Athens Luxury Hotels & Destination
Athens, Greece Luxury Hotel
Do you ever long for the adventure of past ages or the romance of mythic lands? Imagine traveling back in time to experience the birth of human thought and creativity, while savoring a much needed, luxurious island vacation. Athens is the ideal destination for the adventurous soul. From ancient ruins, museums and archeological digs to fine cuisine, art, music and shopping, this city is an opportunity to experience the roots and progress of human existence. Named for the Greek goddess of wisdom, Athena, Athens will provide you a getaway of unparalleled intellectual enlightenment and a majestic indulgence.
Athens Luxury Hotels
Experience the old world charm of Athens firsthand as you reside within a palatial hotel overlooking two thousand year old monuments similar to the Acropolis. The daring spirit will delight in this marvelous opportunity, to travel beyond the myth and witness an immaculate marriage of both past and present Greek luxuries. Place yourself within history and live among the architecture of a culture touched by the greatest empires that ever rose. Stay in summer and lie refreshed by the blue pools of your immaculate hotel, relishing a royal Mediterranean welcome in the flush of the day. Visit in winter and enjoy a holiday of idyllic temperatures and spectacular sightseeing.
Athens History
Athens appears rather late in recorded history when compared with the rest of Greece, whose records indicate human inhabitance nearly 2000 years before the city was settled. The Minoans from Crete were among the first to populate Greece during what is known as the Bronze Age, roughly spanning from 3000-1100 BCE. The area was then conquered by the aggressive Mycenaean culture whose rule, though short lived, spawned much of Greek myth as well as Homer’s epic poems: the Odyssey and the Iliad. By the start of the Iron Age, 1100-900 BCE, the Mycenaean civilization all but devastated by the Trojan War, plunged Greece into a “dark age,” where much of Greek culture was lost, giving the area and its people a fresh start. At the decline of the Iron Age, a system of city-states had been established. Around the 7th century BCE, Athens emerged as a prosperous city state ran by influential landowning aristocrats. As a region, Athens is comprised of a semi-fertile series of open planes suitable mainly for olives. This fact, as well as its strategic placement within the Aegean, enabled its early peoples to develop skills for seafaring and trade. Political control of Athens gradually shifted to a sole elected archon over the next two hundred years, marking the first step toward a democratic government. In the 4th century BCE, the Greco-Persian Wars thrust both Athens and Sparta into roles of leadership among the other city-states, and though Athens was soundly devastated from battle, it emerged a stronger and more prominent city as a result. The victory against Persia gave Athens renown and influence, which led to the creation of the Delian League, a coalition of allied city-states piloted by Athens. A period of prosperity, known as the Age of Pericles, ensued resulting in a wealth of art culture, including the inception of organized theatre. Plato’s academy was established shortly after this time, as was Aristotle’s Lyceum. At the end of the 4th century, Athens, guilty of overreaching its bounds with Sparta and other city-states, was finally brought to its knees over the course of the Peloponnesian Wars. Athens recovered slowly as the city’s leaders worked to rebuild the Delian League, but fell under Macedonian rule a short while later. As other empires rose around it, Athens, though no longer an area of political power, remained a central hub of art, culture and academic supremacy. After centuries of foreign rule, Athens achieved its independence in the mid-nineteenth century, and was named the capital of Greece. Athens then went on to host the first modern Olympic Games in 1894 and again in 2004.
Athens Attractions
If you’re passionate about theater and the arts, Athens, the original home of drama, is your ultimate destination. The city possesses over 148 exquisite theatrical locations restored to their former grandeur through the work of dedicated archeologists, many of which are fully functional today. Ancient dramatic works such as the Oedipus Trilogy are performed historically accurate to the time in which they were written, reenacting the renowned festival of Dionysus each spring, from everything from the artistic costumes to the seating. Or, perhaps enjoy a modern reimagining of classic works, reflecting Greece’s theatrical evolution. Couples will find great content in the music halls, open cinemas and gardens littered throughout the city, which are ideal for a romantic evening of culture and excellence.
Visit the remains of Athens’s beginnings either on your own or with an informative tour guide. The Parthenon, built in the 4th century BCE, is just one of Athens’s many breathtaking and historic sites. This and other of Athens’s monuments, Cape Sounion, the Temple of Poseidon and Lycabettus Hill to name a few, are truly a necessity to behold; as though they were calling some dormant and eternal piece of oneself back to the roots of our species.
Whether you’re seeking a genuine education on Greek history or simply a fascinating afternoon pastime, discover the wealth of museums dedicated to the recovery and display of the city’s two thousand year old relics found in archeological digs. The National Archeological Museum, located in Athens, is the most prominent in all of Greece.
The Athens Olympic Stadium has been called the most beautiful outdoor arena in the world. Its construction was inspired by the 2004 Summer Olympic Games which were held in Athens, and it has hosted a variety of world sports events since then.
Athens Shopping
Shopping in Athens is unlike shopping anywhere else. The city is booming with neighborhoods providing traditional to sheik shops, flea markets and taverns for an authentic Greek shopping experience. Psirri is a neighborhood full of out of the ordinary shops, antique vendors and quality local restaurants. The area has a small town feel, peppered with quaint chapels and residential houses. The popular Plaka, located near the Acropolis, offers a variety of shopping choices along with pubs where the locals gather and a hip music scene. The flea market of Monastiraki is well known by many. Stop by any day and you’ll witness Greek life first hand, as well as an abundance of souvenir and food options. However, regardless of the location you choose, you’ll remain immersed and well aware you’re in Greece.
Athens Dining
Fine dining in Athens is usually a planned and semi-formal experience. Nice dress and a reservation is really all you need for that perfect evening under the stars. Many top restaurants such as Hytra in Psirri, prepare gourmet classic Greek dishes with a modern twist to ensnare the senses. For a quieter evening or a nice lunch out, visit Taverna Sigalas’s world famous gyros located on Monastiraki Square. You’ll receive the authentic European dining experience at a more affordable price. Gazi is Athens’s ‘place to be’ from dusk till dawn if you’re looking for a night of lively music, tasty treats and people watching; ideal for the adventurous couple interested in both local culture and meeting fellow travelers.
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