ATHENS
Athens, the capital and largest city in Greece, is one of the world's oldest cities. Its recorded history spans at least 3,000 years.
Today the Greek capital, Europe's 8th largest conurbation, is rapidly becoming a leading business centre in the European Union. A bustling and cosmopolitan metropolis with an urban population of 3.3 million and total population of about 3.8 million, Athens is central to economic, financial, industrial, political and cultural life in Greece.
Ancient Athens was a powerful city-state. A center for the arts, learning and philosophy, home of Plato's Akademia and Aristotle's Lyceum. Athens was also the birthplace of Socrates, Pericles, Sophocles, and its many other prominent philosophers, writers and politicians of the ancient world. It is widely referred to as the cradle of Western Civilization, and the birthplace of democracy, largely due to the impact of its cultural and political achievements during the 5th and 4th centuries BC on the rest of the then known European continent.
The heritage of the classical era is still evident in the city, represented by a number of ancient monuments and works of art, the most famous of all the Parthenon on the Acropolis, widely considered an important landmark of early Western civilization. The city also retains a vast variety of Roman and Byzantine monuments, as well as a small number of remaining Ottoman monuments projecting the city's long history across the centuries. Landmarks of the modern era are also present, dating back to 1830 (the establishment of the independent Greek state), and taking in the Greek Parliament (19th century) and the Athens Trilogy (Library, University, and Academy).
About history of "National and Kapodistrian University of Athens"
The "Othonian University", as it was called before taking its present name, "National and Capodistrian University of Athens", consisted of four Faculties, Theology, Law, Medicine and Arts (which included applied sciences and mathematics). It had 33 professors, 52 students and 75 non-matriculated "auditors".New classes began in a new building, which designed by the Danish architect Christian Hansen, in November 1841.
National and Capodistrian University of Athens was founded on 3 May 1837, and was housed in the residence of architect Stamatis Kleanthes, on the north east side of the Acropolis. It was the first University not only in the newly- established Greek State but in all the Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean in general.
A major change in the structure of the University came about in 1904, when the Faculty of Arts was split into two separate Faculties: that of Arts and that of Sciences, the latter consisting of the departments of Physics and Mathematics and the School of Pharmacy. In 1919, a department of Chemistry was added, and in 1922 the School of Pharmacy was renamed a Department. A further change came about when the School of Dentistry was added to the Faculty of Medicine.
In this first and "heroic" period for Greek education, the University faculty made great efforts to fill the gap between theirentrance examinations for all the Faculties, beginning in the academic year 1927-28. Since 1954 the number of students admitted each year has been fixed by the Ministry of Education and Religion, on the proposal of the Faculties. newly founded institution and older ones in other countries. Between 1895 and 1911, an average of one thousand new students entered the Faculties each year, a figure which rose to two thousand at the end of World War I.
In the 1960's construction work began on the University Campus in the suburb of Ilissia. The Ilissia campus now houses the Schools of Philosophy, Theology and Sciences.For more information about our university you can visit the site www.uoa.gr
About Acropolis
The greatest and finest sanctuary of ancient Athens, dedicated primarily to its patron, the goddess Athena, dominates the centre of the modern city from the rocky crag known as the Acropolis. The most celebrated myths of ancient Athens, its greatest religious festivals, earliest cults and several decisive events in the city's history are all connected to this sacred precinct.
The monuments of the Acropolis stand in harmony with their natural setting. These unique masterpieces of ancient architecture combine different orders and styles of Classical art in a most innovative manner and have influenced art and culture for many centuries. The Acropolis of the fifth century BC is the most accurate reflection of the splendour, power and wealth of Athens at its greatest peak, the golden age of Perikles.
Pottery sherds of the Neolithic period (4000/3500-3000 BC) and, from near the Erechtheion, of the Early and Middle Bronze Age, show that the hill was inhabited from a very early period. A fortification wall was built around it in the thirteenth century BC and the citadel became the centre of a Mycenaean kingdom. This early fortification is partially preserved among the later monuments and its history can be traced fairly accurately.
