Piraeus
Piraeus
Πειραιάς(Greek) | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Piraeus Location within the region  | |
| Coordinates:37°56′34.8″N23°38′49″E/ 37.943000°N 23.64694°E | |
| Country | Greece |
| Administrative region | Attica |
| Regional unit | Piraeus |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Ioannis Moralis[1](since 2014) |
| Area | |
| • Municipality | 10.865 km2(4.195 sq mi) |
| • Urban | 50.417 km2(19.466 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 87 m (285 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Population (2021)[2] | |
| • Municipality | 168,151 |
| • Density | 15,000/km2(40,000/sq mi) |
| •Urban | 448,051 |
| • Urban density | 8,900/km2(23,000/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+2(EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3(EEST) |
| Postal code | 185 xx |
| Area code(s) | 21 |
| Vehicle registration | Υ |
| Website | www.piraeus.gov.gr |
| Patron saint:Saint Spyridon(12 December) | |
Piraeus(/paɪˈriːəs,pɪˈreɪəs/py-REE-əs, pirr-AY-əs;Greek:ΠειραιάςPeiraiás[pireˈas];Ancient GreekandKatharevousa:ΠειραιεύςPeiraieús;Ancient:[peːrai̯eús],Katharevousa:[pire̞ˈefs]) is aport citywithin the Athens-Piraeus urban area, in theAtticaregion ofGreece.[3]It is located eight kilometres (5 mi) southwest of Athens along the east coast of theSaronic Gulfin theAttica.
The municipality of Piraeus and four other suburban municipalities form theregional unit of Piraeus,sometimes called theGreater Piraeusarea, with a total population of 448,051. At the 2021 census, Piraeus had a population of 168,151 people, making it the fifth largest municipality inGreeceand the second largest (after the municipality of Athens) within the Athens-Piraeus urban area.[2]
Piraeus has a longrecorded history,dating back toancient Greece.The city was founded in the early 5th century BC, when plans to make it the new port ofAthenswere implemented: A prototype harbour was constructed, which resulted in concentrating in one location all the import and transit trade of Athens, along with thenavy's base.[4]During theGolden Age of Athens,theLong Wallswere constructed to fortify the route from the main settlement to the port (Piraeus). During the classical period, thenaval basein Piraeus had 372triremeshipsheds.[5]Beginning in the 3rd century B.C., Piraeus went into a period of cumulative decline. However, it began growing once again in the 19th century, after Athens was made the capital of Greece. Today, Piraeus is a large city, bustling with activity, and an integral part of Athens. It is a huge marine and commercial-industrial centre, and home to Greece’s largest harbour.
Theport of Piraeusis the chief port in Greece, the 5th largest passengerportinEurope[6]and the24th largest passenger port in the worldserving about 4.37 million passengers annually in 2020. With a throughput of 5.44 millionTEUs,[7]Piraeus is among the busiest ten ports in Europe in terms of container traffic, and is the busiest container port in theEastern Mediterranean.[8]The city hosted events in both the1896and2004 Summer Olympicsheld in Athens. TheUniversity of Piraeusis one of the largest universities in Greece, and includes the country's second-oldest business school, as well as the oldest academic department dedicated to the study of finance.[9]
History[edit]
Ancient and medieval times[edit]
Piraeus has been inhabited since at least the26th century BC.[10]Piraeus is a rocky outcropping on the Greek coast that features the steep hill ofMunichiaand modern-dayKastella.Although long connected to the mainland by a land bridge that is consistently above water, Piraeus inprehistoric timeswas an island connected to the mainland only by a low-lying stretch of land that was flooded by sea water most of the year. Whenever the land bridge dried up, it was used as asalt field(its ancient name, the Halipedon, means the 'salt field'), and its muddy soil made for a tricky passage. Over time, however, the area became increasingly silted, high, and dry—and flooding ceased—so that, by earlyclassical times,the land passage could be safely crossed at all times. Thus inancient Greece,Piraeus assumed increased importance because of its three deep-water harbours: the main port of Cantharus and the two smaller ports,Zeaand Munichia. The Piraeus harbours gradually replaced the older and shallowerPhaleron harbour,which fell into disuse.
