PIRAEUS
Information about Piraeus, shopping and sightseeing
 The main port of Athens and one of the largest in Europe is the Port of
Piraeus, the passenger port its self has an enormous passenger traffic
throughout the year ,not to forget that Greece has more that 200 inhabitant
islands that their main connection with the mainland is via the Piraeus port.
Daily numerous ferries and other liners departing or arriving in Piraeus.
The port is extended to Keratsini, Ikonio and Perama for the cargo and
container ships and further more to Skaramangas (Shipyard) Aspropyrgos (Tankers)
and Elefsina (shipyards). In fact the cost line of the greater area of Piraeus
port can be calculate in 30-40 kilometres about including the above docks,
shipyards , anchorages and ports. Piraeus port unlike other ports is mainly the
hart of Piraeus, around the port you will find all kind of shops, markets,
restaurants, hotels but mainly shipping offices. Piraeus is the centre of the
Greek shipping industry, most of the Greek shipping companies have here their
offices, many Greek ship owners the last 20 years transfer their main offices
from London to Piraeus.
Today the port has been developed in a modern port especially after the
Olympics. New passenger check in buildings, new entrance gates, cafeterias,
cantinas and restaurants have been improved. All cargo ships has been
transferred to Keratsini and Ikonio so the main port area is only for the
passenger ships and Greek ferries sailing for the Greek islands.
Looking back in history Piraeus has been the main Athenian port
since antiquity. From here the ancient Greek ships where sailing to the Athenian
colonies in South Italy ,Sicily and in other Greek colonies in the
Mediterranean.
From this port Themistocles send his ships to Salamis to defeat the Persian
fleet. His statue can been seen at the small square in the junction of Akti
Pseidonos with Vasileos Georgiou street and Akti Miaouli right opposite the Agia
Trias church the Metropolis of Piraeus. A few meters near by at the small park
you can see a piece of ship metal stub on a pine tree, a memoir from the
bombarding of Piraeus during the war when a bomb hit a British ship that was
carrying ammunition. The explosion was enormous and destroyed a lot of buildings
along the port. Piraeus indeed is marvellous and has many
places to see and to take
photos of Piraeus .
The people of Piraeus are proud about their city and their football team
Olympiakos. In fact the song never on Sunday sang by Melina Merkouri in the
homonymous film talks about that football team (the name of the song in Greek is
"ta Paidia tou Pirea" ,the guys from Piraeus)
Shopping in PiraeusFor shopping in Piraeus the main areas are in the main streets of
Piraeus Vasileos Georgiou Avenue , Heroon Polytechneiou Avenue, Defteras
Merarhias street , Akti miaouli and Poseidonos, Terpsithea and Passalimani.
Around the Metro terminal and the parallel streets of Akti Poseidonos you will
find any kind of shops. Many book shops are along Filonos street from the old
post Office towards Vasileos Georgiou street.
Piraeus Sightseeing
 :Piraeus is not only the port its self, one of the most
famous areas of Piraeus is Pasalimani or Zea the marina of Piraeus, around the
marina and the main port of Pasalimani there are many fashion shops, cafeterias,
and restaurants. In
Marina Zeas located the Naval museum and part of the Ancient
walls of Piraeus. Taking the direction from Pasalimani towards Faliro is the
area of Kastela and
Mikrolimano another marina with many fish taverns
that serving excellent Greek food. To the
other side of Pasalimani is the area of Piraiki, the best area to enjoy fresh
fish in the numerous taverns with views to the Saronic gulf and the amazing
sunsets. It is an unforgettable experience to enjoy an ouzo with grilled shrimps
octopus from Piraiki while watching the sun setting over Salamina island and
Aegina while the
ships passing by on their way to the Greek islands. Another place to visit is the hill
of Profitis Ilias, the hill is over Passalimani and from there you can have an
amazing panorama of the whole Athens.
Map of the port Piraeus
Map of Piraeus
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