Athens city | Athens shore excursions Related Athens city Athens, Greece. When you think about the city of Athens Greece, the first thought that it comes in to your mind is the city with the most glorious history in the world, a city worshipped by gods and people, a magical city. The enchanting capital of Greece has always been a birthplace for civilization. Here democracy was born and most the wisest men of ancient times. The most important civilization of ancient world flourished in Athens and relives through some of the world’s most formidable edifices. Athens is the historical capital of Europe, with a long history, dating from the first settlement in the Neolithic age. In the 5thCentury BC (the “Golden Age of Pericles”) – the culmination of Athens’ long, fascinating history – the city’s values and civilization acquired a universal significance. Over the years, a multitude of conquerors occupied Athens, and erected unique, splendid monuments – a rare historical palimpsest. In 1834, it became the capital of the modern Greek state and in two centuries since it has become an attractive modern metropolis with unrivalled charm.

A large part of the town’s historical centre has been converted into a 3-kilometre pedestrian zone (the largest in Europe), leading to the major archaeological sites (“archaeological park”), reconstructing – to a large degree – the ancient landscape. The Acropolis of Athens; Who hasn’t heard of this gloreus rock? Photos and history of the most famous archaeological monument in Europe have made the world tour causing feelings of admiration by thousands of people. Acropolis is nominated to be one of the 7 wonders of modern world. In fact the trademark of Athens is one of the favorites. The Holy Rock of Acropolis dates back to the 5th BC, the famous Golden Age of Periklis. Athens met times of bloom and decline, but still shines under the Attic sky gazing the future. Still sparkling like the marbles of Parthenon and the limpid white of Pentelic marble. Athens is situated in the prefecture of Attica and extends to the peninsula that reaches up to Central Greece. It is surrounded by mountains Ymmytos, Pendeli and Parnitha, northwards and eastwards, and the Saronic gulf southwards and westwards.

The sun is shining over Athens all year round. The climate is one of the best in Europe, with mild winters and very hot summers, ideal for tourism. It is located just a few kilometers from the port of Piraeus, the central commercial port of the capital, and the shores of southern Attica. Athens is constantly inhabited since Neolithic Age. The 5th century was the time of its ultimate bloom, when moral values and civilization surpassed city limits and became the mother land of western civilization. In the centuries that followed, many conquerors tried to take over Athens. In 1834 Athens was chosen to be the capital of the newly established Greek State. The city that now hosts more than 4,5 million people, was constructed around the Acropolis walls. Today it is the political, social, cultural, financial and commercial center of Greece. Cheap flights make it affordable and easy to reach Athens for vacation or business. Athens is a city of different aspects. A walk around the famous historic triangle (Plaka, Thission, Psyri) the old neighborhoods, reveal the coexistence of different eras. Old mansions, well-preserved ones and other worn down by time.

Luxurious department stores and small intimate shops, fancy restaurants and traditional taverns. All have their place in this city. The heart of Athens beats in Syntagma Square. Where Parliament and most of the Ministries are. Monastiraki, Kolonaki and Lycabettus Hill attract thousands of visitors all year round. A few kilometers from the historic center in Faliro, Glyfada, Voula and Vouliagmeni, you can enjoy the sea breeze. Or you can head up north and enjoy the fresh air at the more classy neighborhoods of Marousi, Melissia, Vrilissia and of course Kifisia. Athens and Attica in general have the most important archaeological monuments (Acropolis, Odeion of Herodes Atticus, Olymbion, Roman Market, Panathinaiko Stadium or Kallimarmaro, The Temple of Poseidon in Sounio, etc). In the capital you will admire many imposing neoclassic buildings, true ornaments of the city (The Greek Parliament, Athens Academy and University, etc). Don’t miss visiting the museums hosting unique treasures of our cultural inheritance (Archaeological Museum, Military Museum, Byzantine Museum, etc).

