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Athens
is in the region of Attica, which is characterized
by calm beaches, and the pinewoods and
thyme-covered slopes of Mount Parnes,
Hymettus and Pentelico. The
city of Athens is dominated by the
flat-topped hill of the Acropolis,
site of the 2400-year-old Parthenon,
one of the most famous classical
monuments in the world (which is
beautifully lit at night by a mass of colored
lights), the Theatre of Dionysius,
the Doric Temple of Heiphaistos,
the Roman Forum, Hadrian’s
Arch, and the water clock of
Andronikos Kyrrhestes, commonly known
as the Tower of the Winds.
On the far side of the Acropolis is the
restored Odeon of Herod
Atticus, a superb theatre in which
the open-air plays of the International
Athens Festival are held from June to
September. In the centre of Athens
there are modern shops, restaurants,
international-class hotels and
nightclubs. The old quarter of the
town, Plaka, which spreads
around the Acropolis, provides a
picturesque contrast with its famed
flea market, small tavernas, craft
shops and narrow winding alleys. Piraeus,
lying at the innermost point of the Saronic
Gulf just outside Athens, is the
main port of the town. From here
ferries leave regularly for the islands
and other points along the coast. An
electric train service connects Athens
and Piraeus.
Southwards
along the West Coastline
Apollo Coast,
is one of the best developed tourist
areas, stretching from Piraeus as far
as Cape Sounio at the southern tip of
the promontory. Marinas, well-appointed
swimming beaches, small bays, modern
hotel complexes, rented flats, numerous
tavernas which specialize in seafood,
luxury-class restaurants and nightclubs
are all attractions of the area.
Cape Sounio, 69km
(43 miles) from Athens, is a towering
promontory which dominates the
landscape for miles around. Here the
superb ruins of the Temple of
Poseidon, surrounded by steep
access paths, crown the cape.
Other resorts (and
their distance from Athens) include: Paleo
Faliro (8km/5 miles), Alimos
(11km/7 miles), Glifada (17km/11
miles), Voula (18.5km/11.5
miles), Kavouri (23km/14 miles),
Vouliagmeni (24km/15 miles), Vouliagmeni
Lake (a natural lake with
medicinal waters, set in beautiful
surroundings) (26km/16 miles), Varkiza
(28km/17 miles), Lagonissi (40km/25
miles) and Anavissos (51km/32
miles).
Northwards
around the Gulf of Corinth
Kineta,
(55km/34 miles from Athens), a coastal
resort with an extensive beach, lies on
the Saronic Gulf and can be
reached on the Old Corinth road. Porto
Germeno (73km/45 miles from
Athens), Psatha (67km/42 miles)
and Alepohori (61km/38 miles)
are typical Attic villages, set in
thick pinewoods, bordering on the Gulf
of Corinth. Sheltered bays provide
excellent swimming. Accommodation is
available and there are numerous
restaurants specializing in fish
dishes.
The
East Coast of Attica
Stretching
from Cape Sounio to Skala
Oropou, there is a succession of
resorts, set amid pinewoods. These
include (all distances are from Athens)
Lavrio (52km/32 miles), Porto
Rafti (38km/24 miles), Loutsa (30km/19
miles), Rafina (28km/17 miles),
Mati (29km/18 miles), Agios
Andreas (31km/19 miles), Nea
Makri (33km/21 miles), Schinias (44km/27
miles), Agia Marina (47km/29
miles) and Agii Apostoli (44km/27
miles). In general, there is a wide
choice of hotels, rooms to rent,
restaurants and tavernas.
The
Saronic Gulf and Islands
The Saronic Gulf
stretches from the Attica coastline to
the Peloponnese shores. The best known
islands here are Aegina, Salamis,
Poros, Hydra, Spetses, Dokos,
Spetsopoula and the islets of Angistri
and Moni. The Gulf is served by
passenger ships, car ferries and
fast-sailing hydrofoils. Passenger
ships sail from the central harbour at Piraeus
for Aegina, Methana, Poros, Hermione (Eermioni),
Hydra and Spetses, while car ferries
sail to Aegina, Methana and Poros.
Special timetables cover small motor ship
sailings to Agia Marina and Souvala
on the island of Aegina. Further
information can be obtained from
Piraeus Central Port Authority. Tel:
(1) 422 6000. Fast hydrofoil services
supplement steamer services. For Aegina,
sailings are from the central harbor at
Piraeus. For Methana, Poros, Hydra,
Hermioni, Porto Heli, Spetses, Leonidio
and Nafplion, sailings are from the Zea
Marina (Piraeus). A local Piraeus bus
connects the terminus with Zea Marina.
One-day cruises to the islands of
Aegina, Poros and Hydra leave daily
throughout the year from Flisvos Marina
at Paleo Faliro.
Salamis, close
to Piraeus, enjoys a frequent shuttle
service by motor-sailing vessels, caiques,
from nearby Piraeus and from Perama
across the Straits. The island has good
roads and a network of bus and taxi
services. At Eandio there are
the remains of ancient Telamon.
Sandy beaches are at Kaki Vigla,
Moulki, Kanakia and Peristeria.
There are no large hotels.
Aegina (Egina)
is a favorite among holidaymakers for
its excellent beaches, clear seas and
fine climate. The terrain is flat and
cycling is popular. Other means of
transport are buses, taxis and horse drawn
carriages. There are beauty spots and
beaches at Plakakia, Agia
Marina, Faros and Marathonas.
Angistri and Moni are two
small wooded islands which offer
opportunities for excursions.
Methana, jutting
out from the Peloponnese peninsula, is
renowned for its medieval springs at
Methana town and modernized
hydrotherapy installations run by the
National Tourist Organization. Methana
attracts a large number of visitors
every year.
Poros is a
thickly-wooded island lying just off
the Peloponnese mainland township of Galatas.
It is made up of two islands, linked by
a narrow neck of land: Kalavria
and Sphaeria on which the town
of Poros is built. Ferries leave for
the mainland where there is a famous
lemon grove and the remains of ancient
Trizina, the legendary birthplace of
Theseus. Sandy beaches, at Askeli
and Neorio, are also accessible
by ferry.
Hydra is a
cosmopolitan island offering an active
nightlife. Beaches are at Kamina,
Molos, Palamida, Bisti and Mandraki
and the sea cave of Bariami has
been converted into a swimming pool;
many beaches are more easily reached by
boat. The island does not allow any motorized
transport. There is only a small number
of hotel rooms and most visitors hire
or own their accommodation. A large
(closed) monastery is centered at the
highest point of the island.
Spetses lies at
the southern extremity of the Saronic
Gulf. It has long been a holiday resort
and has good hotels and a variety of
entertainment facilities. Seaside
resorts include Zogeria, Agia
Marina, Agia Anangiri and
Agia Pasaskevi.
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