The glory of Athens

by Rosanne Koelmeyer Anderson

A visit to Athens will prove to be a trip back in time. The excitement of visiting places where great historic events actually happened twenty five centuries ago was something out of the ordinary any traveller could experience.

Ancient Athens was a powerful city-state we all know; a centre for the arts, learning and philosophy, home of Plato's Academy and Arisfole's Lyceum, Athens was the birthplace of Socrates, Pericles, Sophocles and many other prominent philosophers, politician's and writers of the ancient world.

Athens is widely referred to as the cradle of western Civilisation and The Birth place of Democracy, largely due to the impact of its cultural and political achievements during. The 4th and 5th century BC.

The beauty of Athens is that its classical era heritage is still evident in the city, portrayed through a number of ancient monuments and artworks, the famous of all being the Parthenon on the Acropolis which stands as an epic landmark of western civilisation of the more modern architectural landmarks, dating back as far as 1830 is the Greek Parliament (19th century), the Athens Trilogy Library, University, Academy and the new 2004 Athens Olympic Sports Complex, you should visit in Athens.

Athens was the host city of the first modern - day Olympic Games in 1896 which takes you back in time. The Sports Complex if visited somewhat makes you want to feel a sports hero or an aspiring sportsman while discovering a special land of magic treading the same paths as the 5th century BC Greeks.

Today, the Greek capital is said to be Europe's eighth largest conurbation, a bustling and cosmopolitan metropolis with an urban population 3.3 million and a metropolitan population of about 3.8 million people, with the Athens metropolitan area being the centre of economic, financial, industrial, political and cultural life in Greece, and fast becoming a leading business centre in the European Union.

Small wonder, but amidst all this you would see many lovers around every corner of every square.... i presume the Greeks are great lovers.

Moving on is Plaka, the beautifully restored old mansions of Plaka which houses other museum's including the Museum of popular Instruments, the Greek Museum of childhood and the museum of contemporary European Art.

The picturesque old town of Athens, which is perched on the North and East slopes of the Acropolis, which has been continuously inhabited over the past 5,00 years the historic sites, ancient monuments, Byzantine churches and mosques. Of course to see all the hidden treasures of Athens you would need several days.

Scattered throughout these quarters are sidewalk cafes, shops selling clothes, handicrafts and exotic souvenirs, a lively neighbourhood and an inviting place for a leisurely stroll both by day and at night and patronised by everyone on the streets.

No worries about quenching your thirst or wanting to have a bite. There are ample food outlets by the wayside, but can I assure you, if you're looking for spicy food you will not find it. The food in Greece is tasteless.

Syntagma Square is of the heart of modern Athens. It is the home of the majestic Parliament Building, which was built in 1840 as the Royal Palace. The hourly changing of the guard in front of the Parliament by soldiers dressed in colourful traditional costumes is a great photo opportunity. All major attractions such as Plaka, the Acropolis, the National Garden, the museums and upscale boutiques are only a short walk away.

Among the other must see sights is the Roma Agora and the Tower of the Winds dating back to the first century BC, the Kanellopoulos Museum featuring ancient and Byzantine art and the Museum of Greek folk Art for all you art lovers.

Athens was considered the intellectual and artistic centre of Greece, a jewel of the ancient world. Moreover, it was the city where mankinds most precious and most significant moral values were founded. Philosophy, science, literature, art and drama are just some of the concepts born in ancient Athens. Democracy, freedom, justice and forward thinking are ideals conceived in this great city which are the core principles of western civilisation and our society today.

In this era, Athens is also considered the international and artistic centre of Greece where historians Herodotus and scholars and playwrights like Sophocles and Euripides flourished and Pericles was instrumental in constructing the Parthenon and other buildings in the Acropolis which still stand today as proof of the artistic, intellectual and spiritual power of the era.

Thus, moving around every nook and corner in Athens is indeed a memorable experience especially for all you 'history' lovers which nevertheless takes you way back in time to some of the greatest architectural masterpieces of all time.

[email protected]