The capital is famous, more than any other European capital, for its nightlife. Athens by night totally changes. The options for entertainment satisfy all tastes. The famous “bouzoukia” are the leaders in the Athenian entertainment. While the numerous theaters all around Athens offer a different type of entertainment. Athens is a divine city. Source: VG & AG Port of call Piraeus of Athens, Greece. Explore, discover, and see with the experts of Cruise Tours Piraeus. Cruise Tours Piraeus has designed a wide variety of private shore excursions for cruise passengers that visit the port of call Piraeus (Athens) to fit your lifestyle, ranging from easygoing activities to high adventure. Each of our private shore excursions in Athens provides the highest level of quality, safety, convenience and value. Our prices are much better in comparison to those of the cruise companies or on board, because we are ourselves the tour operator and we do not use third party providers. . Piraeus History Piraeus Hotels Greece Port Travel Guide 2008 all the informations about hotels history taxi transfers tours and more........

Piraeus History The growth of Piraeus, which became a municipality in 517 BC, is due to the creativity and vision of two great statesmen, Pericles and Themistocles. At their instance, important works were initiated and completed, amongst other the construction and extension of the Long Walls, which protected both sides of the road all the way from Piraeus to Athens. As a result the "ancient" Piraeus flourished and became a port of high security with a great commercial activity, and a city throbbing with life. So it was justifiably called "Emporion of Greece". The Peloponnesian War, the Roman invasion, the destruction by Syllas as well as the final invasion by the Goths (395 BC) led Piraeus to a prolonged period of decline, which was to last for about 15 centuries. Due to historic juncture Piraeus changed its name various times. In 1318 BC it became Porto Leone, then Porto Drago and, finally, in 1456, Aslan Port (Lion's Port) of the Ottoman Turks.

Two milestones mark the modern history of Piraeus -1829 and 1835. In 1829 arrive in Piraeus its first new settlers - five in number- while in 1835 the Municipality of Piraeus is established and its first mayor is the Hydriot Kyriakos Serfiotis. During the first four decades of the 20th century, the city continues its steady growth in all sectors. The establishment of the Port Committee (1911) and the Port of Piraeus Authority (1930) played a vital catalytic role in its development. However, Greece's involvement in World War II came as a major setback to the city's progress. During the first post-war years, in the beginning of 1950, war damages in both the city and port were repaired and Piraeus started developing again. Pireaus Today Nowadays the port of Piraeus is one of the largest ports in Europe. With about 19 million passengers annually, Piraeus occupies the third place worldwide. It also occupies the 47th position at international level in cargo traffic and the top position among all Eastern Mediterranean ports.

The population of the demos (municipality of Piraeus) counts about 175,697 inhabitants, while the monarchy of Piraeus which includes also the surrounding land and some of the islands of the Saronic Gulf has a population of about 541,504 people. Day by day the city of Piraeus changes its face, it is becoming more dynamic. It is becoming an important international port, open to challenges and international competition. Piraeus Satellite Map Themistocles It was generally agreed that Themistocles was the saviour of Greece. Each commander from the different cities put himself first as the bravest, but they all agreed that Themistocles was the second bravest. The Spartans gave their own commander the prize for bravery but awarded the prize for intelligence to Themistocles. Themistocles continued with his policy of making the Piraeus the main harbour of Athens. He was also responsible for the Long Walls, walls 4 miles long which joined Athens, the Piraeus and Phalerum in a single system of defences Battle of Salamis Its effect upon you and I is thus twofold.

September 20, 480 B.C. marks the day that a small alliance of free states saved Europe from subjugation and enslavement by barbarians sweeping westward from Asia. It also marks the moment that kick-started a distinctive European culture. Indeed, you might say, modern Europe owes its very existence, and the foundation of its art, to the heroes of Salamis. is one of the major turning points of European History, and one of the great tales of heroic endeavour. Themistocles and the Battle of Salamis >> The 10 Best Piraeus Cruise Port Tours, Trips & Tickets - Athens | Viator Athens ATTRACTIONS See all Piraeus Cruise Port A hugely important historical port in Greece, Piraeus is also one of the largest in the Mediterranean. A full-on city, Piraeus is a great place to go exploring, with traditional European town centers, parks, lovely churches and houses. The tree-lined streets and gorgeous harbor alone warrant strolling rights. The port is one of the chief ways to get to destinations in the Aegean Islands and earshot locations in the Mediterranean. How to Get to Piraeus As a modern city, Athens has modern accommodations.