The Acropolis became a sacred precinct in the eighth century BC with the establishment of the cult of Athena Polias, whose temple stood at the northeast side of the hill. The sanctuary flourished under Peisistratos in the mid-sixth century BC, when the Panathinaia, the city's greatest religious festival, was established and the first monumental buildings of the Acropolis erected, among them the so-called“Old temple” and the Hekatompedos, the predecessor of the Parthenon, both dedicated to Athena. The shrine of Artemis Brauronia and the first monumental propylon also date to this period. Numerous opulent votive offerings, such as marble korai and horsemen, bronze and terracotta statuettes, were dedicated to the sanctuary. Several of these bear inscriptions that show the great importance of Athena's cult in the Archaic period.
After the Athenians defeated the Persians at Marathon, in 490 BC, they began building a very large temple, the so-called Pre-Parthenon. This temple was still unfinished when the Persians invaded Attica in 480 BC, pillaged the Acropolis and set fire to its monuments. The Athenians buried the surviving sculptures and votive offerings inside natural cavities of the sacred rock, thus forming artificial terraces, and fortified the Acropolis with two new walls, the wall of Themistokles along the northern side and that of Kimon on the south. Several architectural elements of the ruined temples were incorporated in the northern wall and are still visible today. In the mid-fifth century BC, when the Acropolis became the seat of the Athenian League and Athens was the greatest cultural centre of its time, Perikles initiated an ambitious building project which lasted the entire second half of the fifth century BC. Athenians and foreigners alike worked on this project, receiving a salary of one drachma a day.
The most important buildings visible on the Acropolis today- that is, the Parthenon, the Propylaia, the Erechtheion and the temple of Athena Nike, were erected during this period under the supervision of the greatest architects, sculptors and artists of their time. The temples on the north side of the Acropolis housed primarily the earlier Athenian cults and those of the Olympian gods, while the southern part of the Acropolis was dedicated to the cult of Athena in her many qualities: as Polias (patron of the city), Parthenos, Pallas, Promachos (goddess of war), Ergane (goddess of manual labour) and Nike (Victory).
After the end of the Peloponnesian war in 404 BC and until the first century BC no other important buildings were erected on the Acropolis. In 27 BC a small temple dedicated to Augustus and Rome was built east of the Parthenon. In Roman times, although other Greek sanctuaries were pillaged and damaged, the Acropolis retained its prestige and continued to attract the opulent votive offerings of the faithful. After the invasion of the Herulians in the third century AD, a new fortification wall was built, with two gates on the west side. One of these, the so-called Beul? Gate, named after the nineteenth century French archaeologist who investigated it, is preserved to this day. In subsequent centuries the monuments of the Acropolis suffered from both natural causes and human intervention.
After the establishment of Christianity and especially in the sixth century AD the temples were converted into Christian churches. The Parthenon was dedicated to Parthenos Maria (the Virgin Mary), was later re-named Panagia Athiniotissa (Virgin of Athens) and served as the city's cathedral in the eleventh century. The Erechtheion was dedicated to the Sotiras (Saviour) or the Panagia, the temple of Athena Nike became a chapel and the Propylaia an episcopal residence. The Acropolis became the fortress of the medieval city. Under Frankish occupation (1204-1456) the Propylaia were converted into a residence for the Frankish ruler and in the Ottoman period (1456-1833) into the Turkish garrison headquarters.
