Pireus is more than just a start and finish line for a vacation out to the greek islands. Back in the days Pireus was a port-town and largely it still is. In the beginning Pireus and Athens were separated but today with the expansion of the two cities they are stuck together and Pireus is today, as many say, a part of Athens. Alot of people come here today for the shopping, for the food and for the proximity to the sea.
–Mikrolimano
Mikrolimano is a small port in Pireus were fishing-boats, smaller boats and luxury yachts coexist. The port is a very popular spot for the Athenians but also for people from all around Attica. They come here on sunny days to find some peace and quiet and for the good food.
Along-side the oval port walk, taverns that are famous for their seafood-dishes are lined up. At the foot of the Kastella Hill there are several bars and coffee shops if you want to eat or drink something smaller.
-Kastella
Because Kastella is built on a hill it raises like an amfitheater above Mikrolimano and many Athenians consider Kastella to be the most beautiful neighborhood of Athens. The name Kastella means “The little fort” and it got the name after a group of soldiers who occupied the hill during the greek civil war in 1821.
In earlier times Kastella was a luxurious and glamorous neighborhood. You can still see many old and impressive houses here and they remind us of Kastellas previous days, but unfortunately few people have the time, money and energy to restore them, so many of them stand abandoned. Several of the houses also got destroyed in the big earthquake of 1981 and ever since they are standing in the condition they were left. The houses who hade the luck to have loving owners stands up in all their glory and are really impressing, even today.
On the top of the hill lies the Veakeio Theater which has room for 2.000 spectators. In the summer and fall the theater is fully booked with concerts, plays and dance performances. The wiew from this place, as you are looking out on the ocean and the bay down below, is part of the whole experience.
The walk up to the top of the Kastella Hill can be a little bit exhausting. You have to walk uphill in long stairs and narrow streets but as we all know, it is never bad to get some unintended exercise. Of cource you can take the car but not everyone has access to a car on their vacation. Also, as known, if you walk you get to see and experience more.
