Athens

== Administration<!--'Athens City Centre', 'Athens City Center', 'Athens city centre', 'Athens city center', 'City of Athens', 'Municipality of Athens', 'Athens Municipality', 'Athens municipality' redirect here--> ==
[[File:Δημαρχείο Αθηνών 9734.jpg|thumb|Athens City Hall]]
[[File:Ancien_Palais_Royal_-_Athènes_(GRA1)_-_2022-03-26_-_1.jpg|thumb|[[Old Royal Palace]]]]
Athens became the capital of Greece in 1834, following [[Nafplion]], which was the provisional capital from 1829. The municipality (City) of Athens is also the capital of the [[Attica (region)|Attica region]]. The term ''Athens'' can refer either to the Municipality of Athens, to Greater Athens or urban area, or to the entire Athens Metropolitan Area.

The large '''City Centre'''<!--boldface per WP:R#PLA--> ({{lang-el|Κέντρο της Αθήνας}}) of the Greek capital falls directly within the '''Municipality of Athens'''<!--boldface per WP:R#PLA--> or '''Athens Municipality'''<!--boldface per WP:R#PLA--> ({{lang-el|Δήμος Αθηναίων}})—also '''City of Athens'''<!--boldface per WP:R#PLA-->. Athens Municipality is the largest in population size in Greece. [[Piraeus]] also forms a significant city centre on its own<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 December 2007 |title=Distance between Athens, Greece and Piraeus, Greece |url=https://distances-from.com/p/Athens-Greece-and-Piraeus-Greece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209063612/https://distances-from.com/p/Athens-Greece-and-Piraeus-Greece |archive-date=9 February 2018 |access-date=8 February 2018 |publisher=distances-from.com}}</ref> within the [[Athens Urban Area]] and it is the second largest in population size within it.

=== Athens Urban Area<!--'Athens Urban Area', 'Athens urban area', 'Urban Area of the Capital', and 'Greater Athens' redirect here--> ===
The '''Athens Urban Area'''<!--boldface per WP:R#PLA--> ({{lang-el|Πολεοδομικό Συγκρότημα Αθηνών}}), also known as '''Urban Area of the Capital'''<!--boldface per WP:R#PLA--> ({{lang-el|Πολεοδομικό Συγκρότημα Πρωτεύουσας}}) or '''Greater Athens'''<!--boldface per WP:R#PLA--> ({{lang-el|Ευρύτερη Αθήνα}})<!--boldface per WP:R#PLA-->,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Greater Athens (Greece): Municipalities – Population Statistics, Charts and Map |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/php/greece-athens.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200503034211/https://www.citypopulation.de/php/greece-athens.php |archive-date=3 May 2020 |access-date=24 May 2020 |website=citypopulation.de}}</ref> today consists of 40 municipalities, 35 of which make up what was referred to as the former [[Athens Prefecture]] municipalities, located within 4 regional units ([[North Athens (regional unit)|North Athens]], [[West Athens (regional unit)|West Athens]], [[Central Athens (regional unit)|Central Athens]], [[South Athens (regional unit)|South Athens]]); and a further 5 municipalities, which make up the former [[Piraeus Prefecture]] municipalities, located within the [[Piraeus (regional unit)|regional unit of Piraeus]] as mentioned above.

