| Olympic Diary |
|
|
|
| Walking around Athens |
| Ancient, modern, levantine and European |
 |
| The hill of Lycabettus and the Acropolis, as seen from the Thesseion district. |
Athens is loved by many. Even some of those who declare to hate it, keep coming back for more.
Sure, Athens is congested, some days its air is unpleasant, and most of the city is not a sight for sore eyes. The architectural and infrastructure choices made as a result of the devastation and destitution caused by World War II and the 1946-49 civil war have left an indelible mark on this ancient city.
That is a fact well understood by Athenians and realized promptly by visitors. Nonetheless, the city has at least three unique redeeming qualities that, to many people, more than make up for its shortcomings: the weather, the antiquities, and its proximity to nice beaches and clean waters.
In the last few years this menu of attractions has been expanded with the addition of world class restaurants, good shopping, and a thriving art scene, which includes new concert halls and dozens of art galleries.
To really see the city and discover its true self, the visitor has to explore downtown Athens, defined as the area within approximately one kilometer surrounding Syntagma Square. This is where the city's and the country's heart beats and this area presents what is best and what is worst about the Athens and Greece.
Most of the year the weather is glorious. With the exception of some rainy days in the winter and a couple of months of stifling heat in the summer, the walks we suggest below around the center of the city will most likely be under clear blue skies and temperatures between 15 and 30 degrees Celsius (app. 60 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit). Enjoy! |
 |
Through downtown Athens |
| Syntagma Square to the Central Market |
Panepistimiou Street runs from Syntagma Square to Omonoia Square, and cuts downtown Athens in two.
|
 |
The heart of Athens |
| Thesseion, Monastiraki, and Psyrri |
The area around the Thesseion archeological site is one of Athens' most popular, and it is definitely worth a visit.
|
 |
A walk through classical Athens |
| Unified Archaeological Sites |
The area around the Acropolis, from the Kerameikos district to the Panathinaikon Stadium, is pretty much the land covered by Athens during its classical age, in the 5th century BC.
|
|
|
