Athens: 333 sunny days, history, and open-hearted people
Located only 400 kilometers south of Greek summer resorts popular with Serbians is the capital of Greece and the cradle of western civilization, Athens.
Wednesday, 08.11.2017.
12:17
Athens: 333 sunny days, history, and open-hearted people
Read more about why the capital of the ancient, as well as of modern Greece is a perfect destination for a holiday trip - but also the places you can visit, and how you can enrich your life experience in only a few days.According to Sofia Lazaridou, a representative of the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) in Serbia, besides being an accessible destination, Athens has more sunny days in winter than any other European capital. Precisely this makes it a perfect holiday destination for anyone wishing to escape the winter days. Gardens in taverns and cafes are still open for enjoying the colors, scents and tastes of the gastronomical heaven offered by this country. With an average temperature of 13 degrees, it is unlikely you will be cold as you stroll through the center of of the city, or by the sea. Those brave enough could even take a swim.
"The festive atmosphere before Christmas and New Year in the streets of Athens begins much earlier and is celebrated in every part of the city - with festivals, concerts, events in the streets and squares, festive decorations on trees, windows and houses. Everything is shining, and the most important decoration are the smiles and the open heart of the Athenians," Lazaridou tells B92.
Let's take a walk together around Athens and see what you must not miss. The capital with five million people guards its ancient spirit and rich history everywhere, at the same time providing relaxation that can hardly be experienced in some other busy metropolis.
The edifice housing several thousand exhibits ranging from the 7th century BC until the Hellenistic period also has five original caryatids, and is saving room for the sixth, which is currently in Great Britain and is the subject of dispute between the two countries. Due to sensitivity to climatic changes, the original caryatids are located in the museum, while faithful replicas replace them on the Acropolis Hill. Walking around the museum, you will quickly understand why Greece will never be a poor country, and it is very likely that you will wish to visit the Acropolis Museum every time you return to Athens, discovering something new each time.
The second catastrophe occurred in 1806 when Thomas Bruce, the earl of Elgin, took some of the famous sculptures to Britain thanks to the permission he received from the Turks. Some of the artifacts are still in the British Museum in London. Once we learn how Parthenon has resisted history, and the jealousy of its magnificence, we will appreciate every moment spent in it because, in the end, it also makes us a part of its history.
Descending down towards Plaka, the ancient spirit in you begins to be replaced with the traditional one, closer to modern Greek culture. This district has numerous taverns offering the original Greek cuisine, and you can find everything on the menu - from saganaki, dried tomatoes, moussaka, traditional Greek pies, to the finest sea fish, kipuria, and some of the best wines from the Peloponnese. In addition, Plaka is perfect for buying New Year's gifts, and not far from it, along the boulevard of the first Greek (though, imported) queen Amalia, you arrive to Syntagma, from where lies Ermou Street - the shopping Mecca of Athens.
Athens is a city that never sleeps, and each of its corners and its air instills you with some completely new energy that you did not even know you had. Evenings are reserved for what you want - if you are urban and like modern places, head to Kolonaki, a fashionable district with some of the best bars and clubs in Athens. If you are a fan of traditional Greece, head towards Plaka to one of the taverns where rebetiko is performed - the original Greek music that Onasis brought back to fashion. It is interesting that this type of music did not appeal to the Athens rich - and it is no surprise when we consider that it describes the hard life of laborers. Nevertheless, Onasis, who was originally from Asia Minor and who came to Piraeus as a refugee, enjoyed it.. Every time he came to Athens, he would go to the district of Kesariani, where Giorgos Zampetas sang in a tavern. He would perform rebetiko for Onazis, and other rich men quickly followed suite, thus restoring the musical style to the place it deserved.
During your stay in Athens, make sure to visit the Panathenaic Stadium, also known as Kallimarmaro, near the Hilton Hotel in downtown Athens. The stadium was opened in 566 BC and renovated in 329 BS. It is made of marble, making it unique in the world. In ancient Greece, it was the center of athletic competitions in honor of the goddess Athens, while centuries later it was the location of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. Today, various manifestations are held at the site, which has the capacity of 45,000 people.
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