To get to Piraeus, quite simply hope on the metro, which by line one gets you to pretty much right to the Saronic Gulf Ferries. One in, a number of buses will escort you around the perimeters of the harder to reach locations in the spanning area, in fact, it is recommended that you plan your trip around the area with plenty of spare time, as it can take the better part of an hour to go from one location to another. Private transfers can also be arranged for more flexibility. One Day in Piraeus Unlike many ports, Piraeus is sizable enough to merit taking some time to explore. A great place worth looking into is the Archaeological Museum of Piraeus. Complete with terrific bronzed statues of Athena and Apollo, and containing several irreplaceable pieces of art from Greek antiquity, the collection at the museum is substantial. Otherwise, enjoy a coffee in one of Piraeus’ many cafes, located just along the harbor. Then of course, there is Athens.

With tours available to whisk you away straight from the port to some of the world’s greatest marvels - the Tower of Winds, Old Palace, the Greek and Roman Agora, the Olympic stadium, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, or the Temple of Zeus - make your day in one of the world's greatest cities one you'll never forget. Port Information The port itself possesses Europe's largest passenger port, handling about 20 million a year. With tons of different kinds of locations, ships and guests of all nationalities, booking a cruise could never be easier. With multi-language booking procedures, the port allows you to get on a cruise going to just about any of the major Greek islands. The biggest problem you will encounter is choosing which one. Tours & Tickets WPS - Port of Piraeus review Port of Piraeus Review and History The Port of Piraeus is a suburb of and the main port for Athens, Greece. Located about eight kilometers from Athens' city center and some 528 nautical miles northwest of the Port of Alexandria in Egypt, the Port of Piraeus surrounds Phaleron Bay. It is the capital of the Piraeus Prefecture and the second biggest municipality in the Athens metropolitan area.

In 2001, over 175 thousand people lived in the Port of Piraeus municipality. The Port of Piraeus is the largest port in Greece and the center of communications for the Greek islands. Rebuilt after World War II, the city has many new factories, primarily in the chemical and engineering industries, and shipyards on its outskirts. The Port of Piraeus has long been Athens' port. Today, it is the busiest passenger port in Europe and the third busiest in the world. Port History It is believed that people have lived in the area of the Port of Piraeus since the 26th Century BC. At that time, the settlement called Munychia was connected to the mainland by land that was usually flooded. Over the centuries, the low-lying land was silted over, and the floods ended. The resulting peninsula was fortified by Hippias in the 6th Century BC. The Port of Piraeus immediately became important for its deep-water harbor. It was a subdivision of Attica in the early years of today's Greece.

After the Battle of Marathon with the Persians, Athens began to use the Port of Piraeus as a military harbor in the early 4th Century BC. Shipyards were established that created the Athenian fleet that defeated Persian leader Xerxes in the Battle of Salamis in 480 BC. It was for this victory that the Spartans defended the pass of Thermopylae in the immortal battle. Since that ancient battle, the Port of Piraeus has been the base for the Athens fleet in the Aegean Sea. Fortification of the Port of Piraeus was completed during the Athenian Golden Age in 460 BC. The Port of Piraeus was linked to Athens by the Long Walls that maintained the connection during sieges, bringing wealth and a busy commercial life to the port. As Athens' major military port during the Peloponnesian War that pitted Athens against Sparta. In 404 BC, the Long Walls and most of the port's buildings were destroyed by the Spartans after their victory over Athens. The defeat severely reduced the Port of Piraeus' influence, and Rhodes replaced its commercial role.

