Athens, the capital of Greece, holds the distinction of being one of the oldest cities of the world. Apart from being the economic, financial, industrial, political and cultural center of Greece, the city is also rapidly becoming a leading business centre in the European Union. The rich heritage and cultural legacy of Athens, evident in the form of its ancient monuments and works of art, is what drives tourists to the city. Here, you will find a beautiful amalgam of various architectural styles, ranging from Greco-Roman and Neo-Classical to Contemporary. In case you want to explore more about the city, make use of the information given below.
Fun & Interesting Facts about Athens
- Along with being the capital of Greece, Athens is also the capital of the Attica Periphery and the Athens Prefecture.
- Athens is the largest city of Greece, apart from being one of the oldest cities of the world.
- The Athens Larger Urban Zone (LUZ) is said to be the 8th most populated LUZ in the European Union.
- The first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens, in the year 1896. In 2004, Athens again played host to Olympic Games.
- Athens became the first Cultural Capital of Europe in 1985.
- The evidence of the first settlement around the Acropolis dates back to 3000 BC.
- Athens is widely referred to as the ‘Cradle of Western civilization’ and the ‘Birthplace of Democracy’.
- Being continuously inhabited for at least 3,000 years, Athens boasts of being one of the cities with the longest history in the world.
- Athens became the leading city of the ancient Greece, in the first millennium BC.
- It was in 1834 that Athens succeeded Nafplion, the city that was provisional capital during the Greek War of Independence ending in 1832, as the capital of Greece.
- The Greater Athens area stands divided into 55 municipalities, the largest being the Municipality of Athens or Dimos Athinaion.
- Athens is one of the world's main centres of archaeological research.
- Omonia Square is the oldest square in Athens.
- Syntagma Square, adjacent to Parliament and a number of significant hotels, is the central square of Athens.
- Athens was the birthplace of many prominent philosophers, writers and politicians of the ancient world, including Socrates, Pericles & Sophocles.
