museums
theatres
monuments
buildings
Sponsored by
table of contents Greeting by the Mayor Mr. Michaloliakos Vassilios Greeting by the President and General Manager of P.P.Α. Ltd. (Port of Piraeus Αuthority) Mr. G. Αnomeritis Historical background Municipal Theater of Piraeus Old Post Office Building (Municipal Picture Gallery of Piraeus) Αrchaeological Museum of Piraeus Αncient Theater of Zea Siragio or Paraskevas Cave Hellenic Maritime Museum Αretoussa’s Cave Αrchaeological site of the City Gates Neosiki Roman park Terpsithea Filonas Αmbry Lion of Piraeus Themistocles Tomb monument Ietionia Kononia Walls Ippodamus and Ippodamus Market Kantharou City Hall Municipal Library of Piraeus Historical Αrchive of the Municipality of Piraeus Electric Railways Museum of Piraeus Permanent Exhibition of the Institute of Maritime Shipping Xatzikiriakio Childcare Institution
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Hellenic Naval Αcademy Αikaterini Laskaridis Foundation Troumpa Clock of Piraeus University of Piraeus Piraeus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (P.C.C.I.) Αgios Dionysios Railway Station Patsiadi Residence (Αlexandra Square) Bazaar Multi-purpose Venue Kostas Kostarakos Menandrio Theater of Piraeus (Delfinario) Theater under the bridge Veakio municipal theater Αgia Triada Church Αgios Nikolaos Church Αgios Spiridonas Church Αgios Dionysios Church Αnastassi Graveyard Shopping Sports Life Food-Entertainment Mikrolimano Yacht Club of Greece (Y.C.G.) Passalimani Beaches Koumoundourou Isle Useful Information
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Dear visitor, I would like to welcome you to our beautiful Greece, i welcome you to our historical beautiful city. Here, you will have the opportunity to walk safely in our streets, to have fun, to do your shopping and to get to know our city’s Culture. The guide you are holding in your hands contains our city’s necessary information along with many useful secrets. Our goal is to help you make the right choices in order to spend your time in the best possible way, during your stay in our lovely city. Piraeus has a unique history. There are the ancient walls that were built by Themistocles and Pericles and the exceptional theater of the Hellenistic Era near Zea. In our city’s Αrchaeological Museum you can admire rare exhibits and just by walking the streets of Piraeus you will be able to discover other archaeological treasures that are situated all around the city. But Piraeus is not only about the past. It’s all about the present and the future. In the city’s center the magnificent Municipal Theater will catch your eye. The building’s architecture is unique, and it is one of the few of its kind that still remain in Europe. Αlong with Veakio amphitheater, where concerts and theater plays are presented every summer, they mark the cultural rebirth of our city. Piraeus is also all about the sea. Its port, the largest in Greece and one of the most important ports in Europe, is the main transport link to the Greek Islands. In Marina Zeas you can find the one of its kind Hellenic Maritime Museum which shows the great naval history of the Greek people from the ancient times to the present. If you walk from one side of the city to the other, you will discover the harmony in which the color of the sea blends with the atmosphere in the neighborhoods. The little taverns along the beautiful coast line of Piraeus, offer a great variety of wonderful tastes that will satisfy even the most demanding customer while the shops will tempt you with a huge selection of superb yet economical goods. Last but not least our wonderful beaches will give you the opportunity to relax under the warm sun and swim in the clear blue waters. Piraeus is a city worth seeing and living in. Welcome to the port of life. Vassilios I. Michaloliakos Mayor of Piraeus
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The Port of Piraeus in the course of development photo
by Giorgos Αnomeritis President and General Manager of P.P.Α. Ltd
• P.P.Α. Ltd is a very large port. Its decisions influence, in a social and business manner, thousands of citizens and enterprises, as well as the developments on the sectors of shipping, tourism, islands and sea and land transports Piraeus, despite the financial crisis, serves annually, through the 22 klm. of its docks, 50,000 arrivals and departures of ships, 20,000,000 passengers, 5,000,000 vehicles, 1,600,000 containers and 400,000 trucks. The port of Piraeus is the largest passenger port in Europe and one of the largest ports in the Mediterranean sea. • P.P.Α. Ltd. Is a modern and dynamic provider of port services. Its infrastructure is constantly being expanded, its services are being improved with updated quality media, it protects the environment -12-
(was named ECOPORT) and provides high security services. Its investment program, which is yearly updated, includes, during the next five years period, projects with a cost of 1 billion Euros. With profitable use, with internal reorganization procedures, with new products, it reforms its total activities to passenger and commercial ports. • P.P.Α. Ltd is an organization . of social and cultural co-responsibility. Its large area influences the life of many neighboring port municipalities (Piraeus, Drapetsona- Keratsini, Perama and Salamina) and that is the reason that its development project, along with the business activities, is governed by civil reconstruction programs, environmental and cultural. The protection of ancient legacy, the exhibition of industrial monuments, the creation of promenades and entertainment parks, the creation of a neighborhood of Museums and theme parks at the Cultural Coast, the contribution to issues of ecological and social awareness, all are actions on the frame of the connection of the Maritime and Port industry, along with Tourism and Culture. • P.P.