The Municipality of Athens

Athens is the historic capital of Europe, as it has been continuously inhabited since the Neolithic era. Throughout its long, fascinating history, its peak came in the 5th century BC (the “Golden Age of Pericles”), when the values and culture of the city surpassed its geographical boundaries and acquired universal radiance.

Political thought, theatre, the arts, philosophy, science, architecture, and so many other expressions of human intellect reached their epic height in a unique moment in world history—a temporal convergence and spiritual fulfillment.

Thus, Athens became the cradle of Western civilization, while countless Greek words and concepts such as democracy, harmony, music, mathematics, art, gastronomy, architecture, logic, love, euphoria, and hundreds of others enriched many languages and inspired different cultures.

Over the centuries, the city experienced various conquerors, who left their mark on monuments of rare beauty and charm, creating a unique historical palimpsest. In 1834, Athens was declared the capital of the modern Greek state, with neoclassical buildings forming the link between its glorious past and its modern era. Within less than two centuries, a small provincial town evolved into a bustling metropolitan center with unparalleled charm and special interest.