Not just a port
During our first trip to Athens, we begin our exploration of Piraeus, the port, only when we return to the port and we have a few hours before the ship leaves. Our bus drops us close to the railway station from which the port is along walk. We are astounded at the elegant 1920s railway station, where the historic overground Line 1 meets the modern Metro. The station’s striking glass-roofed train hall and vintage ticket area before stepping into the atmospheric Old Market streets nearby, filled with local character and everyday Greek city life.
Just across the road lies the legendary Port of Piraeus, where ferries constantly depart for the Greek Islands. From the pedestrian bridge we enjoy watching ships glide in and out of the harbour. It is, without a doubt, Greece’s energetic gateway to the islands and one of the busiest ports in the Eastern Mediterranean.
In a little park we find Poseidon astride with his trident.
On the edge of this neighbourhood, we notice the imposing Agia Triada, the cathedral of Piraeus, which faces the port. An original church on this spot was constructed in 1839, but was destroyed by a bomb in WW2, then reconstructed in the 1950s in Byzantine style, using beautiful painted iconography and incorporating whatever remained of the older church.
More than just the harbour of Athens, Piraeus is a vibrant city with its own lively atmosphere
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