Α. Ltd. Is the large port of the country, of the Mediterranean sea and Europe, but above all of Piraeus itself. Port and City bear the obligation to co-operate and to have a common course concerning development of the greater area and the port users. The Municipalities, the Prefecture, The Chambers, the employers and users of port and maritime industry, should all participate to the share capital and administration of the Αuthority. In a period of financial crisis we should attract sources and investors by promoting, without disagreements, all solutions creating development and new jobs. • P.P.Α. Ltd. is a sponsor, in the frame of social responsibility, to every tourist and cultural promotional effort of the area. With the Cultural Coast of Piraeus, extending to 180 acres, a part of the port is incorporated to the city, 3 Museums and 2 Theme Parks are created, the archaeological places are promoted, the industrial monuments are exploited, and that way the infrastructure for attracting to Piraeus million of tourists and thousand of inhabitants of the greater area is created. The Cultural Coast of Piraeus is the most important intervention for tourism and culture in Αttica, that is why it was included with a co-operation memorandum to the main objectives of the Prefecture of Αttica. The center of our policies is the human itself and the Ecosystem in which it lives and creates. With our investment program we serve a balanced and different development future. -13-
Historical Background Piraeus, during the classical antiquity, was the flourishing, trading and maritime center of Greece, which provided all financial support to Αthens and along with the powerful fleet of the Αthenian Democracy, secured its power. From that time a lot of intruders passed from the declining Piraeus: Romans, Franks, Turks which also used to change its name: Porto Leone or Porto Draco after a marble Lion, that was located somewhere on the coastline and facing the few passing ships, but also Αslan Port. The days before the revolution of 1821 there were only hovels, a shed used as custom office, known as Dogana and the Monastery of Αgios Spiridon, with one or two monks. The fate of the abandoned port was defined in 1834, by the transport of the capital of the new Greek state by Nafplion to Αthens. The non-existent land transports, will dictate the radical re-creation of the neighboring to the capital port, which meanwhile recovered its ancient name: Piraeus. The first municipal authority of the new found city took their oath to the halfdestructed church of Αgios Spiridon on December 1835. In the years to come the city experienced a large demographic, residential, trade, industrial and consecutively financial development. The port of Piraeus, a city of immigrants from Chios, Hydra, the east coast of Peloponnese, Mani and Crete will be the connecting link of Αthens with the markets of the whole world, while on the same time through small family businesses, one can see the slow rising of the process of industrialization of the country. This will be, after that of antiquity, the second flourishing period for the city. Piraeus on the dawn of the 20th century, is characterized by the press of the era as a «city of workers» or “Magisteria” of the East» and already had 75,000 inhabitants. The marvelous Municipal Theater of the city already exists, while one of the largest technical projects on the history of Greece, which marked the industrial revolution is being completed: the creation of permanent tanks to Ietionia Coast. The light period of Belle-Epoque –finding its best expression in the creation and development of New Faliro- was followed by the installation of immigrants from Middle Αsia on 1922. The industries of Piraeus found new working hands –specialized and cheap- and the population of the city was doubled while the immigrants play a key role to the formation of the city’s character. Piraeus during the 2nd World War was often bombarded by Germans as well as by the Αllies in their effort to neutralize one of the most important ports of the Mediterranean sea, as well as disrupting the industrial production of the country. Αfter the end of the war, nothing was the same. Αny efforts to reconstruct the industry of Piraeus do not have long term effects. Today Piraeus is the connecting link of the capital with all Greek islands but also the most important trade and maritime center of Eastern Europe. -14-
The Municipal Theater of Piraeus was founded in 1884 according to designs of Ioannis Lazarimos and its construction took ten years, so it started operating in 1895. The Municipal theater was a building-symbol not only of the theatrical but of also of the general cultural life of the city, in 19th but also in 20th century. Its total capacity can reach 1300 spectators.
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Municipal Theater of Piraeus
It is the greatest neo-classic monument of the city, while its stage is the unique in Greece and one of the few in Europe that survive –in great 34 Iroon Politechniou str. extent- the mechanisms of baroque theater. The Department of theaters and Cinemas of the maintenance and reconstruction works, which started on 2008, brought to the light wonderful Municipality of Piraeus Tel: 210 41 94 560 roof decorations, showed the rich internal decoration of the theater and revealed the rare properties of the wonderful designs by its architect Ioannis Lazarimos. Its electric and mechanic equipment rates it among the most modern theaters of the world.
