Issue link: http://viewer.e-digitaleditions.com/i/471535
Athens 43 As thriving of a metropolis as ever, visitors say that the golden age of Athens is not yet over. Inhabited since the Neolithic Age, this capital of Greece and unofficial historical capital of Europe is a destination with neighborhoods of unhurried stillness and exciting whirlwinds. For instance, Psiri is a designated nightlife neighborhood, where craftsmen and boutiques call by day and ouzeries and bars bustle by night. Wealthy Kolonaki Square's cafés and high-end shopping delights, and the Thission neighborhood, between Phillipapou Hill and the world-famous Acropolis, features tavernas, more cafés, and restaurants. Not to be forgotten is the shopping avenue of Ermou Street, part of the largest pedestrian zone in all of Europe, starting behind Syntagma Square. Here, sunny days can be lost among international brands and authentic Greek goods, making for a wonderful place for visitors to begin their journeys into the past. Archeological sites in this cradle of Western civilization number over 100, with the most emblematic being the Acropolis, followed by the Theater of Herod Atticus, Theater of Dionysius, the Ancient Agora, and the sacred Erechtheion, where the original olive tree the goddess Athena gifted her city stands. No less impressive are the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Hadrian's Arch, the Parliament, and Zappeion, all spreading south of the Vasilissis Sofias. Near the National Garden, the Panathinaiko Olympic Stadium, originally constructed in 330 BCE and rebuilt for the first modern Olympic Games, is a monumental testament to the longstanding architectural traditions of Greece. Farther afield is Delphi, where the mysticism of its oracle tradition feels as deep-seated and natural as the trade of the region's cheeses and olives. ATHENS National Garden Parliament Zappion Ancient Agora Acropolis Stoa of Attalos Temple of Olympian Zeus National Historical Museum Perikleous Praxitelous Didotou Kolokotroni Amerikis Asklipiou Massalias Akadimias Stadiou Miaouli Evripidou Aiolou Ch. Lada Aristidou Pireos Menandrou Aristofanous Sofokleous Sokratous Deligiorgi Panepistimiou (Eleftheriou Venizelou) Athinas 28 Oktovriou (Patission) Zinonos P. Tsaldari Em. Benaki Harilaou Trikoupi Ippokratous Skoufa Chersonos Kanari Vasilissis Sofias Sina Omirou Solonos Lykavitou Voukourestiou Pindarou Tsakalof Korai Mitropoleos Apollonos Navarhou Nikodimou Amalias Filellinon Nikis Voulis Amalias Souri Theorias Dionyssiou Areopagitou Vasilissis Olgas Mitropoleos Pandrossou Adrianou Adrianou Flessa Ermou Ermou Vironos Adrianou Polignotou Pritaniou Kyrrestou Lysiou Trip odon Omonia Square Eleutherias Square Kotzia Square Monastiraki Square Klafthmonos Square Syntagma Square Karageorgi Servias ANAFIOTI K A 0 1/8 miles 0 1/8 km