MUNICIPALITY OF ATHENS

The City of Athens belongs to the Athens Central District of the Attica Region. It has an area of ​​38.96 km2 and a population of 664,046 inhabitants, based on the latest census of 2011.
Geographically, Athens is bordered by the sea on one side and the rest of it is enclosed by mountains: Egaleo, Parnitha, Penteli, Ymittos and hills: Turkovounia, Lykavittos, Strefi, Agoraios Kolonos, Areios Pagos, Acropolis, Nymphs, Pnyka, Filopappou, Ardittus, Sicily. Climatically, Athens is famous for its good climate due to its high sunshine, low rains and low humidity levels.
The history of Athens is long over the centuries and has stigmatized not only Greece itself but also the whole world.
According to the archaeological finds, the first inhabitants appeared in the sixth millennium and were the breed of the Pelasgians, who were originally settled in the caves of the Acropolis rock. The settlement developed over the years and sometime around 2,000 BC it was named Athens. The myth says that the city claimed two gods, Neptune and Athena, who wanted to put the city under their protection and give each one his name. In the following match, with King Kekropa, the goddess Athena prevailed. That's why the city got its name, Athens. The essential history of Athens begins in 1600 BC and then, it is the Mycenaean years. The Acropolis is the core, it is fenced with a wall and within it there is the palace of the king and some houses. Settlement was also created in areas under the Acropolis, Pnyka, Agora, Ceramics. About 1200, the Dorians descend, destroying several cities outside Athens. We do not know exactly when the Acropolis is transformed into a sacred space, while administrative buildings and houses spread around it.
Since the end of the 7th century there has been a residential development in Athens and the first portico temples with the original Parthenon originate. The Agora is the center of the city and on the west side it is founded the Prytaneion, the Bouleuterion, the Temple of Zeus, the altar of the twelve gods, etc. The reign of the Temple of Olympian Zeus begins with the years of the rule of the tyrant Peisistratos, which the Roman Emperor Hadrian completed after many years. An aqueduct was also created, Kalliroi, the source of Athens, the Hundredth Bull Temple on the Acropolis, in honor of Athena, the forerunner of the Parthenon.

During the years of the Persian Wars there is a pause in the reconstruction of the city. But after the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC, the first marble Parthenon was built on the Acropolis. When the Persians entered the city, they caused many disasters in monuments, walls and sanctuaries. After the final victory of the Athenians at the naval battle of Salamis, the general and politician Themistocles decided to protect the city with walls from Piraeus and proposed the construction of the Long Walls that secured the communication of the city with its harbors in case of war. The reconstruction of the sanctuaries on the Acropolis, the Temple of Athena Poliada, and the 5th century we have in fact the complete reformation of the city. The temple of Athena Parthena (Parthenon) is being built and the golden ivory statue of Athena Parthenos, 13.5m of gold and ivory (not rescued), is placed. At the entrance of the Acropolis are built the majestic Propylaea and in the same place is the temple of Athena Nike (Ionic rhythm). His fodder is represented by the historical fact of the Battle of Plataea. In the Propylaea, the statue of Athena Promachu is placed and it is said that the nose of the Goddess's spear and the crest from her helmet appeared to Sounio. The statue was moved to Constantinople and was destroyed by the crusaders. The Erechtheion is half a temple dedicated to Athena Polyada (Ionic Rhythm) and the other half to Poseidon (Doric Rhythm). The Caryatids (sculptures of world renown) symbolize the Hydriffs in the Athenian procession and look to the Parthenon. Five have been preserved and displayed today at the Acropolis Museum, while the sixth was stolen by Lord Elgin and moved along with other sculptures in 1806 in England. This collection of statues is currently exhibited at the British Museum. In the Parthenon Frieze there is a relief representation consisting of 360 human figures (gods, priests, lords, men, women), 250 animals, mainly horses, and representing the procession of the Athenians at the great celebration of the Goddess of Panathenaea. Much has been destroyed, some pieces are in the British Museum, others at the Louvre Museum and some at the Acropolis Museum. Officially, Greece has been asking for years to return from the foreign museums, the sculptures of the Parthenon, in order to place them where they belong in their natural space.
Major works are being built in Athens and the 2nd century BC, mainly from donations of rich rulers, due to the city's love and admiration. Many buildings throughout the city will be destroyed by the Roman general Sulla in 86 BC. However, in the course of the next 300 years that Athens will be under the sovereignty of Rome, it will experience great prosperity. The buildings that were destroyed will be repaired and new ones will be built, such as the Pericles Conservatory, a new stage for the Dionysian theater, Herodes Atticus builds in honor of his wife the brilliant Conservatory, known as Herod, which hosts important events every summer. He also refurbished the Panathenaic Stadium. In August, the Agrippa Conservatory was built, and Caesar completed the Roman market. At this point was raised the clock of Andronikis Kyrstustos (today's name of the area Airs in Plaka). The city continues to spread. Especially during the years of Emperor Hadrian, buildings are built majestically to today's Syntagma Square, the National Garden and Zappeion. The temple of Olympian Zeus was completed in 132 AD.

Unfortunately, in 267th century Gothic genders appear in Greece and the Heroules attacked Athens, destroying and burning its buildings. The Acropolis and other buildings are preserved. This event ends with the ancient world. The city has been experiencing a decline for a long time. From the 5th century begins the construction of new buildings with very intense construction of Christian temples. Even the Parthenon, the Erechtheion, the Propylaea are converted into christian churches. Around the 10th and 12th centuries, most of the churches are built over the forties. Some of them are still preserved, such as the Russian church on Filellinon Street, the Agioi Apostoloi in the ancient Agora, Kapnikarea on Ermou Street, Agioi Theodoroi at Klathymonos Square etc.
From 1205, when the city is dominated by the Franks, it will experience a great catastrophe, and for 250 years there will be overwhelming abandonment. It was occupied by the Ottomans from 1456. From the 16th century, new inhabitants and Turks began to settle in Athens. The Parthenon becomes a mosque and some new Ottoman buildings are being built. The areas of Plaka and Psyrri are names that have been preserved since those years. During these years, new churches, orthodox monasteries and other dogmas were built. For a short period of time, Athens is conquered by the Venetians of Morozini, who blew up part of the Parthenon. Their occupation has resulted in the desertion of Athens. With the return of the Turks, life began again, except for two events of disaster for Athens, in 1822 with Omer Vryonis who rushed to help the Turks besieged on the Acropolis and when Kioutachis occupied it in 1826. The city is being recharged.
When the Turks retreated, Athens was a village. When, however, in 1834, the capital of Greece began a new era of rebuilding by enlightened architects abroad, as well as Greeks (Saubert, Chiller, Weiler, Kleinche, Kleanthis, Kavatzoglou etc.). The Palace (today's Parliament) was built in 1836 from Gertruder, the University in 1839, the Observatory, Zappeion in 1874 from Hansen. He designed the Sinaia Academy and the Walliani National Library. The building of the National Technical University of Athens was the work of Kaftantzoglou. In 1853 Saint Dionysius of the Catholics was built on the plans of Clement. All these buildings, as well as many others adorn the center of Athens today.

TOURISM AND RECREATION

The city of Athens has excellent hotel units scattered across all areas, hundreds of dining venues, perhaps the most intense nightlife of all European capitals and many shopping shopping malls. In recent years Athens has been touring all the months of the year.