Athens, the city of intellect, is part of the Attica basin . Attica is situated in the geographical center of Greece and is surrounded by the Euboean, Saronic and Corinthian Gulfs. The triangular shape of Attica is easily recognized on the map of Greece, spreading out into the western Aegean Sea. The peninsula ends to the south at Cape Sounion..
The position of Athens in the Attica basin is defined by Mt. Parnitha and Mt. Penteli whose great masses rise above it on the north. Mt. Hymettus dominates the east, while to the west are the numerous low hills of Egaleo and Korydallos.
Among all of these hills, is the one that glorified not only Athens, but the whole Greek world and became the symbol of western civilization: the rock of Acropolis! Athens has developed and spread out in the Attica basin to the point that it has become one with the port of Piraeus, while the suburbs have spilled outside the basin itself.
Athens has a population of five million. It is the country's heart and the economic and industrial center, as well as the political and cultural center. No matter how crowded it becomes with residents and tourists, it is still hospitable and welcoming.
The structure of the land is characterized by a constant alternation between low mountains and small plains. Bays and rocky or sandy coves dot the coast of Attica. During the summer the beaches are filled with Athenians and others enjoying their beauty.
Greece is the cradle of European civilization, and Athens has been its capital since 1834. There is never a time to be bored or to be at a loss for an interesting activity in Athens. Visit the flea market and the bazaar area at Monastiraki, look inside some of the hundreds of tiny Byzantine churches, shop for a few hours in the fascinating boutiques of Pláka, have a leisurely lunch in a taverna, watch the people walk by, and spend an hour writing in your travel diary.
Athens can seem overwhelming at first. First of all it is truly massive. The mountains, the rocks, the historic ruins, the panoramic views of valleys and sea: nothing is small. Secondly, it is not scrubbed and polished; it has an ancient, lived-in look as befits a city that has been inhabited for over 7000 years. Yet, it is so modern. An interesting feature of Athens is that it is a study in contradictions! At one moment you will be walking on modern streets with malls and superstores, then make a turn onto a side street and suddenly find yourself in another world with open air meat and fish markets, vegetable and fruit stands, huge pigs, rabbits, and cows hanging upside down by their feet, and large shiny, scaly fish being gutted right in front of you.
There are ruins in unexpected places all over the city. What first appears to be a modern street, will have fenced off areas containing parts of ancient toppled columns, statues, etc. They have been sitting there for hundreds and hundreds of years, and are now fenced for protection. Repair and restoration work is constantly going on. A visit to the Acropolis will include the sight of workmen and ladders everywhere. The ongoing work of preservation is impressive.
Following a visit to the Acropolis, it is an easy downhill stroll to the Agora, the heart of ancient Athens's political and commercial center. The Agora is steps from the Monastiraki and Pláka districts, each filled with shops, cafes, and restaurants. The next stop might be the National Archaeological Museum to see the Mycenaean gold, the classical bronze statues, and the beautiful frescoes from Akrotiri, the Minoan Pompeii on the island of Santorini. It is hard to leave the Museum, so try to plan for a return visit on another day.
The whole family will enjoy a walk (run) through the National Gardens, and will be able to join Greek children in admiring the ducks and peacocks in the small zoo. Another peak experience will be the enjoyment of Greek cuisine. Huge feta cheese salads with olives, tomatoes, lettuce, and locally produced olive oil are outstanding. The main course of a meal in a taverna specializing in spit roasting is usually a plate of some type of seafood or meat such as chicken, pork, lamb or beef. The meat is grilled on a spit outdoors. Sidew dishes of fruit and vegetables are also available. Local wines provide a complement to the meal.
Attica has always been generous to its inhabitants. Its land produces an abundance of agricultural and garden products. Olives from the trees that legend says the goddess Athena gave to the town of Athens, grapes and the famed wine from the vineyards in the area are all local trademarks. There are also the thyme, the honey, and the natural resin of the pine trees as well as pentelic marble and the silver that was formerly extracted from the mines at Lavrio.
When planning a trip to Athens, the weather is a consideration. Attica's sunshine and pleasant climate give visitors the opportunity to enjoy a trip to Athens during any season. From March through May it's almost always pleasant and mild . Between June and August, the temperature rises steadily, making August the month in which Athenians try to avoid the city. Although sometimes almost as hot as August, September is usually balmy, with occasional light rain. October offers beautiful weather, with rain and some high winds Most rain falls between November and February, when Athens can be cold and windy. Even so, there are many sunny days in winter and a heavy rain is often followed by brilliant sunshine. Average daytime temperatures range from 52F in January to 92F in August, sometimes rising above 100F.
Persons with asthma and other breathing problems should be aware of Athens's smog. Visitors with these medical conditions will probably want to plan brief visits to the major historic sites, and then spend most of their holiday in the countryside or mountains around Athens, or at the seaside towns. The distances are not great from Athens to any of the surrounding areas.
While in Athens, consider a side excursion to one or more of the "isles of Greece." It is easy to arrange a day trip by boat from Piraeus to one or more of the islands of the Saronic Gulf. Aegina Egina, Poros, and Hydra Idra. All are feasible day trips but it is best not to schedule a tour for the day before you leave Athens.. It is possible that a sudden storm could leave you stranded for a day on an island. Allow time to savor an unexpected adventure such as this!
Whatever the season, whether you have a day or a month to explore Athens, it is a time to be treasured. Athens, rich in culture and contrasts is a city like no other in the world.
Attica
All excursions from Athens take the visitor into Attica, which today, as in antiquity, is the name of the countryside around Athens. According to legend, the hero Theseus unified the 12 towns of Attica under the leadership of Athens. The Attic countryside provided Athens with wine grapes, olives, honey, grains, fruits, marble from Mount Pentelicus Pendeli and Mount Hymettus Imittos, and silver from the mines at Laurium, near Sounion. Today the Attic Mesogeion (the middle of the earth) refers to the Attic plain which is still known for its fine grapes.
Fires raged through much of Attica in the summer of 1998. Some forests on Mounts Pentelicus and Hymettus were totally destroyed. Much farmland was destroyed, and the museum at Marathon was almost lost. The signs of these terrible fires will be apparent for some years when you visit Attica.