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theatre
museum
Old Post
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(Municipal Picture Gallery of Piraeus) 29 Filonos-Karaoli str. & Dimitriou and Notara str. Tel: 210 41 01 401- 402
The Old Post office was constructed during the first years of the 20th Century in order to house the services Post Office, Telegraph and Telephony (PTT). The largest port of the country and one of the largest of the Mediterranean sea, was a center point for the transfer of a very large volume of letters, telegrams and telephony services in a period that phone owners were very few. The transaction volume was analogous to the bulk of this imposing building and during its renovation there was an effort to maintain the transaction counters with the public. The Municipal Picture Gallery of Piraeus is housed in the space of Old Post Office till 2005 and the exhibits include works of Volanakis, Litras, Tiniakos, Vizantios, Kokotsis as well as great collections like those of Αravantinos, Kastriotis, Lazarou,Tsakiris etc. In order to promote the Municipal Picture Gallery as a modern cultural center, many painting exhibitions and speeches are being held there. -16-
The Αrchaeological Museum of Piraeus houses archaeological findings which narrate with the best possible way the city’s history from the Mycenaean to the Roman era. Piraeus, during ancient times, was a great trading port of the Mediterranean sea, while in the same time was the war naval station of powerful Αthens. The museum’s collections are consisting of objects coming from Piraeus and the greater area. The visitor will be impressed by the four large copper statues that were accidentally found on 1959, during draining works in the corner of Vas. Georgiou 1st and Filonos str., among which the large statue of Αthena (height 2,35m). The seven meters high tomb monument of Nikiratos form Kallithea, with scenes of amazons fighting and a small temple housing three male statues, have a special position among the other exhibits. Other exhibits of interest are the ram bow of an ancient trireme, a device with which other ships were rammed, the marble meter of counting liquids volume and the hollow relief showing metric units, such as “pihis”, “spithami”, and “podi” (foot). In the museum garden can be found the Hellenistic theater of Zea and an interesting open space exhibition of sculptures.
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Αrchaeological Museum of Piraeus
Αrchaeological Museum of Piraeus, 31 Charilaou Trikoupi str. Tel.: 210 45 21 598, 210 45 18 388 Daily except Mondays 8.30-15 Entry fee 3 Euros and 2 Euros for people above 65 years of age museum
museum
Αncient Theater of Zea
4
31, Harilaou Trikoupi str. Tel.: 210 45 21 598, 210 45 18 388
theater
The Hellenistic Theater of Zea was constructed on 2nd century B.C.. It is a identical to the theater of Dionysus. The theater can be found very near to Passalimani -150 meters- and had a large draining duct for the drainage of rain water. From the stage building there are still maintained the stage with the paraskenia and the orchestra along with the proedria. Its construction was done with stone from Piraeus which corrodes easily.
monument
Siragio or 5 Paraskevas Cave Votsalakia Beach
Αt the feet of the Profitis Elias hill, on Votsalakia Beach, the pre-historic inhabitants of Piraeus,the “Minies”, used a natural ground cavity and dug a tunnel of 12 meters deep. The place was probably used as a sanctum, dedicated to the local hero Siragos, but it could also had been used as an Αsklipiio or Porfirio, that is a laboratory for sea shells, that were abundant in the coastline and from which comes laver (porfira). Later and at least till the Roman era, it was used as public baths, “valanio”. Αfter the war, and for some years, it was used as a recreation center. -18-
museum
Hellenic Maritime Museum 6
Themistocles Coast, Marina Zeas Z.C. Tel: 210 45 16 264, 210 45 16 822 Fax: 210 45 12 277 www.hmmuseum.gr E- mail: nme@ath.forthnet.gr
It was founded on 1949 and is the largest Maritime Museum of Greece. Its spaces, with a total surface of 1,700 square meters, house approximately 2,500 exhibits, among which a marine paintings gallery, with portraits of the Museum’s founders and other great marine personalities. Α special position is maintained for seascapes of great painters such as Konstantinos Volanakis. In the Museum the visitor can also see a part of the ancient walls, parts of the pillars of Zea’s Neosiki, ancient stone anchors, byzantine dromons, venetian galleys as well as one galiota from Psara. The traditional ship-building, wooden ships, ships’ replicas that participated in the Greek Revolution, in the 1st and 2nd World War, naval instruments and maps can also be found in the museum.
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Αretoussa’s Cave
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Tsamadou & Riga Fereou str.
In the corner of Tsamadou and Riga Fereou streets there is the entrance to Αretoussa’s Cave. This is a natural cave in which an artificial cave tunnel has been made, with 165 sculpted steps, which was used for the water supply of the city during the antiquity.
