traveldk.com

The headquarters for managing Athens’ chaotic sprawl. The archaeological dig in front reveals an area just outside Athens’ old city walls.

This was the Games’ central attraction. The existing multistadium complex was expanded and renovated to host the opening and closing ceremonies, plus tennis, gymnastics, basketball finals, swimming, diving, water polo and cycling. Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava designed the glass and steel stadium domes. There are plans to transform the surrounding area into a verdant art-filled park.

In a Neo-Classical town house overlooking Keramikos, four large exhibition rooms display Islamic ceramics, metalwork, woodcarvings, glassware and textiles.

One of Athens’ premiere galleries, Bernier/Eliades exhibits more international artists than any other in Athens, plus top Greek artists.

This great outdoor cinema frequently shows black-and-white classics and foreign films (in the original and subtitled in Greek); the Athens News has listings.

Free exhibits by contemporary Greek artists, a theatre museum, and a lovely café with great people-watching potential.

The beachside Peace and Friendship Stadium, which seats 14,000 spectators, hosted volleyball. Two coastal sports pavilions – one seating 10,000, the other 8,000 – hosted boxing, handball and Tae Kwon Do (an extremely popular sport among Greeks). Two sandy beach Kallimarmaro Stadium volleyball courts provided seating for 10,000 and 4,000.

The staple winter dish for the ancient Greeks,fassolada is still Greece’s most popular soup. White beans, carrots, onions, tomatoes and oregano are simmered in stock until tender, then topped with the crucial ingredient: extra-virgin olive oil. In summer, cold fassolada is often served as a meze in the afternoon.

Before World War II, this area was the centre of Athens’ thriving Jewish community. The synagogue is the oldest in Athens. Across the street, Beth-Salom Synagogue is now Athens’ main community synagogue.