In the late 6th and early 5th centuries BC, the area became the focus of strategic and political improvements due to its natural advantages. For example, in 511 BC, the hill of Munichia was fortified byHippias,and four years later Piraeus was made ademeofAthensbyCleisthenes.According to the ancient Greek historianThucydides,[11]in 493 BC,Themistoclesinitiated fortification works in Piraeus, and later advised the Athenians to take advantage of its natural harbours' strategic potential instead of using the sandy bay of Phaleron.[12][13]Adutyof 2 percent was levied on goods passing through the port. These were very effective at raising funds for the city of Athens. In the year 399 after thePeloponnesian War,for example, the city had collected 1,800 talents in harbour dues despite economic effects of the war.[14]
In 483 BC, a new silver vein was discovered in theLaurion mines,and the profit from mining that silver was utilized to fund the construction of 200 triremes;[11]the Athenian fleet was transferred to Piraeus, and the triremes were built in its shipyards. TheAthenian fleetplayed a crucial role in thebattle of Salamisagainst thePersiansin 480 BC. From then on, Piraeus was permanently used as the navy’s base. After thesecond Persian invasion of Greece,Themistocles fortified the three harbours of Piraeus and created theneosoikoi(ship houses); theThemistoclean Wallswere completed in 471 BC, transforming Piraeus into a great military and commercial harbour. The city's fortifications were later further improved by the construction of theLong WallsunderCimonandPericles,which secured the route from Piraeus and its ports to the main city of Athens. Meanwhile, Piraeus was rebuilt, based on the famousgrid planof architectHippodamus of Miletus,known as the Hippodamian plan. (The mainagoraof the city was named after him in honour of this achievement.) As a result, Piraeus flourished, becoming a highly secure port with booming commercial activity, and a city bustling with life.
In the second year of thePeloponnesian War,Piraeus suffered its first setback when theAthens plaguespread to it.[15]In 429, theSpartansravagedSalamisas part of an abortive attack on the Piraeus. But when the Athenians responded by sending a fleet to investigate, the Spartan alliance forces fled.[16]In 404 BC, theSpartanfleet underLysanderblockaded Piraeus, and subsequently Athens surrendered to the Spartans, putting an end to theDelian Leagueand the war itself. Piraeus was to suffer the same fate as Athens and bear the brunt of the Spartans' rage, as the city's walls and the Long Walls were torn down; the Athenian fleet surrendered to the victors, some of thetriremeswere burnt, and theneosoikoiwere pulled down.[17]As a result, the tattered and unfortified port city was not able to compete with prosperousRhodes,which became the dominant commercial force in the region. In 403 BC, Munichia was seized byThrasybulusand the exiles fromPhyle,[12]in thebattle of Munichia,where the Phyleans defeated theThirty Tyrantsof Athens, but in the followingbattle of Piraeusthe exiles were defeated bySpartanforces.
After the reinstatement ofdemocracy,a generalCononrebuilt the walls in 393 BC, founded the temple ofAphroditeEuploia and the sanctuary ofZeusSotiros andAthena,and built the famousSkeuotheke(arsenal) ofPhilon,the ruins of which have been discovered at Zea harbour.[18]The reconstruction of Piraeus went on during the period ofAlexander the Great,but this revival of the town was quashed byRomanLucius Cornelius Sulla,who captured and totally destroyed Piraeus in 86 BC. The destruction was completed in 395 AD by theGothsunderAlaric I.Piraeus was led to a long period of decline which lasted for fifteen centuries. During theByzantineperiod the harbour of Piraeus was occasionally used for the Byzantine fleet, but it was very far from the capital city ofConstantinople.
In the Middle Ages, the port was usually called by theVenetiansthe "port of Sithines" (that is, of Athens) and in the 14th century, the name "Lion" is first attested, after the colossal ancient sculpture of a lion, thePiraeus Lion,which stood at the harbour's entrance. This later becomePorto Leone(Πόρτο Λεόνε).[19]It was also calledPorto Drako(Πόρτο Δράκο) by Greeks,drakomeaning not just "dragon", but any monster.[20]
Ottoman period[edit]
When Piraeus was taken by theOttoman Empirein 1456, it became known asAslan Liman( "Lion Harbour" ), a translation of the existing Venetian name.
The Piraeus Lion itself was looted in 1687 byFrancesco Morosiniduring his expedition against Athens (part of theMorean War) and was carried to theVenetian Arsenal,where it still stands today. A copy of the lion statue is on display at theArchaeological Museum of Piraeus.
Under Ottoman rule, especially before the beginning of theGreek War of Independence,Piraeus was mostly deserted, except for the monastery ofSaint Spyridon(1590) and a customs house, and it was only used occasionally as a commercial port. Although there were numerous land owners, Athenians did not live in the area.
There were at least two failed attempts to create a new town, the first in 1792 by bringing a population fromHydraand the second during the Greek War of Independence in 1825 by the installation of people fromPsara,but it was not until 1829 that permanent habitation of the area was restarted. Piraeus at first developed into a small town with few dwellings, far from its glorious past as a prosperous city, with its population consisting largely of fishermen.