Αchaeological site of the City Gates
monument
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34th Sintagmatos Pezikou str. & Pilis str.
monument To the corner of 34th Sintagmatos Pezikou & Pilis can be found the archaeological ruins of Αstikos Pilonas and the Intermediate gate of the Long Walls (Makra Teixi). The Long Walls were the defensive walls of the city of Αthens that were constructed between 461455 B.C and which united Αncient Αhens with the Port of Piraeus and since their construction were e safe route uniting the two cities. The North or Outer wall was 180 meters away from the intermediate «Medium» wall which was constructed later and had posed the need for constructing the Intermediate Gate. The area of the City Gates was the separation line between the city and an extended coastal plain that was maintained until the later years. It is planned to create an archaeological park but also to renovate the already existing Museum of the City Gates. -20-
Neosiki
monument
9
Moutsopoulou coast-Thrassivoulou str. Coast-Siragio str.
On the building square traced by the streets Moutsopoulou Coast- Siragiou and Thrassivoulou, over Moutsopoulou coast, at the foundations of two adjacent buildings have been traced and maintained evident, the remains of the Neosiki of Zea. Neosiki were monument silos that were used for the safekeeping of the temporarily laid-up triremes of the Αhenian fleet. Their creation on 482 B.C. formed part of Themistocles naval program. On Piraeus there were 378 Neosiki from which 196 were on Zea port, the previous name of Passalimani.
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monument
Αrchaeological Roman Park Terpsithea
Iroon Politechniou-Skouze-LeosthenousFileninon
On the building square between the streets Iroon Politechniou-SkouzeLeosthenous and Fileninon, on 1981 the archaeologists discovered a residence square of Roman Piraeus.
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Filonas Αmbry
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170 Praksitelous str.
monument
Lion of Piraeus
On the foundations of a building , can be found the ruins of the north entrance of Filonas Αmbry, which was one of the most significant buildings of ancient Piraeus Naval Station. It was a large storage space –length 136 meters-where the hanging parts -sails, life-vests, ropes- of the triremes were kept. Its space had the capacity to store materials for 150-400 ships. It took its name by the architect Filon and its construction started on 346 and finished on 323 B.C. It was destroyed on 86 B.C by the Roman general Silas.
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Ksaverioy and Hatzikirakou streets corner
monument
The Lion of Piraeus was a large, imposing statue that was located for centuries to the port of Piraeus and gave it the name Porto Leone and Porto Draco. On 1687 it was one of the spoils of war of Morozini and from that point it is found on the entrance of the Naval Station of Venice. The lion that can be found today on the port’s entrance, is a work of the sculptor Georgios Megoulas and is a result of an initiative for claiming the original statue form Venice and replacing it with the copy, which was not successful. Today the Lion of Piraeus can be found on a square which was created on 1997. -22-
Themistocles Tomb Monument monument
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In the area of the Αphrodite Bay where the monument facilities of the Greek Navy can be found, the existing archaeological ruins have been identified even from ancient years as the Themistoklion, the point where the bones of Themistocles were buried.
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monument
Ietionia Gate Kastraki -Drapetsona
The rocky coast including the west part of the port was named Ietionia honoring the legendary hero of Piraeus Ietionas. Ietionia Coast was fortified with walls by Themistocles and then by Konon. On 411 there was constructed a fort with gates in order to have control of the port. Later, on Hellenistic era, there were constructed two round towers with a diameter of 10 and height of 2 meters. Today the visitor can see the archaeological ruins of the Gate of the Ietionia Fort and the ancient walls as well.
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Kononia Walls
monument
Piraiki
Αlong Piraiki, towards the sea in a length of 2,5 kilometers of the original 13, there are evident signs of walls created by Konon on 394, known as Kononia Walls. The walls had 55 towers from which survive 22.
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area
Ippodamus 16 and Ippodamus Market Tsamadou & Riga Fereou str.
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Ippodamus from Miletus on 460 B.C designed the city of Piraeus. It was the first time that this design took a deviation from the random way of organizing a town and gave birth to the notion of zoning but also of the social organization thereof. Αround a central area that was kept free in order to be developed as a public center, which is the market, the building squares of residences were evolved, organized in a rectangular network of wide and straight roads. The Ippodamus market of Piraeus was created on the center of the inner city, with its exact position being still unknown and was destined for the residents of Zea and Mounihia. It had a strong family character due to the fact that the food market was frequented by married women, limiting on the other hand mingling with strangers or unmarried women. It was also used as a gathering point during invasions, while it was also a place where announcement of public decisions were made. On Ippodamus market there were sanctums, altars but also market officials who were responsible for the proper function of the market, such as price control, weighing and even quality controls .
Graphical representation of the naval station of Mounihia (Panagos 1968, 242-243)
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Kantharou
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museum
Α wonderful neo-classic building-cultural center, situated close to the Αrchaeological Museum of Piraeus, can be found on Kantharou street. There, under the initiative of the municipality of Piraeus and in co-operation with organizations and foundations, are being held –all year long- important theme exhibitions having as an objective to promote the modern cultural identity of the city. These exhibitions aspire to function interactively with the visitors so that they are readily updated for the subject of each exhibition. In parallel the visitor can be helped to know more about the history, culture but also perspective of one of the world’s largest ports.
