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There is a huge play park for children, a lot of trees and an incredible
choice of wonderful smelling flowers.
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Animation of Kaisariani
The town of Eleusina is not really beautiful because it is now an
industrial area, surrounded by oil refineries and factories.
But it is interesting to go there just to visit the site of ancient
Eleusis, which was built around the Sanctuary of Demeter (Mycenaean
times), who was the figure from who was born one of the most important
cult in Ancient Greece. During classical times, on a huge annual festival,
thousands of pilgrims walked in procession along the Sacred Way, from
the Acropolis to Eleusis, wanting to be initiated into the Eleusian
mysteries.
The site's museum is really helpful to understand the ruins left from
the Sanctuary.
Less attractive than its neighbour Aegina, the island of Poros still
offers some good restaurants and a wonderful view over the mountains
of Argolis. It is a very popular weekend destination for most of Athenians
(as all the islands near Athens are) and it has a quite pretty town
with white houses.
Ferries often leave from Piraeus (up to 8 ferries per day), passing
by Aegina and Methana to go to Poros. The trip is about three hours.
For a quicker trip (40 minutes), there are hydrofoils (called Flying
Dolphins) leaving from the Great Harbour of Piraeus or Zea Marina
(Piraeus smallest harbour).
Daily ferries and Flying Dolphins are linking Poros to Aegina, Hydra
and Spetses.
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If someone which to go to the Peloponnese (to Olympus, Delphes, etc…)
he sure has to stop in Corinth. This now modern town used to be one
of ancient Greece's richest cities (6th century BC). The Corinth Canal
started in AD 67 by Nero and finished by a French engineering company
in 1883-93, links the Ionian and the Aegean Seas. Cut through rock,
over 23km wide and 6km long, it is an imposing thing to see. For the
adepts of great sensations, there is possibility to do body jumping.
7km south-west of modern Corinth, there is ancient Corinth, a very
interesting site to visit, as is the Acrocorinth, a fortified bulk,
standing at 575m above the ancient city of Corinth.
There are also a lot of small, really good taverns proposing high
quality fresh products.
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The little port of Rafina is a good place to go for the night to eat
some nice fresh fish in one of the many fish taverns with a view on
the sea.
For more information about the ferries leaving from this port, see
the paragraph on the beaches.
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Animation of Rafina
One of the Saronic Gulf islands, Aegina is a pleasing place to stay
for a day or more, near by Athens (one and a half hour by ferries
and 35 minutes by hydrofoils). According to mythology the island was
named after the river god Asopus's daughter, abducted by Zeus who
took her to this island to love her. She gave birth to Aeacus, grandfather
of the famous Achilles.
Aegina's town is lovely and an ideal place to eat, take a walk or
a bath for the day.
There is also a museum to visit as well as the interesting Doric Temple
of Apollo.
Ferries and hydrofoils (for a very quick trip) for Aegina are leaving
almost hourly from the port of Piraeus.
The other Saronic Gulf islands can be reaching daily from Aegina.
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Situated in the north of the Cyclades, Andros is the second biggest
cyclade islands after Naxos and the greenest of the Cyclades, which
give it a particular character.
The port is not particularly beautiful but the main town (Chora),
45 minutes by bus from the port, is a pure jewel.
Mostly of Venetian architecture (dating from the Venetian occupation
around 1200-1400), this little marvel is a wonderful place to seat
for a coffee or walking around the little streets.
Hora has a modern gallery often exposing world famous artist's paintings.
Most of the tourists there are Athenians coming for a weekend to relax.
Daily ferries (two hours trip) and Flying Dolphins (one hour trip)
to Andros are leaving from the port of Rafina, reachable by taxi or
bus from Athens's centre.
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The nearest of the west Cyclades, Kea is another favourite weekend
destination for a lot of Athenians. It has some very nice beaches
and an interesting architecture.
Luxurious yachts are standing in the little port of the main town,
giving it a chic and elegant allure.
Kea can be reached from the harbour of Lavrion (one hour by bus from
the centre of Athens) where daily ferries (one hour trip) and Flying
Dolphins (30 minutes trip) are sailing to it, as well as the harbour
of Piraeus (the trip is longer from there). |
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