The Athens Municipality forms the core and center of Greater Athens, which in its turn consists of the Athens Municipality and 40 more municipalities, divided in four [[regional units of Greece|regional units]] (Central, North, South and West Athens), accounting for 2,611,713 people (in 2021)<ref name=census21/> within an area of {{convert|361|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name=area/> Until 2010, which made up the abolished Athens Prefecture and the municipality of [[Piraeus]], the historic Athenian port, with 4 other municipalities make up the regional unit of Piraeus. The regional units of Central Athens, North Athens, South Athens, West Athens and Piraeus with part of East<ref>{{Cite web |title=Concise Statistical Yearbook of Greece 2001 page 38, National Statistical Service of Greece |url=http://dlib.statistics.gr/Book/GRESYE_01_0003_00032.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190701022706/http://dlib.statistics.gr/Book/GRESYE_01_0003_00032.pdf |archive-date=1 July 2019 |access-date=26 August 2019}}</ref> and West Attica<ref name="eranet.gr">{{Cite web |title=Αttikh |url=http://www.eranet.gr/geodata/el/gcitiesp_0.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190629135655/http://www.eranet.gr/geodata/el/gcitiesp_0.html |archive-date=29 June 2019 |access-date=8 August 2019 |website=EraNET |language=Greek}}</ref> regional units combined make up the continuous Athens Urban Area,<ref name="eranet.gr" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Monthly Statistical Bulletin Monthly Statistical Bulletin December 2012, Hellenic Statistical Authority, page 64 |url=http://dlib.statistics.gr/MAG/GRESYE_01_0001_00821.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200713060941/http://dlib.statistics.gr/MAG/GRESYE_01_0001_00821.pdf |archive-date=13 July 2020 |access-date=29 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Statistical Yearbook of Greece 2001 page 72, National Statistical Service of Greece |url=http://dlib.statistics.gr/Book/GRESYE_01_0002_00053.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190701025651/http://dlib.statistics.gr/Book/GRESYE_01_0002_00053.pdf |archive-date=1 July 2019 |access-date=8 August 2019}}</ref> also called the "Urban Area of the Capital" or simply "Athens" (the most common use of the term), spanning over {{convert|412|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}},<ref name="Kallikratis">{{Cite web |title=ΦΕΚ B 1292/2010, Kallikratis reform municipalities |url=http://www.et.gr/idocs-nph/search/pdfViewerForm.html?args=5C7QrtC22wGYK2xFpSwMnXdtvSoClrL81-32jgAMSfbnMRVjyfnPUeJInJ48_97uHrMts-zFzeyCiBSQOpYnT00MHhcXFRTsb2fGphpq4MKX2ZkaHobySNnvZCNHXvYVvlf80XevW0Q. |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211010162605/http://www.et.gr/idocs-nph/search/pdfViewerForm.html?args=5C7QrtC22wGYK2xFpSwMnXdtvSoClrL81-32jgAMSfbnMRVjyfnPUeJInJ48_97uHrMts-zFzeyCiBSQOpYnT00MHhcXFRTsb2fGphpq4MKX2ZkaHobySNnvZCNHXvYVvlf80XevW0Q. |archive-date=10 October 2021 |access-date=9 September 2021 |publisher=[[Government Gazette (Greece)|Government Gazette]] |language=el}}</ref> with a population of 3,059,764 people as of 2021. The Athens Urban Area is considered to form the city of Athens as a whole, despite its administrative divisions, which is the largest in Greece and the 9th  most populated urban area in Europe.

{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; margin:1em auto"
|+ '''Municipalities of the former Athens prefecture'''
|-
|style="text-align:center;" colspan="3"|
{|style="width: 100%; font-size: 85%;"
|-
|'''[[Central Athens (regional unit)|Central Athens]]''': ||1. [[Municipality of Athens]] ||2. [[Dafni-Ymittos]] ||3. [[Ilioupoli]] ||4. [[Vyronas]] ||5. [[Kaisariani]] ||6. [[Zografou]] ||7. [[Galatsi]] ||8. [[Filadelfeia-Chalkidona]]
|}
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|
{|style="width: 100%; font-size: 85%;"
|-
|'''[[West Athens (regional unit)|West Athens]]''':
|-
|29. [[Egaleo]]
|-
|30. [[Agia Varvara]]
|-
|31. [[Chaidari]]
|-
|32. [[Peristeri]]
|-
|33. [[Petroupoli]]
|-
|34. [[Ilio, Greece|Ilion]]
|-
|35. [[Agioi Anargyroi-Kamatero]]
|}
|style="text-align:center;"|[[File:Athens(prefecture) Municipalities g2.jpg|400px]]
|style="text-align:left;"|
{|style="width: 100%; font-size: 85%;"
|-
|'''[[North Athens (regional unit)|North Athens]]''':
|-
|9. [[Nea Ionia]]
|-
|10. [[Irakleio, Attica|Irakleio]]
|-
|11. [[Metamorfosi]]
|-
|12. [[Lykovrysi-Pefki]]
|-
|13. [[Kifissia]]
|-
|14. [[Penteli, Greece|Penteli]]
|-
|15. [[Marousi]]
|-
|16. [[Vrilissia]]
|-
|17. [[Agia Paraskevi]]
|-
|18. [[Papagou-Cholargos]]
|-
|19. [[Chalandri]]
|-
|20. [[Filothei-Psychiko]]
|}
|-
|style="text-align:center;" colspan="3"|
{|style="width: 100%; font-size: 85%;"
|-
|'''[[South Athens (regional unit)|South Athens]]''':||21. [[Glyfada]] ||22. [[Elliniko-Argyroupoli]] ||23. [[Alimos]] ||24. [[Agios Dimitrios]] ||25. [[Nea Smyrni]] ||26. [[Palaio Faliro]] ||27. [[Kallithea]] ||28. [[Moschato-Tavros]]
|}
|}

