Acropolis Museum
The Museum occupies the S.E. of
the rock of the Acropolis where the sanctuary of Pandion once stood. The
Museum contains mainly pedimental sculpture, reliefs and statues found
on the rock of the Acropolis, which formed part of the decoration of its
buildings or were dedicated to the goddess Athena. Among the latter is
the unique collection in the world of statues of female figures of the
archaic era known as the "Korai" with the well known archaic smile, such
as the Kore of Lyons, the Kore of Naxos, the Kore of Chios, the
Peploforos Kore, the Kore of Antinor, the Kore of Euthidikos, etc. From
the remaining votive offering sculptures, those of outstanding interest
are the Moschoforos, Rampin's horseman, a hunting dog, the Boy by
Kritias, the head of the blonde youth, etc. There are also sphinxes,
four-horse chariots and many votive reliefs such as that of Lenormant,
Athena in Meditation, etc
Casinos and Horse Races
On mount Parnitha is the Casino
of Mont Parnes and one more at Loutraki.The Hor.se races stadium is in
Faliro at Delta
Live Music Dance Clubs
Zorbas bouzouki and belly dance
the soul of Greece! Almost every second restaurant or tavern has live
music from a simple duo guitar and Bouzouki up to a whole orchestra.
Greeks love music and there is a big variety of choices , numerous Live
clubs that offer mostly a variety program with pop music and Greek. The
famous bouzoukia clubs where you can dance on the tables and crash as
many plates you want (you have to pay for them anyway) the bouat where
you can hear Greek new wave music, the Rembetika with the old Greek folk
music of the 30's ,and many rock and blues live clubs.
Sports and Leisure
For the Golf fans the Golf
club of Glyfada offers an excellent terrain .The public beaches of GNTO
at Agios Kosmas Glyfada Vouliagmeni and Varkiza,ideal for swimming. Wind
surfing in almost every beach ,and diving at the lake of Vouliagmeni.
The Athens Festival
This festival is held every
summer from July until September and includes a variety of events mostly
at the Herod's theater under the Acropolis, Great names of the
international musical scene are taking part, during the Athens Festival
don't miss the opportunity to go to Epidaurus where you can watch
Ancient Greek dramas at the Epidaurus Amphitheater.
Frissiras Museum
3&7 Monis Asteriou St., Plaka, Tel. 210 323-4678. Museum of contemporary
european painting. Opens daily (except Monday-Tuesday when it is
closed), Wen-Thurs-Fri 11.00-19.00 & Sat., Sun. 10:00-15:00.
Goulandris Natural History Museum
13 Levidou St., Kifissia, Tel. 210 801-5870. ThousandsΒ Β Β Β Β of
dried plants and flowers, insects, birds, rocks and minerals, sea life
of all sorts, etc. Not to be missed by those interested in paleontology,
entomology, zoology, flora and geology. The displays are colorful and
excellent, and well labeled. Open daily (except Fridays) 09.00-14.30
Greek Folk Art Museum
17 Kidathineon St., Plaka, Tel. 210 321-3018. On display is a vast
collection of traditional art objects from the Byzantine period until
today. Embroideries, wood carvings, jewelry and traditional costumes
from all over Greece are on exhibit. Open daily (except Mondays when it
is closed) 10.00-14.00 |
What mostly visitors love in Athens is its
cafes and cafeterias, thousands of them more even then Paris, each
square each road each pedestrian street every where nice small tables
under umbrellas fill with Athenians of any age enjoying there cafe
frappe or there Greek coffee or an ouzo. There are many bars around Gr.
Lambraki street in Glyfada. 0ther bar and cafe areas are around Exarchia
Square and towards Streffi hill (university crowd, but also bars in
neoclassical buildings scattered throughout the area), Plaka near the
square on Kydathineon street, Thissio (outdoor cafes & bars along
lraklidon street), Psyni (restaurants, bars, cafes), the Hilton Hotel (llissia
area) and Kifissia in the northern suburbs. Foreigners are mainly in
Glyfada, Kifissia, Plaka and llissia areas. Greek bouzoukia can be found
in Plaka or atclubs along Syngrou and Possidonos Avenues towards the
south coast.
Entertainment and Nightlife
The Athenians like all the Greeks have a deferent rhythm of life unlike
the rest of the western Europeans so don't be surprised when you see the
shops open until 9 pm and some of the more later pubs cafes restaurants
they have unlimited time table most of them they will stay open until
the last customer leave the premises. Greeks love to spend the night out
in a restaurant or in a Tavern and not only Saturday nights every night
of the week especially in the summer the life never ends in Athens in
some Areas like Psiri and Kolonaki you can have often traffic jams after
3 o'clock in the morning ,if you ask me why is because those areas are
the most in for night life for many Athenians.
Cinemas and Theaters
There are noumerus theaters and
movies in Athens,all the films in Greece on the movies or in the
television are on its original language with subtitles.
Ancient Agora Temple of Hephestus & Stoa
of Attalus Museum
inside the Stoa of Attalos,
Tel. 210 321-0185. Inside one will find artifacts from the Agora
(ancient market place) while upstairs visitors will see miniature models
of how the Acropolis and Agora looked during ancient times. There are
65,000 finds from the excavations on exhibit.
Athens City Museum
7 Paparigopoulou St., Tel.210 324-6164.
The museum contains paintings, sketches and a scale model of 19th
century Athens as well as furniture, costumes and personal objects from
early this century. Open daily (except Tuesdays) 10.00-14.00.
Archaeological Museum of Piraeus
31 Harilaou Trikoupi St., Piraeus,
Tel. 210 452-1598. Contains archaeological artifacts from the port
city, from the 4th century B.C. until the Roman period. Open daily
(except Mondays when it is closed) 08.30-15.00.
Byzantine & Christian Museum
22 Vass. Sofias Ave., Tel. 210-723-2178,
210-723-1570 . It contains a large collection of icons, and other
Byzantine and post-Byzantine art. Descriptions are in Greek and French.
Open daily (except Mondays when it is closed) 08.30-15.00. Free
Admission.
Epigraphical Museum
1Tossitsa St., Tel. 210 821-7637. A
passage through the history of Greek epigraphy (the art of inscription),
from ancient to modern times. Open daily (except Mondays) 08.30-15.00.
Free admission.
Greek Popular Musical Instruments Musuem
1-3 Diogenous Str.Plaka, Tel. 210
325-0198. On display are popular Greek musical instruments, old and
new.Β Open dailyΒ 10.00-14.00 (except Mondays when it is closed) and
Wednesdays 12.00-18.00. Free admission. |