Modern era[edit]
With the creation of themodern Greek stateand the proclamation ofAthensas its capital in 1832, the port, still named Πόρτο Λεόνε "Porto Leone" or Πόρτο Δράκο "Porto Draco",[21]again acquired a reason for growth, and began to develop into a commercial and industrial centre. Migrants, mainly from theAegean Islands,continued to arrive. A town plan was also drawn up and approved byKing Otto,but not completely fulfilled, as it was revolutionary for its time.[10]
The municipality was established in 1835, reviving the ancient name "Piraeus".[22]Following petitions from the new and emerging prosperousbourgeoisie,municipal elections were held to elect a mayor for the city, Kyriakos Serfiotis of Hydra. Piraeus had around 300 inhabitants at this time.
Piraeus, from a deserted small town, quickly became the leading port and the second largest city in Greece, with its prime geographical location and closeness to the Greek capital helping it continually to grow, attracting people from across the country. A number of events contributed to the development of the city; among these were its ultimate declaration as the leading port of Greece, the completion of theAthens-Piraeus Railwayin 1869, the industrial development of the area in the 1860s, and the creation of theCorinth Canalin 1893, all of which left Piraeus more strategically important than ever. New buildings were constructed to cover the necessities of this growth, such as educational institutions, churches, the Stock Exchange Building, the Town Hall, the Central Market, the Post Office Building and charity institutions; the port was also supplemented and modernised, with dredging operations, the construction of the Royal Landing, the Troumba Pier and the quay-ways up to the Customs House area, the commencement of construction work on the Outer Moles and the completion of permanent dry-docks. At the end of the 19th century, Piraeus had a population of 51,020 people.
The establishment of the Port Committee in 1911, which controlled the works of construction and maintenance of the port, and the Piraeus Port Authority in 1930, which made a more efficient job of managing a port slowly increasing in traffic, played a catalytic role in the city's development. The town flourished and neo-classical buildings were erected; one of them, which continues to ornament the present town, is thePiraeus Municipal Theatre,an excellent example of the area's once wider neoclassical architecture. After the decisive period for Greece of 1912–1922, Piraeus experienced a major demographic explosion, with its population almost doubling to reach 251,659 in 1928 from 133,482 in 1920, an increase owed to the arrival ofGreek refugeesfromAsia Minorafter the1919–1922 Greco-Turkish Warand theGenocide of the Greeksin Anatolia and finally thesubsequent population exchange between Greece and Turkey.Although there was an increase in the labour force, a variety of social problems also emerged with the concentration of new populations in the suburbs of the city, such asNikaia,Keratsini,Perama,DrapetsonaandKorydallos.
The involvement of Greece inWorld War IIcame as a major setback to the city's progress. After the war, the city began its development once more, as damage to the port and the city were repaired and new additions took shape after 1955. Piraeus is now the fifth largest municipality in Greece; the city proper with its suburbs form the Piraeusurban area,which is incorporated in the Athens urban area, thus making Piraeus an integral part of the Greek capital. Theport of Piraeusis now an important international port, and the largest in the country.
Geography[edit]
Piraeus is situated in the southwest part of the central plain ofAttica,also widely known as theAttica Basin,which theAthens urban area(oragglomeration) sprawls across. Piraeus is bounded by theMount Aigaleoto the northwest, and theSaronic Gulfto the south and west, and connected with the rest of the Athens urban area to the east and northeast. The "city proper" of Piraeus consists of a rocky peninsula, originally an island, featuring three natural harbours. In addition to the central one, called Kantharos in ancient times, the smaller harbours to the east are still in use: Zea, also known asPasalimani,and Munichia, the smallest of the three and widely known asMikrolimanoandTourkolimano.Nowadays, the Greater Piraeus includes the harbours ofDrapetsona,KeratsiniandPerama.The central harbour is a hub of commercial and passenger shipping, whereas the two smaller ones cater to recreational and fishing craft. The municipality has an area of 10.865 km2.[23]
Climate[edit]
