Athens, the city of the gods

Athens, the city with the most glorious history in the world, a city worshiped by gods and people, a magical city. These are just a few words that shows an overview of the Greek capital. 

Greece is also the country where democracy was born and have lived the greatest sages of ancient times. The most important civilization of ancient world flourished in Athens and live today through stories and buildings that withstood heroically against time consuming.

Today Athens is Greece's economic and cultural center, with many historical monuments and sights, among witch the most important are:

 Agora, the ancient center of Athens, the center of political,commercial, administrative and social activities, religious center and the settlement  of justice, was used as a residential area in late Neolithic, in the early eleventh century, the Agora becaming a public area.

If you want to visit Agora you should know the following information: 

 -Agora entrance fee is 4 € for adults and € 2 for students and children;

-Agora can be visited daily between 08.30-19.30 hours, Monday  less when is open from 11:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (closed for the holidays); 

- the Agora is located near the Acropolis hill, along the streets of Plaka and Monastiraki ;

Temple of Olympian Zeus, also known as the Oplympeion, is located on Amalias Street at 500 meters southeast of the Acropolis and  700 meters south of Syntagma Square. Foundation belongs to a temple that was dedicated to the tyrant Pisistratus in 515 BC, but work was abandoned when Pisistratus's son, Hippias, was removed from the throne in 510 BC

If you want to visit the temple you should know the following information:

-Temple of Zeus can be visited daily between 08.00-19.30 hours Monday when it's less open from 11:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (closed for holidays);

-Entrance to the Temple of Zeus is 4 €  and is located on Amalias street; 

Acropolis, the most important and most beautiful temple in Athens called "Holy Stone of Athens" dedicated to its protector, goddess Athena, dominates the modern city center stone summit. The oldest myths, great festivals, worship ancient and several decisive events in history are all connected in this sacred place. Acropolis monuments are in natural harmony with the settlement. One of the main buildings of the Acropolis is the Parthenon.

The building of Parthenon was created by architects Kallikrates and Iktinos as the residence of the huge statue of Athena, its construction of lasting seven years. What is fascinating about Parthenon is that it creates a feeling that is built from parts that can be changed between them. For example, the columns are stones placed one upon another, the first sensation is that you could change one piece with the other but this is not possible. Each piece of the Parthenon is unique and fits with where it is located as in the hardest puzzle.

If you want to visit The Acropolis you should know the following information: 

-Acropolis can be visited every day from 08.00-19.30 least Monday when it opened between 11:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (closed for the holidays );

-Acropolis entrance fee is € 12 for adults and 6 € for students and children;

The construction of the Temple of Poseidon, god of the sea, began around 500 BC, but the monument was never finished. Temple and its attractions was first destroyed by the Persians in 480 BC. Temple of Poseidon that you can visit today was built on the site of the ruins of another temple. . 

Lord Byron carved his name on one of the marble columns in 1810. He triggered a real current, today the temple being scratched with signatures and initial of the tourists.

If you want to visit the temple of Poseidon, you should know the following information: 

-Temple of Poseidon can be visited every day between 8:30 to 20:00. (except in March when is closed);

-entrance to the Temple of Poseidon is 4 € for adults and € 2 for children;

-the temple is located in city ​​Sounio,  Athens organizing trips to the Temple of Poseidon;

Byzantine Museum was founded in 1914. Originally located at the ground floor of the Academy of Athens, he was moved to Villa Ilissia, winter residence of the Duchess of Piacenza 

Large collection of museum objects attest development during early Christianity until years after the Byzantine (sec IV-XIX). The collections include sculptures, paintings and small ornaments from Greece and from other parts of the Byzantine Empire as Asia Minor, Black Sea, Egypt and the Danubian Principalities that today are forming Romania. 

When will be finished enlargements of the museum, all 15,000 items of the collection will be exhibited and the building will be part of a huge archaeological park which includes the  Aristotle Lyceum  and a small outdoor amphitheater.

If you want to visit the Byzantine Museum, you should know the following information: 

-Byzantine Museum is open from tuesday to sunday from 8:00 to 19:30, closed on Mondays;

-the  entrance fee is 4 € for adults and € 2 for children;

-it is located on Vassilis Sofias Street,number 22;

Dionysus Theatre, built in a natural hollow in the Southern Acropolis, was the first theater in the world built of stone and represents the birth of Greek tragedy. Here was where Dionysus, the god of wine and fertility, was worshiped. Theatre of Dionysus was divided into three major parts. Orchestra, with a circular space where the action take place, elongated building scene, where the actors changed and its served as a background or setting, and the audience.