{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%; margin-left:1em"
|+ '''Athens Urban Area'''
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|
{|style="width: 100%; font-size: 85%;"
|-
|'''[[Regional units of Greece|Regional units]]''':
|-
|[[Central Athens (regional unit)|Central Athens]]:<br />{{Legend0|#FFFFFF|Athens Municipality}}<br />{{Legend0|#F08080|Other municipalities}}
|-
|{{Legend0|#1E90FF|[[North Athens (regional unit)|North Athens]]}}
|-
|{{Legend0|#FFFACD|[[South Athens (regional unit)|South Athens]]}}
|-
|{{Legend0|#66CDAA|[[West Athens (regional unit)|West Athens]]}}
|-
|{{Legend0|#A0522D|[[Piraeus (regional unit)|Piraeus]]}}
|}
|style="text-align:center;"|[[File:Athens aglomeration.svg|400px]]
|}

=== Athens metropolitan area===
{{main|Athens metropolitan area}}
[[File:Athens_Metropolitan_Region.svg|thumb|[[Athens metropolitan area]]]]

The Athens metropolitan area spans {{convert|2928.717|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}} within the [[Attica (region)|Attica region]] and includes a total of 58 municipalities, which are organized in seven regional units (those outlined above, along with [[East Attica]] and [[West Attica]]), having reached a population of 3,638,281 according to the 2021 census.<ref name=census21/> Athens and Piraeus municipalities serve as the two metropolitan centres of the Athens Metropolitan Area.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Master Plan for Athens and Attica 2021, pg 13, 24, 27, 33, 36, 89 |url=http://www.ypeka.gr/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=UfCMqBJHswQ%3d&tabid=367&language=el-GR |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321062128/http://www.ypeka.gr/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=UfCMqBJHswQ%3D&tabid=367&language=el-GR |archive-date=21 March 2012}}</ref> There are also some inter-municipal centres serving specific areas. For example, [[Kifissia]] and [[Glyfada]] serve as inter-municipal centres for northern and southern suburbs respectively.

[[File:Βίλα Ατλαντίς 3473.jpg|alt=|thumb|View of Vila Atlantis, in [[Kifissia]], designed by [[Ernst Ziller]]]]
[[File:Alimos - panoramio (33).jpg|alt=|thumb|Beach in the southern suburb of [[Alimos]], one of the many beaches in the southern coast of Athens]]

The [[Athens Metropolitan Area, Greece|Athens Metropolitan Area]] consists of 58<ref name="statistics1">{{Cite web |title=ΕΛΣΤΑΤ Απογραφη 2011 |url=http://www.statistics.gr/portal/page/portal/ESYE/BUCKET/General/A1602_SAM01_DT_DC_00_2011_01_F_GR.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011061403/http://www.statistics.gr/portal/page/portal/ESYE/BUCKET/General/A1602_SAM01_DT_DC_00_2011_01_F_GR.pdf |archive-date=11 October 2011 |access-date=22 August 2011 |publisher=statistics.gr}}</ref> densely populated municipalities, sprawling around the [[Municipality of Athens]] (the City Centre) in virtually all directions. For the Athenians, all the urban municipalities surrounding the City Centre are called suburbs. According to their geographic location in relation to the [[City of Athens]], the suburbs are divided into four zones; the northern suburbs (including [[Agios Stefanos, Attica|Agios Stefanos]], [[Dionysos, Greece|Dionysos]], [[Ekali]], [[Nea Erythraia]], [[Kifissia]], [[Kryoneri, Attica|Kryoneri]], [[Marousi|Maroussi]], [[Pefki]], [[Lykovrysi]], [[Metamorfosi]], [[Nea Ionia]], [[Nea Filadelfeia]], [[Irakleio, Attica|Irakleio]], [[Vrilissia]], [[Melissia]], [[Penteli, Greece|Penteli]], [[Chalandri]], [[Agia Paraskevi]], [[Gerakas]], [[Pallini]], [[Galatsi]], [[Psychiko]] and [[Filothei]]); the southern suburbs (including [[Alimos]], [[Nea Smyrni]], [[Moschato]], [[Tavros]], [[Agios Ioannis Renti]], [[Kallithea]], [[Piraeus]], [[Agios Dimitrios]], [[Palaio Faliro]], [[Ellinikon|Elliniko]], [[Glyfada]], [[Lagonisi]], [[Saronida]], [[Argyroupoli]], [[Ilioupoli]], [[Varkiza]], [[Voula]], [[Vari]] and [[Vouliagmeni]]); the eastern suburbs (including [[Zografou]], [[Dafni, Attica|Dafni]], [[Vyronas]], [[Kaisariani]], [[Cholargos]] and [[Papagou]]); and the western suburbs (including [[Peristeri]], [[Ilion, Greece|Ilion]], [[Egaleo]], [[Koridallos]], [[Agia Varvara]], [[Keratsini]], [[Perama]], [[Nikaia]], [[Drapetsona]], [[Chaidari]], [[Petroupoli]], [[Agioi Anargyroi]], [[Ano Liosia]], [[Aspropyrgos]], [[Eleusina]], [[Acharnes]] and [[Kamatero]]).

