The location of Athens was favorable for its early growth. The Plain of Attica provided good conditions for farming, while the surrounding mountains gave protection against enemies. There were good natural harbors, yet it was distant enough from the coast to prevent surprise attack from the sea. The climate of Athens is Mediterranean. The summers are hot and dry, at times oppressive.
Winters are mild and wet.
Wells, aqueducts, and pipelines were built to hold water to supplement the scanty rainfall. When Athens became the capital of the new kingdom of Greece in 1833, it was a small town of Turkish-style houses clustered at the foot of the Acropolis. This district, known as Pl ka, is popular with tourists because of the picturesque streets, restaurants, and caf s. The modern city developed around this older core. Much of it was constructed in the 19th century around squares and parks that formed part of a planned street pattern.