Piraeus -
Due to the rapid development
of the area between them,
Athens and Piraeus have
really become one big city,
the boundaries between
them being more
of an administrative nature
rather than real ones.
The city of Piraeus, planned
by the architect Ippodamos
from Melos, was built in the
middle of the 5th century BC.
Ippodamos' plans were used as
guidelines for replanning
the city in 1834.
Porto Leone -
Piraeus was known in medieval
times as Porto Leone, a name due
to the enormous stone lion which
guarded the port's entrance.
Piraeus is the main port of Athens,
the biggest in Greece and one of
the most important in the
Mediterranean Sea. Today, the life
of Piraeus is centered around its
three ports: the main, central one
and those of Zea and
Mikrolimano. Piraeus is the most
important shipping, industrial and
transport centre of the country.
You can walk around the central
harbour, shared by cargo and
passenger ships alike, and watch
the constant comings and goings
of goods and people from around
the world. Then, continue your
walk to Kasteffa, a hill full of
beautiful houses, with a great view
of the Saronic Gulf and visit the
city's archaeological Museum.
In Mikrofimano you can treat
yourselves to an ouzo
accompanied by seafood
mezedes, in one of its many
tavernas and restaurants. People
from allover Attica come here for
a meal of fresh fish. In the
afternoon, a stroll around the
yachts and sailing boats moored
in the marina Zeas, can prove to
be very beneficial to the weary
traveller. If the night finds you in
the area, you can try one of the
many bars found nearby.
The pace of life in Piraeus is
set by the sea, which seems
to encompass the whole city.
Actually it once did, as Piraeus
was an island in ancient times.
Travellers were then ferried from
the mainland to the island (the
verb in Greek being: die-perae-
ounto) and this is probably how
its name came to be Piraeus.
The History of Piraeus -
Themistokles was the first to
realise the importance of Piraeus
to the city of Athens and turn it
into the city's main port, instead
of the Gulf of Faliro, which was
used by the Athenians until the
5th century B.C. Wanting Athens
to have a fortified port he built the
wall of Piraeus, the construction
of which took from 493 to 479
B.C. Later Perikles completed the
fortification by building the Makra
Teiche (the Long Walls), which
protected both sides of the road
all the way from Piraeus to
Athens.
The Keys to Piraeus -
The main Harbour -
Its ancient name was Kantharos
and nowadays it is the centre of
the city's life. This is where you
will get a ferry to all of the Aegean
islands (with the exception of the
ones belonging to the Sporades)
and Crete.
Zea -
Zea's marina is the place where
some of the most impressive yachts
and cruises in Greece are moored.
The coastline is full of restaurants,
tavernas, bars and shops catering
for the needs of yachtsmen.
Mikrolimano -
This port, once potected by the
goddess Mounichia AJtemis is today
a popular hang-out for tourists, It is
a lovely little harbour full of fishing
boats, small vessels and some very
beautiful yachts. If you like fish and
seafood, try one of its famous
tavernas.
Kastella -
Built on a hill which is also known
as Prophetis Elias, Kastella is
Piraeus' most fashionable
neighbourhood. If you walk towards
the top of the hill you will find
yourselves in narrow streets
surrounded by picturesque houses.
The view of the central harbour,
lea and Mirkolimano, from here
is unique.
The Municipal Theatre (Dimotiko Theatro) -
It dominates one of the city's
central squares. It was built in
the 1880s. Korai Square in front
of it, is one of the spots most
frequented by the residents
of Piraeus and is their favourite
meeting place.
The Monastiraki of Piraeus -
A flea market like the Athenian
one of Monastiraki. One can find
real bragins here. It takes place
every Sunday close to Ippodamias Square.
The Archaeological Museum -
The Piraeus Museum contains
objects, mainly sculptures,
discovered in Piraeus and the
area of the Attic coast. The
exhibits are representative
of the history, the acme and
decline of the ancient city. Pay
particular attention to the five
bronze statues discovered in
Piraeus in 1959: The Archaic
Kouros-Apollo, two statues of
Artemis, the Piraeus Athena and
a tragic mask (4th century BC).
The Maritime Museum -
You will find it onAktiMoustopoulou
and its exhibits cover 3,000 years or
so of Greek naval history.
Getting there -
From Syntagma Square the
green bus.
From Omonia Square bus or the metro which will
take you to Akti Kondyli in about
20 minutes.
Top - Zea's port