UnderKöppen climate classificationPiraeus has ahot semi-arid climate(BSh) and according to theHellenic National Meteorological Serviceclimate atlas it is the only area inAttica,Greecethat clearly falls into this climate category.[24][25]Due to summer night land breezes inAthens,Piraeus records high minimum summer temperatures while the mean annual temperature stands at 19.4 °C (66.9 °F).[26][27]
| Climate data for PiraeusHellenic National Meteorological Service(1981-2010) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 14.1 (57.4) |
14.4 (57.9) |
16.6 (61.9) |
20.3 (68.5) |
25.1 (77.2) |
29.9 (85.8) |
32.8 (91.0) |
32.9 (91.2) |
29.1 (84.4) |
24.2 (75.6) |
18.9 (66.0) |
15.4 (59.7) |
22.81 (73.06) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 11.1 (52.0) |
11.2 (52.2) |
13.3 (55.9) |
16.9 (62.4) |
21.4 (70.5) |
26.3 (79.3) |
29.0 (84.2) |
28.8 (83.8) |
25.2 (77.4) |
20.6 (69.1) |
15.8 (60.4) |
12.6 (54.7) |
19.35 (66.83) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 8.2 (46.8) |
7.9 (46.2) |
10.0 (50.0) |
13.4 (56.1) |
17.7 (63.9) |
22.2 (72.0) |
24.8 (76.6) |
25.0 (77.0) |
21.5 (70.7) |
17.4 (63.3) |
12.9 (55.2) |
9.7 (49.5) |
15.89 (60.60) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 41.95 (1.65) |
36.26 (1.43) |
34.09 (1.34) |
30.34 (1.19) |
15.95 (0.63) |
5.08 (0.20) |
5.56 (0.22) |
3.07 (0.12) |
11.37 (0.45) |
30.5 (1.20) |
58.87 (2.32) |
58.84 (2.32) |
331.9 (13.07) |
| Source:National Technical University of Athens[26] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Piraeus Port | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 19.3 (66.7) |
19.8 (67.6) |
24.6 (76.3) |
28.6 (83.5) |
30.8 (87.4) |
36.3 (97.3) |
41.8 (107.2) |
37.7 (99.9) |
33.2 (91.8) |
30.2 (86.4) |
26.7 (80.1) |
21.6 (70.9) |
41.8 (107.2) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 15.2 (59.4) |
15.4 (59.7) |
18.5 (65.3) |
21.6 (70.9) |
24.8 (76.6) |
30.8 (87.4) |
35.0 (95.0) |
33.3 (91.9) |
29.0 (84.2) |
25.1 (77.2) |
21.3 (70.3) |
17.6 (63.7) |
24.0 (75.1) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 12.8 (55.0) |
12.7 (54.9) |
15.3 (59.5) |
18.4 (65.1) |
21.4 (70.5) |
27.1 (80.8) |
31.0 (87.8) |
30.0 (86.0) |
25.8 (78.4) |
22.1 (71.8) |
18.4 (65.1) |
15.1 (59.2) |
20.8 (69.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 10.3 (50.5) |
10.0 (50.0) |
12.2 (54.0) |
15.2 (59.4) |
18.1 (64.6) |
23.4 (74.1) |
27.1 (80.8) |
26.7 (80.1) |
22.6 (72.7) |
19.2 (66.6) |
15.6 (60.1) |
12.5 (54.5) |
17.7 (64.0) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 4.6 (40.3) |
0.7 (33.3) |
7.5 (45.5) |
10.5 (50.9) |
14.1 (57.4) |
18.4 (65.1) |
20.1 (68.2) |
21.9 (71.4) |
15.8 (60.4) |
15.6 (60.1) |
7.8 (46.0) |
7.5 (45.5) |
0.7 (33.3) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 51.9 (2.04) |
26.4 (1.04) |
27.9 (1.10) |
9.7 (0.38) |
14.9 (0.59) |
6.6 (0.26) |
1.3 (0.05) |
16.2 (0.64) |
64.2 (2.53) |
4.5 (0.18) |
53.6 (2.11) |
29.6 (1.17) |
306.8 (12.09) |
| Source 1:National Observatory of AthensMonthly Bulletins (Apr 2022 – Apr 2024)[28] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: Piraeus Port N.O.A station,[29]World Meteorological Organization[30] | |||||||||||||
Demography[edit]
Piraeus is the fifth most populous municipality in Greece with an official population of 168,151 (in 2021).[2]TheGreater Piraeus,part of the greaterAthens urban area,comprises the city proper (municipality of Piraeus) and four other suburban municipalities, having a total population of 448,051 people (in 2021).[2]
The table below shows the historical population of Piraeus and Piraeus regional unit in recent times.[31]
| Year | Municipality population | Greater area population |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 186,088 | |
| 1961 | 183,957 | |
| 1971 | 187,458 | 439,138 |
| 1981 | 196,389 | 476,304 |
| 1991 | 182,671 | 456,865 |
| 2001 | 175,697 | 466,065 |
| 2011 | 163,688 | 448,997 |
| 2021 | 168,151 | 448,051 |
Culture[edit]
Archaeological sites[edit]
Among the archaeological sites of Piraeus, parts of the ancientThemistocleanWalls andEëtioneia,a mole in the entrance to the harbour, are still preserved in good condition. Excavations in Pasalimani revealed theSkeuotheke,an ancient structure where ship rigging equipment was stored, designed by architectPhilon.In Kastella theSyrangionis to be found, which probably served as a sanctuary to the local heroSyrango,and the Cave of Arethusa, both prehistoric. Ruins of the ancient city at the basement of the cathedral of Agia Triada and the ancient Theater of Zea next to the Archaeological Museum, the ancientneosoikoiinZea,Munichia and Kantharosnavy yard,can also be seen.