The Athens city coastline, extending from the major commercial port of [[Piraeus]] to the southernmost suburb of [[Varkiza]] for some {{convert|25|km|mi|-1|abbr=on}},<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 December 2007 |title=Distance between Piraeus (Attiki) and Varkiza (Piraios Nomos) (Greece) |url=http://distancecalculator.globefeed.com/Greece_Distance_Result.asp?fromplace=Piraeus%20(Attiki)&toplace=Varkiza%20(Piraios%20Nomos)&fromlat=37.9474464019929&tolat=37.8185988001751&fromlng=23.6370849609375&tolng=23.7987041473389 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711101743/http://distancecalculator.globefeed.com/Greece_Distance_Result.asp?fromplace=Piraeus%20(Attiki)&toplace=Varkiza%20(Piraios%20Nomos)&fromlat=37.9474464019929&tolat=37.8185988001751&fromlng=23.6370849609375&tolng=23.7987041473389 |archive-date=11 July 2011 |access-date=9 June 2009 |publisher=Distancecalculator.globefeed.com}}</ref> is also connected to the City Centre by tram.

In the northern suburb of Maroussi, the upgraded main [[Athens Olympic Sports Complex|Olympic Complex]] (known by its Greek acronym OAKA) dominates the skyline. The area has been redeveloped according to a design by the Spanish architect [[Santiago Calatrava]], with steel arches, landscaped gardens, fountains, futuristic glass, and a landmark new blue glass roof which was added to the main stadium. A second Olympic complex, next to the sea at the beach of Palaio Faliro, also features modern stadia, shops and an elevated esplanade. Work is underway to transform the grounds of the old Athens Airport – named [[Ellinikon International Airport|Elliniko]] – in the southern suburbs, into one of the largest landscaped parks in Europe, to be named the [[Hellenikon Metropolitan Park]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hellenikon Metropolitan Park Competition |url=http://www.minenv.gr/hellenikon-competition/oa/en/main.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040408211156/http://www.minenv.gr/hellenikon-competition/oa/en/main.htm |archive-date=8 April 2004 |access-date=3 January 2007 |website=Hellenic Ministry of the Environment and Public Works |publisher=minenv.gr}}</ref>

Many of the southern suburbs (such as [[Alimos]], [[Palaio Faliro]], [[Ellinikon|Elliniko]], [[Glyfada]], [[Voula]], [[Vouliagmeni]] and [[Varkiza]]) known as the [[Athens Riviera]], host a number of sandy beaches, most of which are operated by the [[Greek National Tourism Organization|Greek National Tourism Organisation]] and require an entrance fee. Casinos operate on both Mount Parnitha, some {{convert|25|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}<ref>{{Cite news |date=29 June 2007 |title=Europe &#124; Greek forest fire close to Athens |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6252676.stm |url-status=live |access-date=9 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090827205825/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6252676.stm |archive-date=27 August 2009}}</ref> from downtown Athens (accessible by car or cable car), and the nearby town of [[Loutraki]] (accessible by car via the Athens – [[Corinth]] National Highway, or the [[Athens Suburban Railway]]).
{{wide image|2009-02-19 Yachthafen Glyfada 03.jpg|800px|align-cap=center|Coastline of [[Palaio Faliro]]}}

=== Twin towns – sister cities ===
{{main|List of twin towns and sister cities in Greece}}
The concept of a [[Sister city|partner city]] is used under different names in different countries, but they mean the same thing, that two cities in different countries assist each other as partners. Athens has quite a number of partners, whether as a "twin", a "sister", or a "partner."