Plaka , Greece

Pedestrian street near Ermou (Ερμού) Street.Walking around the CityWhile many of the modern parts of Athens are architecturally unremarkable -- a jungle of concrete apartment buildings -- there are a few very walkable neighborhoods. One such neighborhood is Plaka, an old section of town with stone streets, neoclassical architecture, and lovely restaurants with outdoor seating. Another is Monastiraki, the site of many shops and a well-known flea market. The very long, centrally-located Ermou Street, is a shopping haven. Plaka (Πλάκα), an old neighborhood in Athens. Pláka (Greek: Πλάκα) is the...

Read more »

Acropolis , Athens , Greece

The Parthenon (Παρθενώνας) at the Acropolis (Ακρόπολη). Acropolis (Greek: Ακρόπολις) means "high city" in Greek, literally city on the extremity and is usually translated into English as Citadel (akros, akron, edge, extremity + polis, city, pl. acropoleis). For purposes of defense, early people naturally chose elevated ground to build a new settlement, frequently a hill with precipitous sides. In many parts of the world, these early citadels became the nuclei of large cities, which grew up on the surrounding lower ground, such as modern Rome. The Acropolis of Athens as seen from Mount Lycabettus...

Read more »

Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the periphery of Central Macedonia  as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace. Its honorific title is Συμπρωτεύουσα (Symprotévousa), literally "co-capital", a reference to its historical status as the Συμβασιλεύουσα (Symvasilévousa) or "co-reigning" city of the Byzantine Empire, alongside Constantinople. Ancient Greek inscription reading "To Queen Thessalonice, (Daughter) of Philip". According to the 2011 census the municipality...

Read more »