What is the Capital of Greece? Athens is the capital and largest city of Greece. It is one of the oldest cities in the world with over 3400 years history.
Ancient Athens was a strong city state without a city sea. Sea connection and maritime trade was carried out through Port of Piraeus, now part of Athens.
Today, Piraeus is home to the most important transport port of Greece. In the history of civilizations, the breakthroughs realized in Athens especially in ancient philosophy and art fields are of great importance.
When did Athens Become the Capital?
Athens is the fourth-largest capital of Europe and is located in the Attica area in the south of the country. Accepted as the historic capital of Europe, Athens has a long history of its first settlements in the Neolithic Age.
In the 5th century BC, the values and civilization of the city became universal. In this period known as the Golden Age of Pericles, the city has reached the pinnacle of fascinating history. Over the years, many conquerors have occupied Athens and built magnificent monuments.
In 1458, the Ottomans conquered Athens. At the beginning of the Greek uprising in 1821 the insurgents took over Athens. In 1826, the Ottomans took the city back.
On 25 March 1833, the Greek army came to Athens and demanded that the city be immediately surrendered to them and began to occupy the outer neighborhoods.
On top of this, the last Ottoman soldier in the city was released on March 31, 1833, and the Turkish sovereignty, which lasted more than 350 years in Athens, came to an end. Athens became the capital of the new state in 1834.
In World War I, Athens was the scene of 1916-17 events that led King Constantine I to fall from the throne. In World War II, German troops invaded the city.
Features of Athens
Athens has 2,929 square kilometers of land and the population is 3,04 million by 2018. Although Athens is a safe city, it is possible to commit crimes such as pickpocketing in particular. These regions, which are usually gathered around Omonoia Square, are a little more distressing in terms of crime.
The climate of Athens generally has a warm Mediterranean climate. The most typical features of climate are hot and dry summer months and mild rainy winter months. The city is experiencing its hottest days in July and August.
One of the largest economic centers in Southeast Europe, the city has a large financial sector. It has the Port of Piraeus, Europe’s largest, second largest passenger port in the world. It has a long history in sporting events. The city, which has been an olympic cultural event since Antiquity, has organized many important sports organizations.
In 1896 and 2004 hosted the Summer Olympic Games. Shown as one of the finest stadiums in the world, the Olympic Stadium of Athens has twice hosted the Champions League final. The biggest sports clubs in the city are Olympiacos, Panathinaikos and AEK Athens.
Important Places to See in Athens
The cultural capital of the world, Athens, is a historical and touristic city that hosts millions of tourists each year with the confidence that thousands of years of history of civilization have given.
Historical destinations to visit in this city which has made history of the world with the civilization they built before BC attract tourists. At the beginning of the places to visit in Athens are; Acropolis, Acropolis Museum and Ancient Agora.