Bronze statues[edit]
 | This sectionis written like apersonal reflection, personal essay, or argumentative essaythat states a Wikipedia editor's personal feelings or presents an original argument about a topic.(June 2015) |
 |
The discovery of four bronze statues at a construction site near the Tinaneios Gardens in Piraeus, Greece on July 18, 1959 is still remembered by an entire generation as a momentous discovery in Modern Greek archaeology. The statues are now featured in the Piraeus Museum, and are largely responsible for the creation of the modern Archaeological Museum of Piraeus. While drilling in order to lay pipes, the Hydrex Company came across the hand of a bronzekouros(youth) at a depth of approximately 1.50 meters. Excavations began after the custodian of the local museum, Dimitrios Kalantonis, and the Director of the Archaeological Service, Yiannis Papdimitriou, were informed. Four noteworthy bronze statues were uncovered in the continuing excavations – the Archaic Apollo (thekouroswhose hand had originally been seen), the large Artemis, a smaller Artemis, and a larger-than-life Athena. However, the enthusiasm for the dig led to poor documentation of the details and context of the finds, leaving rare photos taken by the media or public as the only record. There are multiple theories as to how the statues came to be carefully arranged within what is thought to have been a small square room. When and why the statues were apparently hidden is open to debate, along with their origins, date, and style. One early theory suggests that the statues had been stored near the harbour with the intention of being shipped to Italy; however, the presence of coins near the statues dating from a period of war opens up another possibility – that the statues were hidden for safe keeping, and then lost when the building was destroyed. Dating the concealment of the statues is another issue, as they may have been buried anytime between the 1st century BC and the 3rd century AD. The statue of thekouroswas recognized to be of Apollo, and dated to the 5th century BC. The other three female statues, from the 4th century BC, show a different, more human, form of sculpture that sets them apart from their older companion.
Leisure and entertainment[edit]
Piraeus provides a wide variety of entertainment. There are a lot oftavernasand restaurants in Piraeus, renowned for their cuisine. Most are spread along the coasts of Mikrolimano and Piraiki, specializing in seafood and attracting many visitors, including tourists. The nightlife of the city is vibrant, with numerous bars and nightclubs. Plenty of major shopping areas can be found on the central avenues of Piraeus, Iroon Polytechneiou and Grigoriou Labraki.
In the summer, the Maritime Festival take place, while the Three Kings' Way Festival marks the beginning of the carnival, with all the associated costumes and entertainment.[32]
The Municipal Theater has been the center of the arts in Piraeus, hosting a variety of cultural events including theater, dance and music events. The open air Veakeio Theater in Kastella is a popular destination during the summer and hosts concerts, folk music bands and Greek and foreign troupes, while the Menandreio Theater, widely known as Delfinario, is popular for hosting variety shows. Village Park, a large multipurpose center and part of theVillage Cinemasbuilt in suburbanAgios Ioannis Renti,attracts a large number of people from the whole of Athens, offering a diversity of shops, cafes, and restaurant, in addition to the twenty cinemas making it the largest cinema complex in Greece. Next to it, the Allou Fun Park is the most recent and largest amusement theme park in Athens, offering its numerous rides and attractions, restaurants and pastry shops.[33]
Museums[edit]
Piraeus is home to several museums and other institutions of great interest within their field. TheArchaeological Museum of Piraeusdisplays objects fromclassical antiquityfound at the area of Piraeus and the greater coastal zone, typical of the history and culture of the ancient city. The city also houses theHellenic Maritime Museum,with exhibits relating to the nautical tradition of Greece, the Merchant Shipping History Institute Exhibition, thePanos Aravantinos Decor Museumand the Museum of Electric Railways, hosted in thePiraeus station.TheMunicipal Art Galleryand the Municipal Library, one of the largest in Greece, are also prominent within the culture of Piraeus.
Sport[edit]
Traditionally, Piraeus has played a major role inGreek sport.The city boasts one of the most popular and one of the most prestigious Greekmultisport clubs,Olympiacos CFP.The other major club isEthnikos Piraeus,with a long athletic tradition, while other historic clubs areAtromitos Piraeus F.C.andPeiraikos Syndesmos.
Infootball,Olympiacos F.C.is themost successful football club in Greece,having won by far more titles than any other Greek football club, and its ground is at theKaraiskakis Stadium,in NeoFaliro.Ethnikos Piraeus F.C.had a longstanding presence inSuper League Greeceand also used the Karaiskakis Stadium as home ground, but in recent years the club has competed in lower divisions and currently plays home matches at theHelleniko Stadium,inEllinikon.Inbasketball,Olympiacos B.C.is the only major club from Piraeus, one of the most successful at domestic and European level, and its home arena is thePeace and Friendship Stadium,while thevolleyballdepartment of the same club,Olympiacos S.C.,is the dominant domestically and has made great success in European competitions as well. Piraeus rides really high inwater polo,whereEthnikos PiraeusandOlympiacosdepartments have entirely dominated in Greece; the first is considered the "Emperor" of the sport and the latter is the only Greek water polo club to have been crowned European Champion.
