Attractions to See in Piraeus, Greece
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The port city of Piraeus is located in the Atticus region of Greece. Piraeus is not far from Athens, making it a great destination for travelers. Piraeus has much to offer including shopping, food, and wonderful scenery. When visiting Piraeus, Greece, you will also want to see these attractions.
Archaeological Museum of Piraeus
The first Archaeological Museum of Piraeus was founded in 1935 to showcase the antiquities that were uncovered from archaeological research throughout the city, the western coast of Attica, and the Argosaronikos Islands. The museum expanded in 1966 with the addition of a new building. The new building is the Contemporary Museum that is located at the archaeological site of the Hellenistic Theatre of Zea found behind the building of the Archaeological Museum.
The Archaeological Museum of Piraeus contains collections that include sculptured grave monuments from the 5th and 4th centuries BC, bronze statues of Athena and Artemis, a bronze tragic mask from the 4th century BC, a rare bronze trireme ram, and much more.
Agia Triada Church
Agia Triada Church, also known as Church of the Holy Trinity, was originally founded in 1839, but sadly that church was destroyed during a bombing in 1944. Once the war ended, another church was built on the same site. The church was consecrated in the mid-1960s. While the church is of modern construction, it is still a beautiful church to visit when visiting Piraeus, Greece. It is a large church that features a dome with the image of Christ Pantocrator, which can be see from every area of the church floor.
Nautical Museum
Also known as the Maritime Museum, the Nautical Museum is a must-see when visiting Piraeus. The museum was founded in 1949 and has 9 rooms with exhibits that showcase prehistoric to present times. Exhibits include models of ancient and modern ships, maps, nautical instruments, flags, weapons, and medals.
There are also works of art featured at the museum. These paintings depict seascapes created by Greek painters of the 19th and 20th centuries. The museum also houses a library with 10,000 volumes and archival material. 200 maps from the 16th – 20th centuries and the archive of Admiral Kriezis are also part of the Nautical Museum in Piraeus.
Bay of Zea
The Bay of Zea in Piraeus has been an important site since ancient times. It is a bay at the eastern coast of the Piraeus peninsula. The Bay of Zea hosted the swimming events during the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens. At the narrow entrance, you can still see the remains of Piraeus ancient walls and the foundations of shipyards where Athens’ triremes ships were assembled. As you explore the inner area of the harbor, you can admire Piraeus’ cityscape and the yachts on the water. During Ottoman times, the Bay of Zea was where pashas would bathe with their harems.
Piraeus, Greece is rich in attractions that you won’t want to miss if you’re visiting. Whether your interest lies in historical monuments or museums, there is something for you.
Categorized in: About Piraeus, Greece, Greek Travel Guide
This post was written by Greek Boston
