In Athens, the past merges with the future like hardly anywhere else in the world. The ancient monuments are the classical background of a modern and trendy city. These contrasts in particular are the reason why Athens is that exciting, and they make it one of the world's most visited cities.
Mythology says that Athens' namesake is the Goddess Athena, who won the right to give the city its name in a competition with Poseidon, the God of the Sea. Even though Athens has become a modern cosmopolitan city, a touch of the former small town flair has still been preserved.
The first relics found within the present boundaries of Athens date back into the Neolithic period 7,000 years ago. The city has probably been populated on a permanent basis for 5,000 years. The first ancient palace, the Acropolis, was built ca. 1,300 B.C. and has been the cultural and intellectual center ever since, even back then. This makes Athens one of the oldest European settlements and cities.
In 1985, due to its long and eventful history, Athens became the first European Capital of Culture. Three years and five years later respectively, the Acropolis and Daphni Monastery became UNESCO World Cultural Heritage sites.
