Be part of it... as a Visitor

ATHENS

Athens has a lot to offer to its visitors. There are many things to see not only at the historical center but also a few kilometers away.

You can start from the commercial heart of the city, Omonoia Square, which combines modern and neoclassical architecture and walk up Panepistimiou (University) street passing by the National Library, the University of Athens, the National Academy, the Catholic Cathedral and many other impressive buildings of the Modern Greek era.

By then, you should have reached Syntagma (Constitution) Square, one of the busiest places of Athens, where the Parliament is located. You will know you are in the right place when you see the Evzones -the presidential guard- in front of the monument of the Unknown Soldier.

On your right is Amalias Avenue where you will find the gate of the National Garden. Walk among typical and rare plants and trees until the Zappeion (Conference and Exhibition Hall), appears before you. A few meters away stands the Panathinaikon Stadium, the cradle of the Olympic Games (1896).
On your way to the Acropolis, stop to visit the Corinthian pillars, remains of Zeus' temple and the Arch of the Emperor Hadrian, where the pedestrian street, Dionisiou Aeropagitou, begins to lead you to the Odeon of Herodus Atticus at the foot of the Acropolis Sacred Rock. Walking up the hill, you will enter the site through Propylea and visit the Parthenon, the most important and characteristic monument of the ancient Greek civilization which still remains its international symbol, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erectheion and the Museum of the Acropolis.

With these pictures in mind, walk downhill to Plaka, the oldest neighborhood of Athens, and taste the typical Greek cuisine in one of the traditional tavernas or have a frappe (iced coffee) in one of the numerous cafes.

Other highlights you should not miss: Archaeological Museum, Museum of Cycladic Art, Benaki Museum, National Gallery, Byzantine Museum, Frissiras Museum of Contemporary Greek and European Painting, Lycabettus Hill, Monastiraki, Thiseion, the Olympic Athletic Center of Athens (OAKA), Faliro-Glyfada coastline by tramway. For an Athenian night out, choose between Psiri (city center) bars and taverns, and seaside open-air bars and beach clubs.

For more information on Athens, visit http:www.breathtakingathens.com, the official City of Athens visitors' website. 

GREECE TODAY

Geography: Greece, officially known as The Hellenic Republic, is the southernmost country on the European mainland. With an area of 131.940 square kilometers, Greece is about the same size as England or New York state. Greece's longest border is with the sea. Over 3,000 Greek islands are scattered about the eastern Mediterranean, roughly 200 of them inhabited. The Greek mainland shares land borders with Albania, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Bulgaria and Turkey.

Population: 10.964.020 (2001 - census)
Greece's capital city, Athens, (Population: 3,072,922) is also its largest, and is served by Piraeus, which is the country's main port. Although more than half the population is classified as urban, rural life retains a powerful influence. A strong sense of community and family ties prevail even in the busiest of metropolitan centers.

Sex distribution: Male 49,49% , female: 50,51% (2001).

Religion: Most Greeks belong to the Greek Orthodox Church, which is governed by a synod of metropolitan bishops, presided over by the Archbishop of Athens. The largest religious minority is the concentration of Greek Muslims in northeastern Thrace. Some islands in the Ionian and Aegean have a significant number of Catholics. Greece's once vibrant Jewish community was nearly vanished in World War II.

Government: The Hellenic Republic is a parliamentary democracy with a 300 member house, the Vouli or Parliament, headed by the Prime Minister. Parliamentary sessions normally last for four years, followed by elections held on the basis of direct, secret, and universal ballot. The head of the Greek State is the President, who is elected by Parliament. The President, who has limited political powers, may hold office for a maximum of two five-year terms. Greece has been a member of the European Union since 1981. The elements that most clearly define the Greece of today are: Political stability under a moderate social democratic government Sound economic progress as an increasingly significant partner in the European Union An international role, with particular influence in southeast Europe.