Piraeus- Passalimani

What I can see

Piraeus is one of the biggest and most important municipalities in the country. It is the largest port in the country and one of the largest of the Mediterranean. The harbour has been a significant Mediterranean hub ever since ancient times. Passalimani is a neighbourhood of central Piraeus, not a separate area. Apart from its historical, architectural and sociological significance, (inhabited mainly by Greek Asia Minor refugees and their descendants), Piraeus is an ideal place to walk by the sea, in Passalimani and the surrounding area, along pedestrian passages and shops, which offer something to suit all tastes. Passalimani and the neighbourhoods nearby (e.g. Mikrolimano, Marina Zeas) are ideal to have breakfast and an afternoon coffee by the sea. One can enjoy Greek ouzo delicacies in many of these areas and in the Piraeus centre, like on the pedestrian Karaiskou Street. On the hill of Prophet Elias, one can dine or have a drink and admire the view of the coast of Athens and watch the comings and goings on the busy Piraeus harbour.

What I can't see

The city of Piraeus is approximately 9 km from the centre of Athens. The name derives from the ancient “Piraeus”, which comes from the verb “peraioo” meaning “to cross to the other side”. From the same verb comes the word “strait” (“porthmos” in Greek). The Piraeus peninsula was an island in prehistoric times, which explains its name as a “passage” that connected the island with the coast of Faliro. The name Passalimani dates back to the Ottoman Empire. In ancient times it was called Zea, the current name of the port’s pleasure boat marina. Today, Passalimani is the area of the Moutsopoulou Coast marina, while Zea is on the adjacent Themistocles Coast marina. One of the major shortcomings of Piraeus is its lack of street name signs on many streets, which makes a map necessary for tourists. In previous centuries, when Athens and Piraeus were two separate cities, Piraeus was famous for its brothels, which were located near the port. The brothels not only served the sailors, but also Athenians, many of whom were respectable citizens in the eyes of their social circle and visited these establishments secretly.

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