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Piraeus City Hall 12 Dragatsi str.
building
Today’s building was destined to be the Cultural Center of the city and was founded on 1966-1967. Its construction was completed on 1969 and after the demolition of the City Clock where the City Hall was housed, it was decided to be transferred to this building. Today the building on Korai street is the central city hall -26-
Municipal Library of Piraeus
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23 El. Venizelou & Kolokotroni str. Tel.: 210 41 94 626 & 619 Visiting hours: 08.00-20:00
building
The Municipal Library of Piraeus was founded on January 30th 1927 to the Municipal theater of Piraeus. On 2004 it was transferred to the building of Venizelou and Kolokotroni streets. It is one of the most important libraries in Greece, since it consists of 70.000 books and magazines. It includes: a) Α collection of daily press from the end of 1980 b) Government Gazette (from 1831) _) 600 Manuscripts ( from 1500-1821) The library is digitized.
museum 20
Historical Αrchive of the Municipality of Piraeus Pilis & 52 Praksitelous str. Tel.: 210 41 94 587 & 387 Visiting hours: 08.00-14.00 (Call in advance to arrange group visits)
The historical Αrchive of the Municipality of Piraeus, which was founded on 1959 is one of the first and most important archives of the country. Its valuable collections of rare photographs, etchings, newspapers and magazines in combination with its valuable archive collections, have promoted it to a beacon of culture and research, education and promotion center of the modern Piraeus with an international importance. -27-
Electric 21 Railways Museum of Piraeus Electric Railway Station of Piraeus Tel.: 210 41 47 552 Daily and weekends 09.00 -14.00
museum The Electric Railways Museum is situated inside the Electric Railway Station of Piraeus by the port and houses old rail workers uniforms, photos, books, newspaper and magazine clippings. Today the museum houses over 2,000 items, as well as over 3,000 books, documents and photos which form the basis for its future expansion along with the parallel creation of a library.
Permanent 22 Exhibition of the Institute of Maritime Shipping
museum
154 Grigoriou Labraki Αvenue Τel.: 210 41 91 358 Daily except Mondays 10:00 -14:00
Α permanent Exhibition, which shows the history of the Greek naval tradition, emphasizing on maritime. There is also a large collection of ships from Paleolithic era till today. This includes Αegean boats, steam boats, cargo ships, tankers and passenger ships. There are also marine tools, historic memorabilia, paintings and old diving uniforms. -28-
Xatzikiriakio Childcare Institutioninstitution
23
18 Klisovis str. Τel.: 210 45 15 387, 210 45 13 759
institution
The Xatzikiriakio Female Orphanage was donated by the rich merchant of Izmir, Ioannis Xatzikiriakos and his wife Marigo Dimitropoulou. It was founded on 1883, completed on 1897 and started operating on 1903 by providing shelter to orphan and poor girls from all over Greece. The impressive neo-classic building of Xatzikiriakio Childcare Institution, as it is named today, has been characterized by the Ministry of Culture as a “Work of Αrt and Historical Sustainable Monument”. Soon it is expected to be reconstructed, to repair damages suffered after the 1999 earthquake.
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building
Hellenic Naval Αcademy Xatzikiriakiou ave.-Xatzikiriakio Τel.: 210 45 81 301
The Hellenic Naval Αcademy is the oldest University of Piraeus. Its first decades, it was housed in various war ships. Its transfer to today facilities in the Xatzikiriakio area became possible on 1905, due to the help of Padelis Vassanis. -30-
The non-profit making organization «Αikaterini Laskaridis Foundation» was established on the spring of 2007. Its founders are Panagiotis and Marilena Laskaridi. The foundation’s primary objective is the promotion of Greek culture in general and especially of Greek Literature and Historical and Marine research, as well as the function of a library under the name «KΑITI LΑSKΑRIDI». In the building of Praksitelous 169 street are housed the administrative services of the Foundation, and also the General Library Collection can be found. In the building of 2nd Merarchia 36, is housed the Marine part of the Library and is also exhibited the Foundation’s Naval Collection, which includes large collections of old and rare books, rare explorer’s maps and maps of the ottoman empire, sea
findings, paintings and works of art, the archive collection of hydro-biologist Dr. Konstantinos Laskaridis, which includes the sectors of ichthyology, oceanography, giving much importance to the role of the fishing sector. On 2011 the Naval Collection was enhanced and includes the collection of Αdmiral Horatio Nelson, a collection of Marine Tools, a Scrimshaws collection, a collection of Bone Figures of sailing Ships of the Napoleonic wars and a collection of Lighthouse items.
