Athens (Greece)

Athens (Greece)
The Parthenon and other main buildings on the Acropolis were built by Pericles in the fifth century BC as a monument to the cultural and political achievements of the inhabitants of Athens.　　With thousands of years of history and mythology under its belt ， Athens - named for the olive-tree-loving Athena （ goddess of wisdom）- is more than a concrete jungle. It's an affable city enlivened by outdoor cafes， pedestrian streets ， parks， gardens and characters aplenty 。 If you get into the spirit of things， you might not even notice the layer of nefos （smog） hanging overhead.　　The city is bounded on three sides by Mt Parnitha， Mt Pendeli and MtHymettos. Within Athens there are no less than eight hills， of which the Acropolis and Lykavittos are the most prominent 。 The hills provide a peaceful respitefrom the clamour of the city， and offer stunning views to the glistening waters of the Saronic Gulf - the city's boundary on the south side.　　Syntagma Square is the main square of Athens. Syntagma means Constitution so it is also known as Constitution Square. There is a metro station here and a fountain and the main post office and a MacDonalds too.　　Just about everything of interest to the traveller is within a small area surrounding Plateia Syntagmatos （Syntagma Square）。 This area is bounded by the districts of Plaka to the south， Monastiraki to the west， Kolonaki to the east and Omonia to the north.　　Plateia Syntagmatos is dominated by the old Royal Palace and is the beating heart of the business district， with luxury hotels， banks and airline offices. Plaka， nestled below the Acropolis， is the old Turkish quarter and virtually all that existed when Athens was declared the capital of independent Greece. Though Plaka is packed with tourists in high season， it's also one of theprettiest and most atmospheric areas of the city. Monastiraki is the market district and a fascinating part of town to wander. Psiri， nearby， is brimming with stylish cafes and bars and makes a great place to stop for a spot of lunch. Kolonaki， a classy residential area tucked in under Lykavittos Hill， is full of trendy boutiques cx， art galleries and cafes.