The Venetians under F. Morozini besieged the Acropolis in 1687 and on September 26th bombarded and destroyed the Parthenon, which then served as a munitions store. Lord Elgin caused further serious damage in 1801-1802 by looting the sculptural decoration of the Parthenon, the temple of Athena Nike and the Erechtheion. The Acropolis was handed over to the Greeks in 1822, during the Greek War of Independence, and Odysseas Androutsos became its first Greek garrison commander. After the liberation of Greece, the monuments of the Acropolis came under the care of the newly founded Greek state. Limited investigation took place in 1835 and 1837, while in 1885-1890 the site was systematically excavated under P. Kavvadias. In the early twentieth century N. Balanos headed the first large-scale restoration project. A Committee for the Conservation of the Monuments on the Acropolis was created in 1975 with the aim to plan and undertake large-scale conservation and restoration on the Acropolis. The project, conducted by the Service of Restoration of the Monuments of the Acropolis in collaboration with the First Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities, is still in progress.Information by http://odysseus.culture.gr/
TRAVEL INFORMATION
Getting to Athens by plane
http://helmsicexchangesgr.blogspot.com/2010/01/getting-to-athens-by-plane.html
Getting to Athens by train
Greek Railways Company (OSE) --> http://www.ose.gr
Getting to Athens by sea
Ferries Schedules To/From Athens (Piraeus Port) --> www.gtp.gr/RoutesFormInt.asp
ACCOMMODATION in Athens:
Dormitories
The dorms are at Oulof Palme street, by bus station Estia (area: Ilisia).
Almost everybody knows Estia, ask if you are lost or if you want to take a taxi home.
Buses
To the dorms: 221 (starts from evangelismos), 140 (from the university), (250, 245 corner of dorms, 3min walk)
To the university: 622, 815, 140, 032,
To the Aretaieion hospital: 221, 622, 815 (from university)
Attention: 140 only for university to dorms and back
Metro
The nearest station to the dorms is Evangelismos.
From the station Evangelismos to the dorms you can take the bus:
221 stops in front of the dorms 220 stops in the street perpendicular to Oulaf Palme street (the dorms)
250 stops inside the campus, 2 minutes walk to the dorms
or if you decide to walk there are two directions:
First from metro station Megaro Mousikis -> Oulof Palme (the fastest)
1. Head southwest on Vasilissis Sofias st/Οδός Βασιλίσσης Σοφίας towards Prosvasi Naftikou Nosokomeiou/Πρόσβαση Ναυτικού Νοσοκομείου (0.2 km)
2. Turn left at Papadiamantopoulou square/Πλατεία Παπαδιαμαντοπούλου (0.2 km)
3. Turn right at Dionysiou Aiginitou/Διονύσιου Αιγινήτου (0.4 km)
4. Turn left at Vakchylidou/Βακχυλίδου (45 m)
5. Turn right at Alkaiou st/Οδός Αλκαίου Continue to follow Alkaiou st (0.2 km)
6. Turn right at Dryos/Δρυός (60 m)
7. Turn right at Oulof Palme/Ουλώφ Πάλμε (17 m)
8. Continue on Ymittou/Υμηττού (52 m)
9. Continue on Ymittou st/Οδός Υμηττού (58 m) 1.2 km – about 16 mins
Second way is from metro station Evaggelismos to University Dormitories
1. Head east on Vasilissis Sofias st/Οδός Βασιλίσσης Σοφίας towards Vasileos Konstantinou Avenue/Πρός Λεωφόρο Βασιλέως Κωνσταντίνου (0.2 km)
2. Turn left to stay on Vasilissis Sofias st/Οδός Βασιλίσσης Σοφίας (8 m)
3. Turn right at Vasileos Alexandrou Avenue/Λεωφόρος Βασιλέως Αλεξάνδρου (0.5 km)
4. Turn left at Effroniou/Ευφρονίου (0.5 km)
5. Slight left at M. and S. Tsafou/Μ. και Σ. Τσάφου (27 m)
6. Slight left at Ymittou/Υμηττού (86 m)
7. Continue on Ymittou Street/Οδός Υμηττού (0.2 km)
You can see the map here
Also you can follow this directions if you want to go from Medical School to University
Dormitories:
1. Head southwest on Mikras Asias square/Πλατεία Μικράς Ασίας towards Dilou/Δήλου (0.1 km)
2. Turn left at Dilou/Δήλου (0.1 km)
3. Turn right at Papadiamantopoulou square/Παπαδιαμαντοπούλου (0.3 km)
4. Turn left at Lochagou Giannopoulou/Λοχαγού Γιαννόπουλου(0.1km)
5. Turn right at Georgiou Papandreou avenue/Λεωφόρος Γεωργίου Παπανδρέου (0.1km)
6. Turn left at Stratarchou Alexandrou Papagou st/Λεωφόρος Στρατάρχου Αλέξανδρου Παπάγου (6 m)
7. Turn right at Oulof Palme/Ουλώφ Πάλμε (0.6 km)
8. Continue on Ymittou/Υμηττού (52 m)
9. Continue on Ymittou st/Οδός Υμηττού (58 m).
Apartment of Agia Sophia's Hospital: (Mesogeion street, 38-40)
1. You get off the metro station -blue line Ampelokipoi-exit Panormou.
2. Head east on Alexandras avenue/Λεωφόρος Αλεξάνδρας towards Dimitriou Soutsou/Δημητρίου Σούτσου(0.4 km).
3. Continue on Feidippidou st/Οδός Φειδιππίδου (0.2 km)
4. Continue on Mesogeion st/Οδός Μεσογείων.
You can see the map here
Hotel Exarchion:Themistokleous 55,Exarchia Square,Exarchia.
You can see more information about this hotel http://www.exarchion.com
Directions:
1. Head east on Omonoias avenue/Λεωφόρος Ομόνοιας towards Stadiou avenue/Λεωφόρος Σταδίου(28 m),
2. Turn left to stay on Omonoias avenue/Λεωφόρος Ομόνοιας (43m),
3. Turn right at Eleftheriou Venizelou st/Panepistimiou/Οδός Ελευθερίου Βενιζέλου/Πανεπιστημίου(0.1 km),
4. Turn left at Themistokleous st/Οδός Θεμιστοκλέους (0.4 km),
Slight right to stay on Themistokleous st/Οδός Θεμιστοκλέους.
You can see the map here
TRIPS:
Nafplio:
go with the bus 051 from Omonia (ask for the busstation) or the subway (green line) to Kifissia, then take bus to Nafplio (9 €). We took the taxi because we left very early, it”s about 20 min (max! 8€)! It goes every hour and needs about 2,5 hours. A taxi to the bus station is easier and cheap (5-10€). You can visite Nafplio in one day. In November-March you can visit the Palamidi fortress for free on Sunday (normally 4€). You can walk the endless 999-steps to the fort, or you could take a taxi (5€ one-way). There is a nice small pebble beach, so don’t forget you’re swimsuit! You can take a dive in the Argolic Gulf. You can get some really good Italian ice-cream at Antica Gelateria di Roma (best of Greece).
@Nafplio: take a taxi or bus to Epidauros (1 hour to visit it) and Asklepius temple. On the way there is the oldest bridge of the world – ask the taxi or bus driver. Stay at night there: Dafni pension: 15 € night and breakfast.
Delfi:
place to see the ancient oracle à 3h from Athens 13,60 € with the bus. Go to the museum and ancient temple of Apollo. For student the entrance to the museum&site is €5 (normally €9), so bring a students card with you. You can see Delphi in one day. Go there early, especially in the summer so it’s not to warm. Check the opening hours before you leave, in the winter they close early. The view is really nice! The weather is changing fast, be prepared for that. It can be warm, but also very cold.
Olympia:
Antonia hotel: really good, 25€ night, with breakfast. It’s up the hill. (4 stars) To go to Olympia, you must go with the subway to Omonia (green and red line) and then go to the bus station. Check bus times (leaves around 9:00 hr). The trip is long, so you must spend the night there, because all the places close at 14:00 hr.
@Olympia: visit the ancient Olympics place, the museum and you can take a taxi to a temple close to there (about 70€).
Thessaloniki:
Many trains (takes 7 hr, about €14,10) you need reservation (phone) about 1 week before, buy then the tickets 48h hours before, ask Helmsics!! Try Tsureki (‘cake’ with chocolate) and the famous thessaloniki cream pie @ the bakery/pasticceria Terkenlis at the Aristotelous Square!!!! Hotel: We just took the first hotel (Rotonda) next to the train station and payed 70€ instead of 90€ (no main season) for a nice 3 person room with breakfast. 24 hours ticket is 2 € for the buses, just take a ride and look around. Nice places: boulevard, white tower (cafe on top with great view), statue of Alexander the Great, the ancient city walls, Rotonda church.