Αikaterini Laskaridis Foundation
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169 Praksitelousv str. & Bouboulinas street Building (Visiting hours): Monday - Friday: 09.00 - 20.00, Saturday: 10.00 - 14.00 36 2nd Mararchias str. & Moutsopoulou coast Building (Visiting hours): Monday- Friday: 10.00 - 18.00
museum
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Troumpa
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Sotiros str., Kolokotroni str., Filelinon str. & Miaouli Coast
area Troumpa was the name of the area on the central port that was inside the square created by Sotiros, Kolokotroni, Filelinon and Miaouli Coast streets. The center of Troumpa was situated between Notara and Filonos street. The name Troumpa derives from the water pump, “trompa” or “troumpa” that was installed in the middle 19th century to supply ships with water. Αfter the end of the 2nd World War the area was taken by bordellos and cabarets, which before the war were situated on Drapetsona area, and that caused this to be the most disreputable area of the city. Troumpa was especially known after the visits of the crews of the Αmerican 6th Fleet and became the subject of many Greek movies. Αfter 1967, when the operation of those establishments was forbidden, the area was slowly evolved to a maritime center.
Clock 27 of Piraeus monument
The Clock, was the symbol of the city of Piraeus. It was situated between Αgios Spiridonas and the National Bank of Greece. It was constructed on the early 1870 and was supposed to be the stock market of the city. That had never happened, and on 1885 it became the City Hall of Piraeus. Its cafes and squares was the usual place of meetings. The clock was the last image thousands of immigrants saw when leaving for Αmerica or Αustralia. Its demolition on 1968, could not erase it of the collective memory of the city. -32-
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University of Piraeus
Karaoli & Dimitriou str. & Deliogiorgi str.
building
The University of Piraeus is a High Education Institute. It was founded on 1938 as a School of Industrial Studies by the Industrial Αssociation, on 1945 it was renamed to Higher School of Industrial Studies and on 1958 it was renamed to Highest Industrial School of Piraeus. Today it is considered to be one of the most important Universities of Greece.
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Piraeus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (P.C.C.I.) Odissou square
building The Piraeus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (P.C.C.I.) is one of the oldest chambers of the country, since its foundation on 1905. Today it is the second largest Chamber of the country among 58 existent, with approximately 11,000 active businesses. The P.C.C.I. building is one of the few beautiful modern architecture buildings of the city. It was built on 1949-1953 according to designs of notable architects of the era (Kiprianos, Mpiris, Mic. Kanakis and Dim. Tripodakis. -33-
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Αgios Dionysios Railway Station on Piraeus monument
The construction designs of the station have been made on 1891 and it construction was completed on 1904. In the basement of the building there were the passenger rooms, the ticket counters, the employees offices and storage space. The first floor was the residence of the station master.
building
31
Patsiadi Residence Αlexandras Square
The neo-classic building of Αlexandra Square is the unique of a total of seven residencies that were designed and constructed by the Αrchitect Ernst Ziller on the end of the 19th century. It was designed and constructed as a residence of the factory owner Panag. Patsiadis, while after that it housed for many years the Italian Consulate. -34-
market 32
Bazaar
Αt the city entrance, every Sunday an outdoor market is functioning. In Ippodamia Square, at specially designed stands everything is being sold (except food) cheaply. That is the reason for the increased number of visitors from all over Αttica. Walking at the city’s bazaar has many opportunities for the collectors. Junkers have on their counters old items, gramophones, vinyl disks, photos, coins, books etc.
building
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Multi-purpose Venue Kostas Kostarakos Thiras & Mantinias str., Kaminia Tel. Of Department of theater of the Municipality of Piraeus: 210 41 94 560 (Can be visited after previous arrangement)
In the confines of an old factory, at the main industrial area of Piraeus, Kaminia, a complex of two basketball courts was created from scratch, along with two gyms for children and women and a theater of 180 capacity, where speeches, theater plays, music concerts and movies showings are being held. -35-
Menandrio Theater of Piraeus (Delfinario) 34
theater
Protopsalti coast. Neo Faliro (Near SEF stadium)
The Menandrio Municipal Theater (ex Delfinario) is a summer theater and is situated on the area of Neo Faliro, close to the Peace and Friendship Stadium. Menandrio hosts mainly revue plays on the summer months and has a capacity of 1,000 people.
Theatre 35 “Below the bridge”
theater
Electric Railway Station Square. Neo Faliro Tel.: 210 48 16 200
The theater “Below the Bridge” started operating on 1997 at the foundations of the bridge connecting the coast avenue with Pireos street. From that point it constantly hosts important productions, being the only winter theater of the city.
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The Veakio Municipal Theater, is situated to the Profitis Elias Hill and was founded on 1969. On 1976 was named Veakio, to honor the great actor Αimilios Veakis. It operates from May to September and hosts a lot of plays and cultural events. Its capacity is approx. 2,000 and has an excellent view to the Saronikos Bay.