First class sporting facilities can be found in Piraeus. The Karaiskakis Stadium, built in 1885 as a bicycle track, enlarged in 1964 and completely rebuilt in 2004, is the second largest football venue in Greece with a capacity of 33,334 and one of the most modern in Europe. It hosted the1971 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Finaland several games of thefootball tournamentin the2004 Summer Olympics,while it was used as a velodrome in the1896 Summer Olympics.The Peace and Friendship Stadium, part of theFaliro Coastal Zone Olympic Complexand built in 1985 opposite to the Karaiskakis Stadium, is the second largest indoor arena in the country and one of the most impressive around Europe,[34]having hosted multiply major international events in several sports, including thevolleyball tournamentin the 2004 Athens Olympics, the1998 FIBA World Championship,theEuroBasket 1987and the Final Four of theEuroleague 1993.
| Sport clubs based inside the bounders of Piraeus municipality | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Club | Founded | Sports | Achievements | ||
| Peiraikos Syndesmos | 1893 | Basketball,Volleyball,Track and Field | Panhellenic titles in women basketball | ||
| Ethnikos | 1923 | Football,Basketball, Volleyball,Water Poloand others | Panhellenic title in football, most time winner in Greek Water Polo | ||
| Olympiacos | 1925 | Football, Basketball, Volleyball, Water Polo, Track and Field and others | Arguably the most successful Greek club, many titles in several sports, most time winner in Greek football and men's volleyball | ||
| Atromitos Piraeus | 1926 | Football | Presence in Gamma Ethniki | ||
| AOF Porfyras | 1957 | Basketball, Volleyball | Presence in A1 Ethniki volleyball women | ||
Maritime industry[edit]
In addition to being the largestmarine–basedshippingcentre of Greece, Piraeus is also the commercial hub ofGreek shipping,with most of Greece's shipowners having offices there, largely centred around the street Akti Miaouli. In its capacities as host to Greek shipping, Piraeus has been affected significantly by the various governments of Greece. FollowingWorld War II,the Greek government attempted to nationalize the proceeds of the insurance payments given to Greek shipowners who had lost vessels as a result of those vessels having been commandeered by theAllied Forces;the insurance had been provided byLloyd's of Londonand guaranteed by the coalition of the allied forces. Although Greek shipowners ultimately won their case against the Greek government in theBritishcourts, most were uninterested in continuing to base their headquarters in Piraeus, both out of distrust of the Greek government, and because the war had left theGreater Athensarea in a state of severe poverty. As a result, Greece's shipowners left Piraeus en masse in favour of operations inLondon,New York,Alexandriaand other major shipping cities.
Today the port of Piraeus ranks 7th in Europe and the 1st in the Mediterranean in terms of TEUs transported through it each year.[35][36]
1967 military junta[edit]
In 1967, when a group of colonels staged acoup d'étatagainst the government, in order to increase desperately needed revenues, thejuntaoffered lavish incentives for Greek shipowners to bring their companies back to Piraeus. This included both tax incentives and other inducements, as highlighted by the fact thatAristotle Onassiswas allowed to purchase the entire island ofSkorpios,which otherwise would have been a violation of Greek coastline laws.
1974 democratic government[edit]
After the junta fell in 1974, the successive democratic government generally maintained the deregulation of Greek-based shipping, and many shipowners have maintained commercial operations there since. Today, however, as a result of traffic congestion plaguing the Athens area, and the fact that most shipowners reside in the lavish northern suburbs of Athens, many shipowners have opted once again to move their bases away from Piraeus to Northern Athens.
Shipping today[edit]
After the post-2008 financial crisiscollapse of global shipping, the port was gradually acquired by China Ocean Shipping Company (COSCO), which is aChinese state-owned enterprise.[37]: 68 Under COSCO, Piraeus has become a busy port, rising from traffic of 400,000 containers in 2008 to nearly five million containers in 2018.[37]: 68 Most European trade with China occurs via Greek ships, including through Piraeus.[37]: 68
With an annual number of 8,1 million passengers by 2015, Piraeus also became the EU's sixth-largest port in terms of passenger transportation.[38]The central port serves ferry routes to almost every island in the eastern portion of Greece, the island ofCrete,theCyclades,theDodecanese,and much of the northern and the easternAegean Sea,while the western part of the port is used for cargo services. The following operators serve the port:
- Minoan Lines
- ANEK Lines
- Blue Star Ferries
- Hellenic Seaways
- Celestyal Cruises
- Monarch Classic Cruises
Transport[edit]
Piraeus is served by buses and trolleybuses (OSY),Suburban Railway,theMetroLines1and3and theAthens Tram.Piraeus stationrefers to the two railway stations (Metro, and Suburban Railway) located next to the seaport.
