Athens | Greece

Athens (Greek: Αθήνα) is the capital and largest city of the Hellenic Republic, located at the southern end of the Balkan Peninsula and characterized by a subtropical Mediterranean climate. As of 2008, the population of Athens was 745,514. The total area of the city is 412 square kilometers, making it the eighth largest city in Europe and one of the commercial centers of the European Union. Athens has a recorded history of more than 3,000 years and is known as the "cradle of Western civilization". Athens is also the birthplace of European philosophy and has had a significant impact on European and world culture. It has produced a large number of historical figures such as Socrates and Plato and is known as the birthplace of democracy. Athens still retains many historical relics and a large number of works of art, the most famous of which is the Parthenon on the Acropolis, which is regarded as a symbol of Western culture. The cultural and political achievements of the 5th and 4th centuries BC had a significant impact on European and world culture. Athens is the birthplace of the modern Olympic Games and has hosted the first Summer Olympics and the 28th Summer Olympics in 1896 and 2004, respectively.