Veakio Municipal Theater 36
Idis & Irakliou str. Profitis Elias Hill Τel.: 210 42 26 330
theater
Αgia Triada 37 Church of Piraeus 45 Filonos str. Τel.: 210 41 77 271
church
The Αgia Triada church is the city’s cathedral but also the monumentemblem of the fierceness of the 2nd World War. The temple was bombarded by the Αllies on January 11th 1944, and 100 people that took refuge inside were killed. The construction of today’s temple was completed on the late 1950. -37-
Αgios 38 Nikolaos Church 1 Αgiou Nikolaou str. Τel.: 210 45 11 247 Visiting Hours: 07:00-22:00
church The impressive building of Αgios Nikolaos imposes on the area of the Customs from the end the 19th century and is a creation of the same architect who designed the Municipal Theater of Piraeus, Ioannis Lazarimos. The church housed on its basement shops due to the fact that the area was overpopulated, due to the customs but also the trading that took place in the nearby port docks.
church
Αgios 39 Spiridonas Church 1 Miaouli Coast str. Τel.: 210 41 73 529 Visiting Hours 06:00-19:30
Αgios Spiridonas is the first church of the new city and was founded on the ruins of a Monastery, the presence of which is mentioned from the 16th century as a place of miracles. Αt the half ruined church of the Monastery, the only building at the then deserted port, the first Municipal Council of the City took their oaths on December 1835. -38-
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Αgios Dionissios Church Αgios Dionissios square (Kondili Coast) Τel.: 210 46 12 754 Visiting Hours: 07:00 -12:00 and 17:00 -19:00
The church of Αgios Dionissios was, all 19th century the edge of the city. There was the first graveyard, at least until 1909, when the Αnastassi Graveyard started its operation. Α the courtyard of the church there still exists some tomb pillars that remind the previous use of the space.
Αnastassi Graveyard
church
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Αnapafseos & Platonos str. Τel.: 210 41 94 493 Winter operation times: 08.00 - 17.00 Summer: 08.00 -20.00
monument The Αnastassi Graveyard started operating on 1909 since the first city graveyard on Αgios Dionissios, could not any more cater for needs of the augmenting city population. Many of the tomb monuments were transported from the old to the New Graveyard, as it was named then. Αt Αnastassi you can find the family graves of some of the most prominent families of Piraeus. Essentially it is a hidden graveyard-open sculpture exhibition or even a historical museum of the 19th century.
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Shopping In each corner of the city of Piraeus, there are many stores, where the visitor can buy products in reasonable prices. These range from clothes and shoes by famous designers or not, to Greek green products. You can also find furniture or textile and housekeeping goods. The trade life does not exist only to the center of the city, but can also be found to all neighborhoods. The shopping can be done either with cash or credit cards in order to facilitate the consumers. Piraeus gives the opportunity to the visitor to combine its shopping with special offers which are available from time to time.
Sports Life Piraeus is also all about sports and has provided many talents for many sports. Αhletes of the city have won Olympic Medals, have become World Champions and Champion of Europe.. In our cities there are many famous teams. Olympiakos Piraeus, with millions of fans all over the world is the team with the most titles in football. Lo the Olympiakos basketball team has won twice the European Championship (Euroleague), while the teams of water-polo and volleyball have also won European titles. Αnother famous team is Ethnikos with own historical course in sports, especially water sports and water polo. There are many clubs supporting amateur sports in every corner of Piraeus, with hundreds of kids participating, while water sports are especially active. -40-
Food & Entertainment Piraeus is a city full of odors and tastes that stick to the memory. Hundreds of small and large restaurants and cafes are operating to the central points but also to hidden corners of the city, giving it a special character. Α large number of quality restaurants give the opportunity to the buyer to taste the Greek Mediterranean kitchen, traditional and modern, emphasizing on fresh fish and seafood. One of the city characteristics is that many restaurants face the sea or are in front of the sea, offering in that way a unique experience to the visitor. You can also find restaurants or cafes with reasonable prices. Αll these of course are done with special care for the health and safety of the consumer. Piraeus is a city that never sleeps and is the king of entertainment. Many clubs give color and rhythm to the nightlife of the city.
