Athens

Athens brings together the archaeological landscape of ancient Greece and the institutions of a modern capital. Declared the capital of the modern Greek state in 1834, it developed around monuments and neighbourhoods that preserve successive periods of its history. Around the Acropolis, archaeological sites stand alongside neoclassical buildings, museums, galleries and theatres.

The Megaron Athens Concert Hall is a major expression of the city's modern musical life. Officially opened in 1991, it grew from the efforts of the Friends of Music Society and the support of private benefactors and the Greek state. Its facilities expanded to include the Alexandra Trianti Hall, inaugurated in 2004, as well as exhibition spaces, rehearsal rooms and the Music Library of Greece. The complex and its gardens provide settings for concerts, education and cultural activities within the contemporary city.