Destination Profile of the Day: Athens, Greece

European crusing has gained even more popularity recently, leading to a number of ships being homeported there year round.

And one of the most popular destinations within the European continent is Greece, home of the ancient Olympics and often called the "cradle of civilization."

Athens is not, strictly speaking, a port city, but is accessed from Piraeus, on the Agean coastline.

Most of the popular tourist attractions are foot accessible in the downtown area surrounding the Parthenon/Acropolis, pictured here., and walking is the best mode of transportation, due to the large volumes of motorized traffic in the city. The city was named after the Greek goddess of wisdom, Athena, and has a rich history reaching back thousands of years; to include such immortal names as Socrates, Plato, Aristotle and many more. Athens became the capital of modern Greece in the year 1834.

ATTRACTIONS TO SEE IN ATHENS:

The Acropolis: This hill, with its many temples dedicated to the ancient Greek gods and goddesses of mythology, was the original starting point for the city. The remaining ruins that are visible today date mainly from the era around the 4th Century BCE. The majority of them were erected by Pericles after the Persian invasions, which destroyed the buildings previously on the site.

After climbing to the top of the hill, most will find their eyes drawn to the Parthenon, an example of Doric architecture constructed from marble brought to the city from quarries in the distant mountains. Also nearby are the Erechtheion and a museum housing carvings and friezes from the temples of the Acropolis. Unfortunately, many of the earlier archaeological finds from this treasure rich attraction are now housed in the British museum in London, due to earlier "plundering."

The Agora: The home of the ancient marketplaces and seats of Greek government, the Agora sits below the hill of the Acropolis. There are numerous ruins in this area, including the theater where many of the original Greek tragedies were performed, especially the Dionysos.

The National Archaeological Museum: This is the largest of the museums in the city, and includes such displays/exhibits as artifacts unearthed in Mycenae by Heinrich Schliemann, the discoverer of the ancient city of Troy, most famous for the Trojan War and the Trojan Horse used by the Greek invaders to trick the defenders of the city into opening their gates so that the Greek armies could enter and destroy all who lived there. Troy, of course, was immortalized by Homer's The Illiad and The Odyssey. The museum is so large and has so many worthwhile exhibitions that it is recommended to make more than one visit, in order to see all of them.

Syntagma Square: The home to the Greek Parliament, this is also where one finds the authentically clad guards at the Parliament building; and is the stepping off point for many of the city's museums which are nearby.

EVENTS AND FESTIVALS:

The Athens Festival: This festival has been held every year since 1955 at the Herod Atticus Odeon, a structure dating from the 1st Century ACE, at the foot of the Acropolis. It runs in two sections over the period from June to October each year.

Greek Dance Festival: This festival showcases traditional Greek dance (think Zorba the Greek??). The dancers in each portion of the festival are authentically costumed and perform traditional Greek dances.

THE CLIMATE: The climate is moderate, ranging from a low of 45 degrees F and a high of 55 degrees F in January, to a low of 73 degrees F and a high of 88 degrees F in July and August. Rainfall is minimal, especially in the summer months.

PRIMARY CRUISE SEASON: The primary cruise season for Greece is May through November, and quite a number of cruise ships call at both Athens/Piraeus and the outlying Greek islands.

We would love to be of assistance to you in planning a cruise to the Mediterranean/Aegean Seas which includes ports of call in Greece. Feel free to contact us at any time, and one of our helpful, knowledgeable cruise consultants will get in touch with you promptly to be of assistance.