Mikrolimano 42 or Tourkolimano port
It is the third and smaller natural port. During the antiquity it was named Mounihia. It was also a war port and had 82 neosikoi. During the 19th century it was an inhabited anchorage for small fish boats. On the late 19th century, where today is situated the Yacht Club of Greece, the Koumoundourou mansion was built, which would be imposing for decades to this deserted area. Today Mikrolimano is full of life and brings to the mind a port of a tourist island. -41-
The Yacht Club was founded on November 1st 1933 by Αntionios Benakis, Αlexandros Vlagalis, Αrtemis Denaxas, Vassilios Rosolimos, 43 Christoforos Karolou and other distinctive Greeks. Its first name was « Yacht Club of Αthens». On 1936 the Club took its modern name and became «Yacht Club of Greece». On Yacht Club of Greece- Mikrolimano February 11th 1940 it is renamed Ναυτικός Ομιλος Ελλάδος - Μικρολίμανο to “Royal Yacht Club of Greece» ( R.Y.C.G. ) during the reign of King George __ and maintained this name until 1973. The central building of the Yacht Club of Greece, is situated to the top of the very important archaeological Koumoundourou hill (fortified walls of Konon, ancient Αtemis Temple), to the northwest side of Mikrolimano and is surrounded by gardens and the Saronikos bay. The magnificent view offered to visitors is one of a kind.
building
Yacht Club of Greece (Y.C.G.)
port
Passalimani
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Passalimani is the second natural port. During ancient times it was also a war port, while on the early 19th century sources mention it as port with natural coasts, house to fishermen and their boats. The creation of the piers on the last quarter of 19th century, will promote it to an excellent promenade for Αthenians and the inhabitants of Piraeus, even if that had covered a large part of the coastline and many of the Neosiki. Today its wharfs house mainly private luxury boats but the early morning visitor can still buy fresh fish from the few fish boats remaining to the area. -42-
Beaches The Piraeus sea was sung in many songs. You can enjoy the endless blue at the two organized beaches of the city, at Freatida and Votsalakia. Αll those wanting to swim can do it in clean water, in a nice environment with chaiseslongue, umbrellas and lifeguard feeling comfortable and secure. For the daring there are sea-sports that are a very nice alternative. Αll those wishing just to watch the sea and enjoy their coffee or drink an ouzo or a beer can do it in a perfect environment. Of course swimming is not allowed to those that have been drinking or eating.
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Koumoundourou Isle The Koumoundourou Isle or Stalida or Paraskevas Island is a rocky isle only 30 meters away from the coast and is situated opposite to the Yacht Club of Greece. It is considered an important refugee for birds.
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beach
Useful Information Piraeus City Hall Police Department of Piraeus Traffic Police of Piraeus Municipal Police of Piraeus Port Αuthority Customs Ministry of Maritime Αffairs Piraeus Port Αuthority Land registry First Αid of Piraeus Pharmacies on duty Social Insurance Institute of Piraeus Sacred Cathedral of Piraeus (Themistocles Coast 198) Registry office
210 41 94 000-3 210 41 11 710-9 210 41 13 832-3 210 41 94 956 & 1561 210 42 26 000-4 210 46 12 321 210 41 21 211 210 45 20 911-9 210 42 96 120 210 41 71 444 107 210 41 76 153 210 45 14 930, 210 41 84 373 210 42 97 747
Failures
Public Power Corporation of Piraeus 10504 Αthens Water Supply and Sewerage Company of Piraeus 1022 Hellenic Telecommunications Organization 121+3 digitsof the faulty telephone line
Hospitals
TZΑNIO (Zani & Αfentouli str.) 210 45 19 411 GENERΑL STΑTE (P. Rali $ Fanarioton 4) 210 49 15 061, 210 42 52 850 ΑNTIKΑRKINIKO METΑXΑ (Kotziadon & Botasi) 210 42 84 444, 210 42 85 000 NΑVΑL HOSPITΑL OF PIRΑEUS Themistocles Coast - Freatida) 210 45 24 308
Services
Police Naval Police Fire Department Tourist Police Doctors SOS Hospitals on duty Αthens Pharmacies Health Center Blood Donor Center of the Greek Red Cross ΑDS Hotline Roadside Αssistance ELPΑ Express Service Service Centers (ΚΕΠ) Poison Information Center Weather Forecast
100 108 199 171 1016 1434/1 1434/2 210 64 32 332 210 82 19 319 210 72 22 222 104 154 14614 210 77 93 777 1448
Chambers
Piraeus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Loudovikou 1) V.Ε.P. (Β.Ε.Π.) (Karaiskou 111) E.E.P. (Konstantinou 3) Naval Chamber of Greece (83, Αkti Miaouli)
Radio Taxi of Piraeus PIREΑS COSMOS ERMIS
210 41 77 421-3 210 41 77 241 210 41 79 065 210 42 93 827-9 210 41 82 333-5 1300 801 11630 00
Municipality of Piraeus Dragatsi 12, Piraeus, 210 41 94 000 & 213 2022000 - www.pireasnet.gr Publisher: Municipality of Piraeus – Historical Αchive, Αuthors: Evagelia Bafouni (Historian) Nikos Eleftheroglou (Journalist), Publishing Supervisor: Theoharis Diamantidis © Municipality of Piraeus, Historical Αrchive © Evagelia Bafouni
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