The reconstruction of the Port of Piraeus was undertaken during the era of Alexander the Great in the 3rd Century BC. However, when the Roman Empire arrived in 86 BC, Lucius Cornelius Sulla captured and destroyed the Port of Piraeus. The destruction was finished by the Goths in 395 AD, beginning a 15-century decline to the Port of Piraeus, although it was used from time to time by the Byzantine fleet. The city even lost its historic name. The Port of Piraeus was named Porto Leone in 1318, and the Franks called it Porto Draco after the marble lion that occupied the spot that eventually held the old Town Hall. In 1456 AD, the Port of Piraeus was called Aslan Liman (meaning Lion's Port) by the Turks. In 1688, the marble lion was stolen and taken to Venice , where it remains. During occupation by the Ottoman Empire , the Port of Piraeus was largely empty and silent. The monastery of Saint Spyridon and a customs house were its only occupied buildings. In 1792, people from Hydra tried unsuccessfully to establish a new town on the site.

During the 1820s Greek War of Independence , people from Psara attempted to create a city there in 1825, again without success. In 1829, people finally began to return to the Port of Piraeus. It was a small town with a few farms and huts that housed mostly fishermen. It had fallen far from its glory days as the port of ancient Athens. When the modern state of Greece was formed in 1832, and Athens was named its capital, the fortunes of the Port of Piraeus changed dramatically. It quickly became an important commercial and industrial center, attracting people from the Aegean Islands. In 1835, the Port of Piraeus was recognized as a municipality with a population of about 300. Over the following decades, the Port of Piraeus continued to grow. It was soon the main port and the second biggest city in Greece. Being so near Athens, it attracted people from all over Greece. In 1869, the railway arrived from Athens. New buildings rose from the dust of the old abandoned port.

The Port of Piraeus gained the Town Hall, Central Market, Stock Exchange Building, Post Office Building, churches, and educational institutions. In 1893, the Corinth Canal was completed, connecting the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas to the Gulf of Corinth, further enhancing the Port of Piraeus' strategic importance. During this period, the Port of Piraeus' facilities were improved as well. The Royal Landings, Troumba Pier, and other quays were built, and dredging operations deepened the harbor. By the beginning of the 20th Century, the Port of Piraeus was home to over 51 thousand people. The Port Committee was formed in 1911 to oversee the construction and maintenance of the Port of Piraeus. In 1930, the Port of Piraeus Authority was established. The port authority played an active part in increasing traffic and developing the Port of Piraeus. By 1920, the population had grown to more than 133 thousand.

In the 1920s, the Port of Piraeus underwent a dramatic population explosion when refugees from the Greco-Turkish War and the population exchange between the two countries brought tens of thousands of new residents. By 1928, over 251 thousand people lived in the Port of Piraeus, creating tremendous stress on the city infrastructure and a huge population of idle laborers. Greece's involvement in World War II interrupted the Port of Piraeus' development. Under German Nazi occupation from 1939 until 1944, the Port of Piraeus suffered damage as the Germans plundered the country and terrorized its citizens. After the war, repairs began on the port and the city. After the mid-1950s, many new projects expanded and modernized the Port of Piraeus. The first passenger terminal in the Port of Piraeus was completed in 1959. In 1978, the first Container Terminal was begun, to be expanded in 1986. A new cruise passenger terminal was opened in 1992.

In 2003, the Port of Piraeus Authority SA was listed on the Stock Market, with the Hellenic State the majority owner (74%). Today, the Port of Piraeus is a modern, busy port that welcomes some 20 million visitors each year. It was long ago absorbed into the urban area of Athens, and it is no longer a separate city. However, its glorious past is evident in the remains of the Long Walls that line the shore and survive in seaside promenades. Archaeological excavations of the ancient shipyards are yielding valuable information about early shipbuilding and sailing. Piraeus | Greece | Britannica.com Piraeus Katina Paxinou Piraeus, Modern Greek Piraiévs, city that is the port of Athens (Modern Greek: Athína), Greece . Piraeus lies on Phaleron Bay, about 6 miles (10 km) southwest of Athens by highway.

