Athens is the biggest city in Greece and it is also one the biggest cities of Europe. Its population is about 3.192.606 people, which is almost a 40% of the whole population of the country. Athens are frequently called the centre of the world. In this city you can find almost everything: from one side it's a city of culture workers and from the other side it's a scientific centre for every tourist in another, and don't forget, that Athens gave birth to the Olympic Games. This tremendous city is full of surprises and contrasts.
The Acropolis and the Parthenon. The Acropolis is a symbol of Athens. You'd hardly find a place in the city, from which you won't see the columns of its main temple - the Parthenon. In Greek the Acropolis means 'upper town', and actually this limestone plateau (156m in height) is the very thing that forms the Ancient town and is concerned to be the main attraction of Athens. To enter the Acropolis you are to go through monumental gates, which lead to the Propylaeum, on the left side of them there is an gallery – Pinacotheca, an on the right side one can find the smallest of the three temples of the Acropolis – the Temple of Athena Nike, which by the way is being reconstructed now. The housetop of portico of the second temple, the temple of Erechtheion, is supported by young women – famous caryatids. But the most impressing temple of Athens without any hesitation is the Parthenon. Inside it used to be located a well-known wooden statue of the protectress of the city Athena Parthenos, which was decorated with gold and elephant ivory.
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