If you want to visit the Dionysus Theatre, you should know the following information:

-Theatre of Dionysus can be visited every day from 8:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the summer, and in the winter between 8:30 to 6:00 p.m. (except Mondays when it is closed) ;

-entrance to the Theater of Dionysos  is 2 € ;

The port of Piraeus, the biggest port of Greece, was built in the time of Themistocles, when the city walls were also high (year 478 AD Ch), and the entire Greek capital gains as under the supervision of architect Hippodamus.

Piraeus is composed of three ports, the "great port" is the biggest being placed in the west. From here goes all the large ships. Half a kilometer to the east, by a hill, lies the port of Zea, which is more a yacht harbor and also the starting point for many trips to the islands. Last port is Flisvos, 7 miles east of Zea, and is an exclusive port for trips. Piraeus is a commercial port and therefore will not find too many restaurants and hotels here but its worth a visit and is only  for its role in Greek history.

Top 20 most beautiful cities in the world (Part I )

This top is my own opinion about the most beautiful cities in the world. My choice was based on beauty, history and architecture of the buildings, the daily life of these cities as well as the beautiful landscape that gives each city included in this top.

Let's start with number 20:

20. Athens, Greece

Athens, capital of Greece, known as the city of gods and heroes, has greatly expanded cultural and economical since the time of Ancient Greece. The city takes its name from the Greek goddess Athena, who symbolized wisdom. The capital city is crossed by the River Kifissos which then flows into the Gulf of Thessaloniki and Faliro.

Today Athens is Greece's economic and cultural center, with many historical monuments included in the UNESCO heritage among which are found: the famous Acropolis of Athens, the Parthenon, the Temple of Hephaestus, Agora, Piraeus Port and many other attractions that we recommend you visit .


19.Bern, Switzerland

Berne, capital of Switzerland, is one of the most visited swiss cities, considered the most beautiful medieval town in Switzerland. Located in an area full of hills and large forests, this city has a charm besides dream landscapes that offers, is also a very quiet town.The old town, full of narrow cobbled streets with old houses, has a special glow, give it by the landscape provided by the beauty of the Alps.

Among the major tourist attractions in Bern include: 
-Federal Palace, which houses the parliament and federal council; 
-Fountains from Bern that are known by their statues from the sixteenth century; 
-Clock tower in Bern, which is the symbol of the city,built in 1530, working as astronomical clock; 
-Cathedral of St. Vincent; 
-Boulevard Marktgasse-this street was built in the thirteenth century beeing very old and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage; 

-History Museum is the second largest museum in Switzerland, built in 1894 by architect Andre Lambert Neuchatel;

18.Jerusalem, Israel

Jerusalem the capital of Israel, is one of the oldest and most popular cities in the world. It is part of Palestine region and is considered a holy city for muslims, christian and jewish believers.

Among the most important tourist attractions in Jerusalem are included: 
-Western Wall has existed for about 2,000 years and was built by King Herod in order to extend the temple; 
-Dome of the Rock is a temple that protects under its dome the sacred rock of the hebrew, muslims and christians; 
-Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which was built on the spot where it was believed that Jesus would be buried; 

-The Citadel of Jerusalem, known as the Tower of David, was built by the kinh Herod in order to protect his palace ;

17.Dresden, Germany

Dresden, Germany, capital of the federal state of Saxony, situated on the shores of the river Elbe is considered the fourth largest city in Germany and more than half of its surface is represented by forests and green spaces, including four nature reserves . 

Among the most important tourist attractions in Dresden, are: 
-Albertinum museum, whose name comes from the Saxon King Albert, mainly hosting art museum in Dresden; 
-Church of Our Lady is one of the masterpieces of Baroque religious and huge dome set on a smaller square base known as Bell Rock, was the inspiration of George Bhar who designed the church as like a single piece from top to bottom; 

-Zwinger Palace in Dresden, is a baroque building, that houses an art collection;

16.Vienna, Austria

Vienna, Austria's capital , is located in the eastern extremity of this country and is crossed by the Danube. Viena is a typical European city,very compact that's why is very easy to visit all the major sights, that are located in the city center .

Some of the most important are:
- The Museum of Art is housed in a building that resembles a palace, is one of the most important museums of decorative art in the world ;
- House of Mozart-Mozart lived in this house most years, here composing The Marriage of Figaro and Impresario ;
- Rathaus , Vienna City Hall, is one of the most beautiful architectural buildings in Vienna , built in Gothic style ;
- Aquarium, Ocean House has over 3,500 aquatic species and is open daily living, in a kind of air defense bunker from World War II ;

- Vienna State Opera is one of the most important works in the world, here are presented a variety of opera and ballet of the highest artistic level;

15.Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

Rio de Janeiro is the second largest city in Brazil, and its location on the Atlantic coast of South transform everything surrounding the spectacular attractions. 