Landmarks[edit]
Piraeus is marked by the diversity of culture among its neighbourhoods. The hill of Kastella is one of the most prosperous and attractive neighbourhoods, with a panoramic view over Athens basin and theSaronic Gulf.Its elegance comes from its numerous neo-classical mansions, while theVeakeioTheater and a church dedicated to the ProphetElijahare the most popular buildings. The coastal area of NeoFalirohas been upgraded and is also prominent, with thePeace and Friendship Stadiumand theKaraiskakis Stadium,an indoor arena and a football ground respectively lying opposite one another, predominating. Mikrolimano andBay of Zea,are the smaller harbours of Piraeus acts as Marinas, attract large numbers of visitors with their picturesque vistas and vigorous nightlife. Kaminia, by contrast, is a working-class neighbourhood which still preserves the traditional look of an earlier period. The Municipal Theater in the center of Piraeus was built in 1885 and remains an impressive neo-classical building. Located across from theNeo-ByzantinePiraeus Cathedral, it forms one of the most renowned landmarks of the city and a popular meeting place.
Districts[edit]
- Agios Neilos
- Agia Sophia
- Freattyda
- Kallipoli
- Kaminia
- Kastella
- Maniatika
- Mikrolimano
- Terpsithea (Trouba)
Cinema[edit]
Movies filmed in Piraeus include:
- Stella (1955 film)
- The Angry Hills (film)
- Never on Sunday
- The Red Lanterns
- The Burglars,starringJean-Paul Belmondo
Twin towns – sister cities[edit]
Mayors of Piraeus[edit]
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|
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Notable people[edit]
- Sophia Antoniadis,classical scholar
- Spyridon Manousakis (Spiros Arion),professional wrestler
- Giorgos Dalaras,singer
- Georgios B. Giannakis,computer scientist and inventor
- Jannis Kounellis,artist
- Emmanuel Kriaras,philologist
- Dimos Moutsis,composer
- Michalis Oikonomou,painter
- Dimitrios Diamantakos,Footballer
- Dimitris Papamichael,actor
- Katina Paxinou,actress
- Dimitris Pikionis,architect
- Dimitris Rontiris,actor and director
- Costas Simitis,Prime Minister of Greece
- Pantelis Thalassinos,singer and songwriter
- Yannis Tsarouchis,artist and painter
- Charilaos Vasilakos,Olympic medalist
- Aimilios Veakis,actor
- Thanassis Vengos,actor
- Tolis Voskopoulos,singer
- Nicola Zaccaria,Greek bass
- Dimitra Asilian,water polo player
Universities and institutes[edit]
- University of Piraeus,established in 1938, operates four schools with more than 9.000 registered students.[citation needed]
Gallery[edit]
-
Piraeus in the late 19th century -
Map of Piraeus, 1908 -
A modern copy of the "Piraeus Lion" -
View ofKastella -
The church of St. Nicholas -
Monument toGeorgios Karaiskakis -
Church of Sts. Constantine and Helen
See also[edit]
- List of settlements in Attica
- Never on Sunday– Film set in Piraeus
- Tintin and the Golden Fleece
References[edit]
Notes[edit]
- ^Municipality of Piraeus, Municipal elections – October 2023,Ministry of Interior
- ^abcd"Αποτελέσματα Απογραφής Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2021, Μόνιμος Πληθυσμός κατά οικισμό"[Results of the 2021 Population - Housing Census, Permanent population by settlement] (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority. 29 March 2024.
- ^National Statistical Service of Greece(2002).Στατιστική Επετηρίδα της Ελλάδος 2002(PDF)(in Greek).National Statistical Service of Greece.p. 54.
The table includes the urban areas of Greece, officially defined by theNational Statistical Service of Greece,powered by the Ministry of Finance of Greece. The municipality of Piraeus and its greater area belong to theAthens Urban Area( "Greater Athens" ) (Πολεοδομικό Συγκρότημα Αθηνών).
- ^"Port of Piraeus".World Port Source.Retrieved2022-01-04.
- ^"Birth of Democracy: The Athenian Navy".
- ^"Messina remained the largest EU passenger port in 2020".Eurostat.Retrieved2022-07-08.
- ^"World Shipping Council- Top 50 Ports".Retrieved2022-07-07.
- ^"Container terminal".www.olp.gr. Archived fromthe originalon December 20, 2008.Retrieved2008-12-27.
