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Athens Facts |
Athens Overview |
Athens Tourist Attraction Athens Location Map | Athens City Map |
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Geography: Athens is located in central Greece in the Attica Basin. This sea side city is also flanked by several mountains which help to retain a cool weather throughout the year. Mt. Parnassus is the highest mountain of Athens.
History: The brilliant civilization of Athens was built in the plains of Attika between Hymettos, Parnitha and Penteli mountains. The concept of democracy is said to have born here more than eight thousand years back. During the Greek civilization in the 1st millennium BC Athens was the fastest developing city here. Between 500 BC and 323 BC Athens’s was leading the world for its cultural and intellectual heritage.
11th and 12th century saw the Golden Age of Byzantine Art in Athens. During this time all of the Byzantine churches were built in Athens and along with Corinth and Thebes, Athens became a prosperous centre for soaps and dyes.
Under Sultan Mehmet II, Athens fell to the Ottoman Empire in 1458. During this time the conditions of the city started worsening and population fell rapidly resulting to a decline of the Ottoman Empire by the late 17th century.
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Economy: Athens has a mixed capitalist economy and Greece is one of the poorest countries of Europe. The economy is mainly based on agriculture. The main agricultural products are Wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, olives, tomatoes, tobacco, wine and potatoes. The other industries include textiles, mining, metal products, chemicals and petroleum. But shipping and tourism are the industries that contribute most to the economy.
Educational Institutions: There are some very good educational institutions in Athens. Remembering the great scholars of the past, Athens still continues to intellectually rich. There are technical as well as Greek language schools. Athens centre is the cultural and educational hub of Greece since 1969.
Transport System:- Airways: Eleftherios Venizelos is the international aitport of Athens and is located at a distance of 33 km from the city heart. It is Europe’s fastest growing airport and has been operating since May 28th, 2001. Due to its central location almost all parts of Europe, Africa and Middle East is accessible from Athens. Flights from London, Berlin, Paris, New York, Frankfurt, Istanbul, Zurich, Rome, Milan, Larnaca and Dubai have regular services to and from here.
- Sea: Athens can be reached by ferry boats from Italy. Patras is the second largest port which is 220 km from the city of Athens.
- Roadways: The roads of Athens are very well connected. Buses and taxis can be hired from all parts of the city. There are special buses run be travel agencies which can be availed for site seeing in Athens.
Administration and Government: This is the land where democracy was born some 8000 years back. It gives all its people to participate in the election of government.
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