallest regions in the country, being less than 1% of the Greek total area
6. 17 million tourists!
…visit Greece every year, much more than the country’s population. To accommodate that, Greece has one of the highest number of international airports for any country, the largest one being in Athens.
7. 13th century olive trees
According to Greek mythology, the olive tree was a present to Athens by the Goddess Athena. Greece is now the world’s third producer of olives and it is thought that some of the old olive trees in Athens, were planted back in the 1200s !
8. 277 m.!
…is the tallest of Athens 7 hills. Brave visitors can climb up the Lycabettus hill to enjoy the spectacular view, while others can take the funicular railway and in less than 3 minutes find themselves enjoying the view from the Acropolis to the Aegean sea!
9. Greek kiosks
The renowned characteristic Greek kiosks that used to be found in every street corner selling newspapers, cigarettes, candy, soft drinks and other goods, almost 24*7 are soon to become history as their licenses will not be renewed! The first kiosk in Athens opened in 1911 on Panepistimiou Street, and the idea of the “periptero” soon spread all over Greece and became an institution. When kiosks started hanging the newspapers, people would gather around to look at the headlines, often starting discussions based on the news
10. Athens beaches
Athens is one of the few European capitals where people can have a decent summer swim in the sea, right after work, in a distance less than 15 minutes from the city centre and continue for a long cocktail right after in the same spot, in some of the finest beach bars/clubs ! The so called Athenian Riviera, that is..