| Piraeus, also known as Peiraeus or Pireas, is | | | | one, Piraeus also has two other smaller |
| a city located in the prefecture of Attica, | | | | harbors which have also helped turning this |
| towards the southern side of Athens. This | | | | spot into a very active one. The benefits of |
| city's main attraction is based on the fact | | | | this spot and its harbor was not noticed |
| that in ancient Greece, it was used as | | | | until the decade of 490 BC when Themistocles |
| Athens' main port, and therefore it played a | | | | constructed a fortification by this spot with |
| very important role in the city's life. | | | | the purpose of being able t easily use the |
| | | | ports and protect the citizens of Athens from |
| Besides than being the port of ancient | | | | Persians' attacks. |
| Athens, Piraeus has been also named port of | | | | |
| modern Athens since 1834. This way, nowadays | | | | Piraeus has a population of about 175.000 |
| this port can be seen in action, and although | | | | people, with a density of 15.972 inhabitants |
| it does not look just like it used in ancient | | | | per km2. IT is one of the few municipal |
| Greece, it still shows some of such antique | | | | authorities located within the metropolitan |
| characteristics which turn it into a very | | | | area of Athens. Besides Pireus, this |
| interesting and peculiar place to meet. | | | | metropolitan area has other municipal |
| | | | authorities among which we can name |
| The name of this area, Piraeus, means "the | | | | Keratsini, Korydalos, Drapetsona, Nikaia, |
| place over the passage", a meaning which is | | | | Perama, and Rentis. |
| very significant to its past history. In its | | | | |
| origins as a populated area, Piraeus was a | | | | Piraeus has been home town of several |
| small island which was connected to the land | | | | important people, such as per example the |
| by a narrow stretch of land. Although at | | | | Andrianoloulos brothers, who founded the |
| first the area received other denominations, | | | | Olympiacos sporting club, Yiorgos Batis, an |
| this geographical characteristic finally | | | | important Greek musician who lived between |
| inspired the actual name. | | | | 1885 and 1967, or Dimitris Gkogkos, an |
| | | | important Greek musician from beginnings of |
| Although its main port is the most famous | | | | the XX century. |