The main harbour, Kántharos (ancient Cantharus), is enclosed on the west by the small Ietionía peninsula, on the south by the main Akti peninsula (the Peraïki sector of the port), and on the east by the hill of Munychia (modern Kastélla). The harbour at Piraeus, the port of Athens, on the Saronic Gulf, Greece. K. Honkanen/Ostman Agency In the 7th and 6th centuries bce the Athenians used Phaleron Bay for mooring, since the present port was separated from the mainland by marshes. The Athenian statesman Themistocles persuaded his colleagues about 493 bce to fortify and use Piraeus for the new Athenian fleet, though its fortifications were not completed until after 479. Soon after 460 the Long Walls from the base of Munychia to Athens were built, thereby ensuring communications between Athens and its port in the event of a siege. The street pattern of modern Piraeus still approximates the rectangular grid designed for the new town by the architect Hippodamus of Miletus.

The Spartans captured Piraeus at the close of the Peloponnesian War and demolished the Long Walls and the port’s fortifications in 404. They were rebuilt under the Athenian leader Conon in 393 bce. In 86 bce the Roman commander Lucius Cornelius Sulla destroyed the city, and it was insignificant from that time until its revival after 1834, when Athens became the capital of newly independent Greece. In 1854–59, following the Crimean War , Piraeus was occupied by the Anglo-French fleet to forestall Greek expansionist intentions. Piraeus was bombed by the Germans in 1941 during World War II . Athens Port FAQ - Cruise Reviews Ports Athens Port FAQ Athens Port FAQ The Port of Piraeus serves not only as a major Athens Port; it also stands as the largest harbor in all of Europe. It is considered the cruise ship center in the Mediterranean, with over 10 major cruise ships docking every year. Since its renovation during the 2004 Olympics, more and more cruise passengers come to the city to witness for themselves the past and present glory of Greece.

Here are relevant Athens cruise port FAQs to assist your travel plans. 1. What's the Cruise Port Address? Port of Piraeus Passenger Terminal 10 Akti Miaouli 2. What's the Cruise Port Phone Number? Tel: +30 210 455 0229 Fax: +30 210 455 0310 3. What's the Cruise Port Parking Like? For passengers arriving at the port with personal vehicles, long-term and short-term parking is provided. It is best and safest to park your car at the long-term parking lot. A special parking area for the handicapped is also available. Cruisers will never have a hard time finding the passenger terminal since it is strategically located and marked at the center of Piraeus port. 4. How do You get to the Cruise Port? Being the largest and busiest cruise port in the Mediterranean, the Port of Piraeus has been developed to provide easy accessibility for the travelers. Commuter trains, bus lines, and metro rails are nearby that could get passengers to the port in just a few minutes. Travelers can get to Piraeus cruise port by all means of transportation.

Those who are from outside Europe can fly by plane to the airport in Piraeus, which is just 32 km from the center of Piraeus. European passengers can get to Piraeus easier since they can travel either by car or train. Ferry boats and yachts are also available for travelers from nearby islands. But if you’re in Athens already, you can easily take the bus or Metro in going to the port. Take the Green Depot bus at the Syntagma Square or take the Metro from Omonia Square or Monastiraki. The bus and metro stops usually are a few blocks away from the domestic port. For travelers landing at the airport, it is most convenient to take a taxi. Taxis from the airport to the port of Piraeus can be booked online, and it will be waiting for you upon your arrival. 5. What Cruise Lines use the Port? The Port of Piraeus serves over 20 million typical and luxury passengers in a year and comes equipped with 12 modern berths, making it the largest port in the Mediterranean. Major cruise lines that regularly use this port are: Holland America Cruise Line Seabourn Cruises 6. What's the Nearest Airport to the Cruise Port?

