PIRAEUS IN THE PAST

Piraeus connotes an eventful history amongst centuries. In ancient times Piraeus was an obscure large village, which consisted of an islet. For that matter, it was given the name it bears up to this day derived from the verb pereo, which means pass through. Later on, that islet connected to land by deposition  of torrents’ silts, taking the form of today’ s Piraeus peninsula.

Piraeus flourished in the time of Themistocles (5th c.B.C.), who persuaded the Athenians to take heed of its natural harbour and take an interest in the sea. It was then that fortifications enclosed the peninsula, the “Long Walls” were begun and a great number of ships were built. Cleisthenes, the founder of Athenian Democracy, included Piraeus as a municipality.

Kimon is credited with the first systematic fortification of Piraeus (the North and the Phaleron Wall), while the third or Middle Wall was built at the instance of Pericles.

The old Piraeus

In the Middle Ages, Piraeus was under the name of «Porto Leone» from the marble lion in the mouth of the harbour. In 1687 the lion was removed to Venice by the Venetian admiral Morozini.

During the first year of the Greek Independence Revolution of 1821, Piraeus is on decline since its only inhabitants are ten monks, one trader, two guards and a customs inspector. In 1832, however, there were only twelve shacks in the area.

The Athenians and other travellers made approaches to Piraeus on horseback but transported their luggage on camels.

The rapid development of the port started mainly after the liberation of Greece (from the Turkish yoke) and the transference of the capital from Naples to Athens. Its residents came up to 50,000 in 1895. Within few years Piraeus developed ito the first port of the country, and in particular, it became internationally famous.

The famous statue of the guardian lion of the port of Piraeus

MODERN PIRAEUS 

The most significant port in Greece lies at Saronic Golf in the south-west of Attica and is within 9.300m distance of Athens joined virtually to the capital and being its haven. It has got a seat of municipality being established in 1964. The  port   of  Piraeus  extends  from   New  Phaleron  to   Perama,  including  two   smaller  natural  harbours   of Munichia (Mikrolimano),  Zea   and  the  great  commercial harbour. Besides, Piraeus  is  one  of  the    most  important  commercial  and  industrial  hubs    in  Greece.  Almost  all  the  industrial   branches   have  developed  like  iron  metallurgy , chemical   industry , foodstuffs , building  materials ,  tobacco   industry , electrical  and  mechanical  engineering  industries , tannery , oil -and  textile- mills , power  plant , shipyards and   many others   of  light  industry. There  also  sit   shipping   agents  and  ship-owners’  offices.

The commercial and passenger port of Pireaus

Being the chief port of Greece and the biggest in the eastern Mediterranean, it has got a remarkable transport. Along with Athens it is the shipping and railway lines terminal abroad and to the mainland and insular Greece , as well. Electric railway links the capital to its haven. Most of import and export trade is carried out here. The port of Piraeus is equipped with all the state-of-the art facilities. The Port of Piraeus Authority has been assigned the task to organize the port since 1930 , as a legal entity , aiming at the best structural running and maintenance of the port . The population of the city comes up to 300.000 and along with the suburbs to 1.000.000. With its well laid-out streets, good-looking squares and gorgeous buildings, the city has acquired a modern European look.

The marine Zea

PIRAEUS AND CULTURE

Piraeus abounds with treasures able to satisfy even the most demanding visitor. With its remarkable sightseeing incites every tourist to discover the civilisation concerning Piraeus and Greece generally, whose history covers more than forty centuries. Besides, there exist monuments from antiquity, museums, artefacts, which altogether are a credit to the city itself. Public libraries, galleries as well as a large number of neoclassical buildings, which managed to outlive, constitute living treasures. In the Archaeological Museum the sculptures mainly refer to Piraeus and the general district of Attica. There is also the Marine Museum whose large number of considerable exhibits relate to the sea and various types of vessel. Finally, museums such as «Averof» and «Panos Aravantinos» are of great interest.

The Theater of our city

PIRAEUS OF ATHLETICS AND SPORTS

Piraeus presents a high activity in sports. These days, only in the area of the Municipality there exist twenty six football teams, eight sailing clubs and many others like volley-ball, swimming, water-polo as well as track and field sports.

Peace and Friendship Stadium

Among them the Olympiacos F.C., founded in 1925, is the legend of the city. With its forty four championships, twenty seven cups and many others, it has been the most distinguished team.

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