Athens parks and flowers
Sun, sand and sea go hand in hand with the ancient ruins of Athens which make it the ideal destination for those who want to experience it at 360 degrees between monuments and archaeological sites of particular historical and cultural interest. In about 30 minutes from the historic center, visitors can explore ancient civilizations on the Acropolis before heading to a very sophisticated seaside atmosphere along the southern coast. The pine-covered peninsula of Vouliagmeni and the rich maritime suburbs of Voula, Kavouri and Glyfada offer everything a lover of relaxation and history could hope for including beautiful parks in bloom.
Athens: the city to be lived among famous parks and flowers
A city break in Athens during a historical-cultural tour during spring is a good choice to enjoy nature at its best. The Hellenic capital in fact offers wonderful green spots and breathtaking gardens, and unique flowers of their kind especially for the various shades of color they manage to give.
You can visit and admire this divine capital by choosing every type of holiday, from the one-day tour for the most hurried, to the panoramic tour for the most romantic or for those who want to enjoy the breathtaking view of this enchanting city.
To mention immediately a park which is one of the most important in Athens, let’s talk about the National Garden located between Syntagma Square and the Kallimarmaro Stadium right in the heart of ancient Polis. The context is a beautiful area with lush vegetation that will help you escape from the noisy city center and relax in a refuge between shade, flowers and a peaceful environment. There are also two ponds for ducks, a children’s playground, a small zoo and a bar where you can enjoy a well-deserved refreshment in the warm afternoon hours. However, this just mentioned is not the only park in Athens worthy of consideration; in fact, there are many others of equal beauty and therefore deserve a proper description.
The Zappeion garden and the botanical garden of Athens
Located right next to the national gardens, the Zappeion is a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle where wonderfully made statues can be found, while the café and restaurant are worth a visit for a welcome refreshment given the decidedly warm climate (for most of the year ) of the Greek capital. Having said that, it should also be added that a must of the Zappeion garden is the architecture of the hall which is often used for exhibitions and conferences. The Diomidios botanical garden which is located a short distance from the center of Athens, is a magnificent green setting with a rich variety of flora that has yet to be discovered and has always been highly appreciated by both visitors and natives.
The parks of Attica and the Antonis Tritsis
Hosting over 2000 animals of 350 different species, the Attica Zoological Park strives to combine entertainment and education and offers its visitors a unique opportunity to get closer to nature through the life of animals from the five continents of the world. It is a private zoo located in the suburb of Spata in Athens, and visiting this place therefore means enjoying an expanding collection of felines, birds, reptiles and other animals including a monkey forest, a cheetah and a dolphinarium. Antonis Tritsis Park is another must-see green complex in Athens. The place is in fact an environmental context that is located in the area called Queen’s Tower or in the western part of the urban fabric of the city, and represents the largest green park organized with six lakes and an artificial canal as well as a site with a rich variety of Flora and fauna.
Lycabettus Hill and Strefi Hill
Mount Lycabettus is one of the best-known sites in Athens. It is a Cretaceous limestone surrounded by a pine forest in the center of the city, where on its two peaks are the 19th century Chapel of St. George, a theater and a restaurant. It is a rather popular destination for both visitors and natives who can get on through the use of the funicular of the homonymous Lycabettus which offers a priceless view from above; in fact, you can admire Mount Parnes to the north, Piraeus and the Saronic Gulf to the west with the Acropolis halfway to the sea. In the immediate vicinity of Piazza Exarcheia, there is also Strefi Hill (hill) which is a small green oasis in the center of the city. Taking a break from the frustrating atmosphere of the city, and enjoying the sports facilities available on site or admiring the panoramic view that this hidden jewel of Athens has to offer is certainly something not to be missed.
The typical flowers of Athens parks
When you think of Greece in the first place, islands, mountains and mythology come to mind. However, this nation is home to a wide range of wonderful flowers especially when spring arrives and they bloom to such an extent that they cover entire mountains. Greece has a great variety of landscapes, from arid highlands to wetlands and ancient forests. The rocky and barren soil is perfect for flowers such as crocuses and daffodils which with their orange, red, white and yellow colors make the countryside alive for a few short weeks before the heat begins.
The hyacinth with its purple and blue flowers is among the most famous and also blooms on the aforementioned type of soil. Hellenic territory also boasts a large number of orchids that grow in abundance on a chalky soil and that for their natural elegance make them a perfect gift. The gardens and national parks of Athens extend over 7 hectares with flower beds that show the best of the autochthonous varieties just described, and which therefore deserve to be appreciated very close on the occasion of a holiday in the Greek capital.
But walking through Athens it will be easy to come across real purple walls of bungavillea and even oleanders and, perhaps, in some private garden, many hibiscus flowers, typical flowers of the Mediterranean area.
Moreover, the Greek climate offers fertile ground for a great variety of flowers such that it would be almost impossible to list them all.