The Piraeus Airport, serving a limited number of flights, is nearest to the cruise port. But the new Athens International Airport (the “Eleftherios Venizelos") located at Spata serves all flights and airlines. The international airport is well equipped with the latest technology and regarded as one of the safest airports in the world. 7. What Attractions are Near the Cruise Port? Athens, a world-renowned city for its magical history and significant attractions, is just 10 km up the road from Piraeus. Cruisers who stop-over at the Piraeus port cannot afford to miss the historic landmarks of Athens; especially that the most famous sights are just walking distances from main Athens. Most visited places in Athens are: The Acropolis: Majestically standing on top of a hill, it is home to the world’s most famous temples and shrines including the Parthenon, the Theatre of Dionysus, and the Temple of Zeus. Old Olympic Stadium: Built on 1896 for the first modern Olympic Games. Attica Zoological Park: Good for the whole family with its wide selection of birds and other animals National Archeological Museum: This displays the glorious history of Greece.

Bronze statues of their gods and goddesses like Apollo and Athena will take your breath away. Piraeus also has its own special places worthy of visiting. Cape Sounion houses the Temple of Poseidon; Dafni holds the most important Byzantine monument, the Dafni Monastery; and Mount Parnitha which is a perfect get-away from a hectic city life with its natural and peaceful beauty. 8. What Hotels are Near the Cruise Port? Accommodations are essential to every Athens Cruise Port FAQ especially since there are millions of passengers who choose to explore the city while docked at the port. The best hotel accommodations for tourists and families are located just right along the main landmarks of Piraeus and Athens. Most of these hotels are situated a few blocks away from the Piraeus Port and a few kilometers from central Athens. Tourists on a modest budget can choose from among these 3-star hotels: Piraeus Dream Hotel, The Park Hotel Piraeus, Triton Hotel Piraeus, Savoy Hotel, Hotel Anemoni, Noufara Hotel, Argo Hotel, Anita Hotel, Hotel Ideal, and Faros 1 and 2 Hotels.

They offer warm and comfortable accommodations with modern amenities, air-conditioned rooms, and balconies overlooking a street or sea. For ultimate luxury, business and leisure passengers can go to the Piraeus Theoxenia Hotel. This is the only 5-star deluxe hotel in the city of Piraeus. Located along the business district, the Theoxenia stands stylishly with its modern architecture design. 9. What Restaurants and Shops are Near the Cruise Port? Piraeus also offers a wide selection of restaurants that offer any kind of dish you crave. Those who want to try the Greek Taverna-Fish and other Greek-classic dishes; they’re available at these restaurants: Diasimos, Dourabeis, Kritikos, Kastella, To Agirovoli Tou Sotiri, Panorama, Zefiros, and Zorbas. Chinese food is served at the Fu Kuei and Mai Tai, while seafood is at Hrisopsaro and Istioploikos. For Italian cuisines, check out the Le Pierrot and the Lugano. They are all in close proximity to the port and are mostly walking distances away from each other. Shopping in Piraeus is never a hassle.

They sell food, clothing, jewelry, and any other thing under the sun. They have boutiques, local shops, and markets. Major credit cards are accepted almost everywhere and most stores are open until Saturdays. Tourists usually visit Sotiros dios, an avenue filled with stylish shops and cafes. Other shopping areas are along Iroon Politexneiou Avenue, Kolokotroni Street, and Gr Lambraki Street. 10. Are Ships Docked at the Port, or are Passengers Ferried from the Port to the Ship? Ferry boats are usually available to carry passengers to and from the cruise ships. Athens under pressure: city races to clear port's refugee camp before tourists arrive | Cities | The Guardian Resilient cities Athens under pressure: city races to clear port's refugee camp before tourists arrive Refuge cities The port of Piraeus and a disused airport are focal points for Athens’ difficulties in dealing with the ongoing refugee crisis. The city’s mayor admits it is paying heavily for flaws that should have been addressed long ago A woman hides her face behind an advice leaflet for refugees at the Piraeus passenger terminal in Athens.

