Athens

On the southern shore of the Balkan peninsula, washed by the sparkling waters of the Saronic Gulf, is situated the majestic city - the capital of Greece and the solar symbol of world history - Athens. The town was named in honor of the goddess of wisdom Athena (Athena), which according to legend, won a competition with Poseidon, and the gods of Olympus was named the city of Athens. The history of the city is lost in ancient times. Athens was the most powerful city of Ancient Greece during the zenith of Greek civilization in the first millennium BC. During the Golden Age of Greece (V-IV vv. BC), Athens was the main cultural and intellectual center of the entire Western world, and it became the cradle of Western civilization. The city survived the bloody wars fought for its possession of the Byzantines, French and Italian knights, and in 1458 he withdrew the Ottoman Empire, which then rules of the Sultan Muhammad the Conqueror. Entering the city, he was so struck by the beauty of its ancient buildings, which issued a special decree prohibiting under pain of death to touch the ruins. Only September 18, 1833 Athens was declared capital of the newly formed Greek kingdom. Athens - a cultural mecca enduring relevance, it is here were discovered the famous schools of philosophy, and it lived here Socrates and Plato, Pericles, and Theseus, who was the actual founder of the city. Today, Athens is not only carefully preserve the historical and cultural heritage, but also are an excellent tourist and resort center, combining the comfort of the XXI century and the centuries-old tradition. There are comfortable hotels, theaters, cinemas, sports facilities (the last Olympic Games held in Athens in 2004), and an abundance of restaurants, cafes, bars and nightclubs can compete with many world capitals. Athens - is a unique city, where the lively rhythm of modern life wonderfully in harmony with the grandeur of history and architecture that resemble a fairy-tale world of legends and myths of ancient Greece.