Among these are: 
-statue of Christ the Redeemer, located on the Corcovado Mountain at a height of 2300 meters, is popular among tourists as a symbol of the city; 
-Mount Sugarloaf, which reach up to 1,300 meters above Guanabara Bay waters; 

-Copacabana Beach is one of the most famous beaches in the world, because the beach is bordered by the crystal clear waters of the ocean on one side, and the Copacabana boardwalk and all the modern facilities of the city on the other side:
-Maracana stadium is the largest football stadium in Brazil and the continent, with more than 82,000 seats. It was built in 1950 and was used primarily for soccer tournaments, major cultural events, concerts and other games;

14.Hong Kong 

Hong Kong is a special region of the Republic of China, which has autonomy. In the world, Hong Kong is known for its skyscrapers and his very deep harbour.  It is one of the most populated places in the world, the Hong Kong's population beeing represented in the large majority by the chinese. 

Some of the major tourist attractions are: 

-Buddha Temple of 10 000, is one of the most beautiful temples in Hong Kong. There are 12,000 statues of Buddha and monkeys and a pagoda that you can climb and in the end of these stairs beeing located a restaurant;
-Flagstaff House, the oldest colonial building in the city, houses a museum dedicated to tea culture in China, and its collections include about 600 pieces of earthenware and porcelain, from the seventh century to the present;
-Tsim Sha Tsui Cultural Center is one of the most ambitious projects of the city and consists in Museum and Planetarium Space and a concert hall of 3,000 seats, a theater with 1,500 seats, exhibition halls and lectures, the Art Museum and the cultural department of municipal administration;

13.Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul, called in ancient Byzantium, the former capital of the Roman Empire two short periods, is a city at the confluence of several cultures. After the mixture of civilizations, that have left their mark on the city, remained a number of tourist attractions and historical monuments that attract annually thousands of worldwide tourists.

City on two continents, Europe and Asia, Istanbul has a multitude of objectives and tourist attractions from witch I've decided to present you the two most important objectives:
-Blue Mosque, built by Sultan Ahmet between 1609 and 1616, is one of the most beautiful attractions in Istanbul with six minarets (towers) unlike other mosques that have four minarets, three or even one minaret;
-Topkapi Palace, built by Sultan Muhammad II after the conquest of Constantinople, housed all the Ottoman sultans. The palace has an area of ​​700 000 square meters on which was added a wall of 1400 meters. After Muhammad II, palace has developed gradually, becoming a complex of buildings and annexes. 

12.Cairo, Egypt

Cairo, called Umm al-Dunya, translated meaning mother of the world, is the largest city of Egypt and the largest city speaking arabic language, is inhabited by about 20 million people.

The city is located near the Nile River delta. Over time, the city has received several nicknames, the most interesting being the "City of 1,000 Minarets" because of Islamic architecture known for its towers.

 The most two popular tourist attractions in Cairo are:
-Cheops Pyramid meets three special qualities who multiply its value: it is the oldest, is the only one that has survived until today, and his name appears in various legends and controversies that have surrounded the entire construction in mystery;
-Sphinx was named by the Greeks, because of the amazing similarity with a mythical creature with a lion's body and a woman's head that engulf bystanders who not responding properly on his riddle. Carved from limestone outcrop in front of the Pyramid of Giza, the Sphinx measures 50 meters in length and 22 tall. Some archaeologists attribute this monument to IV Dynasty of the pharaoh Cheops, but others suggest that the Sphinx dates back long before this dynasty.

11.Singapore

Singapore, the island city-state, is the smallest country in Southeast Asia. According to the Economic Intelligence Unit, Singapore has become the most expensive city in the world, displacing Tokyo. 
Some of the major tourist attraction are: 
-Singapore Flyer, the highest observation deck in the world for lovers of adrenaline; 
-Botanical garden, with exotic vegetation which covers 52 acres, is the most beautiful oasis in the world with thousands of orchids and other tropical plants and birds; 
-Zoo where animals and birds are well cared for, many of them being in freedom; 
-Temple and Museum "Tooth of the Buddha" - a collection of rare asian artifacts;

-National Museum of Singapore - the country's history from the 14th century to the present;


Tomorrow i will present the second part of the list that includes the top ten cities of the world, in my opinion. In future I will present in detail what each city can offer, to be able to give you an idea about what tourist destination to choose for your next vacations.