Travel writer Pierre Gros describes the Greek capital: “Ancient and vibrant, Athens is unlike other cities. The capital of Greece, the cradle of Western civilization, feels like an open-air museum while being resolutely rooted in the present at the same time. Its streets and alleys are full of life, as are all southern cities that sleep with one eye open. Here, the authenticity of the old taverns competes with the contemporary design of trendy locations, in a joyful melting pot where everyone has a place.”
The 135-page guide to Athens, Piraeus, and the Saronic Islands is published in the July-September 2024 issue of the French magazine “Destination.”
The extensive feature is the outcome of a press trip that Mr. Gros took to Greece in April of last year, which was organized by the Region of Attica and the France Tourism Development Agency.
The French journalist portrays Athens as an ideal city break and long break destination, highlighting its cultural heritage and contemporary cultural footprint, the uniqueness of each of its central neighborhoods, its gastronomy and nightlife, as well as additional points of interest in the southern suburbs, the Athenian Riviera, the city of Piraeus, and the nearby islands.
In his editorial, editor-in-chief Christophe Bonicel observes that “today all major cities tend to become the same, ‘victims’ of globalization and gentrification. Athens is resisting as best it can, determined to remain the authentic destination it has always been.”
Published four times a year, “Destination” has a circulation of 30,000 copies that are available at newsstands, train stations, and airports in France, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Italy, Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the USA. It is also available online in French, English, and Italian. Each issue is dedicated to Europe (Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, Greece, etc.), the USA, Canada, or Japan.
In addition to the feature on Athens, the magazine has previously published extensive travel reports on other regions in Greece, including Delphi, Meteora, Olympia, Naxos, Paros, Syros, and Santorini.
This article was previously published in Greek at moneyreview.com
