The Greek capital is in the running for the title of Best European Destination for 2020.
Run for the 11th year, the online competition is run by the organisation European Best Destinations (EBD) in collaboration with leading European tourism agencies with the aim to promote tourism and culture on the continent.
Athens is once again among the nominees, celebrated for not only its rich history and cultural heritage, but its food scene and nightlife.
“Birthplace of philosophy, democracy and drama, the city of Athens is not only an open-air museum of world-class cultural heritage attractions but also a contemporary metropolis with an urban personality. Named after the most benevolent Greek Goddess, Athena, the goddess of wisdom and inspiration, Athens has always been at the cultural fore,” reads Athens’ entry on the EBD website.
“With equal measures of grunge and grace, Athens merges the past with the present in the most slender way! A city of paradoxes and great contrasts, in the country that first invented the courtesy and generosity towards people who are far from their home, hospitality (xenia).
“An intellectual beacon of the ancient world with spectacular Mediterranean landscapes bathed in the renowned light, Athens is a sophisticated cosmopolitan hub with delicious gastronomic delights, electrifying nightlife, creative vibes and a booming art scene.
“From the iconic Acropolis, rising above the city, to charming up and coming neighbourhoods and contemporary art galleries, the city of Classic Marathon and Olympic Games is a majestically quirky clash of past and present.
“One of the world’s oldest cities with a recorded history of 3,500 years, the Greek capital is constantly undergoing urban renewals to keep up with the evolution of time. Athens lives up to all the hype!”
There are 19 European cities in the running for the title:
- Vienna Austria;
- Namur, Belgium;
- Rijeka, Croatia;
- Prague, Czech Repuplic;
- Colmar, Paris and Rochefort Ocean, France;
- Tbilisi, Georgia;
- Berlin, Germany;
- Athens, Greece;
- Heviz, Hungary;
- Reykjavic, Iceland;
- Cork, Ireland;
- Rome, Italy;
- Rotterdam, The Netherlands;
- Bydgoszcz, Poland;
- Cascais, Portugal;
- Sibiu, Romania;
- Menorca and Madrid, Spain.
Voting closes on 5 February, 2020.
Source: neoskosmos.com