Greece is recovering after years of severe crisis. So now is the time to travel to the ancient center of the world and see how the Athenians got through the hard times (some of them didn't even notice them). Athens attracts in a unique way, namely as a unique combination of old and new, surrounded by a spectacular Mediterranean landscape. With a past that every schoolboy knows, and a present full of upheavals - ancient, yet modern - they fascinate visitors, not only the Acropolis, but also wandering around the touristy Plaka, snobbish Kolonaki or night-time notorious Psirri conjures up unforgettable impressions.
Hint
Modernity in the cradle of antiquity
In summer it can be a climb to Acropolis tiring, mainly because of the heat and crowd, so it is much better to visit New Acropolis Museum, just below the Acropolis, which is pleasantly chilled, and the modernly designed building, instead of dusty antique examples, creates a dialogue with the buildings on top of the hill and takes us through the excellently presented history of this symbol of Greece and antiquity to a better understanding of what the Acropolis is. Swiss-German architect Bernard Tschumi is with the aesthetic approach of a collaborator Michalis Fotiadis created a living organism that is directly connected to its natural environment and the origin of its treasures.
The minimalist glass and concrete museum represents the mental stimulation of walking up the hill, accentuated by the intense light that falls through the large windows and illuminates the once multicolored Caryatids, statues of women in the role of supporting pillars. The pinnacle of the experience is on the top floor, where the incomplete Parthenon frieze keeps the hope alive that Greek art treasures will one day return to their homeland.
New Acropolis Museum, www.theacropolismuseum.gr
Time for culture
Famous shipowner and multimillionaire Aristotle Onassis he left us not only spicy stories from his private life, but also a respectable one foundation, which enriched the city with Onassis Cultural Center. The building of the center, which brings together the entire spectrum of art, from theater, dance, music and virtual art to the written word, with an emphasis on contemporary cultural expression and the support of Greek artists, in cooperation with the international artistic community, was designed by a French architectural company Architecture Studies, and the center's philosophy is already visible from the facade: the white rectangular shell reveals the mass of the building through horizontal layers of marble, which reflects sunlight during the day and glows in color at night.
Onassis Cultural Center, 107 Syngrou Avenue, www.sgt.gr
Restaurants
Where to have dinner?
In Greece, we must feel the real atmosphere at least once taverns. In Athens, it is best to wrap up in one of the oldest taverns in the city, Diporto. The fame of the tavern has been spread only by word of mouth for the past hundred years, and quite a few representatives of the international cream have crowded into the tavern to taste the divine grilled sardines and chickpeas with olives and oregano. All the food is completely homemade or, more precisely, better than an everyday home-cooked meal.
Taverna Diporto, 9 Sokratous & Theatrou
Snacks
If hunger does not seem too much to us and we will be content only with snacks called meze, then it is the best address This Yperokeaneion in the port of Athens Piraeus. Perhaps the interior will shock us a little, as it gives the appearance of a tavern from the 1950s somewhere on Kimolos, where the owner of the tavern came to Athens from. But marinated anchovies, raw sea bass or the house specialty - spaghetti with shrimps will convince us that it is worth coming back for another serving of seafood specialties.
Taverna To Yperokeaneion, 48 M. Chatzikyriakou, Piraeus
In a stellar way
To the restaurant Aneton, co-owned by a celebrity chef Vassilis Kallidis, we will have to sit in a taxi for a while, but the masterpieces of the author of the bestselling book Modern Greek cuisine and the latest I love Athens, in which she discovers our favorite corners in the city, will convince us that the drive is worth it. His philosophy, that no technique and miraculous kitchen tools help, if we do not use the best ingredients, is a guarantee that the food is fresh and always follows the seasons.
Aneton Restaurant, Stratigou Lekka 19, www.aneton.gr
When it smells sweet
One of the oldest pastry shops in Athens is located in the area Palaio Faliro. Lucky people who live near the candy store Alma, they buy cottage cheese cakes every morning, always early, but even if we are late - in Alma we will find literally everything the soul desires.
Confectionery Alma, 56 Ag. Alexandrou, Palaio Faliro
Entertainment
Club life day and night
Athens has quite a few areas that really come alive only in the evening hours. Elegant bars of the area Colons attract mainly those who were not touched by the financial crisis, v Psirri however, it is mainly young people who want to have a louder party. Piraeus also has areas where you can drink cocktails by the seashore, for example in Zea Marina, a nearby beach Glyphada and is famous for its clubs open late into the night.
Night and day
In the center of Athens it is lively around the square Monastiraki and in the near future Psirri. Six dogs is an entertainment center that is open day and night and combines a space for concerts, a space for various projects, a bar, a lobby and probably the most bizarre urban garden with sand and Scandinavian furniture. From 10 in the morning until late at night, we can enjoy cultural events, local delicacies, cocktails and homemade desserts at very reasonable prices.
Six dogs, 6-8 Avramiotou, Monastiraki, www.sixdogs.gr
Molecular
Just a few minutes by taxi from Monastiraki Square, we will meet at the club MoMix say goodbye to classic cocktails and go... a molecule further. The main "mixer" of cocktails Ari Hatziandoniou uses the techniques of molecular gastronomy in the composition of his drinks, which are smoky, neon-colored, but still strong and great tasting.
Momix, 1-5 Keleou, www.momix.gr
Shopping
The right address for jewelry lovers
Greek jewelers have long delighted those with deep wallets and a desire to buy precious metals. It is one of the most famous Greek goldsmith families Lalaounis. He started the family tradition of designing jewelry mainly from gold and silver Ilias Lalaounis, and today it is continued by his four daughters and grandchildren. One of their biggest rivals is a jewelry house Zolotas, which has been around since its inception 1895 known to this day mainly for its extremely high-quality antique jewelry replicas. An artist Elena Votsi before she started making jewelry under her own name, she created for brands such as Gucci and Ralph Lauren. Among other things, she also designed medals for Olympics in Athens in 2004, and also weaves coral, amethyst, turquoise and aquamarine into massive pieces of jewelry. The saying "like father, like son" became the family's slogan Vildiridis, which follows the ideas generation after generation Apostolos Vildiridis, the founder of the gold and jewelry house. Sisters Stella and Venetia they belong to the fourth generation and with their youthful drive bring freshness to the jewelry collections, which can be seen and, of course, bought in the new boutique in a prestigious location in the center of Athens.
Lalaounis, Panepistimiou 6 and Voukourestiou, Syntagma, www.lalaounis.gr
Zolotas, Panepistimiou 10, www.zolotas.gr
Elena Votsi, Xanthou 7, Kolonaki, www.elenavotsi.com
Venetia Vildiridis, Panepistimiu 8 & Voukourestiou 11, www.venetiavildiridis.com
An interesting fact
The best street food
We see it, we smell it, but how can we taste the city? Let's try the street food! Athens doesn't just offer kebabs, but an interesting range of food. One of the must-stops for nightbirds is a street sandwich stand Michalakopoulou, where for only four euros in the early hours of the morning we will bite into a crispy chicken sandwich with caramelized onions and mayonnaise-mustard sauce. For 16 years, one of the most popular "institutions", which offers huge sandwiches, kebabs and sausages to the most durable of the Athens night scene, has been standing on the avenue Athinion 24. The classic hangout of all those who go to "after parties" in the early hours of the morning is a kiosk with fast food on the edge of a well-known square Mavily, near the US embassy, but the best thing is the grilled sausages with onions, cabbage and carrots for only four euros.
