Athens, Greece — Overview
Athens is named after Athena, the goddess of wisdom, who is celebrated by an ancient temple on the Acropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage site rising proudly in the heart of the concrete jungle that is modern Athens. As a city state, Athens reached its heyday in the fifth century BC, with the construction of many of the great classical buildings regarded as icons of Ancient Greece. Democracy was born, drama flourished and Socrates conceived the foundations of Western philosophy. Today, Athens remains a major European center of culture, with its stunning classical sites and world-class museums. The Greek capital also has the finest restaurants and the most varied nightlife in the country.The return of the Olympic Games in 2004 prompted a flurry of new development, including public transport and tourist facilities, and the long-awaited New Acropolis Museum finally opened in 2009.