Greek Islands:
There are Hydra, which is the calmest and as a lot of people told us the island with the biggest difference to Athens, so maybe you should go there. There are no cars there.
Aegina and Spetses; all are reachable from Piraeus, which is a big harbor (city). We’ve been to Aegina, because the tickets are just around 9€ (without Passo!) and you need 1,25 hours to go there. Really nice taking a walk, sitting at the cafe, visiting the “Apollo temple”, beaches.
Here you can find some information about the ferries to greek islands:
http://www.greek-islands-ferries.gr
www.danae.gr
www.ferries.gr
Beach:
Take the train (green line) to Pireaus, then go to Piraiki or get off the train at Faliro station to go to Mikrolimano. These are nice places on the beach with lots of coffee bars, not for swimming, just to take a walk, have a drink or coffee.
Mikrolimano is not really a beach, it is by the sea and in February it was full of dirt… at night the harbour looks nice(r). Many private but also public beaches, with parties in the summer!
Some instructions on how to get to a couple of beaches in Athens, if you want to swim...
At Alimos (Αλιμος) region:
Akti Iliou (Ακτη Ηλιου) and Loutra Alimou (Λουτρα Αλιμου) - Ammos Beach Bar
To get there, you can take the tram from Syntagma
(You can find the map at http://www.tramsa.gr, for tram, isap(train) and the two metrolines).
There are 3 tram lines (3,4,5):
3 Thukididis (Θουκιδίδης): SEF - ASKLIPIO VOULA
*SEF (ΣΕΦ) = Peace and Friendship Stadium at Faliro region.
4 Aristotelis (Αριστοτέλης) : SYNTAGMA – SEF
5 Platonas (Πλάτωνας) : SYNTAGMA - ASKLIPIO VOULA
The line you should take from Syntagma is 5 Platonas.
For Akti Iliou you should get down at Kalamaki tram stop and for Loutra Alimou there is the stop Loutra Alimou :).
You can also get there by bus from Syntagma:
(info on bus routes at http://www.oasa.gr/)
For Akti Iliou: E22 (Syntagma-Saronida Express), A2 (Syntagma-Voula) and you should get down at the stop 3 Kalamakiou (3η Καλαμακιου)
For Loutra Alimou: A2 (Syntagma-Voula), B2 (Syntagma-Akadimia) until the stop Alimou (Αλίμου)
At Vouliagmeni (Βουλιαγμένη) region: (it is more far, but nice)
Plaz Vouliagmenis (Πλαζ Βουλιαγμένης)
By bus from Syntagma:
E22 (Syntagma-Saronida Express) until the stop B' Plaz Vouliagmenis
Shopping malls:
Attika: bus 220 or 221 Panepistimiou street.
Mall: Train (green metro line) to Kifisia, get down at station: Nerantziotissa.
Golden Hall: at Kifissias street, by bus A7, B7, X14, 550 and you get down at the station Olympic Stadium/Ολυμπιακό Στάδιο
Eating:
For free at the university:
Breakfast: 08:00-09:00 hr
Lunch: 12:00-16:00 hr
Dinner: 18:00-21:00 hr
You can also eat in the dorm, but you must buy a card. Ask by the reception.
Laundry:
You can wash your clothes at the basement of the dorms.
t costs €1,90 (you need a 1€, a 0,50€ and two 0,20€).
You can also dry you’re clothes there (0,90€). You have to get your own detergent.
Internet:
On the first floor, above HelMSIC’s office.
At the library, opposite the main entrance of the university, on the second floor (closes at 20:00 hr).
At the dorms on the second floor (opens around 11 and closes at 17.30 hr, just monday to friday)
Just try:
Rakomelo: warm Raki with honey
Enamelo: warm red wine with honey
HelMSIC Athens website:
www.athens.helmsic.gr
Group on facebook:
IFMSA Exchanges - Athens (HelMSIC)
Contact us @:
athens@helmsic.gr
+302107462033