- ^"University of Piraeus Student Guide 2017"(PDF)(in Greek). Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2022-05-08.Retrieved2019-12-13.
- ^abc"The Port of Piraeus Through The Ages".greece.org.Retrieved2009-09-27.
- ^abPiraeus. The Port of Triremes.Hellenic Maritime Museum, Zea Harbour Project. 2016.
- ^abChisholm, Hugh,ed. (1911)..Encyclopædia Britannica.Vol. 21 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 58.
- ^Τα τείχη των Αθηνών(in Greek). National Hellenic Research Foundation.Retrieved2009-09-27.
- ^Wilson, Nigel (2013-10-31).Encyclopedia of Ancient Greece.Routledge.ISBN978-1-136-78799-7.
- ^Warner & Finley 1972,p. 152
- ^Kagan, Donald (2005).The Peloponnesian War.London: Harper Perennial. p. 96.ISBN0-00-711506-7.
- ^"The Port of Piraeus in Athens Greece | Greeka".Greekacom.Retrieved2022-01-04.
- ^"Zea Harbour Project".Archived fromthe originalon 2018-09-15.Retrieved2016-04-22.
- ^William Miller,The Latins in the Levant: A History of Frankish Greece,1908,p. 245
- ^Henry Ellis,The British Museum. Elgin and Phigaleian marbles,1833,p. 36
- ^Γολδσμιθ,Ιστορία της Ελλάδος,Athens, 1838 (translation of 1809 edition?),p. 222
- ^Philip Sanford Marden,Greece and the Aegean Islands,1907,p. 43
- ^"Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation)"(PDF)(in Greek). National Statistical Service of Greece.
- ^"Climate Atlas of Greece"(PDF).Hellenic National Meteorological Service. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 21 September 2017.Retrieved30 December2019.
- ^"Homogenization of mean monthly temperature series in Greece".International Journal of Climatology.doi:10.1002/joc.3614.S2CID140664294.
- ^ab"Piraeus Urban Planning 1"(PDF)(in Greek). Pagkrati & Millioni (2017), NTUA. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2019-03-07.Retrieved30 Sep2019.
- ^"Athens Riviera: The warmest area in continental Europe".Meteoclub.Retrieved17 June2019.
- ^"Meteo.gr - Προγνώσεις καιρού για όλη την Ελλάδα".
- ^"Latest Conditions in Piraeus Port".
- ^"World Meteorological Organization".Retrieved14 July2023.
- ^"World Gazetteer: Piraieús – profile of geographical entity including name variants".World Gazetteer.Retrieved2008-12-27.[dead link]
- ^"Three King's Way Festival, Piraeus".www.planetware.com. Archived fromthe originalon 2007-04-16.Retrieved2008-12-29.
- ^"Allou Fun Park".www.breathtakingathens.com. Archived fromthe originalon 2009-06-28.Retrieved2008-12-30.
- ^"Athens 21st Century – The Olympic Coastal Complex".athens-today.com.Retrieved2008-12-28.
- ^Qianqian, Liu; Davarinou, Polyxeni (2019-12-19)."Sino-Greek Economic Cooperation: COSCO's Investment in the Port of Piraeus".IDS Bulletin.50(4).doi:10.19088/1968-2019.141.ISSN1759-5436.S2CID214026339.
- ^"Greece's Port of Piraeus Ranked 7th Largest in Europe".31 May 2018.
- ^abcCurtis, Simon; Klaus, Ian (2024).The Belt and Road City: Geopolitics, Urbanization, and China's Search for a New International Order.New Haven and London:Yale University Press.ISBN9780300266900.
- ^"Top 20 passenger ports in 2015 - on the basis of number of passengers embarked and disembarked (In 1000)".ec.europa.eu.
- ^"Αδελφοποιμένες Πόλεις".piraeus.gov.gr(in Greek). Piraeus.Retrieved2020-01-09.
Bibliography[edit]
- Warner, Rex;Finley, Moses I.(1972).History of the Peloponnesian War.Penguin Classics.ISBN0-14-044039-9.
- Steinhauer, G. 2007. “The Piraeus bronze statues". In Great Moments in Greek Archaeology, edited by P. Valavanis, translated by D. Hardy, 326-31. Los Angeles: Getty Publications.
External links[edit]
- Piraeus Information(in English)
- Municipality of PiraeusArchived2007-10-29 at theWayback Machine(in Greek)
- Piraeus Port Authority(in Greek and English)
- Destination Piraeus: Sightseeing & Entertainment Guide by the Municipality of Piraeus(Greek) (English)
- News about Piraeus(Greek) (English)
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| Regional unit ofEast Attica | ||
| Regional unit ofWest Attica | ||
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