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