We spent the day in Piraeus today. Using public transport is very convenient, and especially so the metro. For 0.80 cents one can buy a ticket for any means of public transport and is able to use this ticket for 90 minutes. An extremely good alternative to car or taxi travel and much cheaper and faster, of course!
Piraeus has been the Port of Athens for more than 2500 years, feeding the capital city with ships filled with traders, goods, pilgrims, and now, tourists. If you arrive in Athens via water, your journey will take you through Piraeus. For most visitors, it’s a dimly-perceived backdrop after a lovely cruise, or a quick stop while waiting for a hydrofoil or ferry. It can seem threatening, overcrowded and for some people even dirty and menacing.
However, if one explores Piraeus one discovers that this bustling port has charms of its own and much to offer the tourist or casual visitor. The Academy Award-winning Melina Mercouri 1960 film “Never on Sunday” was shot in Piraeus. The port is the site of the University of Piraeus which features studies in maritime history among other subjects. The Archaeological Museum of Piraeus offers a fascinating collection of artifacts from the area. It's open daily (except Mondays, remember!), and makes for a pleasant, informative stop. The huge bronze statues of Athena and Artemis are particularly worth seeing. If you're just passing through Piraeus on your way to the hydrofoil, allow some extra time to enjoy this museum.
The Municipal Gallery of Piraeus features an extensive collection of modern sculpture by Georage Kastriotis and a collection of theatrical memorabilia donated by Manos Katrakis. It's all located at the Piraeus Municipal Theatre, on Korai Square. Piraeus is also the home of the Yacht Club of Greece, a long-established organization sponsoring a number of yachting events at Piraeus and elsewhere each year.
There many shops, shopping centres, malls and markets in Piraeus, some of them offering bargains not available in Athens. A lovely cathedral church is to be found here and it is consecrated to the Holy Trinity. One cannot miss it as it centrally located, close to the main port and the terminus of the metro. Many other churches are in Piraeus, including the church of St Spyridon, the patron saint of the port.
Piraeus offers hotels, though these are generally filled with those whose business takes them to the port and, to a lesser degree, tourist overflow from Athens itself. As to be expected from a busy, working port, Piraeus restaurants are renowned for their seafood, especially those in the small harbour of Mikrolimano.
For some Piraeus Trivia: What ancient holiday was held on March 5th? If you answered, "Ploiaphesia" or Navigium Isidis, you get a hundred points and a pat on the back for knowing navigational history. Like many ports in the Aegean, for hundreds of years Piraeus celebrated the "Launching of the Ships" honouring the goddess of navigation, Isis. At this time, the stormy winter sea is calming and trade and travel can begin again. While modern shipping doesn't follow as strict a schedule, Mediterranean captains still must breathe a sigh of relief as spring begins and the high seas of winter depart.
Piraeus had a reputation in Athens as a “poor relative” in the past. Living here was cheaper than the in the capital itself and many poor people were able to make a living amidst the life of the port. Nowadays this reputation is not justified as Piraeus has nothing to envy Athens for and living in many parts of the Port is very chic and “in” (with prices to match). We always like visiting the port as it has a special atmosphere of its own and watching the sea craft going in and out of the ports (the main harbour as well as Mikrolimano) is always an enjoyable experience.
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