Photograph: Xinhua/Barcroft Media Cities is supported by Tuesday 26 April 2016 09.28 EDT Last modified on Friday 13 January 2017 10.03 EST Share on Messenger Close Even now, two months and 20 days after her journey from Afghanistan began, Haliva Khaveri still thinks of Greece – the country across the sea, the coastline she had looked at longingly from Turkey – in terms of hope. It’s what keeps the 17-year-old and her entire family planted in Piraeus, the port city six miles south of Athens. “We are staying here,” she says with conviction. “Me, my mother, my father, my three sisters, my brother – we are not moving. We are staying here, and then eventually we go to Germany or Holland.” The Greek government has other ideas. In the countdown to Orthodox Easter on 1 May – and with it, the start of the tourist season – the race is on to clear the port of its makeshift refugee camp, which until recently numbered more than 5,000.

Buses were dispatched, leaflets distributed, and young boys who had jumped into the sea placated as the authorities moved men, women and children from the port gate of E1 to another at E2. “A lot of them don’t want to leave because they fear that if they do, they’ll be stuck in camps,” says Nikos Souras, a US-based academic overseeing volunteers who have stepped in to make up for the basic services Greece’s cash-strapped state is unable to provide. “But how can they possibly stay here? It’s getting hot. There are fears that disease will spread.” Pinterest Athens wants to clear the Piraeus port of its makeshift refugee camp before Orthodox Easter on 1 May. Photograph: Simela Pantzartzi/EPA Squalid, chaotic, overwhelmed: Piraeus is the first port of call for the thousands now trapped in the capital, on the frontline of Europe’s refugee crisis. Since the closure of Greece’s northern border and with it the Balkan migrant trail – a move that has resulted in more than 46,000 stranded on the Greek mainland – it has been emblematic of the country’s inability to cope with a situation few had envisaged.

In passenger terminals never built to deal with a humanitarian crisis, facilities have been rudimentary, tensions high, and resources vastly overstretched. Anger and frustration have been highlighted by brawls between Syrians and Afghans; clashes between supporters of the neo-fascist Golden Dawn and the anti-fascist left have added to the explosive mix. From the outset, Greece’s Syriza-led government has taken a soft approach to the crisis, deliberately refraining from using force to disperse refugees. In recent months it has established 31 temporary reception centres nationwide; six are in Athens. The newest – a set of pristine containers erected on land cleared by the army – lies west of Piraeus above the shipyards of Skaramagas. It was there this week that authorities were attempting to lure those camped out at gates E1 and E2. Lefteris Papayiannakis, the straight-talking deputy mayor in charge of refugee and migrant affairs, is the first to admit that Athens has been ill-prepared. As the primary point of arrival for thousands of asylum seekers pouring in from the Greek islands ahead of Europe’s controversial 20 March deal with Turkey , the capital should have realised the crisis was coming.

“I don’t like to call this a crisis because crises happen suddenly,” Papayiannakis says. “We all knew that people had amassed on the border between Syria and Turkey, and we all knew they were fleeing war and wanted to move on. Greece wasn’t ready to manage it, it wasn’t ready at all.” Pinterest Refugee children at the new reception centre near the shipyards of Skaramagas, Athens. Photograph: Simela Pantzartzi/EPA In 2015, around 85% of the approximately 1 million men, women and children who streamed into Europe via Lesbos and other Aegean isles then travelled through Athens. Their arrival put an immense strain on the city’s municipalities in charge of water consumption, waste management and public cleanliness. “The reality is we are being asked to do more with less,” says Papayiannakis, of the seven-year-long economic crisis that has plunged debt-stricken Greece into its deepest recession in modern times.

“For example, we need specialised personnel to deal with refugees and right now all we have are 10 social workers for the entire city.” At its peak last month, close to 14,000 refugees had amassed in Piraeus, posing serious challenges for public order and health. By mid-April, however, attention had turned increasingly to the capital’s erstwhile international airport in Elliniko . Once poised to become Europe’s biggest metropolitan park, the disused airport was transformed into an “official” shelter in March, when it became clear that countries further north had cut off access to Europe for good. If there was a semblance of order to the chaos of Piraeus, there is none here: outside derelict buildings, children play barefoot around overflowing rubbish bins; officialdom comes in the form of a single police car, parked alongside a fence clad with clothes, while up a flight of stairs inside the departure terminal, roughly 2,000 men, women and children – almost double the centre’s capacity - sleep side by side.

