Athens SIGHTSEEING - SYNTAGMA

The heart of the modern capital houses the most important buildings connected to Greek culture and intellectual achievement. Syntagma Square, the center of Athens, lies in front of the Greek Parliament Building and the tomb of the Unknown Soldier which attracts countless tourists every day. All Greek distances are measured from here in Kilometers. The square has many embassies and ministries, the offices of airlines and large companies, banks and luxury hotels.

Near the square are the National Gardens. The national gardens were formerly for the exclusive use of the palace. Now they are open to everyone. Antiquities have been found there which have been fenced in.

On the eastern side of the gardens, along Herodou Atticou Street, is the new palace, now the residence of the President of the Republic of Greece.

The Zapeion Megaron is today one of the most up-to-date centers for Greek and international conferences. Its little paths are where groups of Athenians hold sessions of their outdoor Parliaments, attempting to solve the country's problems, on the model of the outdoor Parliament of Hyde Park in London.

The National library, the third great megaron here, is a building in the Doric style and contains over one million volumes of books, manuscripts, gospels and archetypals. Diagonally opposite the library is the renovated Arsakeio where the Council of State is housed.

Going down Panepistimiou St. you reach the large Square of Omonoia.