Lack of heat or air-conditioning means it is cold at night and stifling during the day; sanitation amounts to five toilets for men and five for women, with showers installed earlier this month. A further 3,000 refugees are crammed into two former Olympic venues – the old hockey and baseball stadiums – at Elliniko, where conditions are said to be so poor that access for NGOs or the media is rare. Pinterest Children play on an old mobile staircase at the disused Ellinikon airport, now home to 2,000 refugees. Photograph: Michalis Karagiannis/Reuters With hunger reputed to be on the rise, volunteers have openly voiced fears of offering services to people who are increasingly desperate. Last week, following the death of a 17-year-old Afghan girl in the camp , irate local mayors felt compelled to write a letter to prime minister Alexis Tsipras deploring the conditions as unacceptable and inhumane. Calling for immediate measures, the Athens Medical Association warned of a public health emergency. “So far, Greece has been very lucky,” Papayiannakis noted before news of the Afhgan girl’s death broke.

“There have been no serious incidents – but luck, you know, can run out.” Cities need more power to deal with refugee crisis: report Read more Despite record unemployment and poverty levels, Greeks have responded to the influx with compassion and solidarity. Many have brought food and clothes to public squares, harking back to their families’ own experience as refugees when thousands were forcibly expelled from the Anatolian heartland after Greece’s ill-fated attempt to invade Turkey in 1922. For immigrants like Arif Rahman, a businessman who heads the Bangladeshi Chamber of Commerce, that reaction has been heartening – even if the government’s own response has been bungled and chaotic. A slender man who first came to Greece in the late 1980s, Rahman has all too often witnessed his adopted country’s tough immigration policies – not least its steadfast refusal to offer citizenship to the children of emigres. “Now is the time for Greeks to show what civilisation and democracy means,” he says. “These people don’t want to stay here. We keep telling the government, as foreign community leaders, ‘Ask us for help, we know our people, we know what they need.

Don’t let it get uglier than it already has.’” Pinterest Athens coastguards give directions to refugees being transported out of the port of Piraeus. Photograph: Thanassis Stavrakis/AP The prospect of stranded refugees moving on any time soon are slim. Even before the crisis, the country’s asylum service was underfunded and overstretched. An EU relocation programme to resettle some 66,400 asylum seekers across the bloc has been a spectacular failure. As of 12 April, seven months after its initiation, only 615 had been transferred to other member states, according to Amnesty International . In Victoria Square, Athens’ central plaza which, for a few intense weeks earlier this year, served as an informal camp for thousands of new arrivals, aid organisations say they have begun to detect a discernible shift on the part of refugees. “People are realising they are not going to leave fast,” says Polis Pandelides, head officer of the Salvation Army, which runs a day-centre near the square.

“They have begun moving into hostels, they are looking at ways of learning the language, they want to enrol their kids in school.” Under a scheme sponsored by the United Nations Refugee Agency , up to 20,000 private apartments in the capital will also be offered as temporary accommodation. Recently, Athens mayor Yiorgos Kaminis announced that 200 were instantly available for around 3,000 refugees. After the flood: Vienna's struggle to make its refugee residents feel at home Read more But Kaminis knows he is walking a fine line. Athens, he says, is paying heavily for flaws that should have been addressed long ago – starting with the country’s conscious effort to deter asylum seekers. “This is a country in the midst of an economic, political and social crisis,” he admits during an interview in the capital’s neo-classical town hall. “The biggest challenge is to try to comply with basic rules and principles concerning refugees and asylum seekers, and at the same time keep the city functioning. We have paid a high price for not having the necessary knowledge and infrastructure.” Against this backdrop, dark forces such as Golden Dawn – for many Europe’s most brutal far-right party – need do little.

“Reality is working for it,” adds Kaminis, sighing slightly as he rolls up the sleeves of his perfectly pressed white shirt. “It is something no one could have foreseen.” Follow Guardian Cities on Twitter and Facebook and join the discussion

Question: In what European city is the historic port of Piraeus?
Answer: Athens